Filmmakers, Official Website of the San Diego Black Film Festival. Spotlight on African American Cinema

FILMMAKERS

TO ENTER YOUR FILM NOW, DIRECTLY THROUGH THE FESTIVAL,
CLICK HERE

TO ENTER USING WITHOUTABOX, CLICK BELOW:

1. Festival programming staff will select and invite films at their discretion. Entrants will be notified as to their selection status via WAB, on or before December 20, 2008. In addition, please feel free to email us regarding your film's status.

2. If selected, filmmakers are expected to provide most of the following:

(a) Exhibition print or video (the Festival exhibits work in only the following formats, regardless of origination) 35mm or BetaSP NTSC videotape); PAL, mini DV, or DVD are not acceptable for exhibition (b) Full press kit including film stills and director photo (slides, hard copies, or digital TIFF files of minimum 300 dpi on floppy disk or CD-ROM); synopsis; full production credits; and director biography. Additional collateral material including postcards, posters, etc. may be included if available. (c) Clips or trailer to be used for press, promotion, and awards ceremony. NOTE: If VHS and DVD copies are all you have available, your work may still be considered for screening at special locations. Therefore, feel free to submit your VHS and DVD copy. Such works are considered on a case by case basis. (d) You must be prepared to FedEx your BetaSp screening copy to the festival within 5 days of acceptance to the festival. NO EXCEPTIONS!

3. Selected films may be screened multiple times during the course of the Festival at our discretion. And your press kit material may be used to promote the following year's event if selected.

4. NOTE: The San Diego Black Film Festival and the Black Historical Society of San Diego are not responsible for lost films or any damage to films/videos during shipping, handling, or screening.

Screening Fees

The festival will not waive fees. So do not ask. The Festival does not pay rental fees under any circumstances. Rather, we devote our resources to producing the best possible showcase for your work and promoting your work as widely as possible with distribution of your product in mind.

Awards

We do not offer monetary awards. Our awards are solely based on honor and merit. The Festival presents the following awards to filmmakers and actors in competition:

Best Dramatic Feature
Best Documentary Feature
Best Documentary Short
Best Dramatic Short
Best Comedy
Best Animation
Best Music Video
Best Cutting Edge
Audience Choice

Winners will be presented with an award, to be determined, during the festival’s Awards Party. There may or may not be additional awards or giveaways.

Shipping

Submit entries prepaid including applicable customs fees to:

San Diego Black Film Festival
740 Market Street
San Diego, CA 92101
Email: letter@sdbff.com Phone: (619) 232-1480

Shipping via courier capable of tracking delivery of submission is recommended. Package videocassettes and CDs properly and securely using bubble-wrap. Selected filmmakers are responsible for delivery of exhibition prints or videos to our offices by the date designated at time of selection notification.

Questions

Please email submission questions to: letter@sdbff.com

2009 Festival Dates
January 29 -- February 1

Submission Fees and Deadlines

A completed application and entry fee must accompany each entry. There are no exceptions to the entry fee. Entries must be postmarked per the following deadlines:

Early Fee and Deadlines: $25 by August 30, 2008
Regular Fee and Deadline: $35 by October 30, 2008
Extended Deadline and Fee: $60 by December 5, 2008

Make payment by check or money order in US dollars (only) payable
to: Black Historical Society of San Diego

Film Genres

The Festival accepts films/videos in the following 7 genres: dramatic feature, dramatic short, comedy, documentary feature, documentary short, animation, and music video. Festival programming staff may use their discretion to place your film in the appropriate category.

Eligibility/Rules of Entry

Films/videos entered into competition must be directed, produced, or principally acted by an artist of African descent in the USA or any country, or person born in any country in Africa or whose subject matter relates to African American culture or any cultures of Africa (including Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, etc.) regardless of race. Clarify questions of eligibility prior to submission of entry. Entries must have been completed after January 30, 2007.

Feature length entries must not have been exhibited previously at a film festival in San Diego, or commercial venue, or be available for rent or purchase on prerecorded video/CD for American audiences.

Each project entered into competition must pay an entry fee. There is no limit to the number of qualifying entries by any entrant so long as an entry form and fee accompanies each entry. Foreign language entries must be subtitled with English sub-titles. Films/videos cannot be re-entered into competition if previously rejected from the San Diego Black film Festival.

Entrants shall obtain all licenses, royalties, and permits necessary to present their work. Entrant will assume all costs arising from the use of patented, trademarked, franchised or copyrighted music, materials, devices, processes, or dramatic rights used in production of work. Entries previously exhibited on the Internet are eligible for entry so long as they meet the above requirements.

Feature and Short Definition

A feature is any work of running time Sixty minutes and longer; less than Sixty minutes running time designates a short.

Submission Materials

All entries must include the following: (a) DVD or VHS NTSC(1), screening tape labeled with title of project, director, contact telephone number, and running time. Note: PAL and mini DVD are NOT acceptable.
(b) Completed Festival Entry Form. (c) Digital stills of film and filmmaker. (d) Entry Fee.
The Festival is not responsible for returning screening tapes unless entrant includes a self-addressed stamped envelope. Entry fees are not refundable. Self addressed stamped envelopes with insufficient postage will be discarded. NOTE: do not send your last and only copy of a film or video.

How to Qualify

The 2009 San Diego Black Film Festival rules of entry define qualifying work and filmmakers. Entry to the Festival affirms understanding and acceptance by the filmmaker of all rules of entry.

How to Submit Your Work

TO APPLY ONLINE, directly with the Festival, CLICK HERE. To apply utilizing Withoutabox, click HERE. Please use bubble-pack envelopes or packaging. Your submissions package should include most of the following:

A completed copy of the entry form for each entry.

Standard DVD or VHS Copy.

Entry Fee (postmark on or before deadlines).

Checks or money orders should be payable to Black Historical Society of San Diego.

Note: If your film is accepted into the festival based on your DVD or VHS submission, we will request and require a BetaSP copy for screening purposes within 5 days of acceptance (no exceptions). If you are unable to provide a BetaSp copy, PLEASE DO NOT APPLY.

Notification

If your film is selected for screening at the 2009 San Diego Black Film Festival,
You will receive a call from us between November 20th-- December 5, 2008.
Extended and late entries will be notified by December 20, 2008. If you do not receive a call, this does not automatically mean your film was not accepted. Please check WAB.

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