Columbus International Film & Animation Festival

Columbus, OH, United States, North America

17 - 18 Apr, 2021

Category

Short, Feature

Columbus International Film & Animation Festival logo
Columbus International Film & Animation Festival

Columbus, OH, United States, North America

Is this your festival?

Is this your festival?

About the festival

The Columbus International Film & Animation Festival is the oldest film festival in the United States.

Now celebrating its 69th year, the festival introduces central Ohio to the best independent filmmakers from around the world.

Through the years, the festival has honored thousands of films, filmmakers, and producers. The festival’s awards remain a revered prize for industry professionals, but the organization is equally passionate about supporting independent film. The juried competition focuses on rewarding the world’s best films, regardless of origin, while the festival serves to promote and screen more and more films every year.

In addition to the prestigious Presidential Award, there are jury-selected awards in select categories and other distinctions. These awards are not limited by division, so all filmmakers are in consideration for these awards.

About

The Columbus International Film & Animation Festival is the oldest film festival in the United States.

Now celebrating its 69th year, the festival introduces central Ohio to the best independent filmmakers from around the world.

Through the years, the festival has honored thousands of films, filmmakers, and producers. The festival’s awards remain a revered prize for industry professionals, but the organization is equally passionate about supporting independent film. The juried competition focuses on rewarding the world’s best films, regardless of origin, while the festival serves to promote and screen more and more films every year.

In addition to the prestigious Presidential Award, there are jury-selected awards in select categories and other distinctions. These awards are not limited by division, so all filmmakers are in consideration for these awards.

Awards & Winners

There are no winners yet for this festival

Terms and rules

Secure Online Screeners (Vimeo or YouTube links) are the preferred submission method. However, if you chose to submit on DVD (Region 0 or 1), please send 2 copies with your application, and be sure to include your title, name, running time, and FilmFreeway # on the disc. If using a Vimeo or YouTube link, please include your link at the top of the cover letter section of your FilmFreeway submission.

• Films must be a Columbus premiere.

• If accepted, filmmakers will need to provide the following:
- a digital copy of their completed film
- name of film
- director's name
- run time
- synopsis
- 2-3 high-res images from the film (not posters)
- photo credit information (who you would like those photos to be credited to)
- film or director's Twitter handle (optional)
- film website (optional)

• Entry title, name of entrant, and FilmFreeway tracking number must be on all materials and containers.

• Separate applications are required for each film — even if one entity is submitting more than one film.

• Any incoming shipping, wire, banking, or other charges will be billed back to the entrant and must be paid before the entry is eligible for competition.

• Please let us know if your email address changes between the time of receipt of entry and notification of results. Otherwise, you will not be advised of or receive any award you may have won.

• All winners will receive customized laurels suitable for print and/or web usage. All winners will also receive awards in person or by mail. (If you cannot attend, please provide a mailing address, and we'll send the award to you.)

• Liability: Although every possible care will be taken with your entry materials while in our possession, we cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage. Do not send any original materials.

• Entries into the Student Section of the festival must provide proof of eligibility (student ID) upon request.

• Re-entry: Entries from previous Columbus International Film & Animation Festivals are eligible for this year’s competition if they are a revision, or entered in a different division than the original submission.

• English Language: All entries must have audio essential to the message on an English language soundtrack or English subtitles. An English translation script is not an acceptable substitute with the exception of foreign student entries.

JUDGING CRITERIA

• The Best of Division winners will be considered for the Best of Festival Award. A special panel will determine this special award.

The following criteria are applied during the judging process:
- Target audience
- Credibility
- Purpose
- Organization and development
- Concept and creativity
- Technical proficiency

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The entrant has full rights to submit the entry and authorize its use.

Promotion Rights: Producers or distributors who enter the festival grant permission for their entries to be presented at any festival screening or event unless we are otherwise notified at the time of entry.

Publicity: Images, trailers, and reproducible still images may be used in festival programs and publicity materials, including for use by media.

Archives: We keep the winning entries for the festival's archives.

Entrant has read and agrees to abide by all festival rules.

Ratings & Reviews

Categories and fees

Student Competition Short
Early Bird (15th August, 2020) $20
Regular (15th October, 2020) $30
Late (15th November, 2020) $35

All student eligible work in the listed categories (narrative, documentary, animation) are invited to submit *Entries into the Student Section of the Festival must provide proof of eligibility (student id) upon request.

Animation Feature
Early Bird (15th August, 2020) $40
Regular (15th October, 2020) $45
Late (15th November, 2020) $55

Works in this division use animation (over 45 min) as their primary practice. The division welcomes all topics and foci, and encourages creative applications of animation. The Festival has a long-standing tradition of animation for all ages. We are interested in animation for both children and adults. The CIV+VF has traditionally presented a Saturday Morning Cartoons For Kids program for children of all ages as part of the Festival’s regular programming. For the second year in a row we are pleased to announce a $1,000 screening fee award dedicated to the works chosen for our Saturday Morning Cartoons/First Night screenings. The child-friendly animated works chosen for the screenings will receive a screening fee for the use of their work thanks to the generosity of the Puffin Foundation West, Ltd.

Animation Short
Early Bird (15th August, 2020) $30
Regular (15th October, 2020) $35
Late (15th November, 2020) $40

Works in this division use animation (under 45 min) as their primary practice. The division welcomes all topics and encourages creative applications of animation. The Festival has a long-standing tradition of animation for all ages. We are interested in animation for both children and adults. The CIV+VF has traditionally presented a Saturday Morning Cartoons For Kids program for children of all ages as part of the Festival’s regular programming. For the second year in a row we are pleased to announce a $1,000 screening fee award dedicated to the works chosen for our Saturday Morning Cartoons/First Night screenings.

Narrative Feature
Early Bird (15th August, 2020) $40
Regular (15th October, 2020) $45
Late (15th November, 2020) $55

All narrative features (45 min or over) are invited. Our programming focuses on unique independent voices from around the world.

Narrative Short
Early Bird (15th August, 2020) $30
Regular (15th October, 2020) $35
Late (15th November, 2020) $40

All narrative features (45 min or under) are invited. Our programming focuses on unique independent voices from around the world.

Documentary Feature
Early Bird (15th August, 2020) $40
Regular (15th October, 2020) $45
Late (15th November, 2020) $55

Celebrating unique independent voices from around the world, all documentary features (45 mins or over) are invited to submit. Awards will be given in several genre subcategories including: Science and Technology Social Issues Religion and Spirituality Educational

Documentary Short
Early Bird (15th August, 2020) $30
Regular (15th October, 2020) $35
Late (15th November, 2020) $40

Experimental/New Media
Early Bird (15th August, 2020) $30
Regular (15th October, 2020) $35
Late (15th November, 2020) $40

Short form digital creative work that could include Gaming Videos, Camera trickery, Vines, Experimental and Expressionistic Media. This is a category for work that does't fit the mold of tradition exhibition catagories.

Ohio Feature Films
Early Bird (15th August, 2020) $20
Regular (15th October, 2020) $20
Late (15th November, 2020) $20

A special category for films made by Ohio residents.

Ohio Shorts
Early Bird (15th August, 2020) $10
Regular (15th October, 2020) $10
Late (15th November, 2020) $10

A special category for short films by Ohio residents

Alternative Showcase
Early Bird (15th August, 2020) $10
Regular (15th October, 2020) $10
Late (15th November, 2020) $10

For Filmmakers to submit in Sanctioned countries

Music Videos
Early Bird (15th August, 2020) $10
Regular (15th October, 2020) $10
Late (15th November, 2020) $20

Music Videos only

Matchmaking

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How long is your film?

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Monetary award

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