GENERAL INFORMATION
Which films are eligible?
The 39th European Film Awards will be presented by the European Film Academy and European Film Academy Productions on 16 January 2027 in Athens/Greece.
Eligible are full-length fiction, animation or documentary films suitable and mainly recommended for young people, having to be appropriate for an audience of 12-year-olds.
The films must have a European director, be intended for theatrical release and have had their first official screening (be it at a festival or at a regular cinema) between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026 and meet the particular criteria of the European Young Audience Award category. Depending on the date of a film’s first official screening/world premiere, a film needs to be submitted within the respective submission period.
The main production country must be European; European, in the sense of the European Film Academy, means geographical Europe, both EU and non-EU, and includes Israel and Palestine (please refer to the list of eligible countries).
Eligible individuals for a nomination or an award must be born in Europe or hold a European passport. The Academy Board may consider non-Europeans provided they have a European refugee or similar status or have lived in Europe and worked in the European film industry for at least five consecutive years.
For the selection and nomination procedure the films need to be made available to the committee (review group) deciding on the three nominations for the European Young Audience Award.
The submission fee amounts to EUR 100 (subject to VAT) per film.
For more information and the full regulations, please refer to the Regulations of the European Film Awards.
How can a film be submitted?
Film submission for the upcoming 39th European Film Awards are closed.
For all information and the full regulations, please refer to the Regulations of the European Film Awards.
If you would like to submit a film, please contact submit@europeanfilmawards.eu
Who decides about the nominations?
A Young Audience Award Committee, consisting of young film lovers from across Europe (aged 12 – 19) and three film professionals (Board Member, ECFA representative, YAA partner), all representing a diverse range of European countries, watch the submitted films and evaluate them.
The decision about the three nominations is taken by four representatives of the young review group and the three film professional by the end of September. The announcement of the nominations is taking place on 1 November.
Who decides about the winner?
The three nominated films are presented to young audiences aged 12 to 19 in jury screenings during European Award Season. After each screening the young people rate the film with a digital voting ballot accessible by QR code. All votes determine the winner who is announced during the 39th European Film Awards presented by the European Film Academy on 16 January 2027 in Athens, Greece.
How and when are the nominated films screened?
Young audiences aged 12 – 19 across Europe act as jurors when local partner organisations, festivals and cinemas organise non-commercial jury screenings with the three nominated films during the European Award Season and the Concluding Jury Event on Saturday 16 January 2027.
Considering local circumstances, the partners select the most suitable day and format during the European Award Season, starting on 1 November 2026 and running until 16 January 2027, to ensure the best possible outcome in terms of reaching young audiences, e.g. through school screenings, special jury screenings, or a special cinema events.
Each of the three nominated films can be screened once per city in a non-commercial jury screening to audiences aged 12 – 19.
Additional commercial theatrical screenings in partner cinemas during the European Award Season are possible; including ticket sales and open to the public (e.g. families). The local cinemas programme the films when it suits them best in the given period. In those cases, the commercial screening rights and film deliveries are handled by cinemas directly with the local distributors.
What are the key benefits for rights-holders?
- A film nominated for the European Young Audience Award benefits from significant visibility and recognition across European markets.
- The prestigious endorsement by the European Film Academy and voted on by young jurors adds credibility and value to the film’s reputation, with the nomination serving as a mark of quality and being a proof of relevance to young audiences.
- The award nomination strengthens promotional efforts and enhances attractiveness to current and future distributors.
- Local distributors may leverage the award nomination to adjust the marketing timeline and align the release plan with increased visibility from the program.
- Benefit from Europe-wide promotion coordinated by the Academy and its network of established film organisations and cinemas, requiring minimal marketing expenditure from the rights-holders and local distributors.
- Enhance the film’s cultural relevance by engaging in this meaningful European initiative, which promotes youth film literacy and cultural exchange while connecting with new audiences.
What are the strategic and reputational benefits for partners and cinemas joining?
- Promote European cinema, film literacy and cultural diversity by screening high-quality European films, offering the chance to gain insights into other ways of life.
- Foster new relationships among young people by bringing visibility and offer connection to peers internationally through interactive tools during the Concluding Jury Event.
- Attract young audiences by offering a curated selection of youth-approved films.
- Empower young people by offering them participation and a meaningful role in an international democratic cultural process, where young people vote for their favourite film.
- Promote cinema-going culture among the younger generation and build future audiences.
- Gain cross-border visibility within a diverse network of an international alliance of respected film organisations committed to the same values.
- Strengthen the own branding and grow international recognition by joining a prestigious European project of the European Film Academy and being presented as a partner on the Awards website.
What are the benefits for young people participating?
- Opportunity to discover high-quality European films.
- Development of skills to better understand and analyse the moving image.
- Possibility to discover European stories, people, cultures and societies through films.
- Space to develope a sense of community, tolerance and a greater understanding of the European neighbours.
- Opportunity for meaningful and peaceful exchange of views.
- Experience of being an active member of the European community in a democratic process.
How can a partner join the programme to organise a local screening?
To join the programme please reach out to us.
Contact Heidi: hf@academy-productions.org
RIGHTS CLEARANCE
How is the rights clearance organised?
It is imperative that the film is submitted with the understanding that it is to be made available to young audiences in all participating territories for potential non-commercial jury screenings in the event of a nomination for this audience award (please see regulations).
The agreement to the non-commercial jury screenings is a mandatory part for the nomination. This applies to one non-commercial jury screening per collaborating city organised by our cultural partner network during the European Awards Season (November – January.
The screenings are organised within the local educational programme and offer free access to pre-registered young participants aged 12 to 19 voting for the winner.
Rights-holders must inform existing and potential new distributors of the film’s submission and its associated terms and conditions.
Films must be provided in their original version, as textless open DCP, as well as the English subtitles and dialogue book. Each local partner is responsible and covers the costs for the translation and creation of subtitles, if necessary.
Why should a rights-holder / distributor agree to all the screenings?
The Young Audience Award introduces young people to the cinema-going culture with a curated selection of films chosen by a committee of young people and three film professionals. Being given a meaningful role in a democratic voting process and the experience of being an active member of a film community creates an unforgettable experience. This experience can spark an interest in European films.
The nominated film will benefit from significant visibility and recognition across European markets. It provides a powerful endorsement from both the European Film Academy and young people in particular, enhancing the film’s market appeal, adding credibility and providing a valuable promotional tool for positioning the film to young audiences.
Is the agreement on all the screenings mandatory?
It is imperative that the film is submitted with the understanding that it is to be made available to young audiences in all participating territories for potential non-commercial jury screenings in the event of a nomination for this audience award (please see regulations).
The agreement to the non-commercial jury screenings is a mandatory part for the nomination. This applies to one non-commercial jury screening per collaborating city organised by our cultural partner network during the European Awards Season (November – January.
What happens if rights to further countries will be sold by November?
New distributors need to be informed about the film’s submission (and potential nomination) for the European Young Audience Award and the mandatory screenings in case of a nomination. The full list of distributors needs to be shared with the Academy in case of a nomination.
Is it possible to exclude some countries categorically?
It is not possible to categorically exclude individual countries/territories for screenings. A film nominated for the European Young Audience Award will benefit from significant visibility and recognition across European markets. This nomination provides a powerful endorsement from both the European Film Academy and young people.
NON-COMMERCIAL JURY SCREENINGS
Who are the local partners organising the events?
The European Film Academy collaborates with a network of film cultural partners, eg. youth film festivals, national film academies, institutes and centres, as well as dedicated film educational programs. This network has been growing and expanding constantly across Europe since the beginning. Each partner is committed to young people and aims to build future cinema-going audiences, has the experience to engage new viewers and an existing infrastructure for the promotion.
How do partner organise the non-commercial jury screenings?
Considering local circumstances, the local partner selects the most suitable day during European Award Season (1 November 2026 – 16 January 2027) for the jury screenings.
Each of the three nominated films can be screened only once per city to audiences aged 12 – 19 (maximum three non-commercial jury screenings).
The format includes school screenings, dedicated jury screenings within local festivals, screening events at a local cinema or the final Concluding Jury Event on 16 January 2027, the day of the European Film Awards, with simultaneous events happening across Europe and beyond.
Interested organisations confirm the collaboration by mid-September for the upcoming edition and are officially presented as cultural partner of the European Film Academy.
What is the Concluding Jury Event?
The Concluding Jury Event is a network of local screening events organised simultaneously across Europe on Saturday, 16 January 2027, the day of the European Film Awards. It combines screenings of the nominated films with discussions, workshops, fun activities and collective voting on the films. Throughout the day, local audiences interact with each other using digital tools, allowing them to develop a sense of community with peers across Europe.
From the beginning, the event has been the core element of the Young Audience Award (clip of the early editions here) with a network of local partners organising the local events for invited young people since 2012.
The Concluding Jury Event is for pre-registered participants, non-commercial and free of charge.
What are the presumable costs for partners organising the Concluding Jury Event?
The Academy clears the general non-commercial jury screening rights which usually means no local screening fees occure. Should a local distributor however insist on a local screening fee this would have to be covered by the respective partner.
Local partners are responsible for covering the costs related to the local event and the local version of the films.
Presumable costs overview:
- Event & screening location
- Local stuff
- Translation + creation of subtitles
- Promotion of the local event
- Printing of graphic material (eg. poster, handouts, etc.)
- Hardware for live webcam and chat booth
- Internet connection in the cinema
- Catering throughout the day for participants
How are the rights handled for non-commercial jury screenings?
The European Film Academy handles the clearance of non-commercial screening rights with the rights-holders for collaborating partners organising jury screenings.
For rights-holders it is imperative that the film is submitted with the understanding that it is to be made available to young audiences in all participating territories for potential screenings in the event of a nomination for this audience award (please see regulations).
Agreement to all non-commercial screenings (one screening per city) is mandatory.
Which promotion materials does the Academy provide?
The Academy encourages all partners and cinemas to organise film discussions, workshops and film-related fun activities alongside the jury screenings to not only teach a better understanding of the moving image, but create an unforgettable experience.
MATERIAL:
- Educational dossiers to each nominated film guiding the discussions
- YouTube interviews with nominated directors and cast by young reporters diving deeper into the filmmaking
- Call-to-action visual for voting (16:9)
- Specific artwork for the promotion, incl. social media
- Accompanied by the social media campaign on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube
COMMERCIAL THEATRICAL SCREENINGS
What are commercial theatrical screenings under the umbrella of the Young Audience Award?
Regular film screenings of the three nominees for European Young Audience Award under the umbrella of the European Award Season.
Cinemas part of the European Award Season are invited to include the three nominated films to their theatrical programme, offering young audiences the chance to join the international youth jury.
The theatrical screenings are arranged for the public and ideally promoted as family or youth screenings. But the voting is limited for 12 to 19 years-olds only.
Clearance of the commercial screening rights and film delivery is coordinated between the cinema and the rights-holder directly.
Why should a cinema programme the three nominated films?
This is a fantastic opportunity to introduce young audiences to the cinema-going culture with a curated selection of films chosen by a committee of young people and three film professionals. Being part of this international film jury gives young people a voice in a democratic voting process. Their votes decide the winner of the prestigious European Film Awards.
Cinemas benefit from cross-border visibility and cross-promotion with the Academy.
What material does the Academy offer for promotion and engegement?
Film discussions after the screenings give young audiences the opportunity to not only evaluate the films but also provide a space to become an active member of a film community. Educational dossiers to each nominated film will be available for download on 1 November.
A special promotion campaign dedicated to young film lovers offers engagement on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Specific artwork for the promotion of Young Audience Award screenings in cinemas, including a call-to-action visual for voting (16:9), will be available for download on 1 November.
Should the theatrical screenings be arranged exclusively for young audiences?
The theatrical screenings are open to the public and everyone is invited to watch the films. But if cinemas prefer to organise school or youth group screenings this is also welcomed. The voting is limited to the 12 to 19-year-olds and regulated within the digital voting ballot.
What are the presumable costs for cinemas screening the three films nominated?
Cinemas are responsible for coordinating the theatrical screening rights with the local distributors individually and cover all costs related to the theatrical screenings.
Could a local screening be postponed in a particular country because of a national premiere date?
The film needs to be screened within the given timeframe for the audience to vote for it. In the event of a nomination, a local distributor should consider adjusting their marketing plan to benefit from the increased visibility and prestigious endorsement.
VOTING
How does the voting work precisely?
Young audiences (aged 12-19) rate the films individually after each screening. Votemo provides the voting tool, a secure digital voting ballot which is available through a QR code after each screening in theaters and during the event. Additionally, a paper voting ballot is available for young people not able to access the QR code. Their votes determine the winner, who is announced at the European Film Awards ceremony.
Are only viewers aged 12-19 allowed to vote?
Yes, and the digital voting ballot asks for the age before enabling the user to vote. Therefore, cinemas can display the QR code on the screen and/or in the foyer to the full audience and don’t need to limit this specifically to the target age group, because this is regulated through Votemo.
When does the voting end?
The voting period starts with the first screenings on 1 November 2026 and runs until 16 January 2027.
Deadline for voting is 16 January 2027 at 17.00 CET (Berlin, Oslo, Madrid).
Paper voting ballots need to be sent by email no later than Friday, 15 January 2027 at 20.00 CET.
SUSTAINABILITY GUIDELINES
Which guidelines does the Academy recommend for the European Young Audience Award?
The European Film Academy encourages all Young Audience Awards participants to follow simple sustainability principles:
- Travel Smart: Favour local engagement and public transport; avoid unnecessary air travel.
- Hybrid Events: Use a mix of cinema and online screenings to reduce emissions.
- Digital First: Prioritise digital communication and reusable promotional materials.
- Sustainable Venues: Choose cinemas with eco-friendly practices when possible.
- Low-Impact Catering: Use local, seasonal, and plant-based food; avoid single-use plastics.
- Eco-Awareness: Include sustainability topics in youth workshops and film talks.
- Track & Improve: Estimate your environmental impact and share your efforts with the Academy.
If you’d like to go further or share your sustainability ideas, we welcome your contribution!
How does the European Young Audience Award reduces its environmental impact?
The Academy incorporates sustainable practices by:
- Encouraging online voting and streaming to reduce the need for travel.
- Organising hybrid screenings that combine local cinema experiences with digital access.
- Recommending digital over printed promotional materials.
- Partnering with local organisations to reduce cross-border logistics.
Does the digital voting system contribute to sustainability?
Yes. The use of Votemo’s digital voting ballot reduces the need for printed ballots and on-site vote collection logistics. It enables seamless participation from dispersed audiences, reducing travel and material waste.
Is there a sustainability contact point for questions or collaboration ideas?
Partners or participants interested in sustainability topics can contact the Academy’s Sustainability Officer via the general contact email. Collaboration ideas, feedback, or offers to pilot sustainable practices are welcome.
Still have a question?
If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please reach out to contact@europeanfilmacademy.org