Ann Arbor Film Festival

Ann Arbor Film Festival

51 Annual March 19, 2013 to March 24, 2013

 

MISSION & OBJECTIVE
The Ann Arbor Film Festival is committed to support bold, visionary independent filmmakers, advance the art form of film and new media, and engage communities with remarkable cinematic experiences.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The Ann Arbor Film Festival is the longest-running independent and experimental film festival in North America. Internationally renowned as a premiere forum for film as an independent art form, the AAFF screens works across a broad range of genres including: experimental, animation, documentary, narrative and hybrid works. The AAFF is steeped in a rich tradition of ground-breaking cinema as thousands of filmmakers screened early work at the AAFF, including luminaries such as: Kenneth Anger, Agnes Varda, Andy Warhol, Yoko Ono, Gus Van Sant, Barbara Hammer, James Benning, Bruce Conner, Chick Strand, Les Blank, Lawrence Kasdan, and George Lucas.

The Ann Arbor Film Festival serves as one of the few Academy Award®-qualifying festivals in the United States for the Short Films category. The AAFF presents over $20,000 in cash awards to filmmakers in competition, as determined by the awards jury. The AAFF is highly competitive, receiving over 2,600 submissions annually from more than 60 countries. All submissions are reviewed by a minimum of 3 trained screeners, with many films watched and discussed collectively by 4 – 7 members of the festival screening team.

The festival main venue, the Michigan Theater, is a gorgeous 1920s movie palace with a historic organ that is performed prior to many of the programs. The theater has two screening spaces: the impressive 1,700-seat main auditorium and the state-of-the-art 200-seat screening room. The AAFF is committed to high quality exhibition of all films at the festival and presents work on 16mm, 35mm, super 8mm and digital formats.

Many accepted filmmakers attend the festival as guests each year and receive complimentary festival pass, housing with host families, shuttle transportation to/from airport, filmmaker party, catered green room and swag bag. The AAFF also provides additional opportunities for select filmmakers accepted into the festival. As a pioneer of the traveling film festival tour, each year a “best of” shorts program travels to more than 35 theaters, universities, museums and art house cinemas throughout North America. Filmmakers participating in the tour are paid for each screening of their work.

ORGANIZERS
Becca Keating (Development Manager) ; David Dinnell (Program Director) ; Maria Feldman (Operations Manager)

GENERAL RULES
The Ann Arbor Film Festival is open to independent film and digital media in all categories that demonstrate a high regard for the moving image as an art form. Each year we select 100-125 shorts and features for exhibition in the awards competition portion of the festival. Films previously submitted (and not selected) may be re-entered if there has been a significant change to the edit. You must complete an entry form for each film submitted. Entry fees are per film entered, and must accompany the entry form for confirmation. Make checks and money orders payable to the Ann Arbor Film Festival. Entry fees are non-refundable.

Entries are accepted in the following formats: DVD, Blu-ray, Internet Links (URL) Secure Online Screening and 16mm. Please note: Region free NTSC DVDs are preferred for screening purposes, though we do accept PAL and region 1. We do not accept VHS or video data files for screening purposes.

DVD/BLU-RAY SCREENING:
DVDs & cases must be labeled (preferably using permanent marker/ink) with film title, filmmaker name, phone, email and WAB tracking ID number. Please place DVDs in a DVD sleeve, no hard plastic cases of any kind.

INTERNET LINKS (URL):
If you have a link (ie., Vimeo) you may submit via Withoutabox or with an entry form found on our website (aafilmfest.org/festival/submit) and send an email to submissions@aafilmfest.org with the link, title of film, director and Withoutabox tracking number (if applicable).

SECURE ONLINE SCREENING:
This option is only available for short films in the documentary, animation, narrative and music video categories. We do not accept the SOS option for experimental works.

16MM SCREENING:
If you would like the festival to preview a 16mm print of your film, please contact the festival directly to make arrangements.

DEADLINES:
Please review the following postmark deadlines carefully.

Early Deadline – August 20, 2012 (postmarked by)

Official Deadline – October 8, 2012 (postmarked by)

Late Deadline – November 8, 2012 (postmarked by)

Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Santa Barbara International Film Festival

28 Annual January 24, 2013 to February 03, 2013

 

MISSION & OBJECTIVE
Now in its 28th year, The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching local culture and raising consciousness of film as an art form. It presents quality American Independent, Spanish and Latin American, European, World and Documentary cinema within the beautiful setting of downtown Santa Barbara, a perfect backdrop and premier tourist destination in its own right. SBIFF will continue to build its acquisitions program with Traction Media, which highlights films for some of the world’s most viable distribution companies. SBIFF is also committed to educating our youth through the “10-10-10” youth filmmakers project and the unique “Field Trip to the Movies” program. With a projected audience of over 70,000, The Festival will screen more than 200 films over an eleven day period. SBIFF attracts an affluent, local, national and international consumer base, while maintaining strong ties with the entertainment industry in Los Angeles.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is an eleven day event held in the seaside resort city of Santa Barbara, California (90 minutes north of Los Angeles). SBIFF is proud to present a diverse slate of more than 200 films to over 70,000 film enthusiasts. Our audience is a unique combination of film industry professionals, local, regional and International attendees, and a large student population.

In addition to showcasing a diverse spectrum of films, tributes and galas. SBIFF also offers seminars with industry professionals including Directors, Screenwriters, Producers and Women’s Panels, as well as provocative Q&A sessions with a diverse selection of filmmakers.

SBIFF has established itself as one of the premier international film festivals and we look forward to building on that success in 2013 and creating opportunities for participants to network with some of the world’s leading independent distributors and filmmakers. In addition to expanding our slate each year to highlight emerging genres, styles and regions, SBIFF is growing our free educational and community outreach programs with the “10-10-10” youth filmmakers project, “Field Trip to the Movies” and “Applebox” which cumulatively served over 12,000 students and families during our last festival. Please visit our Website for more information on these and other SBIFF programs. http://www.sbfilmfestival.org

ORGANIZERS
Michael Albright (Programming Manager) ; Michal Wiesbrock (Director of Development) ; Mickey Dudevich (Programming Coordinator) ; Rodney Gould (Director of Operations) ; Rodney Gould (Director of Operations) ; Roger Durling (Executive Director) ; Sean Pratt (Operations Manager) ; Steve Blain (Managing Director)

GENERAL RULES
Each tape for projection must be labeled with name, filmmaker, Contact info, Running time and aspect ratio (4*3 or 16*9)

FILM ENTRY RULES

The accepted exhibition formats for our festival are :
35 mm – Optical, Dolby A, Dolby Digital only
Digibeta – 29.97 fps, Stereo
Sony HDCam – Sony HD cam only 23.98 fps and 59.94 fps, Audio is STEREO only

NOTE: These formats may vary depending on the category. Please check the submissions guidelines or contact programming@sbfilmfestival.org

All films must be in NTSC format. PAL is not accepted. It is the filmmakers responsibility to convert PAL to NTSC.

**FEE WAIVERS NOT AVAILABLE **

-Entry fee is non-refundable.

-For preview purposes, DVD (NTSC only) is preferred.
-DVDs MUST BE CLEARLY labeled on the spine with film title.

-Please do not send press kits with your screener unless requested.
-DVDs will not be returned.

-Films/videos that have received national U.S. network television (including cable) or theatrical release prior to Festival are not eligible.

-No music videos or commercials.

-More than one entry may be submitted. Each entry must be accompanied by its own online entry and entry fee.

-If your film is selected, original format prints will be due at the Festival offices no later than January 13th, 2012.

-The filmmaker will assume shipping costs of materials and print to SBIFF.

-Please DO NOT send in a press kit until AFTER you have received notification from SBFF.

-Upon acceptance, Filmmakers must agree to send no less than two high resolution digital screen shots to be used at the SBIFF’s discretion. Film posters will not be accepted.

-If your film is selected, you will be asked to provide: digital stills from the film; press materials; video trailer and digitized trailer for website (if available); posters and flyers.

-Titles produced in languages other than English must have legible English subtitles.

-Not all invited films officially selected will be eligible for competition.

-The selection committees’ and juries’ decisions are final.

-If selected, filmmaker gives SBIFF permission to audio-describe film for the sight-impaired.

-Title of work, WAB ID #, and name of entrant must be on all mailing containers and mailing labels, video boxes, photographs, videocassettes, film containers, cans, reels, and film leaders. Video boxes, film reels and cans must be numbered (1 of 2, 2 of 2, etc.).

-If paying by check, the check MUST include the film title and WAB ID #

-Import declaration statements: all non-U.S. entries must be sent via air mail registered with the declaration:

A) for 35mm films: “Free entry claimed under #724.10 (960.55) U.S. Tariff Act. To be returned following the Festival.”

B) for videotapes: “Free entry claimed under #724.12 (960.60) U.S. Tariff Act. To be returned following the Festival.” Entrants must assume all responsibility for clearing films and videotapes through U.S. and/or foreign customs officials.

-SBIFF reserves the right to make any necessary changes in regulations or Festival scheduling.

NEW HAMPSHIRE FILM FESTIVAL

NEW HAMPSHIRE FILM FESTIVAL


Portsmouth, New Hampshire – USA October 11 to 14, 2012

The 12th Annual NEW HAMPSHIRE FILLM FESTIVAL (NHFF) began in 2001 as a small, grassroots organization to support regional and student filmmakers. It now holds a place as a world-class festival that showcases the brightest talent on the international film festival scene.

Presenting the best of independent film at four state-of-the-art screening venues in the gorgeous seacoast city of Portsmouth, the Festival emphasizes creative collaboration, education, and networking. Filmmakers can mix and mingle with other film artists, fans, and industry guests at an array of panels and after-parties.

NHFF attracts more than 9,000 attendees and exhibits more than 80 domestic and international films. National press coverage from outlets such as MovieMaker Magazine – which called Portsmouth “the film center of New England” – and sponsors like Francis Ford Coppola Winery, give the festival significant validation and recognition circuit-wide.

 

UPCOMING DEADLINE
July 5, 2012 – Regular Deadline

MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Highlights of the 2011 program include TERRI, Sundance hit HAPPY HAPPY, acclaimed documentary BEING ELMO: A PUPPETEER’S JOURNEY, Oscar-Nominated documentary IF A TREE FALLS: A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT, and many award-winning short films.

Recent award highlights include NHFF’s 2011 Best Feature PUNCTURE and the 2010 Audience Choice Award-winner TEENAGE PAPARRAZI from actor-turned-director Adrian Grenier. Recent panels have featured special guests from Magnolia Pictures, Oscilloscope Laboratories, Emerging Pictures, and Public Television, among others. To be a part of this top-notch festival’s stellar line up, submit to the New Hampshire Film Festival today!