10th Guzel Ordu International Short Film Competition – Regulations (English Translation)

1. ABOUT
The Guzel Ordu Culture and Arts Foundation organizes these competitions to raise awareness of social issues, encourage creativity, support independent filmmaking, and promote artistic excellence and creative freedom without censorship.

2. DATES
Application Opening: 29 June 2026
Application Deadline: 15 August 2026
Announcement of Finalists: 31 August 2026
Finalists’ Document Submission Deadline: 15 September 2026
Festival Dates: 14–18 October 2026, Ordu, Türkiye

3. THEME
The theme of the 10th Guzel Ordu International Short Film Competition is FREE.

4. ELIGIBILITY
The competition is open to citizens/residents of the member countries of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization:
Türkiye, Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, North Macedonia, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Ukraine and Greece.

Applications from other countries will not be evaluated.

The competition is open to all ages and participation is free of charge.
Films may be submitted in Fiction, Animation, Virtual Reality and Documentary categories.
Fiction, Animation and VR films must not exceed 21 minutes including credits.
Documentaries must not exceed 41 minutes.
Only films completed after 1 January 2026 are eligible.
Multiple submissions by the same participant are permitted.
Films previously submitted to other festivals or competitions are eligible.
All submitted films will be archived by the Foundation.

5. ORGANIZATION
The competition is organized by the Festival Executive Committee.

6. FESTIVAL EXECUTIVE BOARD
Festival President
Art Director
Organization Director
Communications Director
Public Relations Director
Finance Director
Academic Advisor

7. EVALUATION
A Pre-Selection Jury, Youth Jury and Main Jury will be appointed by the Festival Executive Committee.
The decisions of the juries are final and cannot be appealed.

8. FINALISTS
Finalists will be announced on 31 August 2026 via gofilmfest.org and official social media accounts.
Finalists must submit screening copies, trailer, still images, poster, director photograph and signed documents by 10 September 2026.

9. AWARDS
FICTION
Best Film (Benekli Kaplumbağa Award): 35,000 TL + Plaque
Jury Special Award: Plaque
Youth Jury Ceren Özdemir Award: Plaque

ANIMATION
Best Film (Benekli Kaplumbağa Award): 35,000 TL + Plaque
Jury Special Award: Plaque
Youth Jury Ceren Özdemir Award: Plaque

VIRTUAL REALITY
Best Film (Benekli Kaplumbağa Award): 35,000 TL + Plaque
Jury Special Award: Plaque
Youth Jury Ceren Özdemir Award: Plaque

DOCUMENTARY
Best Film (Benekli Kaplumbağa Award): 35,000 TL + Plaque
Jury Special Award: Plaque
Youth Jury Ceren Özdemir Award: Plaque

10. SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Copyright remains with the filmmakers. The Foundation may screen finalist films for non-commercial purposes with proper credit to the creators.

11. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Official websites:
gofilmfest.org
gzlordu.org

E-mail:
[email protected]

The award ceremony will take place in Ordu, Türkiye.

This regulation is deemed accepted by all applicants upon submission.