The Ministry of Culture and Media invites domestic film producers to submit a film (feature, documentary, animated - over 40 minutes) by September 8, 2023 for the selection of the Montenegrin candidate for the 96th award of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Oscar in the category for the best international film (International Feature Film Award) for the year 2023.
Right to participate
Registered Montenegrin film producers have the right to participate, provided that:
- the film was first publicly screened in Montenegro in the period between December 1, 2022 and October 31, 2023, as well as being publicly screened for the first time in a domestic commercial cinema (for the sake of the producer's and screener's profit) for seven consecutive days. A film that, in any version, has public screening or distribution in a non-cinematic context, prior to its first theatrical release, will not be eligible for participation;
- during the screening, the film was advertised and exploited by the media in the usual way;
- a film shot in Montenegrin or one of the languages in official use in Montenegro;
- the producer has fully settled all financial obligations towards the authors, crew and actors (fees, taxes, contributions, etc.), which also refers to the regulation of copyright for the use of music, inserts,
Required documentation
In addition to proof that the film meets the previously mentioned criteria, the producer is also obliged to submit:
- a statement that the film meets the requirements and technical characteristics prescribed by the Special Rules of the American Academy and the Rules of the Ministry of Culture and Media;
- a complete list of names of members of the film and acting crew with information on their citizenship or place of permanent residence;
- short synopsis of the film in the Montenegrin language;
- biography, filmography and photo of the director;
- three to five representative photographs of the film;
- cinema poster of the film;
- original newspaper and magazine articles advertising the first public screening of the film in a commercial cinema for seven consecutive days;
- producer's contact information.
Complete documentation is submitted by the specified date directly to the Archives of the Ministry of Culture and Media or by mail to the address: Ministry of Culture and Media, Njegoševa Street 83, 81250 Cetinje - with the indication: Selection Committee for the Oscar Award in the category of Best International Film in 2023.
At the request of the Ministry of Culture and Media, the producer is obliged to submit a copy of the submitted film the day before the screening in front of the members of the Selection Committee. The selection committee will only evaluate films that are submitted on a technically correct copy (35mm/70mm/DCP). The committee can accept to judge the film on BluRay or DVD copy as well.
The selection committee will decide on the selection of the Montenegrin candidate based on the Special Rules for the 96th American Academy Award and the Rules of the Ministry of Culture and Media.
If the producer does not comply with the provisions of the competition, the Special Rules of the Academy and the Rules of the Ministry, he will be disqualified.
The results of the competition will be publicly announced, whereby each country can nominate only one film for this award.
If a certain film is selected as a Montenegrin candidate, the producer of that film is obliged to submit the entire application material to the American Academy by Monday, October 2, 2023 at 5 p.m. local time in Los Angeles.
The special rules of the American Academy, he Rules of the Ministry of Culture and Media, as well as the Producer Declaration Form are available in the attachment.