Submission Guidelines – Green Water Africa

Rules & Terms:

Submission Criteria:

Your film should center on the African continent and its islands and include, in some capacity, Green Water concepts. All submissions that focus on water in Africa will be considered, with preference given to those that directly address the topic of “Green Water” – the water stored in the soil, held in plants, and released into the atmosphere through evapotranspiration. In Africa, a large majority of agriculture and life depend on this Green Water rather than Blue Water (lakes, aquifers, rivers).

Submissions should provide a portrait of local terrains and geographies and address themes such as water conservation, climate resilience, biodiversity preservation, and/or social cohesion. Ideally, submitted films will also highlight their potential to inspire modern solutions.

Films can be fiction, documentary, or animation.

Please reach out to the competition organizers at [info@letstalkaboutwater.org](mailto:info@letstalkaboutwater.org) should the entry fee prevent you from entering the competition. We provide entry fee waivers on a case-by-case basis.

FILMS MUST FOLLOW THE RULES & TERMS BELOW
THOSE WHICH DO NOT MAY BE DISQUALIFIED

Length:
3-5 minutes

Language:
Films must be in English, or include English subtitles. For subtitles, use shadowed or outlined characters, not stripes or backgrounds.

Quality/Files:
The files must be provided at a high bit rate in Full HD (1920×1080), 2K, or 4K. Files must be any of these: .mp4, .mov, or.MXF

Required Materials:

* Film title, director’s name, running time, year of production, and contact information
* Brief synopsis (max 200 words)
* Short description of how your film addresses Green Water
* Optional: press kit, poster, or stills

In case of preselection for the prize, contestants will be notified and must send within 14 days: a “clean” copy of the film, with no burned subtitles, marks, nor watermarks, and the film script in English.

Completion Date:
Films should have been completed no earlier than January 1, 2023. Retrospectives or historical works may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Premiere Status:
Preference will be given to World Premiere films that have not premiered anywhere else (including online platforms, other festivals, or public screenings). If your film has had limited screenings, please provide details in your submission.

Online Submission:
All submissions must be made and uploaded through FilmFreeway, not linked on YouTube or Vimeo.

Terms and Conditions

1. Eligibility:
By submitting your film, you confirm that you hold all necessary rights to the work, including music, footage, and other copyrighted materials. You also grant Let’s Talk About Water (LTAW) the right to screen your film during the LTAW festival and related events.

2. Premiere Requirement:
We prioritize films that have not premiered anywhere else, including online platforms, other festivals, or public screenings. If your film is selected, you agree not to screen it publicly before its premiere at Let’s Talk About Water Film Festival (Paris, France), unless otherwise agreed with the organizers.

3. Screening Rights:
Selected films may premiere or screen at the Let’s Talk About Water Film Festival (Paris, France), the Luxor African Film Festival (2027), the 11th World Water Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2027), and future screenings by LTAW.

4. Promotional Use:
By submitting your film, you grant the festival the right to use excerpts, stills, and promotional materials for marketing purposes across all media platforms, including print, broadcast, and online.

5. Third-Party Rights:
You are responsible for obtaining all necessary clearances, releases, and permissions for any third-party materials used in your film. The festival reserves the right to disqualify any film that infringes on copyright or other intellectual property rights.

6. Limitation of Liability:
The Green Water Africa competition is not responsible for any technical issues, delays, or damages arising from the submission process. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, the festival reserves the right to cancel, modify, postpone, or suspend the event.

7. Indemnification:
Submitters agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Green Water Africa competition, Let’s Talk About Water, its organizers, and partners from any claims, liabilities, or damages arising from their participation in the festival.