SMR13 FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DU CINEMA INDEPENDANT (10)

Festival start: 20 November 2025      Festival end: 23 November 2025

SMR13 INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL

The SMR13 International Independent Film Festival is an annual, IMDb-certified, four (4)-day event held in the second half of November, in Saint-Mitre-Les-Remparts, in the south of France, near Marseille.

First and foremost, it's a physical festival, taking place in "La Manare", a dedicated performance hall with a total surface area of 1000m² and a capacity of 250 spectators.

The 10th edition of the SMR13 international independent film festival will take place from November 21 to 23, 2025.

The festival stands out for its highly developed network, passionate members and trusted partnerships. It is a unique showcase for independent cinema, attracting professionals from all over the world.

Since its inception, the festival has been supported by a patron, an emblematic figure in independent cinema. John Carpenter (2018), director, screenwriter and composer (Halloween, The Thing, New York 1997...). Andréa Ferréol (2019), actress (La Grande Bouffe, Le Dernier Métro, La Scoumoune...). Francis Ford Coppola (2019), director and screenwriter (Godfather, Apocalypse Now, Dracula...). Virginie Lemoine (2020), actress (Famille d'Accueil, Nos années parallèles, Oscar...). Sean S. Cunningham (2021), director and producer (Friday The 13th, Spring Break, DeepStar Six...). Patrice Leconte (2022 and 2023), director and producer (Les Bronzés, Les Spécialistes, Maigret, Olivier Marchal (2024), actor, screenwriter and director ( 36 quai des Orfèvres, Flics, Braquo and Pax Massillia.

The jury may award several emblematic prizes bearing the effigy of the Saint-Mitre-Les-Remparts mill, the "Moulin d'Or", for each of the short and feature-length film, documentary film, video clip, animation film and student film categories, including:

Best Film
Best Director
Best Screenplay
Best Music
Best Photography
Best Editing
Best Actress
Best Actor
Special Jury Prize

The Audience Prize will be awarded to a single film. It is awarded by spectators attending the festival. Each spectator will receive a single voting slip with his or her admission ticket.

The Best Documentary and Best Animated Film prizes will be awarded to a single film only, between shorts and features.

RULES

ORGANIZATION OF THE FESTIVAL

Art. 1
The aim of the festival is to promote independent cinema, an autonomous form of cinema, outside the production methods of popular cinema.

Art. 2
The selection committee, whose members are appointed by the Association Française du Cinéma Indépendant (AFCI), organizer of the event, will view all films over a period extending from January to September.

Each film will have been seen by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the committee members, and will not be eligible for selection unless it has obtained an average score of at least ten (10).

The committee will meet after the September registration closing date to discuss the official selection.
The committee's decisions are final and cannot be appealed.

Art. 3
The Festival Selection Committee may, at its discretion, make an out-of-competition selection.

Art. 4
All films receive the same treatment, regardless of their origin or the origin of their crew members, and regardless of their ideological statements and commitments. No censorship of any kind is permitted. However, films of a racist, xenophobic, homophobic or pornographic nature, or which generally contravene French law, will be disqualified.

Art. 5
The festival reserves the right to modify any information, including festival dates, venues, events, fees, awards and eligibility requirements, and its rules, without prior notice.

ANNUAL COMPETITION

Art. 6
All selected films will be screened in their entirety on a large screen in optimal broadcasting conditions.

Art. 7
To take part in the annual event, the film's entry must have been validated between the preceding months of January and September.

Art. 8
The annual physical event will host two juries made up of a dozen professional and independent members of the film industry: actors, directors, composers, or technicians...

The jury, which varies from year to year, is mainly made up of French personalities, but may include people from all over the world. It is customary for one or more members of the jury to be drawn from the previous year's official selection, whether or not they are prize-winners.

Art. 9
The winners will be announced by the jury during the festival, at the awards ceremony on the final day.
The jury's decision is final and without appeal.
The results will be communicated within fifteen (15) working days, by email and on the festival website.

Art. 10
The jury may award several emblematic prizes bearing the effigy of the Moulin de Saint-Mitre-Les-Remparts, the "Moulin d'Or", for each of the short and feature-length film, documentary film, video clip, animation film and student film categories, including:

Best Film
Best Director
Best Screenplay
Best Music
Best Photography
Best Editing
Best Actress
Best Actor
Special Jury Prize

Art. 11
The Audience Prize will be awarded to a single film. It is awarded by spectators attending the festival. Each spectator will receive a single voting slip with his or her admission ticket.

Art. 12
The Best Documentary and Best Animated Film prizes will be awarded to a single film between the shorts and features.

ENTRY PROCEDURE

Art. 13
The festival does not impose any theme. All genres may be represented. There is no age limit or socio-professional status requirement for film crew members. All countries are accepted. There are no production deadlines or exclusivity requirements.

Art. 14
Short films are considered to be thirty (=< 30) minutes or less. Feature films are considered to be greater than or equal to eighty (>= 80) minutes in length, and video clips less than or equal to four (<= 4) minutes in length.

Art. 15
All films must have French subtitles. Films without French subtitles will be disqualified.

Art. 16
Films must be submitted exclusively via the Festhome partner platform (www.festhome.com).

Art. 17
In the event of selection, a film download link must be sent directly to the festival organization, with the following specifications:

- ProRes 4.2.2, otherwise in compressed mp4 or mov format, h264 standard, with a minimum resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels.

- A DCP file may be requested, depending on the screening location.

If this link is not received, the film will be disqualified.

Art. 18
Film registration will only be considered once payment has been received.

Art. 19
Once paid, registration fees are non-refundable, even in the event of withdrawal, disqualification or non-selection.

Art. 20
By registering his film on the partner platforms, the participant undertakes to present said film at the festival and not to withdraw, implying understanding and acceptance of the present rules. Any unjustified withdrawal may result in additional costs for the participant.

RIGHTS AND USE

Art. 21
The film must be the participant's original work. By entering, the participant acknowledges that he/she owns or has obtained all rights from any third party necessary for the exploitation of his/her work. The participant accepts sole and entire responsibility for any violation of French and international laws on intellectual property and copyright.

Art. 22
The participant transfers, free of charge, the exploitation rights to his work to the Association Française du Cinéma Indépendant (AFCI), for the duration of the SMR13 International Independent Film Festival, in the context of a festival screening at the "La Manare" cinema, in Saint-Mitre-Les-Remparts, 13920, France, or in any other screening room made available to the festival, in particular cinemas. Thus, AFCI will have the right to use the sequences, trailer, posters, photos, synopsis and/or titles and information of the film for promotional purposes, notably via partner platforms (including Festhome), the festival's website and social networks, and for the festival's advertising campaign (physical displays, programs...).

Art. 15
All non-French films must have French subtitles. Failure to provide French subtitles will result in disqualification.

Art. 16
Films must be submitted exclusively via the Festhome partner platform (www.festhome.com).

Art. 17
In the event of selection, a film download link must be sent directly to the festival organization, with the following specifications:

- ProRes 4.2.2, alternatively in compressed mp4 or mov format, h264 standard, with a minimum resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels.

- A DCP file may be requested, depending on the screening location.

If this link is not received, the film will be disqualified.

Art. 18
Film registration will only be considered once payment has been received.

Art. 19
Once paid, registration fees are non-refundable, even in the event of withdrawal, disqualification or non-selection.

Art. 20
By registering his film on the partner platforms, the participant undertakes to present said film at the festival and not to withdraw, implying understanding and acceptance of the present rules. Any unjustified withdrawal may result in additional costs for the participant.

RIGHTS AND USE

Art. 21
The film must be the participant's original work. By entering, the participant acknowledges that he/she owns or has obtained all rights from any third party necessary for the exploitation of his/her work. The participant accepts sole and entire responsibility for any violation of French and international laws on intellectual property and copyright.

Art. 22
The participant transfers, free of charge, the exploitation rights to his work to the Association Française du Cinéma Indépendant (AFCI), for the duration of the SMR13 International Independent Film Festival, in the context of a festival screening at the "La Manare" cinema, in Saint-Mitre-Les-Remparts, 13920, France, or in any other screening room made available to the festival, in particular cinemas. Thus, AFCI will have the right to use the sequences, trailer, posters, photos, synopsis and/or titles and information of the film for promotional purposes, notably via partner platforms (including Festhome), the festival's website and social networks, and for the festival's advertising campaign (physical displays, programs...).