ELIGIBILITY (to be eligible for consideration)
1. You must fully comply with these Entry Rules & Regulations, including all deadlines, episode duration, entry material and other requirements.  
2. Non-English language works must have English subtitles at the time of submission (except for series in the German language). Dialogue lists will not be accepted.
3. The series must have a minimum of a “German Premiere status”.  
4. All series must have been produced in 2024/2025.  
5. For series that have already premiered in the Country of Origin, to be eligible for the Official-Competition, the premiere date must have been after September 10th 2024
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EPISODE DURATION

Drama Series / Comedy Series / Docu-.Series -  minimum 25min - 65min  

Shorts Films  - minimum 5min - 39min.

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SUBMISSION CATEGORIES

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In Competition - The Series, Docu-Series and Short Film competing for the Berlin Series Award. They are projected at the Festival 's Main Theater.

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Special Mention - The selection committee chooses for these tv series & short films an environment specially adapted to their particular identity, and unique storytelling. The works chosen for Special Mention are selected based on several key criteria:

• Innovative Storytelling: Works that offer fresh perspectives and employ creative narrative techniques.

• Cultural Significance: Stories that reflect diverse cultures, traditions, and viewpoints, enriching the global cinematic landscape and/or are relatively hard and difficult to film .

• Artistic Excellence: High standards of craftsmanship in direction, writing, acting, cinematography, and other aspects of production.

• Emotional Impact: The ability to deeply engage and resonate with audiences on an emotional level.

• Social Relevance: Addressing contemporary issues and themes that provoke thought and inspire dialogue, also in a comedic way, mirroring culture and zeitgeist. 

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Official Selection for our Official Channel on ARGO - These TV SERIES are streamed on our partners platform, curated by our committee thourhgout the year. STREAM on our OFFICIALLY SELECTED PLAYLIST. Not all project have to compete for the award.

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Window To The World - TV SERIES & SHORT Films selected from cultures near and far; original and different works. These TV SERIES or Films both are streamed on our partners platform, or will be presented on-site.

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Short Films - The shorts competing for Berlin Series Award.

Fandom Sections - These are alternative programmes dedicated to discovering other aspects of

tv & pop culture, classics & fandom in general.

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Critics’ Choice - focus on discovering new talents and showcasing first and second filmmakers and series makers/writers from all over the world.

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In Competition

DRAMA, COMEDY, DOCU SERIES & SHORTS

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BERLIN  SERIES discovers, highlights and celebrates the latest episodic work, new long form pilots/series of the global  TV landscape. The are part of the BERLIN SERIES Official Selection of the BERLIN TV SERIES FESTIVAL and run in Competition for the BERLIN SERIES Award.

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Official Competition World Premieres section: the series must not have been screened in any international festival nor have been broadcast in their country of origin before November 2nd  2023. Exceptions for local previews or market screenings in festivals in the country of origin and certain Partner Festivals may be considered.  
 

All submitted series must consist of episodes intended to be at least 25 minutes in length. The festival will screen the first 2 episodes for series that exceed 40 minutes of length per episode, including credits. For series that run under 40 minutes, including credits, the festival will screen the first 3 episodes. Not longer than 1 hour, including credits.

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VIRTUAL PREMIERES  (different sections: Window to the World, Special Mention, Short Films, In Competition). 

The Virtual Premiere Section is there to feature all Series & Short Films looking to make their online premiere or international Premiere, or for some reason, cannot be part  of physical programming in Berlin.

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SHORT FILMS

A platform for independent filmmaking, creative expression and immersive entertainment, BERLIN SERIES supports emerging and is establishing the norm, more diversity, more female voices.

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We are curating innovative and interactive experiences, oragnizing post-screening performances, panels, and Pitch-Forum. Short films invited to participate in BERLIN SERIES Season 9 will be shown in the section determined most appropriate by Festival programmers, in their sole discretion. If you are submitting a student film, please submit via our FILMFREEWAY to get the discounted submissions fee. You will need a copy of your student ID to qualify.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS
Short-length (under 38 minutes) narrative, documentary, animated and experimental films that have not screened publicly in the Berlin/Brandenburg region prior to BERLIN SERIES Season 09.

Submitted Shorts In Competition cannot have had ANY public screening, broadcast, distribution , or exhibition Germany before February 28th, 2024 in any country out of the origin country. All submitted shorts must not to be longer than 36 minutes in length. The festival will screen the short film including credits.  We accept shorts across all genres, from annimation, docu-short to fiction. The rule of our diversity standard in that section applies: At least one actor/actress from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group must be cast in a significant role. At least one person of the general ensemble cast must be from underrepresented groups (women, racial, ethnic, LGBTQ+, or people with disabilities). At least one person of the other departmetns behind the camera must be from underrepresented groups (women, racial, ethnic, LGBTQ+, or people with disabilities). Please provide us with name and photos.

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