Generation Regulations

The Berlin International Film Festival has dedicated a section to children and young people since 1978. Generation makes the diversity of contemporary film culture accessible to young people and involves them in the Festival’s discourse on cinema, in an age-appropriate way. The section is a platform for outstanding children’s and youth films. The selected programme also provides a focus for productions which have appeal for children and young people due to their form and content and regardless of genre. Films screened within the Generation context are thereby given the opportunity to develop and enhance their market potential.

The section heads invite films to take part in two competitions for different age groups: The feature-length and short films screened in Generation Kplus are geared towards young people aged from four to thirteen and up. Feature-length and short films aimed at young people aged 14 and up are presented in the Generation 14plus competition. Each film is given a specific age recommendation which has no upper limit.
Feature films, documentaries and animation films compete side by side in both programmes.

World premieres are given priority.
German Films must be world premieres.

Accepted formats: 35mm, HDCAM, QuickTime ProRes 422 LT or DCP (other formats only upon request)
Date of completion: Within the 12 months prior to the Festival

Eligible films for Generation are:

feature films, documentaries and animation films of at least 60 minutes running time which

• have not been released in Europe other than in their country of origin.
• have not been screened at any other German or European film festival (a presentation at national festivals / national showcases in the country of origin will be accepted).
• have neither been broadcast nor presented in the internet / VOD other than in their country of origin.

short films (maximum length of 30 minutes) which

• have not participated in a festival in Germany.
• had no theatrical release / public screening in Germany.
• have not been broadcast nor presented in the Internet /VOD other than in their country of origin

The Festival Director has the right to settle any cases not covered by the regulations.

All films have to be registered online at online film entry. The entry fee is € 125 for feature length films and € 50 for short films and payment can be effected by credit card only (Visa, American Express, Mastercard) during the online submission process.

After consultation with the section heads, the Festival Director invites films to participate in the Generation section. The section heads also decide in which competition of the section a selected film will be programmed and receive advice and assistance from a selection committee.

The online application and the preview screener for the selection process must be received within the appropriate deadline.

Formats accepted for selection are film prints, DVD, and Blu-ray (region free / all regions). For other formats please contact the section directly.
If you apply for several sections and your submission format is DVD / Blu-ray, you are kindly requested to possibly send two screeners to our attention.

There is also the possibility to upload a short film within the online film entry process. More information can be found at infosheet upload.

All films must be submitted in the original version. Non-English language films must be subtitled in English.

All selected films are screened in their original version with English subtitles. The producer is required to meet the costs of subtitling. The version released or planned for release in the country of origin is regarded as the original version.

Generation Kplus films will be presented with an additional German voice-over performed by professional speakers. For this reason, a complete dialogue list in the original language must be supplied for every film invited to this section.

A complete list of material required for the film’s presentation and a participation form will be sent out with the official invitation.

An eleven-member Children’s Jury awards Crystal Bears to the best feature-length and best short film in the Generation Kplus Competition.

The Crystal Bears for the best feature-length and best short film of the Generation 14plus Competition are selected by a seven-person Youth Jury.

The jurors are appointed by the Festival Director at the recommendation of the section heads.

The awards donated by the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk (German Child Support Organisation) to films screening in the Generation Kplus Competition are decided upon by the Kplus International Jury, which is appointed by the Festival Director at the recommendation of the section heads. This jury comprises at least three film professionals.

The awards donated by the Bundeszentrale für Politische Bildung to films screening in the Generation 14plus Competition are decided upon by the 14plus International Jury, which is appointed by the Festival Director at the recommendation of the section heads. This jury comprises three film professionals.

No person who has participated in the production or commercial exploitation of a film in competition may serve on the juries.

The four juries meet and deliberate separately, according to their own procedures. The section heads may attend the deliberations but do not vote. Jury decisions are based on a majority vote. Jury members are sworn to secrecy, even after the Festival is over.

The Children’s Jury is obliged to award the following prizes to the directors of films in the Generation Kplus Competition:

• The Crystal Bear for the Best Film
• The Crystal Bear for the Best Short Film

In addition, the Children’s Jury may award a Special Jury Mention in both categories, according to criteria which may change from year to year.

The Youth Jury is obliged to award the following prizes to the directors of films in the Generation 14plus Competition:

• The Crystal Bear for the Best Film
• The Crystal Bear for the Best Short Film

In addition, the Youth Jury may award a Special Jury Mention in both categories, according to criteria that change from year to year.

The Kplus International Jury is obliged to award the following prizes to the directors of films the Generation Kplus Competition:

• The Grand Prix of the Generation Kplus International Jury for the best feature film, endowed with € 7,500 by the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk
• The Special Prize of the Generation Kplus International Jury for the best short film, endowed with € 2,500 by the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk

In addition, the Kplus International Jury may award a Special Jury Mention in both categories, according to criteria that change from year to year.

The 14plus International Jury is obliged to award the following prizes to the directors of films the Generation 14plus Competition:

• The Grand Prix of the Generation 14plus International Jury for the best feature film, endowed with € 7,500 by the Bundeszentrale für Politische Bildung (Federal Agency for Civic Education)
• The Special Prize of the Generation 14plus International Jury for the best short film, endowed with € 2,500 by the Bundeszentrale für Politische Bildung (Federal Agency for Civic Education)

In addition, the 14plus International Jury may award a Special Jury Mention in both categories, according to criteria that change from year to year.

Each film selected receives a Certificate of Participation.

For any further questions, please consult the General Regulations of the Berlin International Film Festival.