The Geneva Film Festival 2010 - Film Submissions

 KEY DATES FOR FILMS

Submissions Open                                       October 5, 2009

Early Deadline                                             December 7, 2009

Final Deadline                                             February 1, 2010

Notification of Selected Films                      March 1, 2010

Geneva Film Festival 2010  (GFF’10)         April 16-18, 2010     

FILM CATEGORIES & AWARDS

The GFF’10 is accepting films in the following categories:

   FEATURES – Running Time over 40 Minutes

• Narrative Feature
• Best Narrative Feature
• Emerging Narrative Feature Filmmaker (1st or 2nd time Feature Director)
• Best Performance Feature
• Documentary Feature
• Best Documentary Feature
• Emerging Documentary Filmmaker (1st or 2nd time Feature Director)

• Narrative Short
• Best Narrative Short
• Best Performance Short

• Documentary Short
• Best Documentary Short

• Animated Short
• Best Animated Short

• Student Film
• Student Visionary Award*
• Young Filmmaker Spotlight **

Student Visionary Award (College/Graduate Students)*

1.   Open to narrative and documentary feature and short films made by filmmakers enrolled in accredited, secondary educational institutions.

2.  Entries must include a photocopy of a current, valid student ID or letter from the school verifying enrollment.

Young Filmmaker Spotlight (Grade School/ High School Students)**

1.   Open to narrative and documentary films made by filmmakers younger than 18 years of age at time of submission deadline.

2.  Young filmmakers must play major creative roles on the production of the submitted works - as directors, writers, and/or editors. Any works reflecting more than 50% of creative control by filmmakers over the age of 18 will be ineligible. Preference will be given to films that are overwhelmingly youth-made!

3.  Films must be 15 minutes or less.

DEADLINE & ENTRY FEES

Feature Films                                                             Regular        Student

o Early Deadline           December 7, 2009         $50.00         $30.00

o Final Deadline           February 1, 2010              $65.00         $45.00

Short Films                                                                 Regular        Student

o Early Deadline           December 7, 2009         $40.00         $20.00

o Final Deadline           February 1, 2010              $55.00         $35.00

NOTE: Entry fees are in US Dollars and non-refundable. Read eligibility requirements carefully prior to submitting.

FILM ELIGIBILITY

To be considered for the Geneva Film Festival:

• Entrants must fully comply with Entry Rules and Regulations including, but not limited to deadlines, entry material requirements and selected film requirements.
• Non-English language works must either have English subtitles or be accompanied by dialogue lists in both English and the original language.
• Submitted works must not have been commercially exhibited in the United States prior to the Geneva Film Festival 2010 (unless approved in advance by the Geneva Festival Committee).
• Eligible works must have been completed after January 1, 2008.
• Materials submitted to the Geneva Film Festival will NOT be returned for any reason.
• MULTIPLE ENTRIES - Multiple entries must be submitted separately.  Each entered work must be on a separate DVD.  Please DO NOT send a compilation DVD composed of multiple entries.  It will not be accepted.
• RE-ENTRY - Works which have been submitted to prior Geneva Film Festivals may re-entered in the GFF’10 if (1) significant changes have been made to the work, (2) all eligibility requirements are met, and (3) a new entry is made (including entry fees).
• STUDENT ENTRIES - Must be produced through an accredited educational institution and include a photocopy of a current, valid ID or letter from the school verifying enrollment.
• ENTRY FEES are in US Dollars and non-refundable. Read eligibility requirements carefully prior to submitting.

HOW TO ENTER (Films)   Withoutabox

Please apply online and submit payment at www.Withoutabox.com. 
Mail film submissions and all required entry materials (see below) including a printout of your Withoutabox confirmation page to the
shipping address below:

GENEVA FILM FESTIVAL 2010
Attn: Paul Evans
22 South First Street
Geneva, IL 60134

ENTRY MATERIALS FOR ALL FILMS:

1. A printed copy of your Withoutabox.com receipt and confirmation of payment.  No unpaid submissions will be accepted.
2. On all submitted materials, please write (1) your Withoutabox tracking number and (2) the film category in which you wish the film to be entered.   Note that the GFF’10 reserves the right to re-assign films to different categories as it deems appropriate.
3. All available press materials including the production credit list, director bio and photo, and at least one production still (digital JPEG format only).
4. TWO DVD copies of the work, formatted for multi-zone or for Zone 1 North America.  The DVDs must be labeled with the
• work’s title
• running time
• director(s) names(s), contact number and email address
• your Withoutabox tracking number
• Please confirm that your submitted DVDs play in their entirety on standard, consumer DVD players.
• Do not put adhesive labels on the DVDs unless they have been done professionally.   If you are burning your own DVDs please use a permanent marker to write necessary information on the disk.  Do not use sticker labels!
• Entries will not be accepted in any format except DVD.
• Entry materials and DVDs will not be returned.
5. Entrants are responsible for ensuring that all entries have the appropriate copyright and talent releases included.
6. Student entries must include a photocopy of a current, valid ID or letter from the school verifying enrollment.

Please direct all questions to: srolf@genevafilmfestival.org

IF YOUR FILM IS SELECTED

If your work is selected for exhibition at the 3rd Annual Geneva Film Festival 2010 you must fulfill the following requirements by the date(s) designated by the GFF’10:

1.  You will be required to execute a release and agreement wherein you:

(i) Accept responsibility for obtaining any and all clearances necessary to exhibit your film at the GFF’10;

(ii) Warrant that you have the rights necessary to exhibit your film at the GFF’10;

(iii) Indemnify and hold harmless the GFF10 and its affiliates against any claims arising out of exhibition of your film at the GFF’10.

2.  You will be responsible for the delivery of properly formatted, exhibition copies of the selected work(s) to the address below at the dates specified by the GFF’10.

GENEVA FILM FESTIVAL 2010
Attn: Paul Evans
22 South First Street
Geneva, IL 60134

3.  The GFF’10 may request additional copies of selected works to allow screenings at multiple venues.

4.  Filmmakers whose works have been selected for exhibition or nominated for an award will be notified via email by March 1, 2010.  The GFF’10 holds the right to rescind invitations if the films eligibility status changes.