ARTICLE 1
ARCTIC OPEN IFF – General
Based in the city of Arkhangelsk, the 9th International Film Festival ARCTIC OPEN (hereinafter referred to as “the Festival”) is more than a jury-led screening venue for premiere films. It is a platform for promoting independent, locally made films that focus on ethnic component, drawing attention to the northern communities and Arctic areas.
ARCTIC OPEN stands as a multi-stage, cross-cultural, and inter-regional project that runs all year round, raising awareness and promoting major developments and training in the field of audiovisual arts, cinematography, media, and culture. The festival brings together creative individuals from different fields into a cultural Film Cluster, creating social connections and cultural integrations.

ARTICLE 2
Timeframe
The 9th International Film Festival ARCTIC OPEN will be held in the city of Arkhangelsk on December 4-7, 2025.

ARTICLE 3
Organizers
The Festival is organized by its initiator and founder Non-Profit Organization
“BEREGINYA Pomor Culture Foundation” in cooperation with M.V. Lomonosov Northern (Arctic) Federal University and with support from the Arkhangelsk Region Ministry of Culture and Arkhangelsk Governor’s Center, among other partners and sponsors.
The body in charge of the Festival program and screenings is the Festival Board of Administrators.

ARTICLE 4
Program
ARCTIC OPEN IFF is a stage-wise event: Stage I involves preparation and delivery of ARCTIC OPEN-2025, i.e. screening of the official selection and non-competition films, meet-the-artist sessions in several municipalities within Arkhangelsk Region, award ceremony; and a series of training and cultural immersion events.
Stage II echoes the Arctic Open selection of films in other parts of Russia as part of ARCTIC OPEN Film Marathon 2026.
Stage III runs as “Arctic Open Petit” and involves screenings and meet-the-artist sessions in Syktyvkar, Saint-Petersburg, and Moscow.
The ARCTIC OPEN program features:
Official selection of feature length films;
Official selection of short live action films;
Official selection of documentaries;
Official selection of children’s films;
Opening and closing ceremonies;
15 venues in 6 municipalities of Arkhangelsk Region for screening of the official selection and non-competition films;
Non-competition films from jury members and honored guests;
Special showings:
Big Cinema to Smaller Screens, ARCTIC OPEN Barrierless, Arctic Outdoor Cinema, Festival Films Night, ARCTIC OPEN Children.

ARTICLE 5
Submission Procedure
To submit your film, please fill out the Application Form at: https://forms.gle/gST31LtPGR559gn6A
All Russian films submitted for preview must have English subtitles and all international releases Russian subtitles. Applying and submitting is free of charge.
Arctic Open welcomes full-length feature films (max. duration: 90 min), live-action shorts (max. duration: 30 min) and documentaries released in 2024-2025. The films selected for screening should then be presented in DCP format.
The deadline for submitting to the 9th ARCTIC OPEN IFF Official Selection is October 1, 2025. Films submitted after October 1, 2025 will not be considered.

ARTICLE 6
Terms & Conditions
A submission can be nominated only in one category and may not appear in two or more categories. Filmmakers may nominate only one submission to a category. All submissions will be viewed by ARCTIC OPEN Selection Panel – the body responsible for compiling the ARCTIC OPEN Official Selection.
The Selection Panel reserves the right to withhold comments or explanations as to reasons of possible rejection.
ARCTIC OPEN-2025 will announce the films shortlisted for its Official Selection on November 10, 2025.
The shortlist and participants list will be posted on: https://arctic-open.com/

ARTICLE 7
Documentation Package
The documentation package to go with a shortlisted submission includes:

• materials for including into the ARCTIC OPEN catalog (synopsis in Russian and English; film director’s bio, filmography and photo; stills/film frames) – preferably close-ups;
• editorial script or dialog continuity in English and Russian;
• link to teaser/trailer/compilation;
• subtitled film (Russian films will have English subtitles and international ones Russian);
• texts for posting on the Festival’s webpage (press release, stills/film frames/photos/pictures of characters, preferably close-ups).
  It is a requirement that your application form is filled out in accordance with these ARCTIC OPEN Regulations. In the event you fail to provide a fully completed application or provide an application that contains errors, or if your film lacks subtitles, ARCTIC OPEN will not be liable for any incorrect or incomplete information that may appear on its info/promo materials.
  Filmmakers whose films have been shortlisted for the ARCTIC OPEN Official Selection are requested to confirm their participation and send their film’s materials (documentation, info and promo materials) as specified in the Application Form, to the Festival’s address shown below within the time period to be advised by the Festival. All demo versions must be in original language and have English subtitles (or Russian in case of international submissions).

ARTICLE 8
Submitted copies
Films selected for the Official Selection must not contain advertisements or promotional materials, otherwise the Festival reserves the right to delete such ads or promos from the submitted copy.
The deadline for submitting the copies of the selected films is November 20, 2025. The transportation of the copies to and from the screening venues will be the responsibility of Arctic Open.
Film copies should be collected from Arctic Open not later than December 10, 2025. Arctic Open will not be responsible for safekeeping of the copies after December 10, 2025.
In extraordinary circumstances, film owners are allowed to deliver the copies in person, in which case the delivery and safekeeping of the copies are the sole responsibility of the owners. Film copies must be provided at least two (2) days prior to the official screening date.

ARTICLE 9
Screening
Films selected for the Festival’s Official Selection or any of its programs may be screened the maximum of four (4) times without prior written consent from film producers or their authorized representatives.
Films selected for the ARCTIC OPEN Official Selection may be screened at any of the Festival’s venues, including ARCTIC OPEN Film Marathon that runs until May 30, 2026, regardless of the holder of film distribution rights.

ARTICLE 10
Jury
The Festival operates four jury panels (Feature Film Jury, Short Film Jury, Documentary Jury, Children’s Film Jury) for its Official Selection, consisting of a minimum total of twelve (12) members who are competent connoisseurs of filmmaking. The chair of each jury panel will have two (2) votes.
Neither of the jury panels may include members who have been engaged in making or commercial distribution of any of the selected films. The jury panels will select winners in each of the nominated categories. All jury panel members agree to refrain from making public statements concerning the selected films prior to the Festival closing date.
The expenses relating to the stay of each jury panel member during the festival days will be borne by the Festival.

ARTICLE 11
Guest Accreditation & Stay
All and any matters relating to invitation of guests and duration and conditions of their stay will be dealt with by ARCTIC OPEN Board of Administrators.
It is a requirement that each film in the Official Selection is presented is person or by video message.
The Festival undertakes to cover the cost of accommodation and stay of 1 representative of each selected film during the festival days (official screenings, workshops, cultural immersion and business programs).
The Festival reserves the right to update its program or change participation rules or film screening conditions if such change should be necessitated by an objective reason or results from a force majeure event.
The Festival reserves the right to invite guests, journalists or experts as it sees fit and regardless of whether such guests, journalists or experts have or have not been directly involved in making any of the films selected for the competition or in the delivery of training, business of cultural immersion programs. The conditions of their stay are subject to individual agreements.
The Festival is free to invite distinguished workers of culture, filmmaking or performing arts, or political or business community members as it deems fit.
ARCTIC OPEN Board of Administrators may, at any time and without giving reasons, withdraw accreditation of any of its guests and thus limit their access to the Festival venues.
Accreditation requests from media will be considered within the timeframe to be advised by ARCTIC OPEN Board of Administrators.

ARTICLE 12
Media Accreditation
Media outlets are requested to email their journalist accreditation requests to ARCTIC OPEN Press Center: arctic.kinofest@gmail.com. Please ensure you submit your accreditation request between November 1 and December 1, 2025.
All expenses relating to a journalist’s stay at the Festival are the responsibility of their employers.
ARCTIC OPEN may, at its sole discretion, cover, fully or partially, the stay of few selected journalists. In case of full coverage, invoices and payment documents will not be issued to the journalist.
The invited journalists undertake to attend all press conferences and film showings to cover the Festival proceedings.
The Festival reserves the right to deny journalist accreditation without giving reasons.
ARCTIC OPEN Board of Administrators may, at any time and without giving reasons, withdraw accreditation of a journalist and thus limit their access to the Festival venues.

ARTICLE 13
Awards
Awards to winning films include ARCTIC OPEN statuettes, special prizes, diplomas and valuable presents.
ARCTIC OPEN award nominations list includes:

Official Selection:
Best Feature Film
Best Short Live Action Film
Best Documentary
Best Children’s Film
Best Feature Film Director
Best Feature Film Script
Best Feature Film Camerawork
Best Short Film Director
Best Short Film Script
Best Short Film Camerawork
Best Documentary Director
Best Documentary Camerawork
Best Documentary Script
Best Children’s Film Director
Best Child Actor;

Special prizes from sponsors;
Special Jury Mention;
Award for Contribution to Russian Filmmaking Industry.
The Festival jury may resolve on extra nominations subject to approval from the ARCTIC OPEN Board of Administrators.

ARTICLE 14
Disputable Matters
By participating in the Festival, filmmakers agree with all provisions of these Regulations.
ARCTIC OPEN IFF reserves the right to modify its program. In the event a dispute arises with respect to these Regulations, the version in Russian supersedes the English translation. ARCTIC OPEN will not be liable for any claims relating to copyright or associated rights.

CONTACTS:
Operator: BEREGINYA Pomor Culture Foundation
Web: http://fbereginya.com/
E-mail: office@fbereginya.com

9th International Film Festival ARCTIC OPEN:
Web: https://arctic-open.com/
E-mail: arctic.kinofest@gmail.com

Legal address:
5 Pomorskaya Str., office 405, 163000 Arkhangelsk
BEREGINYA Pomor Culture Foundation