Campaign Rules

for shortlisted/nominated/awarded films
within the framework of the 38th European Film Awards

In the first stages of the selection process, selected films are made accessible exclusively to registered Academy members on the Academy VOD Platform. Selected films are not publicly promoted mentioning this selection, neither by the European Film Academy nor by the rightsholders of the selected films*.

On 14 October 2025, the complete list of selected films is publicly announced as the Academy Shortlist for the 38^th European Film Awards.

Only after this official press announcement promotional campaigns for European Film Awards shortlisted films (i.e. referring to the shortlisting for the European Film Awards) are allowed*. The films on the Academy Shortlist will be promoted simultaneously by the European Film Academy. Rightsholders of shortlisted films can promote the films according to the European Film Academy campaign rules.

The nominations in the majority of the categories are announced on 18 November with the exception of the nominations for EUROPEAN SHORT FILM – Prix Vimeo (to be announced on 31 October 2025), and the nominations in the categories EUROPEAN CASTING DIRECTOR, CINEMATOGRAPHER, COMPOSER (ORIGINAL SCORE), COSTUME DESIGNER, EDITOR, MAKE-UP & HAIR ARTIST, PRODUCTION DESIGNER and SOUND DESIGNER (to be announced on 26 November 2025).

After the respective nomination announcement for the European Film Awards, promotional campaigns can be continued with reference to a film’s or an individual’s nomination.

After having been awarded at the European Film Awards ceremony on 17 January 2026, promotion should be continued with reference to the film or individual winning a European Film Award.

General Communication

After the announcement of the Academy Shortlist/nominations/awards, it is allowed to

• promote a European Film Awards shortlisted/nominated/awarded film according to the campaign rules
• highlight a European Film Awards shortlisted/nominated/awarded film and individual achievements of the film
• encourage Academy members to watch a European Film Awards shortlisted/nominated film

It is not permitted to

• start any promotion before the announcement of the Academy Shortlist/nomination*
• pressure Academy members to vote or not vote for a European Film Awards shortlisted/nominated film, or performance or individual achievement
• discuss personal or other Academy members’ voting considerations or preferences in public (at events, in the press, on social media); this includes comparing or ranking European Film Awards shortlisted/nominated films, performances, or other individual achievements of the films regarding nomination or awards voting
• publicly share or publish personal choices/votes as an Academy member at any time

Promotion

After the announcement of the Academy Shortlist on 14 October 2025*, rightsholders are invited to promote the European Film Awards shortlisted film’s participation in the 38^th European Film Awards as follows (the same applies for nominated and awarded films in the respective period of the Award Season):

It is mandatory to

• mention a film’s European Film Awards shortlisted/nominated/awarded status on all visuals produced
• use the official Academy signet (see the European Film Academy’s Social Media and PR Guidelines for SHORTLISTED films / Social Media and PR Guidelines for NOMINATED films) indicating the European Film Awards shortlisted/nominated/awarded status
• maximise visibility of the European Film Awards shortlisted/nominated/awarded status

This specifically includes the Academy signet for a film’s shortlisting/nomination/award in all kinds of future promotion, including

• in press and print publications related to the European Film Awards shortlisted/nominated/awarded film
• in the logo reel prior to the opening credits of the European Film Awards shortlisted/nominated/awarded film
• on poster materials and other promotional materials
• on covers of Blu-ray/DVDs
• on websites, social media profiles and pages owned and administrated by the rightsholders of the film
• any other kind of marketing and/or advertising channels or materials not listed above

The official Academy signet and the correct wording for European Film Awards shortlisted/nominated/awarded films are included in the Social Media and PR Guidelines (see above). The European Film Academy will make an individual social media visual available for each European Film Awards shortlisted/nominated/awarded film and/or for an individual achievement, to be used by the rightsholder according to the guidelines.

Rightsholders are expected to help synchronise visibility of the European Film Awards shortlisted/nominated/awarded films on social media by using the official hashtag #europeanfilmawards and #europeancinema in relation to the respective films. The rightsholder should tag the European Film Academy on the most widely accepted social media platform. (Please note the European Film Academy has suspended its activities on X since November 2024).

Cinema screenings

The European Film Academy loves and always encourages cinema screenings of European Film Awards shortlisted/nominated/awarded films. The European Film Academy believes that cinema screenings maximise each film’s quality and each viewer’s experience.

Running up to the European Film Awards, it is possible to organise and host (either Academy members-only or public) screenings of feature-length European Film Awards shortlisted/nominated/awarded films. Screenings of these films after the European Film Awards might be considered for films vying for other international awards. To promote this screening as an Academy screening, it is imperative to invite Academy members according to the campaign rules:

• Invitations to Academy members must be sent exclusively by the European Film Academy. Distribution of the invitations will reach individual members living in the city where the screening is planned.
• Screening invitation design must be provided by the rightsholder and include the respective shortlisting/nomination Academy signet.
• Invitations must be sent to members within a reasonable time window before the RSVP deadline and the screening (2025: no later than 3 working days prior to the screening). The rightsholder takes care of the RSVP procedure and the respective guest list.
• Logistics and any costs for the cinema screening(s) are covered by the rightsholders.
• The European Film Academy recommends booking a screening in the cinema of its partner network in 125 cities around Europe, linked to the Academy’s annual European Award Season. The European Film Academy can help you with getting in touch with the cinema of your choice.

The above also apply for non-exclusive member screenings like festival screenings, premiere screenings or similar screening opportunities for which the rightsholders reserve tickets for Academy members and follow the above-mentioned rules.

For the European Film Awards 2026 screenings of feature-length European Film Awards shortlisted/nominated films can take place between specific periods of time:

• For shortlisted films:
  between the date of the announcement of the Academy Shortlist (14 October 2025)
  and 5 November 2025 (end of the Nomination vote).
• For nominated films:
  between the announcement of the Nominations (18 November 2025)
  and 8 January 2026 (end of Awards vote)
• For awarded films:
  after 17 January 2026, to promote the film during the voting periods of other international awards (BAFTAs, Oscars, etc.)

Cinema screenings of feature-length European Film Awards shortlisted/nominated/awarded films can be accompanied by (moderated) in-person Q&A sessions or panel discussions.

For any inquiries about how to contact European Award Season partner cinemas and/or how to invite members to screenings of shortlisted/nominated films please get in touch with submit@europeanfilmawards.eu

* This does not apply for the short film category, where a film’s shortlisting can be promoted starting from its individual selection date.