The CIFEJ Prize


In 1981, CIFEJ decided to create the CIFEJ Prize to be given to one production chosen from the films in competition at prestigious international children's film festivals. Since then, tens of high quality films received the award in about
hundred international festivals all over the world.



The new Prize-a new trophy and a diploma designed by Kanoon/ Iran and approved by the CIFEJ Board(at Tehran Board meeting, 17-21 April 2009)- will be given to a film which shows a high standard of artistic achievement and
technical competence; an effective rendering of a subject which contributes to a better understanding between children and young people throughout the world; a potential to be distributed internationally.
Criteria for International Children's Film/ Television Festivals to be able to award a CIFEJ Prize

Considering the article 2.2.8 of the CIFEJ Statutes and By-laws which states clearly one of the CIFEJ objectives is to promote and to encourage the production and dissemination of films especially designed for children or suitable for them with the following objectives: entertainment, art, information, and education, the following rules and regulations are to be followed:
1-The festival must be an active CIFEJ member, and must have paid its membership fees.
2-The aim of the International Children’s Film/Television Festival (or the section of which dedicated to children) should be to promote high quality films/television programs for young audience.
3-The Festival:
a) Will clearly define in its regulations that it is a competitive specialized event/ section;
b) Will present films from at least five countries;
c) Must guarantee that the Jury [The following applies only to the festivals that host an international adult Jury]:
- Be made up of a majority of persons foreign to the host country;
- Does not include any person in any way connected with the production or commercial exploitation of a competitive entry;
- Will include among its Jury members only persons having a genuine knowledge of the television and/or film industry.
d) Will list all prizes in its regulations;
e) The competition section should consist of at least 8 different screenings (a screening being the exhibition of a feature film or a set of shorts, or a television program with a minimum duration of 45 minutes);
f) The production date of the films presented in the Official Competition should not exceed 4 years before the date of the festival;
g) Ideally, the Jury should see the films during a public screening in front of a young audience; this rule should not apply to television program festivals;
h) The festival has to send the list of prizes and winning films with complete info and address on the film, production company and distributor, with names of the Jury members 2 weeks after the event to the CIFEJ Headquarters, and a complementary report, with number of guests and spectators, official catalogue, and the official press book no later than one month after the closing ceremony of the event.
i)The festival should also cooperate with CIFEJ in promoting the goals of the organization, either by inviting an official observer from the organization, or helping a CIFEJ press conference to be held, or by putting together special screenings, workshops, information stand, etc.
j) The request coming from a festival to award a CIFEJ Prize must be sent to the Headquarters at least 6 months before the dates of the event. The required documents for the application should consist of:
- Complete information on the event, including the Rules and Regulations of the festival, to confirm that the festival follows the rules above mentioned, and that it is a well-organized festival;
- Copy of the official catalogue and press kit with additional material from previous editions, to confirm that it is a well promoted festival.
The decision of awarding a CIFEJ Prize to an international children’s film/television festival will be taken by the board of directors, and will be valid for 3 consecutive editions of the festival. If during that period, the board notices that the festival is not observing the rules, the decision could be reversed. After that period, the application must be renewed.

Administration Questions

All festivals must send their requests for a CIFEJ Prize to the CIFEJ HQ in Tehran to the following address:
Maryam Bafekrpour
Executive Director
CIFEJ HQ, end of Seif St., Phase 3, Shahrak-e Gharb, Tehran 1466893311 Iran. Tel:+98-21- 880 87 870 Fax:+98-21-880 85 847
E-mail: info@cifej.com
1. The CIFEJ Prize is awarded to the films or television programs for children and young people that in form and content express the following qualities:
a) the promotion and respect of the United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child (See annex A);
b) a potential to an international distribution;
c) a high standard of artistic achievement and technical competence.
2. The CIFEJ Prize is awarded to one production chosen among the films in the Official Competition section. It is the festival’s Artistic Director or Program Director that decides that these productions are appropriate for children and young people. The CIFEJ Prize is independent of other festival prizes, and can be given to a film receiving other festival prizes, as well.
3. The CIFEJ Prize is a trophy and a diploma which goes to the director of the film.
4. The CIFEJ Prize is awarded by the international festival’s Jury or by a special CIFEJ Jury. In the first case, at least, one member of that Jury must be a CIFEJ member, and this person cannot be from the host country. The choice of the CIFEJ member who will be part of the Jury, should be made by the festival director, but must be done in consultation with the CIFEJ Headquarters and the CIFEJ President. This CIFEJ Jury member will represent the organization and advocates the ideas of the CIFEJ Prize to the rest of the Jury members. S/he will be the one to animate the discussions concerning the CIFEJ Prize.
In the second case, the special CIFEJ Jury has to consist of three members: one from the host country and two from other countries. At least, one of the members of the Jury should be a CIFEJ member with experience in CIFEJ work.
5. The CIFEJ Prize should be awarded by a separate Jury decision.
6. The CIFEJ Headquarters will handle the administration of the CIFEJ Prize, and will circulate all pertinent information concerning the award, the winning films, and the program that the festival has communicated with HQ.
The Jury's guidelines:
The spokesperson for CIFEJ will guide all Jury deliberations related to the CIFEJ Prize. Each Jury member is obliged to see all productions.
The Jury members should accompany their decisions on prize winner with short written commentaries, for the use of the festival organizers and the CIFEJ Headquarters. The Jury members are sworn to absolute secrecy, in public as well as in private, about Jury discussions and votes.
The Festival's duty:
The Festival is responsible for the travel and the full accommodation of CIFEJ Jury members. The festival should also make sure that an interpreter is available for the Jury members when necessary, and that films or television programs are subtitled or translated. The festival Director is also responsible for all contacts with the CIFEJ Headquarters.
Back to the top of the page