Call for Entries: National Competition for Moldovan Middle and Feature Length Documentaries

Part of the 10th Anniversary Edition of the MOLDOX International Documentary Film Festival

Chișinău, Moldova | November 26–30, 2025

In celebration of the 10th anniversary edition of the MOLDOX International Documentary Film Festival, we are proud to launch the National Competition for Moldovan Middle and  Feature Length Documentaries — a new competitive section dedicated to recognizing and supporting the most powerful voices in Moldovan documentary cinema.

This special edition of the festival marks a decade of bold, socially engaged documentary filmmaking in Moldova. For the first time, 5 to 7 middle and feature-length Moldovan documentaries will be selected to have their national premiere at MOLDOX and compete for the Green Vine Award.

Award

Green Vine Award – Best Moldovan Documentary
 Presented by the MOLDOX jury to the most outstanding Moldovan documentary in the competition.
(The details of the cash prize will be announced at a later stage.)

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for selection, films must meet the following:

  • Minimum length: 40 minutes
  • Completion date: Finalized within 24 months preceding the festival screening
  • Premiere status: Must have its Moldovan national premiere at MOLDOX (i.e., it must not have been publicly screened, broadcast, or made available online in Moldova prior to the festival)
  • Nationality: Directed by a Moldovan citizen or co-produced with Moldova as an official co-producing country
  • Moldovan involvement, satisfying at least one of the following:
    • Directed by a Moldovan filmmaker
    • Produced or co-produced by a Moldovan production company
    • Majority of filming took place in Moldova
    • Film received public funding from Moldovan institutions

Technical Requirements

  • Screening format: DCP or digital file (.mov, apple prores, 1080p, 2K, 4K)
  • Subtitles: English subtitles required if the spoken language is not English

If selected, filmmakers will be asked to provide:

  • A dialogue list in English
  • A trailer (1–2 minutes)
  • A press kit and 3 high-resolution stills
  • Director’s photo and short bio

Submission Details

  • Deadline: September 1, 2025
  • Submit via: Google Form: https://forms.gle/s4wr7DgrfoP3pavG9
  • Required materials:
    • Private viewing link (e.g., Vimeo or YouTube)
    • Password (if applicable)
    • Completed submission form

Contact & Info

Email: info@moldoxfestival.com

Join us in celebrating a decade of documentary cinema in Moldova.
Submit your film and be part of the 10th Anniversary Edition of MOLDOX!
Let your story be seen. Let your voice be heard.

SUBMISSION REGULATIONS

ARTICLE 1
The MOLDOX International Documentary Film Festival takes place annually in Chișinău, Moldova, where it relocated in 2024 after eight successful editions in Cahul. Dedicated to bold, socially engaged documentary cinema, the festival showcases the work of both emerging and established filmmakers from Moldova and around the world. MOLDOX serves as a vital platform for artistic exchange, civic dialogue, and community engagement, connecting documentary storytellers with diverse audiences across the country.

The 10th Anniversary Edition of the festival will take place from November 26 to 30, 2025.

ARTICLE 2
The Festival Director of the MOLDOX International Documentary Film Festival is responsible for the selection and invitation of the films presented at the festival. The Festival Director also determines the screening schedule. In this process, the Director may be assisted by advisors or collaborators of their choosing.

For submission purposes, password-protected streaming links (e.g. Vimeo or YouTube) are accepted and preferred.

ARTICLE 3
The Festival Director of the MOLDOX International Documentary Film Festival appoints the members of the Jury responsible for awarding the Green Vine Award for Best Moldovan Documentary. The Jury is composed of professionals from the fields of film, arts, and culture.

The Festival Director may attend Jury deliberations in an advisory capacity but does not hold voting rights. A Jury Secretary is appointed by the Festival Director to facilitate the process. Jury decisions are made by open ballot and simple majority.

Persons directly involved in the production or distribution of any film participating in the competition may not serve as Jury members.

ARTICLE 4
To be eligible for participation in the National Competition for Moldovan Mid-Length and Feature-Length Documentaries, a film must meet all of the following conditions:

  • The film must have been completed within 24 (twenty-four) months preceding the festival screening
  • The film must have its Moldovan national premiere at MOLDOX (i.e., it must not have been publicly screened, broadcast, or made available online in Moldova prior to the festival)
  • The film must be delivered in standard DCP format or as a high-quality digital file (.mov, apple prores, 1080p, 2K, 4K))
  • The film must have a minimum running time of 40 minutes

ARTICLE 5
Submission to the MOLDOX International Documentary Film Festival is free of charge.
No entry or processing fees are required for submitting a film to the National Competition for Moldovan Mid-Length and Feature-Length Documentaries.

ARTICLE 6
In addition to the Green Vine Award granted by the official Jury, Audience Awards and awards presented by independent juries (e.g., critics, students, NGOs, or thematic partners) may also be granted within the framework of the MOLDOX International Documentary Film Festival, subject to the approval of the Festival Director.

ARTICLE 7
No public screening, broadcast, or online release in Moldova of any film participating in the National Competition is permitted prior to its official screening at the MOLDOX International Documentary Film Festival.

ARTICLE 8
Filmmakers whose works are selected for the official program of the MOLDOX International Documentary Film Festival are strongly encouraged to include the official festival logo in all promotional and publicity materials (including stills, posters, trailers, social media content, and press releases), clearly indicating the film’s inclusion in the festival lineup.

ARTICLE 9
The promotional materials of the selected films (including stills, posters, trailers, social media content, and press releases) are the sole responsibility of the filmmakers (directors and/or producers). The MOLDOX International Documentary Film Festival bears no responsibility for the content, accuracy, or distribution of these materials.

ARTICLE 10
Submission and participation in the MOLDOX International Documentary Film Festival imply full and unconditional acceptance of the present regulations.
In any cases not specified herein, the Festival Director reserves the right to make the final decision.

ARTICLE 11
The MOLDOX International Documentary Film Festival accepts only online submissions and digital delivery of screening copies. All selected films must be provided as a DCP or a high-quality HD file (.mov, apple prores, 1080p, 2K, 4K), delivered via a secure online transfer service (e.g., WeTransfer, Vimeo, or festival-approved platforms).

The festival does not accept physical shipment of hard drives, prints, or other physical media.

The Festival bears no liability for any loss or damage incurred during the digital transfer process.
Once a film is successfully received and confirmed by the MOLDOX team, it is stored securely for the duration of the festival.

In case of a corrupted or defective screening copy, the responsibility to provide a replacement lies solely with the submitter (director, producer, or rights holder).

MOLDOX shall not be held liable for any screening cancellations or quality issues resulting from the failure to deliver a functioning screening copy in the requested format and within the required timeframe.