Celluloid Golem

International Puppet Art Festival

Call for Entries (Film)

2nd Celluloid Golem Puppet Art Festival
Düsseldorf, Germany | May 7-10, 2026

Submit your film

Call for Entries

The Celluloid Golem Puppet Art Festival invites filmmakers to submit their short films celebrating the captivating and diverse art of puppetry. We eagerly await stories brought to life through traditional marionettes, innovative mixed-media approaches, and everything in between.

Key Information & Deadlines

  • Final Submission Deadline: December 15, 2025 
  • Maximum Film Length: 25 minutes (including all credits) 
  • Notification Date: Filmmakers will be notified of selection results no later than March 30, 2026. 

1. Eligibility Criteria

  • Film Focus: Submissions must prominently feature puppets as a central element. We welcome films that explore narratives with or about puppets.
  • Puppetry Techniques: All forms of puppetry are eligible, including but not limited to:
    • Live-action puppetry 
    • Stop-motion animation 
    • Shadow puppetry 
    • Mixed genres incorporating puppetry 
  • Running Time: Short films must have a maximum running time of 25 minutes, including all credits. 
  • Please note: Submissions should be aimed at an adult audience.

2. Submission Process

  • Platform: All submissions require two steps:
    1. Completion of our online submission form.
    2. Uploading of all required files (as a Zip file) via our online platform: https://celluloid-golem.wetransfer.com/
  • Deadline: The final submission deadline is December 15, 2025.
  • Submission Fee: There is no submission fee required. 
  • Multiple Submissions: Multiple submissions from the same filmmaker are permitted. 
  • If an additional version with German subtitles is available, please upload it as well. 

  • Completed online submission form with all required details:
    1. Film Title
    2. Producer/Production Company
    3. Film Synopsis (brief and engaging) 
    4. Running Time (in minutes) 
    5. Production Year
    6. Country of Origin
    7. Language
    8. Director’s Name and Biography (brief) 
    9. Cast and crew list
    10. Optional: Online screener link (e.g. Vimeo, YouTube)
    11. Optional: Trailer link
    12. Optional: List of festivals and awards.
    13. Previous screenings.
    14. Contact information: Name (First/Last)
    15. Contact information: Email address
    16. Contact information: Phone number (Optional)
    17. Contact information: Postal address (Optional)

  • Uploaded Zip file with all required files via online platform https://celluloid-golem.wetransfer.com/
    • Screening version of your film
    • Production Stills/Photos (high-resolution for web and print)
    • Director’s photo (high-resolution for web and print)
    • Optional: Poster image (high-resolution for web and print) 

3. Technical Specifications

Technical Specifications for Selected Films

  • File Type (Container): .mp4 (preferred) or .mov
  • Resolution: Full HD (not more than 4k)
  • Frame Rate: The film’s native frame rate (e.g., 24fps, 25fps). Do not convert frame rates. 
  • Audio: Stereo (2.0), 48 kHz, 16-bit. Target loudness of -24 LKFS (LUFS). True peak -1db
  • If an additional version with embedded German subtitles is available, please provide it. 
  • No Watermarks/Timecodes: Screening copies should be clean, without any watermarks or timecodes (unless they are an intentional part of the film’s artistic design). 
  • File Naming: Please name your file clearly: FILMTITLE_DIRECTORLASTNAME.mp4 (e.g., ThePuppetShow_Schmidt.mp4).

Technical Specifications for Images (Stills, Posters, Photos)

All submitted images (production stills, publicity photos, poster images) must be provided in high resolution suitable for both web and print use:

  • File Format: JPEG (.jpg) or PNG (.png). TIFF (.tif) is also acceptable for master files. 
  • Resolution for Print: Images intended for print (e.g., festival program, press kits) must have a minimum resolution of 300 DPI. 
  • Resolution for Web: a minimum resolution of 72 DPI
  • Color Profile: sRGB (recommended for consistent display). 
  • File Naming: Please name files clearly (e.g., FILMTITLE_Stills_01.jpg, FILMTITLE_Poster.jpg).

4. Rights Granted to the Festival

By submitting your film, you grant the Celluloid Golem Puppet Art Festival the non-exclusive right to:

  • Screening Rights: Screen your film up to three (3) times during the festival dates (May 7-10, 2026) in Düsseldorf, Germany. Additionally, your film may be screened potentially up to twelve (12) times at partner venues in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the USA during 2026 and 2027. We will endeavor to inform filmmakers of additional screening opportunities. 
  • Promotional Use: Utilize stills, excerpts (up to 3 minutes or 15% of the film’s length, whichever is shorter), trailers, synopses, and director’s information in our promotional materials, including the festival website, social media channels, program guide, and press releases. 

5. Judging and Selection

  • Submissions will be reviewed by a selection committee comprised of 3-5 judges with expertise in film and/or puppetry arts. 
  • Films will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
    • Outstanding and innovative puppetry 
    • Originality and creativity 
    • Compelling storytelling 
    • Visual quality and artistic merit 
    • Entertainment value 
  • The decisions of the selection committee are final and cannot be appealed. 
  • Filmmakers will be notified of the selection results no later than March 30, 2026.

6. Withdrawal Policy

Withdrawal of a submitted film is possible until January 10, 2026. Please notify the festival organizers in writing via email to info@celluloid-golem.com. If you wish to withdraw your film after this date, withdrawals will generally not be permitted.

7. Representations and Warranties

By submitting your film, you represent and warrant that:

  • You are the sole owner of all rights, title, and interest in and to the submitted film, or you have obtained all necessary licenses, permissions, and releases to submit the film to the Festival and grant the rights outlined in these terms. 
  • The film does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, moral right, or other intellectual property or proprietary right of any third party. 
  • All necessary clearances (including but not limited to music rights, talent releases, and location agreements) have been secured. 
  • You agree to indemnify and hold the Celluloid Golem Puppet Art Festival and its organizers harmless from any and all claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including legal fees) arising out of or in connection with any breach of these representations and warranties.

8. General Terms and Conditions

Acceptance of Terms: By submitting a film to the Celluloid Golem Puppet Art Festival, the submitter acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these agreements and terms. 

Modification of Terms: The Celluloid Golem Puppet Art Festival reserves the right to modify these terms and conditions at any time without prior notice. It is the submitter’s responsibility to review the most current version of these terms, which will be available on our festival website. 

Communication: The primary method of communication between the festival and the submitter will be via the email address provided during the submission process. Please ensure this email address is accurate and monitored regularly. 

Privacy Policy: Any personal information collected during the submission process will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy, which can be found here: Privacy Policy.

Severability: If any provision of these terms and conditions is held to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be struck, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. 

Governing Law: This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Germany.