Awards & Jury Process
The festival awards are determined through a combined voting system designed to ensure a balanced evaluation and to reduce potential biases linked to popularity, influence, or visibility.
The final score is based on the following weighted system:
70% — Audience vote
30% — Vote from a professional jury
This method ensures that the awarded films receive both genuine audience appreciation and informed perspectives, while maintaining fairness throughout the process.
The ISFF distinguishes between two separate bodies:
The Selection Jury
Responsible for defining the Official Selection 2026, this jury is composed exclusively of:
The founding members of the ISFF, who safeguard the artistic direction, editorial coherence, and ethical values of the festival.
The Festival Jury
This jury intervenes during the festival evening only, alongside the audience vote.
It brings together complementary perspectives to enrich the artistic, cultural and societal interpretation of the works.
It is composed of:
A film industry professional, contributing expertise in cinematic language, production and visual storytelling;
A representative from the shibari community, involved in cultural transmission and contemporary practice;
Two professionals from the cultural sector, selected for their ability to assess the works through the lens of social issues, inclusive approaches and sex-positive or kink-positive perspectives.
These combined viewpoints help foster critical reflections on the representation of bodies, practices, and identities within the realm of rope culture, in alignment with the festival’s values.
The full composition of the Festival Jury will be announced in spring 2026.