Closing : 1 Mar 2009
Festival: 14-20 Jun 2009 (this is the 37th festival!)

The dates and arrangements are similar each year.

This is a week-long celebration of the world's best non-commercial film. For the main contest entries should be between 5 and 30 minutes long and completed in the last two years. A preselection team picks a shortlist and an international jury watches those with the audience over the week, discussing them on stage with the film makers and audience two or three times a day.

There is a less formal section for "shorties" under 5 minutes which is judged by audience vote.

No entry fee. They regularly get between 700 and 900 entries so even to be chosen for screening is an honour. They accept all the usual video formats - for 8mm or 16mm please send a video copy for pre-selection. The working language is German but most entries are either in English or have English subtitles!

The preselection team divide entries into "not for showing", "must show" and "deserve to be seen". The last is the biggest group and is shown in the brochure with a * by the title. The festival is keen for film makers ("authors" as they call them) to attend, so if a film has a * it will only be shown if the film maker attends.

The festival's prizes are cuddly toy teddy-bears. The festival is a qualifier for the Internet Movie Database so if you have hopes of being listed on it, send a winning film to Ebensee.

During the week there is plenty of leisure time to relax, chat, enjoy the mountains and lake ... or take part in festival picnics on the lakeside, outings and social evenings.

See their excellent English website: http://8ung.at/filmfestival - click on the "Festival der Nationen" sign and then the Union Jack.You can see the rules there and either enter online or download an entry form. Or for more information email eva-video@gmx.at .
For festival accommodation check out http://www.ebensee.com email info@ebensee.com .