Many film festivals engage in fraudulent practices by providing vague information and offering little to no real benefits to the filmmakers they work with. At BLUE YOUTH, we believe it is both right and necessary to be completely transparent with the filmmakers we address.


Management

‍BLUE YOUTH is legally and lawfully managed by BLUE YOUTH FILMS, a production company presided over by director, writer, and producer Lucas Neagu. A small team of dedicated and hard-working young professionals stands behind the festival. Detailed information about each staff member can be found in the Team Behind section.


Submissions

Submissions are handled exclusively via FilmFreeway. Submission fees are listed on the festival’s FilmFreeway page and are non-refundable.


Selection Criteria

Films are watched and judged as objectively as possible, based on criteria such as authenticity, relevance, creativity, visual originality, and storytelling fluency. We hand-pick standout films while also encouraging new and emerging voices that may not yet have been widely heard. All film genres are welcome. Short Films must have a runtime of 45 minutes or less.
Feature Films must exceed 60 minutes.
‍We do not require premiere status. However, to increase the competitiveness of the festival, priority is given to: International films that qualify at least as a Romanian premiere; National films, even if a Romanian premiere has already occurred; Films that premiered no more than three years prior to submission.


The Curated Official Selection

A curated selection of films enters the competition and competes for the festival awards. All selected films are featured on our website and social media platforms. We carefully watch and hand-pick each title and strive to stay in contact with filmmakers throughout the selection process.


Winners

Several awards are granted, and a film may win one or multiple awards. BLUE YOUTH Curated International Film Festival is held live and on-site in Timișoara, featuring in-person screenings, networking opportunities, and industry events. The Jury Members decide the films. The awards are presented on-site to celebrate the best films of the year—our annual winners.


BLUE YOUTH Competition

A select number of films are chosen to compete in the Main Competition, screened live during the BLUE YOUTH Curated International Film Festival. The awards include:
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- Grand Prize for Best Feature Film
- Grand Prize for Best Short Film
- Jury Prize: Hand-Picked Feature or Short Film by a Young Filmmaker
- Best Director
- Best Screenwriter
- Best Actress
- Best Actor
- Best Technical Artist (Cinematography, Editing, Sound, or Original Score)


Festival Services

From filmmaker to filmmaker, we aim to promote and support your work. We offer the following services through our website and social media platforms:
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- Written Feedback – A comprehensive analysis of your film written by a festival team member
- Professional Film Review – A detailed review written by the Festival Director and published on our social media platforms to promote your film to our audience
- IN THE SPOTLIGHT – Filmmaker Interview – A structured written interview conducted by the Festival Director, highlighting your career and film. The interview is featured on our social media pages and permanently hosted on our website in the IN THE SPOTLIGHT section on the homepage.
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You may contact us directly or select one or more of these options when submitting your film via FilmFreeway. Prices are listed on our FilmFreeway page.


Festival Passes, Tickets, and More - Our affordable passes grant access to screenings, industry events, workshops, and parties. Both industry and non-industry participants are welcome. We are an inclusive festival.Audience members may also purchase individual screening tickets. Filmmakers selected for the annual Main Competition receive passes included with their selection.Passes and tickets will be available online soon. In the meantime, prices are listed below:

- Full Festival Pass – €35 / 175 lei (Access to all screenings, industry meetings, workshops, parties, and events)
- Single Entry Ticket – €3 / 15 lei
- Student Entry Ticket – €2 / 10 lei
- Other Events (parties, workshops, etc.) – Prices TBA

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