regulations.
1. General Provisions
1.1. SUSPENSE Film Fest is an international competitive festival of audience-driven genre and hybrid cinema.
1.2. By submitting a film to the Festival, the applicant confirms full acceptance of these Rules and the Festival Regulations.
1.3. The Festival is held in several stages:
– Selection Stage;
– Final / Competition Stage.
2. Eligibility
2.1. The Festival accepts completed audiovisual works.
2.2. Work-in-progress versions, rough cuts, unfinished edits, films with temporary sound or technical watermarks are generally not accepted.
2.3. The Festival is open to authors, producers, studios, film companies, educational institutions, distributors and rights holders from any country.
2.4. Premiere status is not required. Previous participation in other festivals, public screenings or online availability does not prevent a film from being submitted.
2.5. The film must comply with the legislation of the Russian Federation. The applicant is responsible for securing all necessary copyright, neighboring, music and other rights.
3. Categories
3.1. Films are accepted in the following categories:
– Feature Films;
– Short Films;
– Series Pilots;
– Experimental Films;
– Animated Films;
– AI-Generated Films;
– Vertical Micro-Shorts.
3.2. Each film must be submitted to one main category.
3.3. The Festival Directorate reserves the right to move a film to a more suitable category without any additional fee.
3.4. The Festival Directorate reserves the right to merge, divide or not form separate categories if there are not enough submissions or if the submitted works do not meet the required artistic and technical level.
4. Submission
4.1. Submissions are accepted online through the official Festival website or through specialized festival platforms.
4.2. The application must include an active screening link or file. If a password is required, the applicant must ensure that it remains valid until the end of the Festival.
4.3. The Festival Directorate is not obliged to request access again if the film is unavailable, the password is invalid or the file is damaged.
4.4. By submitting a film, the applicant confirms that they have the necessary authority to submit the film and provide materials to the Festival.
5. Submission Fee
5.1. A submission fee is charged for the submission, administrative processing and review of each application.
5.2. After submission, no additional mandatory fees are charged for participation in the competition or in-person program, finalist status or awards.
5.3. The submission fee does not guarantee selection, inclusion in the competition program, finalist status, an in-person screening, a diploma, an award or a special mention.
5.4. The submission fee is non-refundable in case of rejection, non-selection as a finalist, non-inclusion in the in-person program, failure to receive an award, withdrawal by the applicant, inactive link, invalid password, failure to provide required materials, or changes to the program, schedule, jury, venue or Festival format.
6. Selection and Program
6.1. All submissions undergo an administrative check and preliminary review by the Selection Committee.
6.2. Based on the selection results, the competition program, list of finalists and in-person program of the Festival are formed.
6.3. The competition program, finalists and in-person program are formed separately. Selection or finalist status does not guarantee a public screening of the film.
6.4. The in-person program is formed with regard to film duration, technical specifications, age ratings, language, program concept, venue capacity and legal requirements.
6.5. The Festival Directorate reserves the right not to include a film in the competition or in-person program without explanation.
6.6. The Festival does not provide individual reviews, feedback, analyses or comments on the selection results.
7. Jury and Awards
7.1. Films in the competition programs are evaluated by a professional Jury.
7.2. The Jury is formed and approved by the Festival Directorate.
7.3. Decisions of the Festival Directorate, Selection Committee and Jury are final and are not subject to appeal, review or reconsideration.
7.4. Main, genre, professional, special and partner awards may be presented at the Festival.
7.5. The Jury reserves the right not to present certain awards if there are no works that meet the professional and artistic level of the Festival.
8. Rights and Responsibility
8.1. All exclusive copyright and neighboring rights to the film remain with their respective rights holders.
8.2. By submitting a film, the applicant grants the Festival a free, non-exclusive right to use the film and accompanying materials to the extent necessary for selection, evaluation, festival screenings, informational and promotional support of the Festival.
8.3. The Festival has the right to use the film title, synopsis, poster, trailer, stills, excerpts, photos and biographies of the authors, crew information and other submitted materials.
8.4. All third-party claims related to copyright, neighboring rights, music rights and other rights to the film and submitted materials must be resolved by the applicant independently and at their own expense.
9. Final Provisions
9.1. The main Festival event will take place on September 12, 2026 in Tyumen, Russia.
9.2. The Festival Directorate reserves the right to change the order, time, venue, program, Jury composition or format of the Festival.
9.3. Travel, accommodation, meals, visas, insurance and other expenses related to attending the Festival are covered by the participants, unless otherwise provided in a personal written invitation from the Festival Directorate.
9.4. The Festival Directorate reserves the right to amend these Rules and the Festival Regulations. Any changes will be published on the official Festival information resources.
1.1. SUSPENSE Film Fest is an international competitive festival of audience-driven genre and hybrid cinema.
1.2. By submitting a film to the Festival, the applicant confirms full acceptance of these Rules and the Festival Regulations.
1.3. The Festival is held in several stages:
– Selection Stage;
– Final / Competition Stage.
2. Eligibility
2.1. The Festival accepts completed audiovisual works.
2.2. Work-in-progress versions, rough cuts, unfinished edits, films with temporary sound or technical watermarks are generally not accepted.
2.3. The Festival is open to authors, producers, studios, film companies, educational institutions, distributors and rights holders from any country.
2.4. Premiere status is not required. Previous participation in other festivals, public screenings or online availability does not prevent a film from being submitted.
2.5. The film must comply with the legislation of the Russian Federation. The applicant is responsible for securing all necessary copyright, neighboring, music and other rights.
3. Categories
3.1. Films are accepted in the following categories:
– Feature Films;
– Short Films;
– Series Pilots;
– Experimental Films;
– Animated Films;
– AI-Generated Films;
– Vertical Micro-Shorts.
3.2. Each film must be submitted to one main category.
3.3. The Festival Directorate reserves the right to move a film to a more suitable category without any additional fee.
3.4. The Festival Directorate reserves the right to merge, divide or not form separate categories if there are not enough submissions or if the submitted works do not meet the required artistic and technical level.
4. Submission
4.1. Submissions are accepted online through the official Festival website or through specialized festival platforms.
4.2. The application must include an active screening link or file. If a password is required, the applicant must ensure that it remains valid until the end of the Festival.
4.3. The Festival Directorate is not obliged to request access again if the film is unavailable, the password is invalid or the file is damaged.
4.4. By submitting a film, the applicant confirms that they have the necessary authority to submit the film and provide materials to the Festival.
5. Submission Fee
5.1. A submission fee is charged for the submission, administrative processing and review of each application.
5.2. After submission, no additional mandatory fees are charged for participation in the competition or in-person program, finalist status or awards.
5.3. The submission fee does not guarantee selection, inclusion in the competition program, finalist status, an in-person screening, a diploma, an award or a special mention.
5.4. The submission fee is non-refundable in case of rejection, non-selection as a finalist, non-inclusion in the in-person program, failure to receive an award, withdrawal by the applicant, inactive link, invalid password, failure to provide required materials, or changes to the program, schedule, jury, venue or Festival format.
6. Selection and Program
6.1. All submissions undergo an administrative check and preliminary review by the Selection Committee.
6.2. Based on the selection results, the competition program, list of finalists and in-person program of the Festival are formed.
6.3. The competition program, finalists and in-person program are formed separately. Selection or finalist status does not guarantee a public screening of the film.
6.4. The in-person program is formed with regard to film duration, technical specifications, age ratings, language, program concept, venue capacity and legal requirements.
6.5. The Festival Directorate reserves the right not to include a film in the competition or in-person program without explanation.
6.6. The Festival does not provide individual reviews, feedback, analyses or comments on the selection results.
7. Jury and Awards
7.1. Films in the competition programs are evaluated by a professional Jury.
7.2. The Jury is formed and approved by the Festival Directorate.
7.3. Decisions of the Festival Directorate, Selection Committee and Jury are final and are not subject to appeal, review or reconsideration.
7.4. Main, genre, professional, special and partner awards may be presented at the Festival.
7.5. The Jury reserves the right not to present certain awards if there are no works that meet the professional and artistic level of the Festival.
8. Rights and Responsibility
8.1. All exclusive copyright and neighboring rights to the film remain with their respective rights holders.
8.2. By submitting a film, the applicant grants the Festival a free, non-exclusive right to use the film and accompanying materials to the extent necessary for selection, evaluation, festival screenings, informational and promotional support of the Festival.
8.3. The Festival has the right to use the film title, synopsis, poster, trailer, stills, excerpts, photos and biographies of the authors, crew information and other submitted materials.
8.4. All third-party claims related to copyright, neighboring rights, music rights and other rights to the film and submitted materials must be resolved by the applicant independently and at their own expense.
9. Final Provisions
9.1. The main Festival event will take place on September 12, 2026 in Tyumen, Russia.
9.2. The Festival Directorate reserves the right to change the order, time, venue, program, Jury composition or format of the Festival.
9.3. Travel, accommodation, meals, visas, insurance and other expenses related to attending the Festival are covered by the participants, unless otherwise provided in a personal written invitation from the Festival Directorate.
9.4. The Festival Directorate reserves the right to amend these Rules and the Festival Regulations. Any changes will be published on the official Festival information resources.
