Innsbruck Nature Film Festival (INFF) is an international film competition on the topic of nature, environment or/and sustainability. We are offering filmmakers from all over the world a platform for presenting their latest work. Our focus is set on documentaries from short to feature length as well as on animation short films.
This year, we started a new category: “Green Fiction Films", open for short, mid-length and feature-length films.
And we offer two more Special Awards: "Quality of Life in the Alps" and “Best Film on the Topic of Biodiversity”; both are eligible for all shortlisted films.

The 23rd edition of INFF will take place from October 9-13 2024.

During our five festival days around 50 curated films will be screened and we invite filmmakers to take part in Q&A’s, panels and video interviews. We also organise a high-quality side program: scientific talks, networking events, industry meetings, mountain excursions, art exhibitions, a Director‘s Lunch etc. in order to engage an on-topic, ecological and creative discourse.

The venue is Metropol cinema in Innsbruck where we can show films on big screens up to 280 spectators and use the „Couch-room“ for cozy discussions.

Our juries, composed of international and high profile members, select the winners of the following prizes & awards:
* „GRAND PRIZE for the best NATURE DOCUMENTARY” worth 3.000 € donated by Innsbruck Tourismus
* “GRAND PRIZE for the best ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTARY” worth 3.000 € donated by the City of Innsbruck
* „BEST SHORT DOC” worth 1.500 €
* „BEST ANIMATION SHORT FILM“ worth 1.500 €
* “BEST SHORTFILM4KIDS” worth 1.500 € - the winner will be selected by the audience right after the screening
* “BEST GREEN FICTION FILM”, worth 2000 €

SPECIAL AWARDS (eligible to all shortlisted films):
* NEW: “BEST FILM QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE ALPS”, worth 2000 € donated by the Alpine Convention
* NEW: "BEST FILM ON THE TOPIC OF BIODIVERSITY" worth 2000 € donated by Naturschutzbund Österreich
* „WILD WOMEN AWARD“ worth 2.000 € donated by ORF/UNIVERSUM. Highlights female directors in the field of nature/environmental documentary
* „CHRISTIAN BERGER CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD” worth 1.500 € (non-cash-prize). Personally selected by Christian Berger, Academy-Award nominated cameraman and producer
* „BEST FILM ON THE TOPIC OF SOIL“ worth 2.000 € – selected by a group of European soil-experts for the 10th time!

Prizes and awards may change due to unforeseen circumstances.

Please submit your film only...
* … if it is related to the topics of NATURE and/or THE ENVIRONMENT and/or SUSTAINABILITY and/or BETTER LIFE
* and if it's not older than 2022 (year of production).

SUBMISSION
Films can be submitted in the following categories :
ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTARY (max. 100 min.)
NATURE DOCUMENTARY (max. 100 min.)
SHORT DOC (max. 20 min.)
ANIMATION SHORT (max. 20 min.)
SHORTFILM4KIDS (fiction or doc or animation, max. 15 min)
GREEN FICTION FILM (max. 120 min.)

The Curator and the Jury reserve the right to change the entrant’s choice of category in her/his favour.

* Max. two film contributions per director may be submitted to the competition.
* Films that are still in the making are eligible for submission if they will be completed at least one month prior to the start of the festival. Please get in touch to discuss how to proceed.

The application is only valid with the submission of the following:
* A fully completed online-application form including synopsis, photos and a trailer of your film if available; it makes our team’s task and the jury work much easier.
* Access to an online-screener (via FilmFreeway, YouTube, Vimeo etc.) that will work until the end of the Festival.
* Successful payment of the submission fee.

LANGUAGE/SUBTITLES
* All non-English submissions must have English or German subtitles.
* German films should have English subtitles (for our international Jury and preferably also for the festival screening).
* For the category “Shortfilm4Kids” German dubbing is mandatory.
* Best option for the local and international audience: German dubbing and English subtitles.

SHORT LIST / SELECTED FILMS
All entrants will receive a confirmation E-mail by the end of June 2024 whether they are selected for the competition (Short List) or for a screening out of competition – or not. 
In addition, a member of our hospitality team will contact the director (or another representative of the team) to arrange a personal or online appearance at the screening in Innsbruck. We support the travel of the filmmakers to Innsbruck within the financial possibilities of the festival. We encourage to travel as environmentally friendly as possible.
Withdrawal from the competition is no longer possible after the shortlist has been published end of August 2024.

GENERAL TERMS
Registration of a film for the INFF implies acceptance of these conditions of participation.

Entrants automatically consent to the submitted film being shown at INFF. The Festival also includes the „INFF on Tour Program“ we organise in collaboration with selected Austrian institutions after the main Festival with the focus on Tyrol. The Festival and these additional events are non-commercial, their purpose is educational or to provide a forum for the genre of nature, wildlife and environmental films that will open up new audiences. You will be informed about any additional screening.

With submission of the film the submitter agrees that parts of the film may be used for announcement purposes for the Festival. Any other use not mentioned in these Terms of Participation will be agreed with the entrant. The festival also reserves the right to make a password-protected copy of the film available to jury members, selected representatives of the press, panelists or selected professional visitors. 

INFF does not pay screening or technical fees. 
If the film wins a prize in 2024, the prize money and/or prize will be sent out until the end of 2024. 

By submitting the film the entrant confirms that they possess all the rights necessary for their film to be screened at a public film festival (e.g. music, film excerpts from other productions …). They affirm that its use does not infringe any copyrights or performance rights of third parties and undertakes to indemnify and hold the organiser free from any liability regarding claim/ claims of third parties in this context. Furthermore, any film(s) containing racist, sexist, religiously derogatory or inflammatory content will be excluded from the competition.

In case of changes in the execution of the event or if the event is cancelled, the organiser is not liable for damages to the participant. This agreement does not constitute a service or company relationship between the participant and the organiser. All disputes arising from this agreement shall be settled before the competent court in Innsbruck.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Paddy Schmitt

    It was an honor and a pleasure to be a part of it. Nice and friendly people, good films and a beautiful place! THX YOU

    November 2023
  • isobel cope-ladstätter

    Amazing festival! it's so inclusive and has a great vibe

    November 2023
  • Yaz Ellis

    Attending Innsbruck Nature Film Festival has always been a highlight for me as a filmmaker and this year was no exception. It is a really lovely film festival with a stunning selection of films. The festival organisers, staff and volunteers are so friendly and helpful. Surrounded by beautiful mountains, it is a great place to celebrate your film with screenings and Q&As. And to meet fantastic filmmakers through a variety of organised events including lunches, drinks, hikes, and the award-ceremony.

    November 2023
  • Sönje Storm

    What a fine Festival! I felt very welcomed by the INFF team and community. Our film ( Dead Birds Flying High) had a well organized screening and Q&A (thanks Nina!) with a super audience. The whole organisation and communication was very good, I enjoyed the networking, talks and films a lot. Would be great to come back!

    November 2023
  • Joel Penner

    I was so happy to attend INFF this year with my film Wrought, where it won the Best Short Film Award. The festival organizers were kind and hospitable, and I enjoyed the parties, films, talks and associated events like a hike at the top of a mountain! Thanks so much INFF for the amazing experience!

    November 2023