2020 SHORT FILM FESTIVAL NETWORK
FILM COMPETITION RULES

The following rules govern all film submissions to the Short Film Festival Network (“SFFN” or the “Festival”)

 

 

Please Note: Short Film Festival Network does not waive entry fees for the competition portion of viewing. SFFN believes waiving entry fees hurts the integrity of the competition. The same rules and entry fees should apply to all applicants so no one film is favored over another. In a similar respect, SFFN does not invite films to be in competition. Only films that are submitted will be considered for competition.  All films submitted may be posted on the sister site Short Film Network for up to one year.  In the future, we may contact filmmakers for the purpose of distribution of the submitted films.

 

General Eligibility

 

1. Submissions must be accompanied by the applicable submission fee PER ENTRY and a completed online entry form. All films must be in English or have English subtitles at the time submitted.

 

2. Films must be submitted to shortfilmfestivalnetwork@gmail.com. You must send us a screener of your short to be put on our website at www.sfn.network, for online voting. You can submit at our website www.sfn.network or you can email us a screener via wetransfer, etc., to shortfilmfestivalnetwork@gmail.com. Please keep files under 2gs for online submission, if you have questions on submission sizes, etc. email us at shortfilmfestivalnetwork@gmail.com.

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3. SFFN screens films as digital files during the Winner screenings and does NOT screen films on Blu-Ray, HD-CAM, or DCP. If you are unable or unwilling to provide us your film as a digital file for exhibition, DO NOT SUBMIT your film.

 

4. Films will be categorized by completed date at the discretion of the SFFN organizers. Films must be available for screening during the Short Film Festival Network winners screening (date to be announced for January 2020).

 

5. Films that have been submitted to SFFN in previous years are eligible to be resubmitted, provided they are eligible according to all of SFFN’s current rules.

 

6. Films with US distribution (obtained prior to being selected for SFFN screening) or films produced, financed or initiated by a major film studio or television network are ineligible for competition, but may be considered for a special screening. Selection for screening will be determined no later than one month prior to the festival. Films that have screened on US network or cable television or distributed to theaters prior to the festival dates are also ineligible for competition.

 

7. We prefer that shorts not be publicly available online, and must be taken down if an agreement for distribution is later reached.

 

 

8. SFFN reserves the right in its sole discretion to reject or disqualify any ineligible entries, without a refund.

 

9. Films that are selected to screen at the Festival may not necessarily be selected to be “in competition” for awards purposes. Notifications regarding potential selection for competition status possibly may occur subsequent to notifications of acceptance for exhibition.

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Originality and Permissions; INDEMNITY

 

1. Films must be the original work of the applicants. If a film is based upon another person’s life or upon a book or other underlying work, applicant(s) must secure any necessary rights to make such adaptations. However, it is not necessary to submit the adaptation rights agreements to the Festival. Neither the Festival nor its jurists investigates or attests to the authenticity of an applicant’s statement of authorship or rights secured. By entering the competition, you represent that you have secured all necessary rights.

 

2. Applicants are solely responsible for obtaining all necessary rights and permissions for third-party materials included in their films, including but not limited to music, trademarks, logos, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights. SFFN expressly disclaims all liability or responsibility for any violations of the foregoing.

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Additional Information

 

1. We strongly encourage filmmakers to submit their film only after it is fully finished and will judge each submission as a completed work, whether it is or not. Once a film is entered, we will not update the submission with a more recent cut. That said, because SFFN’s focus is on story, minor technical changes will not affect the final decision of any film. Should the film be accepted to play during the Festival, the filmmaker will have the opportunity to supply the Festival with their most recent version.

 

2. Filmmakers who are unsure whether to enter their film into the Narrative Short Category or one of the genre categories should select the genre category so the film will be watched with that in mind. Short Film Festival Network reserves the right to switch the entry category or otherwise assign a category to fit programming needs and interests, and films will not be penalized for the original submission selection.

 

3. Once an entry payment has been received we cannot provide a refund. If a payment is disputed by an entrant for any reason, the entrant may be subject to any transaction fees or similar amounts incurred by SFFN in connection with the dispute.

 

4. You MUST include your physical address either in your entry or in your cover letter. Please do not submit a film without giving us your address, which we need for our records.

 

5. WE DO NOT ACCEPT CHECKS​

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Selected Films and Winners

 

1. SFFN has no obligation (other than as stated in these rules or on our website) to disclose any of the following information: i) identities of screeners or judges; ii) notes, feedback, or information relating to the submitted project; and/or iii) details regarding the submission review or selection process.

 

2. SFFN explicitly disclaims any liability or responsibility for any comments, notes, or opinions expressed about a submission, whether by SFFN or by its volunteers.

 

3. Winners will be announced in January 2020 (date to be announced). Each month after, winners will be announced 3rd weekend of every month. The judges’ decision is final.

 

4. Winners receiving cash prizes are solely responsible for payment of all applicable local, state, and federal taxes.

 

 

 

RETURNS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

We only accept online submissions.

 

 

 

COMPETITION CERTIFICATION

 

I/We have read all of the rules, understand, and have complied with these rules.

 

I/We warrant the submission of my/our original work and that there are no disputes regarding the ownership of the submission.

 

I/We also warrant the submitted material does not defame or invade the rights of any person living or dead.

 

To the best of my/our knowledge, all the statements herein are true and correct.

 

I/We understand that failure to adhere to the competition rules and regulations will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee.

 

I/We acknowledge that once an entry payment has been processed, SFFN will not provide a refund.

 

No revisions of materials will be accepted once entry has been submitted.

 

BY SUBMITTING THE MATERIAL, I/WE HEREBY AGREES TO INDEMNIFY, HOLD HARMLESS, AND DEFEND THE FESTIVAL, ITS EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, REPRESENTATIVES, AND AFFILIATES FROM ALL LIABILITY, CLAIMS, AND DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SUBMISSION AND FROM ANY FEES AND EXPENSES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES, THAT ANY OF THEM MAY INCUR IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.