Regulations
XXVI INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL FLAHERTIANA REGULATIONS
Films selected for the competition programs of the XXVI International Documentary Film Festival Flahertiana (hereinafter – the Festival) must follow the aesthetic principles of Robert Flaherty, established in «Nanook of the North» film: long-term observational filming, an unobtrusive camera, and the absence of voiceover narration.
The Festival is centered around its international competition program. Films produced in any country are eligible to participate. The laureates are selected by an international jury.
The Festival will also feature:
— national competition Russian Flahertiana (the winner is selected by the national competition jury);
— student film competition (the winner is selected by the student competition jury);
— non-competitive thematic screenings;
— workshops, discussions, seminars, and panel discussions.
Submitting process of a Film to the International, National, and Student Competitions
To apply for the competition, you must:
— fill out the Official Entry Form on the Festival’s website (https://flahertiana.ru/), providing the applicant’s contact details and an online resource link for viewing or downloading the film. To submit a film to the student competition, the applicant must check the box labeled «Student Competition.»
Preview film copies must be provided with English subtitles (with the exception of films submitted to the national competition and the student competition). No review or feedback will be provided for films submitted to the selection committee.
Schedule
Festival Dates: September 25 – October 1, 2026.
Submission Deadlines:
International and National Competitions: June 1, 2026, 2026 (inclusive).
Student Competition: July 6, 2026 (inclusive).
Accepting Applications for the Festival has ended.
General Requirements for Films in Competition:
1. The film must have been completed on or after January 1, 2025.
2. Films of any duration are accepted, excluding ultra-short films (under 7 minutes).
3. An *English subtitle file in the international .SRT format is mandatory.
4. The festival screening copy must be provided with English subtitles on digital media (acceptable containers: mp4, m2ts, mkv with a minimum resolution of Full HD).
Detailed technical specifications will be sent to the selected participants in a separate document. Should the film copy fail to meet the stated requirements, it will be ineligible for the festival screening.
Film Selection Procedure
Film selection of the Festival is carried out by a Selection Committee under the direction of its Chairman. The Committee reviews submitted applications and also attends the most significant international documentary film festivals to source films for the competition programs. During its final meeting, the Selection Committee determines the list of films to be included in the Festival’s competition programs. The Committee’s decision is advisory in nature. The final list of films for the competition programs is approved by the President of the Festival. The Festival Directorate will notify the applicant — the film’s director, producer, or distributor — of the selection results after July 1, 2026.
If a film is selected for the competition programs, the applicant must additionally submit the following to the Festival by July 15, 2026 (inclusive):
— three full-color film stills (minimum 600 dpi);
— a photograph of the director (minimum 300 dpi);
— published press materials about the film;
— the film’s trailer for use in promoting the film and the Festival;
— an English subtitle file in the international .SRT format (and a Russian *.SRT subtitle file, if available);
— an edit decision list (EDL) or continuity list in Russian or English with timecodes.
Upon selection of a film for the program, the Festival reserves the right to:
— use a three-minute clip from the film to promote the film and the Festival;
— use the film’s trailer to promote the film and the Festival;
— use the provided press materials to promote the film and the Festival;
— retain a copy of the film in mp4 format in the Festival’s archive and use it for non-commercial screenings with educational and cultural purposes, subject to prior agreement with the rights holder.
Rights and Screening Fees
Completing and submitting the official entry form on the Festival’s website constitutes the grant of screening rights for the film at the Festival.
The Festival does not pay screening fees to right holders for the screening of films at the Festival or for the use of film copies for non-commercial educational and cultural purposes. In the event a film wins one or more awards, the Festival reserves the right to schedule two additional screenings on the weekend following the Festival’s closing. The winning film of the international competition will also be screened at the Festival’s closing ceremony.
As an exception, the Festival may, at its sole discretion, decide to pay a screening fee for films included in the program. The terms and fee for screening a particular film are negotiated directly with the film’s distributor or rights holder.
Delivery of Film Screening Copies
The Festival prefers that the screening copy be delivered via upload to the Festival’s FTP server by the participant or through a secure download link in a resolution that meets the technical specifications.
Screening copies of the selected films must be delivered to the Festival Directorate no later than July 31, 2026. Should the film copy and accompanying materials not be received by the Festival Directorate by the specified deadline, the Festival reserves the right to withdraw the film from the competition.
Should the Festival deem it necessary to use a film copy for a press screening, the Festival management will contact the rights holders separately to make the necessary arrangements.
Invitation
The Festival will cover the travel and accommodation expenses in Perm for the director/producer or screenwriter of a film selected for the international or national competition programs (when feasible). This includes round-trip travel from the filmmaker’s city/country of residence to Perm and hotel accommodation for up to 3 days.
Travel and accommodation arrangements for the director/producer or screenwriter of a film selected for the student competition program will be negotiated on an individual basis.
The Festival will cover the travel and accommodation expenses in Perm for jury members of the international, national, and student competitions residing outside Perm. This includes round-trip travel from the jury member’s city/country of residence to Perm and hotel accommodation for the entire duration of the Festival.
In exceptional cases, the Festival may cover the travel and accommodation expenses for participants in the non-competitive program. The duration of the stay and the travel itinerary will be arranged on an individual basis.
Participants who decide to attend the Festival in Perm must notify the organizers of their intended dates of stay no later than July 20, 2026.
Guest Accreditation
Complimentary accreditation for the Festival is available to out-of-town members of the film community involved in documentary film production, distribution, or holding a professional film education. To apply for accreditation, the accreditation form on the Festival’s website must be completed.
The Festival Directorate makes the final decision on granting guest accreditation and, for accredited guests, coordinates the terms and duration of their stay at the Festival, assists with hotel bookings, and arranges return travel tickets. The Festival does not cover travel or accommodation expenses for guest-accredited participants.
Festival Awards
International Competition Jury Awards:
— Grand Prix for Best Film of the Festival – the «Big Golden Nanook» award and a cash prize of 250,000 RUB (awarded to the director).
— «Silver Nanook» Award – for «Discovery of New Subjects and New Heroes» and a cash prize of 75,000 RUB (awarded to the director).
— «Silver Nanook» Award – for «Original Artistic Solution» and a cash prize of 75,000 RUB (awarded to the director).
National Competition Jury Award:
— Prize for Best Film in the National Competition «Russian Flahertiana» – the «Small Golden Nanook» award and a cash prize of 75,000 RUB (awarded to the director).
Student Competition Jury Award:
— Prize for Best Student Film – a cash prize of 50,000 RUB (awarded to the director).
The Audience Award is presented to the director of a film from the International Competition, selected through anonymous audience voting via ballots collected throughout the Festival.
The Festival Organizing Committee and the Juries reserve the right to introduce additional special awards.
Online Events
The Festival program includes online events (workshops, Q&A sessions, live streams of events). Should restrictions prevent theatrical screenings, the Festival’s film screenings may be conducted online. In such cases, the participation of the jury, filmmakers, and guests will be organized in an online format.
In case of any dispute regarding the interpretation of these Rules & Regulations, the Russian language version shall prevail.
Participation in the Festival implies full compliance with all provisions of these Rules & Regulations.
Contacts
Tel.: +7 (342) 241-38-02
Email: festival@flahertiana.ru
Website: flahertiana.ru
