The 19th edition of the #ethnocineca – International Documentary Film Festival, Vienna’s platform for documentary and ethnographic cinema scheduled to take place from May 8th to 14th, 2025, is now open for 2025 submissions. Filmmakers are invited to submit their works between 15 October and 1 December. As Austria’s largest documentary film event, ethnocineca is dedicated to exploring and showcasing the diversity of global human experiences and contemporary societal issues.

Submissions for the 2025 edition are open to films of any length, genre, or approach, provided they critically engage with the uniqueness, commonalities, and complexities of cultural and social life across the globe. The festival encourages innovative storytelling and a critical perspective that challenges conventional ethnographic and documentary narratives.

The festival will feature five competitive categories, with an emphasis on critical, non-dogmatic portrayals of people’s realities and lived experiences. Eligible films must have been produced between 2024 and 2025. Early bird submission fees are available until 31 October 2024, through Filmfreeway.

For further details on submission guidelines and competition categories, filmmakers are encouraged to visit the festival’s website or its page on Filmfreeway.