April 10 - 19, 2026

CALL FOR ENTRIES – LOCAL HEROES

Together with the opening of the call for entries for the LOCAL HEROES section, dedicated to film production in the EUREGIO Tyrol – South Tyrol – Trentino, the BFFB is publishing the rules for the third edition of the ‘IDM FILM & MUSIC COMMISSION SÜDTIROL AWARD’.

The 39th Bolzano Film Festival Bozen – BFFB, which will take place from 10 to 19 April 2026, is opening the call for entries for the Local Heroes section, dedicated to film production in the three EUREGIO areas of Tyrol – South Tyrol – Trentino.

In addition, following the great success of the initiative at the last edition of the festival, the IDM Film & Music Commission South Tyrol AWARD will be conferred again in 2026. This is a cross-section competition open to both short and feature films that will make up the final selection of Local Heroes, as well as films shown in other sections of the BFFB that meet the relevant requirements. In both cases, the works must have been produced or co-produced by production companies based in one of the three regions of the EUREGIO Tyrol – South Tyrol – Trentino and/or made by filmmakers who were born or reside in one of these three regions.

As part of the IDM Film & Music Commission South Tyrol AWARD, two prizes with a total value of EUR 3,000 will therefore be awarded: a prize of EUR 2,000 for the best feature film (length over 45 minutes) and a prize of EUR 1,000 for the best short film (length under 30 minutes). These prizes aim to promote and support the future of film and audiovisual production in the EUREGIO Tyrol – South Tyrol – Trentino, which is why creativity and inventiveness in their implementation are valued. The goal of this competition is to showcase and recognise the talent of filmmakers and directors as well as the work of audiovisual production in the EUREGIO Tyrol – South Tyrol – Trentino.

FILMCLUB Jury. In order to better promote the films from the region and to involve the public more closely in the event, the prizes will be awarded by a seven-member jury selected by the festival's artistic director through a call for applications open to everyone. This ‘FILMCLUB Jury’ will be accompanied during the festival by a tutor, an expert from the industry.

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Dates & Deadlines

  • October 15, 2025

    Opening Date

  • December 15, 2025

    Regular Deadline

  • February 16, 2026

    Notification Date

  • April 10 – 19, 2026

    Event Date

Rules & Terms

To be eligible for selection for the Local Heroes section and thus for the IDM Film & Music Commission South Tyrol AWARD, films must:

– have been produced, co-produced or directed by film professionals who were born or reside in the EUREGIO Tyrol – South Tyrol – Trentino;

– have been completed after 1 January 2025;

– not have been broadcast by any regional, provincial, local or national television station, nor be available to view free of charge on online platforms, nor have been shown in commercial cinemas in the Euregio.

Send your film

LOCAL HEROES and IDM FILM & MUSIC COMMISSION SÜDTIROL AWARD