Screening & Awards Structure
he Festival values every authentic voice and aims to foster meaningful thematic dialogue through the following screening and awards structure:
- General Showcase. All submitted stories that meet the Conditions of Submission will be officially screened during the Festival. (Accepted)
- Thematic Selection (Top 10). For each of the six themes, the relevant Festival Committee will review all accepted stories for that theme and will select ten digital stories to frame the Expert Discussion Panel for that theme. Selections will be guided by principles of inclusion, including age, gender, geography, and language. (Selected)
- Festival Theme Awards (The Focal Story). From the ten selected stories in each theme, the relevant Festival Committee will choose one focal digital story to be presented during the grand finale of the Festival to highlight a global issue. This story will receive the Festival Award for that Theme. (Festival Theme Award)
- DST–Zakynthos 2026 Award. The Festival Committee will grant one accepted story with the overarching DST–Zakynthos 2026 Award reflecting the main theme of the festival. (DST–Zakynthos 2026 Award)
Conditions of Submission
- Authenticity: Digital stories are grounded in the creator’s truth. They are first-person narratives and differ fundamentally from video clips or short films. Every story has its own value.
- Submission Limits: Each storyteller may submit up to six digital stories in total, with a maximum of one story per theme.
- Origin: We accept stories created within recognized institutions or organizations, as well as independently produced works.
- Language & Technicals: Each submission must include English subtitles and a completed entry form available on the website.
- Handling Fees: Standard fee: 30 Euros per story | Student fee: 15 Euros per story.
