Greenwich International Film Festival

2020-2021 Greenwich International Film Festival
Entry Rules and Regulations:

General:
The Mission of The Greenwich International Film Festival is two-fold: to provide filmmakers with a platform to showcase their work with the goal of finding financing for future projects as well as for providing exhibition opportunities, and to harness the power of film to serve the greater good.

When you submit your film to GIFF, you agree to all screen Entry Rules and Regulations below.

Key Dates:
Call for Entry: November 5th, 2020
Final Deadline: December 24th, 2020
Best CT Short Film Late Deadline: December 24th, 2020
*Filmmakers will be notified of their status one month prior to the Festival by email.

Entry Fees Features:
Deadline: $30 USD

Entry Fees CT Short Film:
Deadline: $10 USD

Eligibility:
-Entrants accept all rules and regulations of GIFF and must be 18+ yrs old or have written adult consent by a parent or guardian
-Films that are not in the English language must be subtitled or dubbed in English
-Feature films submitted to The Greenwich International Film Festival in 2020 and 2021 must never have been broadcasted publicly (on television- or internet outside of the film festival circuit) or been commercially exhibited in the United States prior to the opening night of the 2021 Greenwich International Film Festival
-The filmmaker represents and warrants that the submitted material is an original work and that there are no disputes regarding ownership of the submission. The filmmaker represents and warrants that the submitted material does not defame or invade the rights of any person living or dead and he/she fully indemnifies the Festival against any claim made for such violations of the law. The filmmaker understands that failure to adhere to the Festival rules and regulations will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee. The filmmaker agrees to hold Greenwich International Film Festival harmless from and defends them against all claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, whether or not they are groundless, based on any film submitted to the Festival.

Entry Protocol:
Entrants must complete the online submission completely through FilmFreeway.

Questions?
Please contact us at submissions@greenwichfilm.org

*Films submitted for selection will be considered as final and no changes will be accepted after submission.
*For multiple entries, please note that each film entered must must be submitted separately on FilmFreeway. Additionally, each film must be submitted separately on FilmFreeway. Fees for multiple entries may be combined either through the FilmFreeway system or through mailed payment.

Re-entry:
Films may be re-entered in subsequent years provided that significant changes have been made to them and that they still meet all rules, regulations, and eligibility requirements.

Invited Works:
All filmmaker participants accepted into the Festival will be notified by the programming team one month prior to the Festival. If a film is directly submitted to the festival then GIFF reserves the right to play it in our program.

*Please note that a valid and current physical address and email address must be provided with the film. Please update that information with The Director of Programming if anything should change from the date of entry. The Director of Programming reserves the right to inquire about other invitations to Festivals prior to acceptance into GIFF.

If your work is accepted into GIFF 2021:
-A full resolution digital file must be provided and sent to The Print Traffic Coordinator upon acceptance. The Print Traffic Coordinator will reach out to the filmmaker upon acceptance.
-A Film Information Form that will be emailed to you must be completed, signed and sent in to the Programming Team upon acceptance
-The Filmmaker must provide The Director of Programming with a trailer or clip of the film under 2 minutes in length as a digital file or online link that can be embedded or downloaded for promotional purposes and for inclusion in the Festival Trailer.
-One comprehensive digital press kit must be provided to The Director of Programming which includes film stills, photo and bio of director, synopsis of film for marketing material, and full cast and crew credits. The Director of Programming reserves the right to secure alternative materials from other sources.

Exhibition Guidelines:
*GIFF 2021 will be allowed to use all photographs and publicity materials received along with the entry and with all accepted films for marketing material. These photographs and publicity material will not be returned to the filmmaker
*For promotional and publicity purposes, trailers or brief clips of any film entered into the Festival may be shown on any television network, the internet, or related media throughout the duration of the Festival
*Films selected into the program, once the offer is accepted by the filmmaker, will not be allowed to be withdrawn from the Festival under any circumstance
*GIFF does not pay screening fees under any circumstance. By submitting your film, you are agreeing to screen your film without a screening fee or any other compensation if it is selected
*Decisions of the Festival Authorities regarding all matters not expressly provided for in these regulations or which require interpretation of the clauses mentioned above shall be binding on all parties
*Submission in the Festival implies acceptance of these regulations

Competition Categories:
We will be accepting submissions in the following categories this year:

Narrative Feature
A fictional motion picture that tells a story. *Duration is over 40 minutes in length.
Narrative Feature films may be considered for The Social Impact Award - a $10,000 USD cash prize.

Documentary Feature
A non-fiction motion picture that documents reality. Animated documentary shorts may be submitted. *Duration is over 40 minutes in length. Documentary Feature Films may be considered for The Social Impact Award- a $10,000 USD cash prize.

Best Connecticut Short Film (Documentary or Narrative)
*Duration is less than 40 Minutes in length. Are you a Connecticut filmmaker or is your film shot in Connecticut? Enter this category and have the chance to land in our 2021 line up and win a $1,000 cash prize.

Awards:
*The Social Impact Award:
This prize will be awarded to one film across both Documentary and Narrative categories that promotes social change and awareness. The films in competition for The Social Impact Prize will be determined by the GIFF team, awarded by the the GIFF jury and will have a cash value of $10,000 USD

*Best Connecticut Short Film (Documentary and Narrative shorts will be considered) - Sponsored by The CT Office of Film, TV, and Digital Media- valued at $1,000 USD

*Audience Award:
This prize will be awarded to one filmmaker in either the narrative or documentary feature category - cash value is $1,000 USD

Awards will be presented virtually to winning directors of each film in competition in an awards ceremony during the 2021 Festival weekend. A press release announcing the winning filmmakers will be sent out by March 8th. Each director will receive a check for his/her prize money within 10 weeks from the end date of the 2021 Festival.

Accepted Filmmaker Package Checklist:
-Synopsis of the film (approximately 150 words)
-Director biography
-Photograph of director
-Still photographs of film (minimum 2)
-Production still (minimum 2)
-Poster (if any)
-Press Kit

MEET THE PROGRAMMING TEAM:
*Colleen deVeer
Founder/Principal
Director of Programming
Greenwich International Film Festival
Colleen deVeer came from a very artistic family that instilled in her a love for visual and performing arts at a very young age. Ms. deVeer is a graduate of Boston College, where she was a Director of The Boston College Dance Ensemble and received her B.A. in Theatre Arts. Following her undergraduate studies, Colleen moved on to the Actor’s Studio in New York City where she received a Masters of Fine Arts in Acting, training with renowned acting masters, David Gideon, Barbara Poitier, Elizabeth Kemp, and Doug Moston. After fifteen years of working as an actress and dancer in theater, film, commercials, and television, Colleen met two playwrights whose work she found so exceptional that she tried her hand at producing, launching two successful plays in repertory with critically acclaimed NYC stage runs. Colleen moved out to Greenwich in 2012 with her husband and two children where she Co-Founded The Greenwich International Film Festival. A long time cinephile, Colleen has traveled to dozens of film festivals across the country and abroad, has served as the Festival’s Director of Programming since GIFF's inception, and is a proud member of the Advisory Board of the Avon Theatre in Stamford, CT.

For further clarification of any details given here or for any further information, please contact: submissions@greenwichfilm.org