Industry Regulations
INDUSTRY REGULATIONS
REGULATIONS OF THE UMUTDOC INDUSTRY PLATFORM OF THE UMUTDOC INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL
1. General Provisions
1.1. UMUTDOC Industry is the professional industry platform of the UMUTDOC International Documentary Film Festival (hereinafter referred to as the "Festival).
1.2. UMUTDOC Industry serves as a tool for implementing the Festival's strategic objectives and is aimed at supporting creative documentary filmmaking in Central Asia, fostering the development of documentary cinema in the region, and strengthening international professional cooperation.
1.3. The main objectives of UMUTDOC Industry are to support the development and production of documentary projects, promote international co-production, enhance the international visibility of Central Asian filmmakers and films, create opportunities for professional exchange, and build a sustainable professional network of documentary filmmakers across Central Asia.
1.4. These Regulations supplement the Regulations of the UMUTDOC International Documentary Film Festival.
2.UMUTDOC Industry Program
2.1. Project Pitching Project Pitching is a public presentation of documentary projects from Central Asia to an audience of international experts, representatives of film funds, festivals, television broadcasters, streaming platforms, production companies, and other industry professionals.
2.2. Project Showcase The Project Showcase section is intended for the presentation of projects in the editing or post- production stage, with the aim of receiving expert feedback, finding potential partners, and preparing for the film's further festival and distribution journey.
2.3. Educational Program The Educational Program includes masterclasses, lectures, information sessions, case studies, roundtable discussions, and professional networking events focused on current issues in documentary filmmaking and international cooperation.
2.4. Industry Meetings Industry Meetings consist of a series of meetings between project teams and representatives of the international film industry to discuss opportunities for collaboration, financing, and the promotion of both individual and collective projects.
3.Participants
3.1. Participants of UMUTDOC Industry may include directors, producers, screenwriters, documentary film researchers, representatives of film funds, television broadcasters, streaming platforms, film festivals, distribution companies, educational and cultural organizations, as well as
other professionals from the audiovisual industry.
3.2. Priority in the selection process is given to creative documentary filmmakers and projects from Central Asian countries.
4.Application Procedure for Project Pitching
4.1. Applications for participation in the UMUTDOC Industry Project Pitching must be submitted via the online application form available on the Festival's official website and official social media pages.
4.2. The application period for Project Pitching is determined annually by the organizers. In 2026, applications will be accepted from June 10 to July 20. The submission deadline is July 20, 2026, at 23:59 Bishkek time (GMT+6).
4.3. Applications must be submitted in English.
5.Project Requirements and Selection Procedure
5.1. Documentary projects at the stages of development, pre-production, production, or postproduction are eligible for participation in the Project Pitching. The project must be developed by authors or producers who are citizens or permanent residents of Central Asian countries.
5.2. The number of projects selected for participation in the pitching session is determined annually by the Festival organizers based on the program, venue capacity, and the number of applications received.
5.3. Projects are selected by a selection committee appointed by the Festival organizers.
5.4. Applications are evaluated based on the project's artistic merit, relevance of the topic, originality of the creative approach, potential for international promotion, feasibility of the production plan, and the professional experience of the project team.
5.5. The decision of the selection committee is final and not subject to appeal.
6.Application Form and Project Materials
6.1. Only feature-length documentary projects with a minimum running time of 50 minutes are eligible for the Project Pitching program.
6.2. Only fully completed applications will be considered.
6.3. The application must include basic information about the project, including its title, estimated running time, logline, synopsis, director's vision, information about the creative team, production schedule, project budget, and the applicant's contact details.
6.4. Applicants may also submit additional materials, including a treatment, screenplay, pitch deck, teaser, trailer, rough cut, or any other materials that help present the project more comprehensively.
6.5. All materials must be submitted via electronic links with unrestricted viewing access. The applicant is solely responsible for ensuring that all submitted links are functional and accessible.
7.Mentorship Program
7.1. To prepare participants for the pitching sessions, the organizers may engage international and regional experts as mentors.
7.2. After the selection process is completed, the organizers determine the format of the mentorship program and assign projects to mentors.
7.3. Mentors provide advisory support on dramaturgy, project structure, artistic vision, promotion strategy, and preparation for the public presentation of the project.
7.4. The number of mentoring sessions and the meeting schedule are determined by the program organizers separately for each edition of the Festival.
7.5. Mentors do not participate injury voting and are not involved in decisions regarding awards.
8.Pitching Procedure
8.1. The official working language of the pitching sessions is English.
8.2. Participants must be prepared to present their projects and answer questions from the jury in English.
8.3. The duration of each project presentation is determined by the organizers. The recommended format is up to five minutes for the project presentation and up to five minutes for the discussion with the jury.
9.Jury
9.1. The Jury is formed by the Festival organizers from among recognized film industry professionals, representatives of international festivals, funds, platforms, production companies, distributors, and other professionals in the audiovisual sector.
9.2. In evaluating projects, the Jury is guided by the principles of professionalism, independence, and objectivity.
9.3. The main evaluation criteria include the artistic value of the project, originality of the concept, strength of the author's vision, feasibility of implementation, and the quality of the project presentation.
9.4. The Jury's decision is final and not subject to review.
10.Application Procedure for Project Showcase
10.1. Applications for participation in the UMUTDOC Industry Project Showcase must be submitted via the online application form available on the Festival's official website and official social media pages.
10.2. The application period for Project Showcase is determined annually by the organizers. In 2026, applications will be accepted from July 1 to August 15. The submission deadline is August 15, 2026, at 23:59 Bishkek time (GMT+6).
10.3. Applications must be submitted in English.
11.Project Requirements and Selection Procedure
11.1. Documentary projects at the post-production or late post-production stage are eligible for participation in the Project Showcase. The project must be developed by authors or producers who are citizens or permanent residents of Central Asian countries.
11.2. The number of projects selected for participation in the showcase is determined annually by the Festival organizers based on the program and venue capacity.
11.3. Projects are selected by a selection committee appointed by the Festival organizers.
11.4. Applications are evaluated based on the artistic value of the project, relevance of the topic, originality of the creative approach, and potential for international promotion.
11.5. The decision of the selection committee is final and not subject to review.
12.Application Form and Project Materials
12.1. Only feature-length films with a minimum running time of 50 minutes are eligible for the Project Showcase program.
12.2. Only fully completed applications will be considered.
12.3. The application must include basic information about the project, including its title, estimated running time, logline, synopsis, director's vision, information about the creative team, the applicant's contact details, a trailer with English subtitles, and a rough cut with English subtitles.
12.4. All materials must be submitted via electronic links with unrestricted viewing access. The applicant is solely responsible for ensuring that all submitted links are correct and functional.
13.Showcase Procedure
13.1. The official working language of the showcase is English.
13.2. Participants must be prepared to present their projects and answer questions from experts and other stakeholders in English.
14.Experts
14.1. The panel of experts is formed by the Festival organizers from among recognized film industry professionals, representatives of international festivals, funds, platforms, production companies, distributors, and other professionals in the audiovisual sector.
15.Awards and Support
15.1 Based on the results of UMUTDOC Industry, participants may be awarded cash grants, consulting support, post-production services, special partner awards, as well as invitations to international labs, educational programs, industry events, and film festivals. The list of awards and forms of support is determined annually by the Festival organizers and program partners.
16.Copyright and Ethical Guarantees
16.1. By submitting an application to participate in the UMUTDOC Industry programs, the applicant confirms that they hold all necessary copyright, related rights, and other rights to the submitted project materials, or have obtained the appropriate permissions from the rights holders.
16.2. The applicant guarantees that the use of audiovisual materials, photographs, archival footage, music, literary works, and other intellectual property objects within the project does not infringe the rights of third parties.
16.3. The authors and producers of the project are responsible for obtaining the necessary consents and permissions for filming, recording, and the use of the image, voice, and personal data of the film's subjects, in accordance with the legislation of the country where the project is produced.
16.4. In the case of working with vulnerable groups, local communities, representatives of Indigenous peoples, or other sensitive social groups, the applicant confirms the existence of informed consent from participants in the filming process or undertakes to obtain such consent before the completion of the film's production.
16.5. The Festival organizers bear no responsibility for any claims by third parties related to copyright infringement, image rights, personal data, or other rights arising from the participation of the project in the UMUTDOC Industry programs.
16.6. Projects containing the promotion of hatred, discrimination, violence, or any other form of violation of human rights and dignity are not eligible for participation.
16.7. The Festival organizers reserve the right to refuse participation or remove a project from the program in case of violations of these Regulations.
17.Final Provisions
17.1 Participation in the UMUTDOC Industry programs constitutes full acceptance of these Regulations by all participants. The Festival organizers reserve the right to make amendments and additions to these Regulations. All changes are published on the Festival's official information resources and enter
into force upon publication.
Approved by the Directorate of the
UMUTDOC International Documentary Film Festival.
2026