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Introduction to the film festival

23rd IN THE PALACE is take place from June 27th until July 4th 2026 in the Palace of Culture Pernik (Pernik, Bulgaria).

IN THE PALACE is a Goya Awards qualifying festival, Student Academy Awards® qualifying festival, and an Academy Awards®/OSCAR® qualifying festival for shorts in the categories of Best Animation, Best Fiction, Best Documentary, and Best National Film.

IN THE PALACE is an established international festival dedicated to short films and digital arts and also presents special competitive programs for feature films and film series.

The program consists of the following main components:
• International and national, professional and student competitive programs in fiction, documentary, animation, experimental - for short and feature films
• ON FOCUS programs
• Q & A sessions
• FILMER FORGE: industry meetings, film pitching training and sessions, scientific conference on short film
• Video library
• Film events and initiatives for general audience
• Parties

Traditionally, IN THE PALACE takes place over one week and offers a wide range of events, activities, and programs for both - local and international film industry and audience. IN THE PALACE is a cultural meeting point of film industry, artists, students, educational institutions, and the general public, that provides access to the latest trends, developments, and learning in the arts and culture through screenings, training and interdisciplinary exchange. Since 2018 the Festival organizes the International Interdisciplinary Science Conference on short films.
IN THE PALACE is a member of the international network of festivals and institutions serving the short film sector – the Short Film Conference.

Awards

Best Fiction Film
Best Animation Film
Best National Film (fiction, documentary & animation)
Best Documentary Film
Best Experimental Film
Best Student Fiction Film
Best Student Animation Film
Best Student Documentary Film
Best Student Experimental Film
Best Mid-length Film
Best Full-length Film
Best Music Video
Special Mentions

Awarded films in categories of Best Fiction Film, Best Animation Film and Best National Film are qualified for Academy Awards®.
All awarded directors receive IN THE PALACE trophies. Authors whose films have been awarded or nominated shall not be charged a submission fee for next festival editions.

Rules

Genre ：
Subject ：
Video Format ：HDV MPEG4 DCP

1. IN THE PALACE selects only films having their Bulgarian premiere at the Festival. Films publicly shown in Bulgaria or released online on free-access websites or platforms are not eligible for its competition programs. The Festival reserves the right to reject a film at any stage in the case of non-compliance with this rule.

2. The Festival accepts individual and institutional submissions (i.e. from production companies, distribution companies, film academies, national film centers, television networks, creative associations, etc.).

3. Eligible films must be completed after 1. January 2024.

Evaluation

Jury Profile
Jury Name Judge photos Jury Profile

Authorization type

    Proxy Submission

Duration (several sessions)

    23

Film Festival Features

  • Red Carpet
  • Celebrity Guest
  • Filmscreen
  • Cash prize
  • Trophy

Dates & Deadlines

  • 2025-01-15
    Submission start time

  • 2025-12-29
    Regular Deadline

  • 2025-12-29
    Submission end time

  • 2026-03-01
    Finalist notification start time

  • 2026-03-01
    Finalist notification end time

  • 2026-06-27
    Award ceremony start time

  • 2026-07-04
    Award ceremony end time

Categories and fees

  • BEST SHORT FICTION
    Video length ：0 - 40
    OSCAR® qualifying category. International professional short fiction films up to 40 min in length. Eligible films must be produced after 1 January 2024. Bulgarian premier required. Films publicly shown in Bulgaria or released online on free-access websites or platforms are not eligible for its competition programs. The Festival reserves the right to reject a film at any stage in the case of non-compliance with this rule.

    2025/12/29
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 30 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • BEST SHORT ANIMATION
    Video length ：0 - 40
    OSCAR® qualifying category. International professional short animation films up to 40 min in length. Eligible films must be produced after 1 January 2024. Bulgarian premier required. Films publicly shown in Bulgaria or released online on free-access websites or platforms are not eligible for its competition programs. The Festival reserves the right to reject a film at any stage in the case of non-compliance with this rule.

    2025/12/29
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 30 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
    Video length ：0 - 40
    National and international professional short documentary films up to 40 min in length. Eligible films must be produced after 1 January 2024. Bulgarian premier required. Films publicly shown in Bulgaria or released online on free-access websites or platforms are not eligible for its competition programs. The Festival reserves the right to reject a film at any stage in the case of non-compliance with this rule.

    2025/12/29
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 30 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • BEST SHORT EXPERIMENTAL
    Video length ：0 - 40
    National and international professional short experimental films up to 40 min in length. Eligible films must be produced after 1 January 2024. Bulgarian premier required. Films publicly shown in Bulgaria or released online on free-access websites or platforms are not eligible for its competition programs. The Festival reserves the right to reject a film at any stage in the case of non-compliance with this rule.

    2025/12/29
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 30 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • BEST SHORT STUDENT FICTION
    Video length ：0 - 40
    Student Academy Awards® qualifying category. National and international short student fiction films up to 40 min in length. Eligible are only films that have been completed during the study years of their directors. Eligible films must be produced after 1 January 2024. Bulgarian premier required. Films publicly shown in Bulgaria or released online on free-access websites or platforms are not eligible for its competition programs. The Festival reserves the right to reject a film at any stage in the case of non-compliance with this rule.

    2025/12/29
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 30 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • BEST SHORT STUDENT ANIMATION
    Video length ：0 - 40
    Student Academy Awards® qualifying category. National and international short student animation films up to 40 min in length. Eligible are only films that have been completed during the study years of their directors. Eligible films must be produced after 1 January 2024. Bulgarian premier required. Films publicly shown in Bulgaria or released online on free-access websites or platforms are not eligible for its competition programs. The Festival reserves the right to reject a film at any stage in the case of non-compliance with this rule.

    2025/12/29
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 30 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • BEST SHORT STUDENT DOCUMENTARY
    Video length ：0 - 40
    Student Academy Awards® qualifying category. National and international short student documentary films up to 40 min in length. Eligible are only films that have been completed during the study years of their directors. Eligible films must be produced after 1 January 2024. Bulgarian premier required. Films publicly shown in Bulgaria or released online on free-access websites or platforms are not eligible for its competition programs. The Festival reserves the right to reject a film at any stage in the case of non-compliance with this rule.

    2025/12/29
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 30 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • BEST SHORT STUDENT EXPERIMENTAL
    Video length ：0 - 40
    Student Academy Awards® qualifying category. International short student experimental films up to 40 min in length. Eligible are only films that have been completed during the study years of their directors. Eligible films must be produced after 1 January 2024. Bulgarian premier required. Films publicly shown in Bulgaria or released online on free-access websites or platforms are not eligible for its competition programs. The Festival reserves the right to reject a film at any stage in the case of non-compliance with this rule.

    2025/12/29
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 30 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • BEST MID-LENGTH FILM (over 40 min and up to 60 min in length)
    Video length ：40 - 60
    National and international films. Eligible films must be produced after 1 January 2024. All genres accepted. Bulgarian premier required. Films publicly shown in Bulgaria or released online on free-access websites or platforms are not eligible for its competition programs. The Festival reserves the right to reject a film at any stage in the case of non-compliance with this rule.

    2025/12/29
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 40 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • BEST FULL-LENGTH FILM (over 60 min in length)
    Video length ：60 - 300
    National and international films. Eligible films must be produced after 1 January 2024. All genres accepted. Bulgarian premier required. Films publicly shown in Bulgaria or released online on free-access websites or platforms are not eligible for its competition programs. The Festival reserves the right to reject a film at any stage in the case of non-compliance with this rule.

    2025/12/29
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 40 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival
  • BEST MUSIC VIDEO
    Video length ：0 - 300
    Eligible must be videos produced after 1 January 2023.

    2025/12/29
    Regular Deadline

    Standard: 30 Dollar

    Submit to the Festival

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