IN THE PALACE will take place in the Palace of Culture Pernik (Pernik, Bulgaria).

21st IN THE PALACE will take place from June 29th until July 6th.

IN THE PALACE is a Goya Awards qualifying festival, Student Academy Awards® qualifying festival, and an Academy Awards®/OSCAR® qualifying festival for shorts in the categories of Best Animation, Best Fiction and Best National Film.

IN THE PALACE is an established international festival dedicated to short films and digital arts and also presents special competitive programs for feature films and film series.

The program will consist of the following main components:

• International and national, professional and student competitive programs in fiction, documentary, animation, experimental - for short and feature films and series

• ON FOCUS programs

• Q & A sessions

• FILMER FORGE: industry market, industry meetings, film pitching session, educational program

• Video library

• Film events and initiatives for general audience

• International Interdisciplinary Science Conference

• parties

Traditionally, IN THE PALACE takes place over one week and offers a wide range of events, activities, and programs for both - local and international film industry and audience. IN THE PALACE is a cultural meeting point of film industry, artists, students, educational institutions, and the general public, that provides access to the latest trends, developments, and learning in the arts and culture through screenings, training and interdisciplinary exchange. Since 2018 the Festival organizes the International Interdisciplinary Science Conference.

IN THE PALACE is a member of the international network of festivals and institutions serving the short film sector – the Short Film Conference.

Short Film Awards
• Best Fiction Film
• Best Animation Film
• Best National Film (fiction & animation)
• Best Documentary Film
• Best Experimental Film
• Best Student Fiction Film
• Best Student Animation Film
• Best Student Documentary Film
• Best Student Experimental Film

Awarded films in categories of Best Fiction Film, Best Animation Film and Best National Film are qualified for Academy Awards®.

Special Mentions

All awarded directors receive IN THE PALACE trophies. Authors whose films have been awarded or nominated shall not be charged a submission fee for next festival editions.

IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival is an OSCAR® Qualifying Film Festival in the categories:
BEST SHORT FICTION FILM, International Competition
BEST SHORT ANIMATION FILM, International Competition
BEST NATIONAL SHORT FILM.

IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival is a STUDENT ACADEMY AWARDS® Qualifying Festival for short films.

IN THE PALACE is a Goya Awards qualifying festival.

IN THE PALACE Festival Rules and Regulations
1. IN THE PALACE selects only films having their Bulgarian premiere at the Festival. Films publicly shown in Bulgaria or released online on free-access websites or platforms are not eligible for its competition programs. The Festival reserves the right to reject a film at any stage in the case of non-compliance with this rule.

2. The Festival accepts individual and institutional submissions (i.e. from production companies, distribution companies, film academies, national film centers, television networks, creative associations, etc.).

3. Eligible films must be completed after 1. January 2022 (except Film Series Category - 1. January 2021).