2nd Abbas Kiarostami International Short Film Festival

Call for Submissions

Abbas Kiarostami is one of the most significant independent filmmakers in the history of Iranian and global cinema. His works consistently reflect profound themes about existence and the surrounding world. The poetic style and innovative form of Kiarostami’s films have established his cinema as one of the most prominent schools of thought, not just artistically but philosophically. His diverse body of work, ranging from graphic art, photography, and poetry to video art and feature and short films, stems from an authentic lived experience rooted in humanity.

Following the success and widespread enthusiasm from filmmakers during the first edition of the Abbas Kiarostami International Short Film Festival, we are delighted to announce the second edition, continuing our commitment to promoting and expanding independent, non-affiliated cinema.

Themes for Submitted Works

We invite submissions that align with one or more of the following criteria:

• Films about the personality, philosophy, and worldview of Abbas Kiarostami.
• Films exploring artistic works created by Kiarostami (including his poetry, graphic design, painting, photography, video art, and films).
• Films influenced by the narrative and stylistic elements or the overall aesthetic universe of Kiarostami.
• Films categorized broadly as poetic, philosophical, critical, or socially engaged works.

All short fiction films, animations, documentaries, experimental films, and video art are eligible to participate in the festival.

B) Important Notes for Submission

• Submitted works must adhere to the themes, content, style, and form outlined in Section A.
• Films must have a duration between 1 and 24 minutes.
• Only films produced after April 2022 are eligible.
• Films previously screened at other festivals or publicly released (after April 2022) are eligible for submission.
• All films must be independently produced and free from any affiliation with governmental organizations.
• Submissions must be completed via an online registration form.

C) Format Requirements for Submitted Works

Format: MPEG2, MPEG4 (H.264), MOV (H.264) Subtitles: Embedded English subtitles are required.

Resolution: Full HD, 1920 x 1080

Frame Rate: 25p – 50i

D) Festival Awards

This is a competitive festival, and the following prizes will be awarded to the top three films:

First Prize: STARKLFILM AWARD + Golden Cherry Trophy + Certificate of Appreciation

Second Prize: STARKLFILM AWARD + Silver Cherry Trophy + Certificate of Appreciation

Third Prize: STARKLFILM AWARD + Bronze Cherry Trophy + Certificate of Appreciation

All films selected for the competition section will receive certificates of participation.

* We are proud to announce that Starklfilm, a filmmaking studio based in Berlin, Germany, joins the 2nd Abbas Kiarostami International Short Film Festival as an Award Sponsor. With the aim of supporting young cinema talents and fostering international collaborations in the film industry, Starklfilm has dedicated special awards for the festival winners.

Film Category: Support for the next short or feature film of 3 winners in one of three stages: pre-production, production, or post-production, This support includes introducing filmmakers to various producers or providing cinema equipment for filming (if shooting in Germany, preferably Berlin), or alternatively, offering post-production support in editing and color grading depending on the company's discretion based on the film type and location.

This partnership will serve as a bridge between Iranian and European cinema, creating opportunities for the international film community to discover the brilliant filmmaking talents. For more information about Starklfilm, please visit starklfilm.com.

For any issues during the registration process or related queries, please contact us via this email.