The Telemach Youth Film Festival Sarajevo has officially announced its 17th edition by opening submissions for all competitive sections of the Festival.

One year before reaching its milestone of adulthood, Telemach OFF is gearing up for a record-breaking event featuring 90 films, 8 days of programming, and the 6th edition of the OFF Pro Film Market.

Currently, submissions are open for the competitive sections OFF Shorts, OFF Generation Shorts, and CineBloom—a new addition to the Festival. Submissions are processed via the platform FilmFreeway.

 

CineBloom: A Platform for Fresh Voices

CineBloom is a section dedicated to celebrating new and emerging voices in cinema. It serves as a platform for feature-length films by up-and-coming filmmakers, with a particular focus on the European region. This section aims to support new talent, providing a space where bold visions and innovative storytelling find their first audience. CineBloom connects aspiring filmmakers with an audience eager to experience the future of cinema today.

The section includes the CineBloom Critique Award, a prize of €3,000. For the first time, Telemach OFF will feature competitive feature films across two sections.

Additional Sections

In addition to these three competitive sections, Telemach OFF will also showcase feature films in the Wolf Competition (14+) and various non-competitive programs such as OFF Screen, OFF Retrospective, OFF: In Focus, and OFF Make It Short.

 

Terms and Conditions

  • Submission Deadline: The final submission deadline is May 1, 2025. Submission fees will increase in two phases: after the Early Bird and Regular submission periods.
  • Submissions are free for filmmakers from Bosnia and Herzegovina across all categories and submission phases.
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Eligibility Criteria:

  1. OFF Generation Shorts and Features categories:
    • Independent filmmakers without production companies or distributors.
    • Independent productions, production companies, and distributors.
    • Films produced in 2023 that have not been screened in Bosnia and Herzegovina, or any films produced in 2024 and early 2025.
  2. OFF Shorts category: Filmmakers must be 27 years old or younger, while for other categories, the age limit is 37 years.

 

Films in post-production can be submitted with a screener, with the final version required by May 1, 2025.

Priority will be given to films with world, European, or national premieres.

Selection Process:
Film selection will occur from February to mid-May 2025. Filmmakers, producers, and distributors of selected films will be notified during or after the selection period and informed about the participation terms.

View Terms and Conditions.

 

Awards

In 2025, the Telemach Youth Film Festival Sarajevo will present the following awards:

  • Best Short Film (OFF Generation Shorts): €2,500 (awarded by an international jury).
  • CineBloom Critique Award: €3,000 (awarded by an international jury).
  • Best Short Film (OFF Shorts): €1,000 (awarded by the youth jury).
  • Best Feature Film (Wolf Competition): €1,000 (awarded by the youth jury).
  • Audience Award for Best Feature Film (OFF Generation Features): €1,500.

Special recognitions and program sector awards may also be granted at the discretion of the jury.

The Festival reserves the right to modify the call details, with updates published on the Festival’s website.

 

 

The call for projects in development will open on February 1, 2025.

For information about festival activities throughout the year and details regarding film submissions, visit www.omladinski.ba. For submission inquiries, contact program@omladinski.ba.

The 17th edition of the Telemach Youth Film Festival Sarajevo will take place from July 18–25, 2025. As in previous years, the Festival will feature accompanying programs such as the OFF Buzz music program, the OFF Pro Film Market, numerous OFF Talks, and special Festival guests.