SUBMISSION F.A.Q.
FREQUENTLY ASKED SUBMISSION QUESTIONS
How do I submit my film?
We currently accept submissions through FilmFreeway. If you are new to FilmFreeway, you will be required to set up an account through FilmFreeway. Do not ship or email us your project, unless requested by a festival administrator. Festival does not consider any unsolicited projects that have not been submitted through FilmFreeway.
When submitting via FilmFreeway, make sure to use a regularly checked email address that you can be contacted at regarding your submissions final judging status.
Does my project have to be a world premiere to be submitted?
Our festival does not require submissions to be world premieres, but we do love to premiere great independent films. However, it is true films submitting to screen at our event as World Premieres are highly valued.
Do you accept projects by minors and/or students?
Yes. Although if the filmmaker (or screenwriter) is under 18 years of age, the project would need to be submitted by an adult on the minors behalf.
Can I submit to other festivals?
Yes. Our festival does not require exclusive submissions. However, films intending to premiere at our event, or films planning to screen exclusively in our area at only with our festival, are very highly valued and this may be taken into consideration. But quality of content always matters the most.
How many projects can I submit?
You can submit as many projects as you would like as long as they meet festival eligibility requirements. A separate submission through FilmFreeway and fee would be required for each submission.
Does the festival accept international projects?
Yes, we accept projects from around the world.
Do submissions need to be in the English Language?
We accept films of all languages. But submissions that are not primarily in the English language would need to be submitted with English subtitles (or dubbing), as our film judges, reviewers, and pre-screeners all primarily speak the English language.
What category should I submit my project to?
Please see our FilmFreeway page for submission categories. For submissions that may fit multiple categories, we suggest submitting to the category that you believe represents your project the best. If needed festival judges will internally submit to additional categories.
What are your festival deadlines?
You can find a full list of festival deadlines on our FilmFreeway page.
What are the festival submission fees?
You can find a full list of submission fees under the Categories & Fees section of our FilmFreeway page.
Can I request a waiver for submission fees?
Waivers are not granted. In order to create equality for all submitted projects we do not grant waivers.
Do submission fees guarantee acceptance?
No. Submission fees do not guarantee acceptance to the festival. Submission fees are kept as low as possible, and go primarily towards judges and review screener costs.
I am not the producer or director, can I still submit?
Only after you’ve received permission from the filmmakers. If you are not the director or producer make sure to include their contact on your FilmFreeway submission.
What screener formats do you accept?
Submissions must be through FilmFreeway using an online screener of your full film. The festival does not accept DVDs, Blu-Rays, or other print forms for submission review.
Do you accept works-in-progress?
Yes. Please list which items are still in progress. (color correction, efx, etc.) when submitting.
Must projects be rated by the MPA?
Submissions do not need to be rated by the MPA (formerly the MPAA). However, the festival may assign accepted projects a rating description in order to inform guests of more mature content.
Can I submit a project with strong content and language?
Yes. The festival accepts projects with a variety of content, from all ages to mature oriented content.
Can I re-submit a previously submitted project that was rejected?
Yes, as long as the project still meets the eligibility requirements listed on our FilmFreeway page. When resubmitting it is encouraged that the submitted list what changes (if any) have been made to the project.
How do I know the festival received my submission?
Log in to your projects FilmFreeway account, and under “Submissions” you can locate your submission to our festival and confirm it is complete.
If I need to withdraw my project, will I receive a refund?
Once a project has been submitted to FilmFreeway, the festival is unable to offer refunds for any reason, including but not limited to, submission to the wrong category, duplicate submission, non acceptance to the festival, acceptance to another festival or any other reason.
How are accepted projects notified?
Accepted projects will receive email from the festival and FilmFreeway.
Please make sure the email address associated with your submission remains active throughout the submission process.
How will non accepted projects be notified?
Accepted projects will receive an email from the festival and an email from FilmFreeway.
Make sure the email address associated with your submission remains active throughout the submission process and if accepted also make sure your submission remains active throughout the festivals in person dates.
If my film is accepted, am I guaranteed a screening?
Generally, yes. Normal festival protocol is for all accepted film projects to be programmed to screen for the general public at least one time during the festival’s in-person event dates.
However, failure to submit a venue-compliant screener or failure to adhere to festival rules may result in the cancellation of a screening, regardless of acceptance status.
Note that festival screening times and dates, film scheduling, screening venues, and digital platform releases will always be at the full and complete discretion of the festival, and as such are subject to change and/or cancellation without notice.
If my project is accepted, am I guaranteed an award?
No. While festival judges do consider all accepted projects to be “of merit”, not all accepted projects receive an award.
Will I receive feedback on my submitted project?
Due to the high number of submissions, it is unfortunately beyond the scope of the festival to provide feedback to all submitted projects at the current low submission rates.
My project was not accepted?
This does not mean your project was not amazing. But space is limited and every season there are exceptional projects that do not make the final cut. All decisions made by festival programmers and judges are final and their decisions are not open for dispute.
