Competition Rules

Eligibility

The Warsaw Glitch competition programmes are open to filmmakers, artists, and creators worldwide. To be eligible for submission:

• Films must have been completed after January 1, 2024.
• Submitters must hold all necessary rights to the work, including music, footage, and any third-party materials used.
• There are no restrictions on nationality, age, or professional status unless specified for a particular category.
• Works previously submitted to Warsaw Glitch in prior editions are not eligible for re-submission.

Submission Requirements

All submissions must be made through our official submission platform, FilmFreeway. Each submission must include:

• A completed submission form with accurate project details, including title, runtime, year of completion, country of origin, and synopsis.
• A screening link (Vimeo or similar) with password. Links must remain active until at least September 30, 2026.
• At least two high-resolution production stills (minimum 1920×1080 pixels) and a director's photo.
• The applicable submission fee as listed on our FilmFreeway page. Fee waivers may be granted at the Festival's discretion.

Submissions that are incomplete or do not meet the technical requirements may be disqualified without notice.

Entry Categories

Warsaw Glitch features three distinct competition programmes:

• GLITCH Awards — the main competition programme for narrative, documentary, and experimental films. Open to short films (up to 30 minutes) and feature-length works (over 30 minutes).
• Pixel Awards — dedicated to digital art, interactive media, music videos, and new media works that push the boundaries of visual storytelling and technology.
• Animaticon — the animation competition programme celebrating animated short films, experimental animation, and motion design across all techniques and styles.

Submitters may enter multiple categories provided each entry meets the respective category requirements. The Festival reserves the right to reassign a submission to a more appropriate category.

Selection Process

The selection process consists of two stages:

• Pre-selection — all eligible submissions are reviewed by the Festival's programming team. Works are evaluated on artistic merit, originality, technical quality, and relevance to the Festival's themes.
• Final selection — shortlisted works are reviewed by the Artistic Director and senior programmers. Selected films are notified via email and announced on the Festival's official channels.

All selection decisions are final. The Festival is not obligated to provide feedback on submissions that are not selected.

Jury

Each competition programme is judged by an independent jury composed of industry professionals, filmmakers, artists, and cultural figures. Jury members are appointed by the Festival's Artistic Director. Jury members may not judge works in which they have a personal or professional involvement. Jury deliberations are confidential, and all jury decisions are final and binding.

Awards & Prizes

Awards are presented at the official Warsaw Glitch Closing Ceremony. Prize details, including monetary awards and special recognitions, are announced on the Festival's website prior to the event. Winners are expected to attend the ceremony in person or provide a video acceptance message.

Monetary prizes are subject to applicable tax regulations under Polish law. The Festival will provide the necessary documentation for tax purposes.

Rights & Licenses

By submitting a work, the entrant grants Warsaw Glitch the following non-exclusive rights:

• The right to screen the work at Festival events and any associated touring programmes.
• The right to use excerpts (up to 3 minutes), stills, and promotional materials for Festival marketing, press coverage, and archival purposes.
• The right to include the work in Festival highlight reels and retrospective programmes.

All other rights remain with the creator. The Festival does not claim ownership of submitted works.

Disqualification

The Festival reserves the right to disqualify any entry at any stage of the process if:

• The submission contains false or misleading information.
• The submitter does not hold the necessary rights to the work or any of its constituent elements.
• The work infringes upon the intellectual property rights of any third party.
• The screening link becomes unavailable during the selection period.

Disputes

Any disputes arising from the competition or these rules shall be resolved in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Poland. The Festival's decisions on all matters relating to the competition are final. In the event of any ambiguity in these rules, the Festival's interpretation shall prevail.