Balkan Culture

Balkans Beyond Borders (BBB) announces the opening of the submissions period for the 13th  Balkans Beyond Borders Short Film Festival. The call opens on the 15 of March and lasts until the 15 of May. On this year's topic, we draw inspiration by the title ‘Untiling the Mosaic’.

We invite young filmmakers to get inspired by this year’s topic and send their short films.  Eligible short film submissions are: a) short films from filmmakers up to 35 years old or older than 35 under the condition that their submitted film is their debut b) filmmakers with their origin from a Balkan country or/and their film to be a Balkan production & c) short films connected to the festival’s topic. We accept all film genres (fiction, animation, experimental and documentary shorts, as well as video art) with a duration of up to 30 minutes.

The 13th Edition develops upon the title ‘Untiling the Mosaic’. Our world is a mosaic composed of tiles so different from one another. Differences in sex, in religion,  in beliefs, in history,  in perceptions, in taste, in financial or societal status. We used to consider differences as a source of enmity. Later on, we realized that we must learn how to live together with our differences but we haven’t been taught how to do it. It is about time to "untile" the tiles of our world's mosaic. To reintroduce the difference and what's the impact it has on us and therefore find ourselves "anew in an untiled mosaic” where the difference is not something that needs special treatment but it is a solid part of our being.

We are looking forward to receiving your shorts and experiencing a multicultural experience together in Balkans Beyond Borders Short Film Festival’s next destination Bitola, North Macedonia.  Our Pre-selection Committee consisting of young professionals in the film industry and media will ensure a fruitful, strong quality programme including different gazes on this year’s festival. Our International Jury Team consists of well-known professionals from the cinematographic field who will award the BBB BEST FILM award (1000€), as well as the BBB FIRST ENTRY award (500€) and three Special Mentions. Last but not least the audience will vote for the BBB Audience award (300€).

Balkans Beyond Borders Short Film Festival is an annual thematic short-film festival that takes place in a different European city every year with a special focus in South-Eastern Europe, thus maximizing its regional impact on promoting the Balkan culture and European values. It engages new audiences and promotes inter-Balkan cooperation. BBB Short Film Festival is a hub for productive networking and cooperation among the region’s community of filmmakers, art professionals, stakeholders, cultural organizations and partners.

In 2021 our Festival travelled back to Athens, launching a new tradition of twin cities, by returning every year to its hometown. Therefore, the Competition Programme of the 13th edition will travel after the festival’s completion to Athens maximizing the visibility of the successful films.

Learn more about the application process at Balkans Beyond Borders’ website.

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