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🏆 FCS AWARDS III EDITION: Official Submission Form

Welcome to the FCS Awards 3rd Edition!

The FCS Awards is an international initiative dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the best in independent cinema worldwide. We were born with the intention of giving a voice to film critics and rewarding those films that, due to their quality and innovation, have transcended the general public's radar.

In our previous editions, we have received films from all over the globe, including works qualified for HollyShorts, BIFA, and the Oscars. We look forward to seeing your project shine this year!

NEW FOR THE III EDITION: We are proud to announce new dedicated categories for Documentaries and Animation, and a strict commitment to human artistry: we only accept projects produced without the use of AI.

📅 Key Dates & Deadlines

Early Bird Deadline: July 30, 2026 (Special Discounted Fees)

Regular Submission Deadline: October 31, 2026

Final Submission Deadline: December 31, 2026

Finalist Announcement (Official Selection): January 12, 2027

Public Vote (Audience Award): January 11-15, 2027

Winners Announcement: January 16, 2027

🏆 2027 Award Categories and Prizes

We recognize exceptional talent across our new expanded categories: BEST FICTION FEATURE, BEST ANIMATION FEATURE, BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE, BEST FICTION SHORT, BEST ANIMATION SHORT, BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENWRITER, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST ORIGINAL SCORE, BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS, AUDIENCE AWARD.

Prize Details

Your talent deserves to be seen: Win the Best Feature, Best Short, or Best Documentary award (in any genre: Fiction, Animation, or Documentary) and receive a professional review in our space so that your work reaches a global audience of critics and industry professionals.

Are you a born director? Stand out from the crowd and win the Best Director award. We will reward you with a personalized interview on our platform and Medium channel, where you can share your vision and talent with the world.

Master of the Narrative: Winners of the Best Screenwriter category will receive a free submission entry for their next script at our FCS Script Lab, providing a unique opportunity for professional development

For all exceptional filmmakers: Winners of the Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Actor, and Best Actress categories will receive a personalized digital laurel and prestigious diploma.

Audience Award: The public will have the opportunity to view and vote for their favorite project. This is a great way to get your work seen by a wider audience and gain valuable feedback. The winner receives a personalized laurel and prestigious diploma. (Note: By opting for this award, you grant us consent to publish your film on our Website for public voting during the specified dates).

Note: The Jury of Critics is composed of international professionals. Submission fees go toward the event organizers and covering the operational costs of the online event.

Please Note: This is an online event, and no final awards ceremony will be held. All results (Finalists and Winners) will be published exclusively on our Instagram page (@filmcriticalspace) and our official website on the dates indicated above.

1. PROJECT INFORMATION

Project Title

Type of Work

Type of Work
A
B
C
D
E
F

Runtime (in minutes)

Year of Production

Country of Production

Original Language

Available Subtitles

Available Subtitles

Genre

Genre

Visual or Narrative Style

Synopsis / Logline

Viewing Link

Password (if needed)

Film Website

Director's Name

Production Company Name

Writer's Name

Cinematographer's Name (D.O.P.)

Composer of the soundtrack

Leading Actor Name
If your film does not have a lead actor, write N/A.

Leading Actress
If your film does not have a lead actress, write N/A

Contact Email

Awards and Selections

Instagram user @

2. PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

Link to the Trailer

6-10 Stills from the Film

Director's Photo

Writer's Photo

Lead Actor's Photo

Lead Actress's Photo

Cinematographer's Photo

Composer Photo

Poster or Cover Art

Production Company Image

Laurels PNG of Major Awards and Official Selections (transparent background).

Audience Award Competition

Do you wish for your film to be considered for the Audience Award?

By selecting "Yes," you grant your explicit consent for the full film to be published and publicly screened on our website during the voting period (January 13-15, 2026). To participate in the Audience Award, your Viewing Link must be a public link or one without a password on Vimeo/YouTube.

Audience Award Competition
A
B

3. SUBMISSION FEES

REGULAR DEADLINE (Until October 31, 2026):

Short Film (up to 30 min): €38

Feature Film (over 30 min): €68

Would you like to add any of these extra services?

You can select multiple options.

Please note that all payments (film fee + extras) must be made together in a single PayPal transfer.

For the interview service, we will contact the director via the email provided in this form within 10 business days after receiving your payment.

Would you like to add any of these extra services?

Discount Code (if any)

4. PAYMENT

💳 Make payment through PayPal (send as a personal/friend transfer – we are not a company).

Please note that all payments (film submission + extras) must be made together in a single PayPal transfer.

Include your film's title in the payment note.

➡️ Payment Here

Upload your payment receipt (screenshot or PDF)

5. TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Eligibility

1.1. Production Date: Projects must have been produced on or after January 1, 2020.

1.2. Human Creativity Clause (No AI): The FCS Awards strictly celebrates human artistry. Projects that have used Artificial Intelligence for core creative processes (such as AI-generated scripts, AI-generated visual scenes, or AI-generated lead characters) are not eligible for submission.

1.3. Language: There are no language restrictions, but non-English language films must have English subtitles hardcoded or available.

1.4 Project Link: Submissions must be provided via a stable link (Vimeo or YouTube).

2. Submission Process & Fees

2.1. Deadlines: Submissions are open until December 31, 2026.

2.2. Payment Method: Payment must be made via PayPal as a "Personal/Friend" transfer. The corresponding receipt/proof of payment must be uploaded in the designated field of this form.

2.3. Full Participation Right: The submission fee grants the project the right to be considered for all applicable award categories (e.g., a feature film is automatically considered for Best Director, Best Actor, etc.).

3.4. Non-Refundable Policy: Submission fees are non-refundable under any circumstances, including if the project is not selected, is disqualified for using AI, or if the submitter withdraws the film.

3. Selection & Notification

3.1. Jury: A professional International Jury of Critics will select the finalists and winners. The festival reserves the right not to publicly disclose the individual identity of the jury members until the winner announcement.

3.2. Notification: All submitters will be notified via email or Instagram regarding their selection status (Selected/Finalist or Not Selected).

3.3. Official Selection Laurel: Finalists and Selected projects will receive a digital Official Selection Laurel from Film Critical Space.

4. Awards & Promotion

4.1. Benefits: Winners of the main categories (Feature, Short, Documentary) will receive a professional review. Best Director winner will receive a personalized interview. All winners will receive digital laurels and diplomas. Best writer winner will receive a free submission in our FCS Script Lab.

4.2. Audience Award: By opting for this award, you grant Film Critical Space explicit consent to host and stream your full project on our official website for public viewing and voting between January 11-15, 2027.

4.3. Copyright: Participants must hold the full legal copyright to their projects, including music and third-party footage.

4.4. Promotional Use: Film Critical Space reserves the right to use stills, trailers, and excerpts (up to 10% of the runtime) for promotional purposes on social media and our website.

5. Website Transition & Event Format

Platform: Participants acknowledge that our official site is currently being upgraded.

Online Format: This is an online-only event. No physical trophies or travel expenses are provided.

Cancellation Policy: In the unlikely event that this edition cannot take place due to insufficient entries or technical issues, fees will not be refunded. However, as compensation, every submitted project will receive either a professional critical review or a published interview on our Medium page.

6. Contact: For inquiries, please contact: filmcriticalspace@gmail.com or via Instagram @filmcriticalspace.

Have you completed the payment and do you agree to the terms and conditions below?

Have you completed the payment and do you agree to the terms and conditions below?
A