10/03/2023 - The international documentary festival taking place on the island of Castellorizo is inviting documentary directors to submit their films before 30 April

The eighth edition of the International Documentary Festival Beyond Borders is set to take place from 20-27 August on the charming island of Castellorizo. Once again, the Aegean island will become a hub where documentaries meet history and culture.

Last year's festival was a tremendous success, with 790 films submitted from 100 different countries. Twenty-six films had their world, international, or national premieres at the festival, and a short film competition, called the μicro Competition, was also introduced. Beyond Borders aims to promote important documentary productions from around the world which focus on history, culture, politics, and social issues. The festival has been inviting documentary filmmakers from all over the world to submit their works between the beginning of the year and 30 April.

Beyond Borders offers an exciting experience to audiences from the Mediterranean, Europe, and beyond. The festival showcases films depicting historical and multicultural content, influential figures and events that have shaped and impacted our societies and cultures. The festival is designed to celebrate and emphasize the beauty and importance of cinematic storytelling in our histories and societies, and to connect people, ideas, and perspectives from all over the world through various documentaries. The festival aims to inspire, challenge, and stimulate creative thinking about our past, present, and future. Ultimately, Beyond Borders celebrates the human impact on the world, both past and present, near and far.

The festival is accepting submissions for films finished between 2020 and 2023, prioritising documentary films which explore historical events and influential figures, socio-political issues - both contemporary and non-contemporary - and the promotion of human rights. Additionally, the festival values cross-border perspectives which underscore contemporary cinematic themes and concerns.

For the Official Competition, films should either be medium (30-60 minutes) or feature length (60+ minutes). Short films, on the other hand, which have a duration of up to 30 minutes, can be submitted for the μicro Competition. The latter is sponsored exclusively by German TV channel Phoenix and aims to promote emerging filmmakers. It welcomes entries from promising film students, as well as professional filmmakers' early work, and accepts up to the third film of each director.

Nominations can be submitted either by filling out the relevant application forms available on the festival's website, for the Official Competition and the μicro Competition, or through the FilmFreeway platform.

Beyond Borders is organised by the Hellenic History Foundation (IDISME), in collaboration with Paris-based Ecrans des Mondes and will take place under the patronage of HE the President of the Hellenic Republic, Ms Katerina Sakellaropoulou.