Please refer to www.blackbirdfilmfest.com for "Official Festival Guidelines"
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1.0 Overview:
The Blackbird Film Festival is a film festival located in Cortland, NY and hosted by the State University of New York, College at Cortland. Submissions must be made online (via https://filmfreeway.com/festival/BlackbirdFilmFest). Official Selections will be screened at the festival event in late April / early May. Official Selection and award notifications will be delivered electronically. Physical prizes (certificates, plaques, trophies, etc.) will be given to the award winners at the award ceremony during the Blackbird Film Festival weekend. Award winners not in attendance can have their awards mailed to them at the expense of the award winner.
Entrants warrant that they have the legal right to enter film work to the Blackbird Film Festival. As the Director/Producer of the Film, entrants have submitted to the Festival, entrants represent and warrant to the Festival that the Film and all parts thereof are original; that the Film does not contravene the rights of any person or entity and that entrants own or control the Film and all parts thereof and have the sole authority to submit the Film to the Festival; the Film entrants submitted to the Festival is not subject to nor threatened by any litigation.
Entrants acknowledge that no fiduciary or confidential relationship now exists between the Festival and entrants, and entrants further acknowledge that no such relationship is established by these guidelines, my submission of the Film, or by the Festival’s acceptance, review or retention of the Film.
If a film is accepted, entrants will be solely responsible for delivering their exhibition video materials to Blackbird Film Festival. A complete press kit and an online link to your film will be needed no later than the deadline of March 1st. Blackbird Film Festival cannot be held liable for your exhibition print/video materials which are lost or damaged.
By submitting to the Festival, material associated with you and your film agree to be included in Blackbird Film Festival’s promotional material (newsletters, flyers, media, etc.) at the festival discretion. By submitting to the Blackbird Film Festival, you give Blackbird permission to screen your film during the festival weekend at the festival’s discretion.
2.0 Submission Rules and Regulations
Eligibility Requirements:
2.1. Films (of any length/genre) must have been completed less than 3 years prior to the festival weekend.
2.2. All entries must be either in English or subtitled in English.
2.3. Entrants confirm and warrant that they have the required legal authority to submit the entry into the festival and to use all music, images, and content in the entry.
3.0 Submission Guidelines:
3.1. Films must be submitted digitally via www.filmfreeway.com/festival/BlackbirdFilmFest.
3.2. Blackbird Film Festival is only accepting completed works at this time; no works-in-progress will be considered.
3.3. Late entries will not be considered.
4.0 Judging and Selection:
4.1. Each submission will be reviewed by at least two judges during the first stage of reviews. Films selected during the first stage will be reviewed again by a group of Film Professionals / Educators during the second stage of review. Names of Judges will not be released until Official Selections are announced.
4.2. All entrants will be notified regarding inclusion in the Festival by early February at the latest via www.filmfreeway.com. A member of the Festival committee will also notify each Official Selection entrant by email.
4.3. Judging decisions are final.
4.4. Submissions that are found to have violated any of the Eligibility Requirements listed above may be disqualified at any time by the Blackbird International Film Festival.
5.0 Submission Categories and Costs:
5.1. It is the responsibility of the entrant to submit films into the correct category. Incorrect submissions may be disqualified.
5.2 Entrants may choose to submit films with or without FEEDBACK. Entrants who submit films into the categories WITH FEEDBACK will receive a copy of the Judges feedback for that particular submission. Entrants who select a category WITH FEEDBACK will receive the Judge’s report regardless of Official Selection.
5.4. Submission fees are non-refundable and will not be waived for any reason. If a submission is not selected or disqualified, entrants will not receive a fee refund.
6.0 Prizes and Awards:
6.1. All Official Selections will receive Official Blackbird Film Festival High-resolution Laurels for promotion of the film. Official Selections will be announced early March at the latest. Once Officially Selected for inclusion in the festival, entrants are qualified to receive festival awards.
6.2. Award winners and Prizes will be announced at the Award Ceremony at the end of the Festival weekend.
6.3. Festival awards will be given to award winners at the Award Ceremony. Awards can be mailed to winners at the expense of the filmmaker.
7.0 Commitment to Female Filmmakers:
7.1. The Blackbird Film Festival will ensure that at least 50% of our annual film lineup are films made by female filmmakers.
Please contact Blackbird at info@blackbirdfilmfestival.com if you have any questions or concerns.