General registration and participation guidelines

Introduction

The NaturVision Film Festival (hereinafter referred to as ‘NaturVision’) is a thematic festival focusing on wildlife, nature, the environment and sustainability. Films dealing with these topics are eligible to participate.

Traditionally started as a documentary film festival, NaturVision accepts all types of visual realisation, including fictional formats and animated films.

NaturVision Film Festival creates a platform for actors and audiences in Ludwigsburg

NaturVision is known for its immediacy, particularly through the direct dialogue between audiences and filmmakers. For this reason, the festival attaches great importance to filmmakers being present in person at the screenings of their works.

Please read the general registration and participation guidelines before you start.

International Competition

• Date of completion: after 01.11.2024
• Closing date: until 15.01.2026

Children's Jury Competition

• Date of completion: after 01.11.2023
• Closing date: until 15.01.2026

International Short Film Competition (films up to max. 20 min. length)

• Date of completion: after 01.01.2020
• Closing date: until 05.01.2026

Premiere status
Premieres are favoured in all sections. However, they are not a requirement.

Screening media
To screen films for the International Competition, please send us a screening link with a password. The link must be available at least until 1 June 2026.
Submission of screening copies for the Short Film Award (via Shortfilmdepot) varies from the International Competition and the Children's Jury Award.

Festival screening formats
DCP or Quicktime ProRes, MP4.

Guidelines for registration

1. General information

• Films may be submitted for one or more categories.
• The jury has the option to change the selected submission category.
• Only first works and debut films are accepted in the ‘NaturVision Newcomer Film Award’ category.
• NaturVision does not show any advertising or image films.

2. Processing fee

• The fee is charged to cover administrative costs; therefore, no refunds will be given under any circumstances.
• Processing fee: 60 euros for the first category and 10 euros for each additional category. The amounts include VAT.
• Early Bird: Until 30 November 2025, the submission fees are reduced by 25%.
• The submission fee is payable per film and must be paid within five working days, stating the film title and submitted section, to:

NaturVision Ludwigsburg gGmbH
Account: DE03 6045 0050 0030 2407 13
BIC: SOLADES1LBG
Bank: KSK, Ludwigsburg

• For students: The submission fee for the ‘NaturVision Newcomer Film Award’ category is waived upon presentation of a certificate of enrolment.

3. Formular category Short Film

• Please note the separate submission form for the NaturVision Short Film Award.
• The submission fee for the short film award is €30.00 and is charged directly via the Shortfilmdepot platform. There is therefore no additional payment to NaturVision. The amounts include VAT.

The registration form must be completed and submitted by the registration deadline at the latest.

4. Additional material for film submission

The following material must be submitted by 22 January 2026 at the latest.

Submission procedure:

1. The documents are submitted in digital form using the online submission form.
2. Additional material shall be sent by email or via data transfer, for example via WeTransfer, stating the film title to festival@natur-vision.org.

In detail:

• Viewing link, preferably validated with a password (valid until 1 June 2026).
• Film description/synopsis: Text length of 50 to 100 words. The description also serves as the basis for the texts in the programme catalogue.
• Filmmakers Intention/Producers Intention: Text length from 50 to 100 words.
• Cast and Crew: A complete and verified list of all contributors, which serves as the basis for the filmographic information for all publications.
• Photos: At least three meaningful film photos (1500 pixels on the long side). By submitting the photos, you grant the publication rights for these photos for advertising and/or illustration purposes (print and web).
• Trailer: Input if available
• Press clippings and press kit: Submit if available
• Film language: If the film does not exist in a German language version, it should either be dubbed into German or subtitled in German or English.
• Film Music Award Competition Section: For submissions to the ‘NaturVision Film Music Award’ section, it is necessary to submit a music list specifying the musical work, composer(s) and the respective film scene (time code).
• Submitted documents will not be returned.

The submission of the aforementioned documents is mandatory and forms part of the complete application.

Shipping conditions:

Delivery is always digital, without postal dispatch.

In the event of postal dispatch, all documents must be sent carriage paid. Cash on delivery shipments will not be accepted. NaturVision does not accept any submissions for which shipping fees, duties, taxes or customs fees are payable and accepts no responsibility for any return shipments.

Legal information

1. Screening permission, special events, best-of compilations

• By submitting their entry, the submitting party gives their consent for their production to be included in the NaturVision archive.
• By submitting their entry, the submitting party gives their consent for the submitted film to be shown at the NaturVision Film Festival. Furthermore, they agree to make excerpts of up to three minutes from the submitted film available free of charge for promotional purposes for the festival (radio/television/web).
• The NaturVision Film Festival includes the NaturVision school programme and events at which individual films are shown to promote the festival. In cooperation with various institutions, ‘Best Of NaturVision’ events (‘NaturVision Film Days’) are held, at which films from the festival programme are shown.
  These events, like the festival itself, are not commercial.

By submitting the form, the submitting party agrees or declines to allow the submitted film to be shown at these events.

• Online special: In the event that the film is made available via a NaturVision online platform, prior consultation with the rights holders shall take place.
• No remuneration will be paid for the screening of films at the above-mentioned events.

2. Rights

• NaturVision undertakes to use the submitted films only for the purposes specified in the regulations. Any other use not mentioned in these conditions of participation will be agreed with the submitting party.
• By officially submitting the film, the submitting party confirms that it holds all rights required for the screening of the film at NaturVision. It is assured that no copyrights or performance rights of third parties will be infringed by the use of the film. Likewise, the submitting party assures that it has obtained the consent of all other persons involved in the production to participate in the festival.

3. Conduct of the competition / Prizes

• If a submitted film is selected for the programme or competition, you will be notified and asked to provide a screening copy.
• Within the ‘NaturVision Competition’, prizes are awarded in various categories by an independent jury of experts. The jury is appointed annually. The appointment is made on the recommendation of the festival management. The jury's decisions are final.
• Prize money of varying amounts will be awarded. The respective sums and the categories for which prize money is awarded may vary and depend on the funds available in the current year. The prize money is intended as recognition of the creativity of the individuals involved (director, writer, cinematographer, music). For this reason, it is not possible to make payments to television stations or production companies.
• All nominated films will be screened during the festival. In addition, other feature-length and short films worth seeing will be selected by the organiser for the festival programme, special events such as the school programme or best-ofs.

Submission of a film constitutes acceptance of the above rules. In exceptional and unspecified cases, the festival management shall make the final decision.

In case of doubt, the German version of the rules shall apply.

German law applies and the exclusive place of jurisdiction is Ludwigsburg.

NaturVision reserves the right to decide on all cases not expressly covered by this document.

Further information is available here:

NaturVision Filmfestival

NaturVision Ludwigsburg gGmbH
Coordination of film competition and industry guests: festival@natur-vision.org
Contact: Maggie Schnaudt

Tel +49 (0) 1520 8725 112

Ludwigsburg, 10 September 202