The Artikas International Human Rights Short Film Festival is an international cinematic event organized by the Association Culturelle et Médiatique Artikas (ACMA), a French non-profit cultural organization based in the Île-de-France region.

Founded on the principles of human dignity, freedom of expression, cultural diversity, and artistic independence, the festival celebrates cinema as a universal language capable of inspiring dialogue, fostering empathy, and promoting social awareness.

Under the motto “Shining a Light on Humanity,” the festival welcomes filmmakers from around the world whose works explore the human condition with artistic integrity, emotional depth, and social relevance.

FESTIVAL THEME:
The festival is dedicated exclusively to Human Rights. We encourage films addressing, among other subjects:
– Human dignity
– Freedom and justice
– Equality and non-discrimination
– Refugees and migration
– Women’s rights
– Children’s rights
– Freedom of expression
– Cultural identity
– Peace and coexistence
– Social resilience
– Environmental justice
– Inclusion and diversity
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Awards & Prizes
OFFICIAL AWARDS:
– Grand Jury Prize
– Best Director Award
– Best Human Rights Film
– Women’s Gaze Award
– Special Jury Mention

* The Jury reserves the right not to present an award if no film meets the required artistic standard.

OFFICIAL SELECTION BENEFITS:
All officially selected films benefit from:
– Official screening during the festival
– Official Selection Laurel
– Inclusion in the official festival catalogue
– International exposure through the festival’s communication channels
– Professional written critical review prepared by the festival jury
– Eligibility for the Artikas Screening Series following the festival
– Consideration for future artistic collaborations organized by ACMA
–

Rules & Terms
ELIGIBILITY:
– Accepted genres: Fiction Short Films, Documentary Short Films, Animated Short Films.
– Maximum running time: 15 minutes (including credits).
– Production completion date: After 1 January 2023.
– Each director may submit a maximum of two (2) films.
– Films in languages other than English or French must include English or French subtitles.
– Films previously screened at other festivals remain eligible.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:
– Formats: MP4 (.mp4), MOV (.mov)
– Video Resolution: Minimum 1920 × 1080 (Full HD). 4K (UHD) is welcome.
– Codec: H.264 or H.265 (HEVC)
– Recommended bitrate: Full HD (Minimum 20 Mbps), 4K (Minimum 50 Mbps)
– Audio: AAC or PCM
– Subtitles: Embedded subtitles or separate high-quality .SRT file.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
By submitting a film, the applicant confirms that:
– They hold all necessary rights for the submitted work.
– All music, images, archive materials, and third-party content are legally cleared.
– The festival bears no responsibility for copyright disputes.
– Submission fees are non-refundable.
– Once officially selected, a film cannot be withdrawn from the festival.
– The festival may use excerpts (up to 60 seconds), trailers, posters, still photographs, and promotional materials exclusively for communication and promotional purposes.