Application for the Starter Film Award

Description

Every year, the City of Munich awards three Starter Film Prizes, each endowed with 8,000 euros, for artistically outstanding films, especially by young, not yet established Munich filmmakers, whose work demonstrates a creative approach to the medium and stylistic innovation.

In addition, a starter film prize / production will be awarded - as a monetary benefit for the post-production of a future film in the amount of 8,000 euros, donated by PHAROS - The Post Group.

A self-application is required.

The Starter Film Awards are presented during the Munich Film Festival.

Prerequisites

Only up-and-coming directors who are at the beginning of a professional directing career can apply. Amateur or hobby filmmakers are not eligible to apply.

Works from the fields of fiction, documentary and experimental film as well as children's and youth films are accepted, whereby the film length is not prescribed. The Starter Film Prize / Production supports particularly courageous and creative film productions that are characterised by high quality despite a low budget.

only productions that were completed in 2024 are eligible. The copyright year (credits) contained in the submitted film is decisive. Films must be available in suitable cinema screening formats such as DCP or BluRay at the time of application. Note for students: Excluded is the "Film 01", or the film from the first year of study or previous productions. Applicants must live in Munich (MVV catchment area).

Required documents

The application must be submitted in a single PDF:

• A fully completed application form
• a viewing link of the proposed film, which must be fully accessible to the jury by the end of April of the competition year
• Information material on
  
  • information material on the filmmaker (biography and filmography)
  • About the film: synopsis (including background if applicable), genre, film length, tech specs
  • Complete production staff of the film
  • Precise details of the production budget, including props

In the event of a nomination, the applicant will provide a specimen copy (BluRay/DVD) upon request.

All documents (including the application form) must be received in a single PDF by Friday, 31 January 2025, 23:59 at the latest by email to starterfilmpreise@muenchen.de.
The PDF must not exceed a total size of 5 MB and must be named as follows: Surname_Film_Title_Starter25

Submission by post:

If it is not possible for you to send the application by e-mail as a PDF, you can send your documents by post in seven copies with seven BluRays/DVDs by Friday, 31 January 2025, midnight (the postmark will apply) in exceptional cases:

Cultural Department of the City of Munich
Department 1 / Starter film prizes
Burgstraße 4
80331 Munich

Submission by fax is excluded. Incomplete applications and applications that are not submitted by the deadline cannot be considered. The Cultural Department accepts no liability for the documents submitted.

Legal basis

The award is decided by the City Council of the City of Munich on the recommendation of an independent jury.