OBJECTIVES

• To ensure that our country is recognized among prestigious festivals in the field of culture and arts.
• To promote the World Heritage city on national and international platforms and contribute to the development of "Cultural Tourism" by processing our country’s existing cultural richness.
• To lead the creation of an archive of information, documents, and records through documentary films and ensure their transfer from generation to generation.
• To bring documentary films together with audiences and ensure that the genre receives the value it deserves.

ORGANIZATION

The organization of the Safranbolu 26th International Golden Saffron Documentary Film Festival Documentary Film Competition is carried out by the Cultural and Social Affairs Directorate of Safranbolu Municipality, which runs the Festival Secretariat.

CATEGORIES

The competition is organized in 2 (two) main categories.

1. INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION

International Documentary Film Competition

2. NATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION

The National Documentary Film Competition consists of 4 (four) subcategories.

FEATURE-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION
There is no thematic limitation in this competition category.

SHORT DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION
There is no thematic limitation in this competition category.

CULTURAL HERITAGE AND CONSERVATION THEMED NATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION
Only documentaries themed on Cultural Heritage and Conservation may apply to this competition category.

STUDENT DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION
There is no thematic limitation in this competition category.

 

PARTICIPATION CONDITIONS

1. Documentaries produced after January 1, 2025 may participate in the competition. Films that have previously participated in the International Golden Saffron Documentary Film Competition may not apply. Except for the Golden Saffron Awards; having previously participated in national or international competitions and/or having received awards does not constitute an obstacle to participation in this competition.
2. The competition is open to amateur and professional documentary filmmakers and all documentary enthusiasts who are 18 years of age or older as of the application date, excluding Festival Committee members, Jury Members, Festival Secretariat, and Safranbolu Municipality personnel.
3. Participation in the competition is free of charge.
4. Applicants must specify the category and branch they are applying to.
5. Applicants may participate in the competition with more than one work in the same or different categories.
6. Documentary participants applying to the National Category must be citizens of the Republic of Türkiye. Citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus may also compete in this category.
7. Citizens of the Republic of Türkiye and the TRNC who are enrolled in formal associate or undergraduate programs at universities located in Türkiye or the TRNC may apply to the National Student Documentary Film Competition category. Finalist students are required to submit a student certificate. Projects that do not submit a student certificate will be eliminated.
8. Applications must be submitted by the director or producer. If there is more than one director, the applicant must obtain written consent from the others and attach it to the application. In this case, the award will be given to the applicant. The Festival Committee, Festival Secretariat, and Jury are not responsible for any disputes arising from the sharing of the award.
9. Productions shot in TV broadcast–compatible technical formats (mxf, mov, mp4, etc., Full HD or higher resolution) may participate. If the film becomes a finalist, the director or producer is obliged to submit the DCP copy of the film to the Festival Secretariat within 10 working days following the announcement of the finalists.
10. Documentary films applying to the competition must not have been previously broadcast on TV or digital platforms (satellite, website, IPTV, digital platforms, etc.). Uploads made to internet sites as private or unlisted links for application purposes are excluded from this rule.
11. The duration of the works applying to the competition, including opening and closing credits, must be as follows:

 

1. INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION
Minimum 30 minutes, maximum 60 minutes.

2. NATIONAL FEATURE-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION
Minimum 30 minutes, maximum 90 minutes.

3. NATIONAL SHORT DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION
Maximum 30 minutes.

4. CULTURAL HERITAGE AND CONSERVATION THEMED NATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION
Maximum 90 minutes.

5. NATIONAL STUDENT DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION
Maximum 30 minutes.

 

 

APPLICATIONS

Participants may apply to the competition only via www.filmfreeway.com.
Detailed information can also be found at www.altinsafran.org.

• Director’s biography (Turkish and English)
• Short synopsis of the film in Turkish and English
• At least five stills from the film (high resolution)
• A trailer of the film with a maximum length of one minute
• If the film is in a language other than Turkish or English, Turkish and English subtitles must be used. If the film is in Turkish, only English subtitles must be used.
• Finalist films are required to submit a DCP copy.
• In the National Student Documentary Film Competition, finalist students are required to submit a student certificate.
• Applicants of finalist films produced in languages other than Turkish must submit an English (.srt) subtitle file.
• If deemed necessary, the Competition Secretariat may request documents/information regarding the director and the work.
• Films that pass the preliminary selection and become finalists cannot be withdrawn from the competition under any circumstances.
• Documents submitted during the application process will not be returned and will be kept in the festival archive.
• Promotional films shot for commercial or touristic purposes will not be evaluated as documentaries.

• Films that do not meet the criteria will not be evaluated by the preliminary jury.

 

 

EVALUATION

1. Preliminary Selection and Jury members are determined by the Festival Executive Committee and Festival Secretariat.
2. The Preliminary Selection and Jury consist of experts in their fields such as directors, cinema sector professionals, critics, producers, actors, artists, academics, and members of cinema-related organizations. Including the Jury Chair, each member has one vote. A representative from the Festival Secretariat participates as a natural member on behalf of the committee but does not have voting rights.
3. The Preliminary Jury submits a maximum of 7 (seven) documentary films per category that meet the criteria and pass the evaluation to the Jury. The Preliminary Jury evaluates and eliminates submitted works based on compliance with the regulations, technical quality, aesthetics, creativity, and category selection.
4. The Jury determines the winners by considering the creativity and artistic qualities of the films among the finalists in each category.
5. The Juries submit their decisions to the Secretariat in written, reasoned, and signed form before the announcement date. Decisions of the Preliminary and Jury Committees are final. Participants have no right to object to the results.
6. If there is an insufficient number or quality of applications in competition categories, the relevant category may be closed by decision of the Festival Executive Committee.
7. Preliminary evaluation results will be published on www.altinsafran.org and www.safranbolu.bel.tr, and the results will be communicated directly to the finalists via email and phone.
8. The Juries may not give awards other than those specified in the regulations.
9. The Juries comply with the film screening program determined by the festival management. Accordingly, the date and time of the jury decision meeting and the submission of results to the Festival Secretariat are determined by the festival management.
10. The Juries may not divide awards among multiple films.
11. The Juries may not decide to withhold awards in award categories.

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS

1. Award-winning films will be announced at the award ceremony to be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
2. Owners of finalist works are required to attend the award ceremony. If unable to attend, they must send a representative from the film production team.

 

AWARDS

INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION

Best Film Award: 60,000 TL + Golden Saffron Award Statuette

 

NATIONAL FEATURE-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION

Best Film Award: 125,000 TL + Golden Saffron Award Statuette
Jury Special Award: 75,000 TL + Golden Saffron Award Statuette

 

NATIONAL SHORT DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION

Best Film Award: 75,000 TL + Golden Saffron Award Statuette
Jury Special Award: 50,000 TL + Golden Saffron Award Statuette

 

CULTURAL HERITAGE AND CONSERVATION THEMED NATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION

Suha Arın Best Documentary Award: 75,000 TL + Golden Saffron Award Statuette

 

NATIONAL STUDENT DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION

Best Film Award: 50,000 TL + Golden Saffron Award Statuette
Jury Special Award: 25,000 TL + Golden Saffron Award Statuette

 

• Special awards may be given upon the request of institutions and organizations contributing to the festival.
• The Jury may grant special awards without monetary prizes in addition to the determined awards.
• Monetary awards will be paid by the Safranbolu Municipality by the end of the year following the festival date, after the completion of the required documents, and after legal deductions.

 

 

GENERAL CONDITIONS

1. Expenses arising from participation in the competition, such as shipping, customs, freight, and insurance costs, belong to the participant.
2. Awards specified in the regulations will be transferred by the Safranbolu Municipality to the IBAN accounts opened in the awardees’ own names, as notified in writing. If awardees fail to submit their personal IBAN numbers and the documents and information requested by the Festival Secretariat, the award amount will become time-barred at the end of 1 (one) year from the result notification date. In case of expiration, the awardee shall have no claims for awards, royalties, or similar rights.
3. Participation in the competition constitutes acceptance of all regulations and conditions stated in this specification. In matters not covered by this specification, the Festival Executive Committee has the authority to decide. The Festival Executive Committee reserves the right to make changes to all matters stated in this specification.

 

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

1. Some productions applying to the competition may be included in a special screening program by the Festival Secretariat with the permission of the producer, even if they are not selected for the competition.
2. Films of individuals who have received honor awards or labor awards at the International Golden Saffron Documentary Film Festival may be included in the non-competition screening program by the festival committee.
3. Teams of films competing in the festival will be invited to the festival in numbers and on dates determined by the Festival Secretariat.

 

 

COPYRIGHT (USAGE) RIGHTS

The right to use award-winning works in all types of screenings belongs to the Festival Committee and the organizing Safranbolu Municipality. Within this scope, Safranbolu Municipality may use the works indefinitely and non-commercially on national and international cultural and artistic platforms, in visual and written media, on social media, and in suitable venues.

• In case of any dispute, the Turkish version of the specification shall prevail.

 

 

COMPETITION SCHEDULE

Competition Application Start Date: 11.02.2026 Wednesday
Application Deadline: 13.03.2026 Friday at 17:00 (TSI)
Pre-Jury Result Announcement Date: 10.04.2026 Monday  (Announcement of finalists)
Announcement of Results and Award Ceremony: 13.06.2026 Saturday

 

 

COMPETITION SECRETARIAT / CONTACT

Safranbolu Municipality Department of Culture, Arts and Social Affairs
International Golden Saffron Documentary Film Festival Secretariat

E-mail: info@altinsafran.org
Phone: +90 370 725 52 66

Safranbolu Municipality Leyla Dizdar Cultural Center
Bağlarbaşı Neighborhood, Kavaklar Street No:2
Safranbolu / KARABÜK

 

Click button for the Competition page.