The 44th Oulu International Children’s and Youth Film Festival Competition
Applicant criteria
- 13 - 19
- Both
Opportunity criteria
Opportunity description
Oulu Film Centre is the official organizer of the Oulu International Children's and Youth Film Festival, held annually in the city of Oulu, Finland. The festival was established in 1982 as the first of its kind in Northern Europe dedicated to supporting and promoting the production of films for children and young people. In addition to film screenings, it also hosts educational and awareness-raising activities about cinema, often in cooperation with schools and community settings.
The 44th edition of the festival will take place from 17 to 23 November 2025, featuring official competitions for children's films (up to age 13), youth films (up to age 19), a Finnish national competition, and a European short film competition presented in collaboration with ECFA. Around 15 films are selected for the main children's competition, with the Starboy Award presented by a jury of ten children.
Benefits
- The Starboy Award includes a cash prize of €3000 and a commemorative statue, granted to the winning director in the children's category, based on the jury’s evaluation.
- Additional awards include: the ECFA Award for the best European film, the For Tomorrow Award for the best youth film, and the Look at Me... Award for the best Finnish children’s film (valued at €1500).
- Selected films gain international visibility through screening at a prestigious week-long festival, with broad media coverage and public engagement in Finland and abroad.
Eligibility criteria
The competition includes:
- Children’s category: Films targeting viewers up to 13 years old, with a minimum runtime of 60 minutes.
- Youth category: Films intended for audiences up to 19 years old, with similar runtime requirements.
- Finnish national competition: Open to Finnish films with no mandatory time limits.
- ECFA short film competition: Open to European short films with a maximum length of 30 minutes.
Applicants must submit a proper screening copy (DCP, Blu-ray, or HD file) along with promotional materials such as posters, still images, director’s bio, and film excerpts in English or Finnish.