Film submissions for the 46th edition

Competition
Submission: 10.07. – 31.10. 

• Premiere or German premiere, from the last year of production
• Feature films, from 65 min
• Documentary films, from 70 min
• Medium-length films, 25-65 min, feature films
• Short films, up to 25 min, feature films

Non-competitive sections
Submission: 10.07. – 30.09. 

• Watchlist (feature films from 65 min)
• Diskurze (short films up to 65 min.) both fictional and documentary
• MOP series (1st or 2nd series of the director OR the producer)

Submissions can be made easily via our submission portal.

The submission deadlines are:
Competition: 15.07. - 31.10.
Non-competitive sections: 15.07. - 30.09.

Yes, you can use your login details to edit and complete the information in the submission platform up until the submission deadline.

If the submitted film is your 1st, 2nd or 3rd feature-length film, you are considered an up-and-coming director according to our guidelines. If you have already released more than 3 feature-length films, you unfortunately no longer count as an up-and-coming director. (Feature films and documentaries are counted separately)

Yes, but there are two important points to note here.
1. each movie will only be watched once!
2. the film must be at least in picture lock status.
If only minor adjustments need to be made in post-production, e.g. to the grading or sound, you can still submit your film. 
In this case, however, be aware that our curators may need some imagination to picture the finished film, depending on the status of the film, and that this could also affect the selection decision. So, the more finished the film, the better!
The final version of the film must be completed by the end of the year.

Yes, as long as there is a connection to the German-speaking cultural area within the film team and the film is understandable for a (standard) German-speaking audience in the original version or with subtitles, we also look forward to films from all over the world!

No, the film can also be in a non-German language, but German subtitles are mandatory in this case! 
We want to ensure that our audience can understand the films in (standard) German.

If the premiere of the film did not take place in Germany, and the film therefore had its German premiere at the Max Ophüls Film Festival, then yes.

If the film has already been shown in Germany, be it at a festival, in the cinema, on television, on demand or in front of an audience in another setting, then the German premiere has already taken place and the film can no longer take part in the competition.
However, these films still have the chance to be shown out of competition in our Watchlist or the non-competitive section for short films (Diskurze).

If you have more than 3 published short films, you will continue to count as an emerging filmmaker, depending on your other experience.

Yes, you are welcome to submit several (short) film projects. To do this, simply create a new film in the film portal under your registration account. 

Yes, but this does not mean that a theatrical release must already be in sight. Only film projects that were not produced purely for television can be submitted to the FFMOP. If the film was financed solely by television money, this unfortunately means that it cannot be submitted to us.

Yes, if your film has been accepted to another festival, you realize that the film will not be ready in time, or you change your mind for any other reason, you can withdraw your submission in your entry account at any time. 

The film must be available in DCP format (DCI standard) for the festival screening. If you have problems with the creation of the DCP, please contact our technical department.