GENERAL

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Eligibility
The competition is open to composers of all ages and nationalities. 

Previous Finalists of the same competition can participate again and be considered for receiving Awards and be named in the 10 finalists.

Previous Award Winners of the same competition can register and receive the competition materials but will not be considered for receiving Awards and be named in the 10 finalists. 

Registration

Each participant should complete the registration form at www.bifsc.org and pay the entrance fee
 
Following the registration, the participant will receive an email with further details about the competition, a downloadable link to the Film in digital form and a unique identification number to be used for the submission.  The registration fee is not refundable after the participant receives the above materials to participate in the competition. 

Participants interested in participating in the Berlin International Sound Design Competition and the Berlin International Film Scoring Competition should register separately for each competition under the official dates. 

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Can we participate as a team?

Yes, you can participate in the competition as a team. Each member of the team needs to pay the registration fee. A team member should contact BIFSC for direction in completing the team registration. ​​

Why pay
The competition is run with the contribution of several people who are compensated for their work. Such people and services that require compensation include our Jury, the administration, artistic advisors, the legal and finance team, the filmmakers and production companies providing film copyrights, services such as website building and maintenance, social media fees and advertising, studio fees, and more. 

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Is my fee refundable? 

No, once you complete your registration and receive the competition materials including the film you will not be able to receive a refund. Please make sure you want to register for the competition before you complete a payment. 

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BIFSC Associates
BIFSC collaborates with several other organizations to achieve the highest possible visibility for the BIFSC participants and to maximize opportunities. While past-winners of the competition have been invited to International Film Festivals, BIFSC is an independent organization and it is not affiliated with a specific Film Festival or event.

 

Is the competition a physical event?

No, the competition is an online event, though winners of the competition can be invited to attend physical events and Film Festivals in person as part of their Prizes and the BIFSC promotion scheme.

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Do I have to give rights to my work?
When participating in the competition participants keep all the copyrights to their work. BIFSC only requires the copyrights to be able to publish and share your work with our participants and online if you are one of the winners or finalists of the competition. Even in this case, the rights you provide to BIFSC are not exclusive. You are still be able to use your work with no restrictions. 

What happens if I win?
Winning participants receive prizes provided by BIFSC, our sponsors, and collaborators. Many of the winners - and finalists report receiving greater attention from the industry and have led to them to receiving professional work in the field. 

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AWARDS

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All participants of the Berlin International Sound Design Competition 2024 will receive the following gifts 

(for Sound Design Competition)

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- A 3-month ZAP IV license from Zynaptiq​

- A 3-month Krotos Studio Pro Subscription from Krotos​

- A 35-day Soundly Pro Subscription​

- A Copy of the Timelapse Sound Effects Library by Silverplatter Audio

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Details and promo codes will be provided upon registration to the competition.

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(for Film Scoring and Sound Design Competition)

Up to ten (10) finalists will be announced and they will receive a Finalist Diploma.
 
The Winners will receive the prizes specified on https://www.bifsc.org/sound-design-competition. 
 
All the money prizes will be paid out within 2 months from the day of the prize winner's announcement. 
 
The organizer reserves the right to award additional prizes. Sometimes we can enrich our awards through new collaborations during the competition dates. BIFSC reserves the right to change Awards or prizes. All changes will be related to all entrants awards recipients and finalists. 

 

SUBMISSION PROCEDURES

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Will I receive a confirmation of my submission?
Yes, we will contact you within 24 Hours to confirm we received your submission. If you do not receive confirmation of your submission within 24 hours contact us directly. 

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Why the Unique identification number 

In this way, we make certain that our Jury does not know the identity or any other information of the participant when reviewing their work.

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What resources can I use?

There are no restrictions to the resources used. Any software, live instruments, found sounds, recorded sounds and other resources can be used. 

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What does Original Sound Design mean? (for Sound Design Competition)

It means that the Sound Design is created solely by you. The term original is not restrictive regarding the resources used. 

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What style of music shall I compose? (for Film Scoring Competition)
Composers are invited to compose music in any style. There are no preferences as to the style of music or the instrumentation used. 

Who is reviewing the submissions? 
A jury member from the distinguished judges panel, a member of BIFSC, or another external associate will review your submission. Submissions might be reviewed more than once. After the finalists are announced, the distinguished jury will review again the finalists' submissions. 

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How do you select the jury? 
We endeavor to fill each judging panel with a diverse group of evaluators who come from a variety of artistic backgrounds and areas of expertise such as sound designers, composers, and producers among others. The film industry is a collaborative environment where artistry and originality are valued equally to technical skills. 

How my submission is reviewed (for Sound Design Competition)
Your submission will be reviewed based on 5 main qualities: Originality; Mix Quality and variety;  Production value; Detail; and Overall excellence. No submission is perfect in all reviewed qualities, the winners are determined by their total score. 

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How my submission is reviewed (for Film Scoring Competition)

Your submission will be reviewed based on 5 main qualities: Originality; Musicality;  Dramatic Connection, Production value; and Overall excellence. No submission is perfect in all reviewed qualities, the winners are determined by their total score. Production value refers to the ability of the composer to present their ideas to the listener. 

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Where you will hear my submission
All submissions are reviewed in studio monitors or high-end headphones.

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Shall I send my submission in Stereo or Surround mix?

Submissions shall be delivered in Stereo mix.

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Can I use binaural Audio?

Yes, participants can use binaural audio. ​​​

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Shall I compose music for the credits? (for Film Scoring Competition)

Participants are not obliged to compose music for the opening and closing credits. Participants who decide to compose music for the opening and closing credits will be evaluated. Composers who will not compose music for the opening and closing credits will not lose marks. 

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Shall I create the Sound Design for the credits? (for Sound Design Competition)

Participants are not obliged to create Sound Design for the opening and closing credits. Participants who decide to create Sound Design for the opening and closing credits will be evaluated. Composers who will not compose music for the opening and closing credits will not lose marks. ​​​​

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How many submissions can I deliver per registration? 

You can deliver one (1) submission per registration. 

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Can I share my submission?

Yes, you can share your submission if you participate in the competition. You can request guidelines for sharing after the delivery deadline. ​​