COMPETITION REGULATIONS

9th GÜZEL ORDU
INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM COMPETITION REGULATIONS

1. ABOUT US
Since its establishment, the Güzel Ordu Foundation for Culture and Arts has been organizing competitions with the aim of increasing individuals’ awareness on social issues, encouraging and motivating them, highlighting their creativity, recognizing their achievements, promoting the right to access and experience the power of independent filmmaking, and fostering artistic excellence and the creative freedom of artists without censorship.

In the first year of our competitions, the main theme was “Black Sea”, followed by “Children's Rights” in the second year, “Women's Rights” in the third, “Justice” in the fourth, “Wave” in the fifth, “On the Edge” in the sixth, “Empathy” in the seventh, and “Miracle” in the eighth year.

2. DATES
Application Start Date:
01 July 2025

Application Deadline:
01 September 2025

Announcement of Finalist Films:
21 September 2025

Deadline for Submission of Required Documents for Finalist Films:
03 October 2025

Festival Dates:
18–26 October 2025, ORDU / TÜRKİYE

3.THEME
The theme of the 9th Güzel Ordu International Short Film Competition for the year 2025 has been determined as:

HAPPINESS

Happiness multiplies when shared.
A smile can inspire a film, and a film can touch a thousand hearts.
That’s why we have chosen “Happiness” as the theme of this year’s competition.

We believe in the healing power of stories.
We invite everyone who looks at life with hope, who finds happiness in moments, and who wants to express it through cinema to join us on this journey.

Nazım once asked Abidin Dino, “But not by taking the easy path—paint it with truth and depth” as he wrote in his poem “Saman Sarısı”.

We ask you now: can you make a film about happiness?

Let’s create together, laugh together, and grow together. Because sometimes, a single film can reignite the light within a person.

And perhaps the most beautiful films are born from happiness.

4. APPLICATION CONDITIONS
The competition is open to the 13 member countries of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation:

  • Türkiye • Albania • Azerbaijan • Bulgaria • Armenia • Georgia • Moldova • North Macedonia • Romania • Russian Federation • Serbia • Ukraine • Greece
  • Submissions from countries outside this list will not be considered.

4.1 The competition is open to anyone interested in short films.
4.2 Individuals of all ages may apply.
4.3 Participation in the competition is free of charge.
4.4 The official language of the competition is Turkish. Productions submitted from national or international participants that include languages other than Turkish must be submitted with Turkish dubbing or with both Turkish and English subtitles.
4.5 Applications must be submitted online via our website through the FilmFreeway platform.
4.6 There are no category restrictions for films submitted to the competition.
4.7 Fiction and Animation short films must not exceed a total duration of 21 minutes, including opening and closing credits.
4.8 For Documentary films, the maximum duration allowed is 60 minutes.
4.9 The Competition Executive Committee reserves the right to allow an exception of up to 10% in duration when deemed necessary.
4.10 All submitted films will be archived by the Foundation.
4.11 Only films produced after January 1, 2025 are eligible for submission.
4.12 The final submission deadline is October 3, 2025.
4.13 Films shot in any language and geography may be submitted, provided they include Turkish and English subtitles.
4.14 Participants may submit more than one film to the competition.
4.15 Prior submission to other festivals, platforms, or competitions does not disqualify a film from participating.
4.16 Any copyright issues experienced or to be experienced by the participants are not the responsibility of the competition management/committee. Therefore, the competition/festival organizers cannot be held legally liable.
4.17 Finalist films may be shared on the visual and audio platforms of the competition management/committee/team.
4.18 Finalist works that pass the pre-selection stage are considered as having accepted their screening and presentation—non-commercially and with director attribution—in the events organized by the Güzel Ordu Foundation for Culture and Arts. It is also considered accepted that these films may be published or shown on the official website and social media platforms of the Foundation.
4.19 The Güzel Ordu Foundation for Culture and Arts reserves the right to cancel, postpone, or discontinue the competition at any stage and for any reason, even prior to the announcement of results. In the event the competition is not held or is cancelled, none of the submitted or delivered works may be used by the Foundation.
4.20 Films that do not comply with the designated theme will not be evaluated.

5. ORGANIZATION
The organization of the 9th Güzel Ordu International Short Film Competition is carried out by the Festival Executive Committee.

6. FESTIVAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS

  • Tevfik Serdar Köksal / Chair
  • Cevat Tan Aşkan / General Director
  • Dr. Amina Zhaman / International Director
  • Simin Belikırık / National Director
  • Prof. Dr. Mehmet Yılmaz / Academic Advisor
  • Emre Gürsoy / Communications Coordinator
  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nihan Şenbursa / Academic Advisor
  • Murat Köksal / Press Coordinator
  • Fulin Ceren Işık / Volunteers Coordinator

7. EVALUATION
7.1 The Pre-Jury, Youth Jury, and Main Jury are appointed by the Festival Executive Committee.
7.2 The Pre-Jury evaluates all submitted works based on compliance with the competition regulations, technical and aesthetic quality, creativity, and category selection. It may present a maximum of 8 qualifying films per category to the Selection Committee.
7.3 The Youth Jury watches the finalist films in each category and selects their favorite film.
7.4 The Main Jury evaluates the finalist films in each category based on creativity and artistic merit and determines the winners.
7.5 All jury decisions must be submitted to the Festival Executive Committee in written, justified, and signed form prior to the announcement of the results. The decisions of the Selection Committee are final. Participants have no right to appeal the results.
7.6 Finalist works will be announced via the Foundation's official website and social media accounts.
7.7 The Selection Committees are not obliged to grant awards in any category if none of the submitted works are deemed of sufficient quality.

8. FINALIST WORKS
8.1 The finalist works will be announced on September 22, 2025, via our website [gofilmfest.org] and our official social media accounts.
8.2 The following materials must be submitted by October 3, 2025, via online file transfer platforms (e.g., WeTransfer, Google Drive, DropBox):

Required Materials:

  • Screening copies of the film in Full HD quality, with Turkish and English subtitles (.mov or .mp4 formats). Turkish subtitles must be in white, and English subtitles in yellow. Additionally, a version without subtitles must also be submitted in Full HD, .mov or .mp4 format.
  • A 30-second trailer of the film.
  • Two high-resolution stills from the film (not behind-the-scenes images).
  • A poster in vertical A3 format.
  • A photo of the director with a minimum resolution of 500x500 px, for use in the festival catalogue.
  • A signed printout of the online application form.
  • A signed copy of each page of the competition regulations (terms and conditions), signed by both the director and the producer, indicating their acceptance of the rules.

9. AWARDS
9.1 Among the works submitted to the Güzel Ordu Cultural Arts Foundation Short Film Competition, the Jury will grant the following awards:

For Fiction Category:

  • Best Film Award: 30,000 TRY + Plaque
  • Jury Special Award: Plaque
  • Youth Jury Ceren Özdemir Award: Plaque
  • Foundation Special Award: Plaque

For Animation Category:

  • Best Film Award: 30,000 TRY + Plaque
  • Jury Special Award: Plaque
  • Youth Jury Ceren Özdemir Award: Plaque
  • Foundation Special Award: Plaque

For Documentary Category:

  • Best Film Award: 30,000 TRY + Plaque
  • Jury Special Award: Plaque
  • Youth Jury Ceren Özdemir Award: Plaque
  • Foundation Special Award: Plaque

9.2 Upon special request from participating institutions or organizations, special awards may also be given.
9.3 Based on the recommendation of the Jury, the Foundation may grant additional special awards beyond those listed.
9.4 All plaques will be presented during the official awards ceremony organized by the Foundation. Cash prizes will be transferred to the winners’ bank accounts within three months after the festival concludes.
9.5 The award is given to the director of the winning film. In case of multiple directors, the cash prize will be equally divided among them.
9.6 If the director is unable to attend the awards ceremony, the award may be accepted by a representative designated in writing and communicated in advance to the Foundation.
9.7 In the event of the death of a winner after the award is granted, the prize will be transferred to the legal heirs.
9.8 Finalists are required to state in all promotional materials (e.g., opening/closing credits, press releases, newspaper ads, and other media) that their film received an award (Best Film Award / Jury Special Award / Youth Jury Ceren Özdemir Award / Foundation Special Award) or was a finalist at the Güzel Ordu Short Film Competition, and must display the competition’s Laurel logo.

10. SPECIAL CONDITIONS
10.1 The person signing the application form must be the legal copyright holder of the film.
10.2 All information declared in the application form is binding on the signatory. Any legal consequences arising from inaccuracies are the sole responsibility of the signatory.
10.3 The Foundation is responsible for including the Foundation’s logo and that of the official sponsor in all press releases and local TV screenings for the purpose of promoting the competition and announcing the results.
10.4 Copyright and Screening Rights: All copyrights belong to the filmmakers. However, the Foundation reserves the right to publicly screen the films non-commercially provided that the filmmakers are credited.
10.5 Filmmakers are required to adhere to the screening schedule as set by the Festival Committee. Failure to participate may result in disqualification.

11. TO FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
11.1 Contestants may follow announcements and updates via the Foundation’s official social media accounts:

Social Media Accounts:
Instagram: @gzlordu, @gokisafilmfest
Facebook: facebook.com/gzlordu
Twitter (X): @gzlordu

Websites:
gofilmfest.org
gzlordu.org

11.2 The location and schedule of the awards ceremony will be announced on the official website and social media accounts.

12. This regulation consists of 12 articles and is considered to be accepted by all individuals who apply to the competition.