HIGH NOTE SUBMISSIONS


An annual recognition of filmmakers whose work advances human rights, dignity, and justice — presented by High Note Global in partnership with United Nations Human Rights.


The High Note Global Prize in Cinema honors films whose artistry bears witness, builds understanding, and moves the world toward change. Presented each January at High Note Human Rights Cinema in Boulder, Colorado, the Prize stands as one of the few global recognitions that bring the moral weight of the United Nations directly to the work of independent and human rights cinema.


The Prizes

A single submission is considered across all eleven High Note Global Cinema recognitions.


3 High Note Global Prizes

Awarded for the highest distinction across all submissions:

•       High Note Global Prize for Best Feature Film — narrative or documentary, 60 minutes or longer

•       High Note Global Prize for Best Short Documentary — 40 minutes or shorter

•       High Note Global Prize for Best Short Narrative Film — 40 minutes or shorter


8 High Note Jury Prizes

Drawn from the foundational pillars of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, these eight categories represent the most enduring and urgent human rights stories of our time. Each year, the Jury Prizes are awarded to the films that most powerfully illuminate them:


  1. AI & Digital Rights — Privacy, AI governance, surveillance, algorithmic fairness, digital inclusion
  2. Climate Justice — Environmental rights, climate displacement, sustainability, resilience
  3. Racial Justice — Anti-discrimination, civil rights, representation, minority protections
  4. Gender Equality — Women's rights, gender equity, violence prevention, opportunity
  5. LGBTQ+ Rights — Identity, dignity, inclusion, safety, belonging
  6. Indigenous Rights — Land rights, sovereignty, cultural and language preservation, stewardship
  7. Migration & Displacement — Refugees, asylum, forced migration, statelessness, humanitarian crises
  8. Human Dignity — The umbrella category. Includes, but is not limited to:
  • Mental Health
  • Food Security
  • Water Access
  • Economic Justice & Poverty
  • Education Equity
  • Disability Rights & Neurodivergence
  • Children & Youth Rights
  • Older Persons & Elder Dignity
  • Human Trafficking & Modern Slavery
  • Freedom of Expression & Press Freedom
  • Democracy & Civic Participation
  • Peace, Justice & the Rule of Law
  • Religious Freedom & Freedom of Belief
  • Labor Rights & Fair Work
  • Access to Health Care
  • Minority Rights
  • Development & the Right to Live in Dignity
  • Emerging human rights challenges not yet envisioned


Every submitted film is automatically considered for both a Global Cinema Prize and any relevant Jury Prize. There is no separate application.


Eligibility

To be considered for a High Note Global Prize in Cinema, a film must have been officially selected at one or more festivals on the High Note Global 100 — our curated body of 100 festivals from across the world, recognized for their cinematic significance, curatorial integrity, and contribution to human rights storytelling.


The High Note Global 100 spans Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Oceania.


[View the full High Note Global 100 →]


The Qualifying Year

A film must have been officially selected at a High Note Global 100 festival during the qualifying year — the calendar year immediately preceding the ceremony.

  • For the 2027 Prize: films officially selected during calendar year 2026.
  • For the 2028 Prize: films officially selected during calendar year 2027.


How to Submit

Two pathways are open, and both are equally welcomed:

  • Filmmakers whose work has been officially selected at a High Note Global 100 festival may submit their film directly through our portal.
  • High Note Global 100 festivals may nominate selected films from their official program.


There is no submission fee.


Submission Window

Submissions open September 1 and close November 15 of the qualifying year. Films officially selected at a High Note Global 100 festival after November 15 qualify for the following year’s Prize.


The Cinema Advisory Board reviews all submissions through early December. Finalists are notified privately in mid-December and announced publicly on December 15 — five weeks ahead of the High Note Global Awards in Boulder.


Selection

Submitted work is reviewed by the High Note Global Cinema Advisory Board — an editorial body of curators, festival directors, and film critics drawn from across regions. Selection is guided by artistic merit, narrative depth, and the work’s contribution to human rights storytelling. The Board’s deliberations honor cinema’s full range — from the most established voices to the most urgent emerging ones.


Recognition

Winners receive the High Note Global Prize in Cinema, presented by United Nations Human Rights at High Note Human Rights Cinema in Boulder, Colorado, on Saturday, January 30, 2027. Beyond the ceremony, these films are amplified across the storytelling platforms of both High Note Global and United Nations Human Rights — reaching audiences, institutions, and policymakers worldwide.


Submissions for the 2027 Prize open September 1, 2026.