Regulation
Y-40 FILM FESTIVAL is the international underwater contest born in the Production Studio of Y-40® The Deep Joy in partnership with the videomaker Matt Evans, creator and creative manager of the event
REGULATION
Y-40 FILM FESTIVAL is an international underwater contest open to all audiovisual, cinematographic, television and web productions, documentary, fiction, animation, traditional or experimental works.
The competition is also addressed to works made by independent productions, shot underwater in any environment, from the sea to lakes, from rivers to pools, to encourage meetings and collaboration between creatives and operators in the sector.
Participation is open to all Italian and foreign directors, film-makers and video-makers.
The call is open to short films of less than 10 minutes duration, including titles. Short films should be horizontal and shot underwater for at least 30% of the duration.
Short films that do not meet the above characteristics will be disqualified.
SECTIONS
All the works shot underwater and produced between 2018 and 2026 can compete in several categories:
1-DOCUMENTARIES/ EDUCATIONAL: Documented research and chronicles.
2-ARTISTIC SHORTS: Emotional videos without commercial purpose.
3-COMMERCIAL VIDEOS: Advertising or music clips.
4-REEL!: Vertical videos below 60 in social network mode.
PRESENTATIONS
To register a work for the Y-40 FILM FESTIVAL, the registration fee must be paid by 20 September 2026 by completing the payment and inserting the link of the video in the notes of the payment and then sending the work in digital format.
The number of works per participant is unlimited, but a registration and payment must be made for each.
All works in languages other than Italian must have subtitles in English or Italian.
In addition, some documents will be required to send by e-mail useful for the presentation of the film in all future publication contexts, as listed in HOW TO REGISTER.
If the films are made in Y-40 The Deep Joy, you are asked to include the mention in the credits.
REGISTRATION
HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENT:
There are three deadlines for submitting a project:
until 31 May 2026, cost equal to € 30;
until 16 August 2026, cost equal to € 50;
until 20 September, 2026, cost equal to € 60 (deadline).
In the e-mail should be sent
1) the download link of the official video from YouTube or Vimeo,
and must be attached
2) the receipt of payment on-line at Y-40 Film Festival,
3) the completed and signed registration form with a permit to use as described,
4) parental permission in the case of under-age video-makers;
5) a summary of the film with lines and synopsis in Italian or English,
6) the biography and possible filmography of the director and, if relevant, of the actors.
If selected, the following will also be requested:
7) a list with Author and Title of all the musical pieces used in the Short (for SIAE use)
8) a trailer of no more than 1 minute in full HD format,
9) suitable photographic documentation in high resolution digital jpg format, the publication of which is authorized and free of charge, to be used for press releases, website and promotion.
9) suitable photographic documentation in high resolution digital jpg format, the publication of which is authorized and free of charge, to be used for press releases, website and promotion.
By registering their works at the Festival, directors, authors and rightsholders of the submitted works authorize Y-40 The Deep Joy, Millepini Immobiliare srl and Matt Evans (Gennadii Kravchenko) to the screening of the short films, their on-line publications, current or future, partial and total. The authors therefore waive any payment of “screening fees” for viewing during Y-40 Film Festival.
The data collected will be processed according to D. Lgs 196/2003 and will be used for the purpose of the proper performance of the competition. The holders of the personal data submitted are represented by the organizers themselves of Y-40 Film Festival.
SELECTION
Ten short films will be selected by the jury.
In addition, 5 REEL category shorts will be selected through social voting to compete for the final.
The selected videos will be published on Y-40’s social networks, The Deep Joy and screened in Y-40 at the awards night open to the public.
The selected videos will get the “Official Selection Y-40 Film Festival” crown.
TECHNICAL JURY
The Technical Jury is formed by experts from the world of videomaking, underwater directors, artistic producers, experts from the world of communication, art and entrepreneurship, and has the specific task of determining, in compliance with this Regulation, the eligibility or not to the Prize of the works submitted. Works which have received other awards may also be selected.
Acceptance to be part of the Jury implies the implicit acceptance of these Rules.
AWARD
The first three ABSOLUTES will be awarded.
The 3rd and 2nd place winners will receive material to be revealed later by the sponsors, while the 1st place winner will have a production day in Y-40 studios with set value of 10,000 euro.
This prize may not be transferred or sold to third parties.
The top finishers in each category will receive material from sponsors which will be communicated soon.
The three finalists of the Award are obliged to attend the Y-40 Film Festival awards ceremony. If a finalist refuses the prize, it will be donated to charity.
Registration Form
Form to complete and send it to info@y-40.com after the payment
