Film Festival Submission Rules and Terms of Agreement
NEW YORK CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARDS (NYCA)
The film festival works under the Cinematography Awards Foundation, an association of film festivals which highlight excellence in cinematography. It is legally established and is managed by film industry professionals.
A body supervising the foundation: The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
SUBMISSIONS
1. Monthly submissions for the New York Cinematography Awards (NYCA) is open to short films, feature films and videos of any genre.
2. All films must be presented in their original language with English subtitle.
3. Films must have been completed after 1 January 2015. Premiere status is not required.
4. Films submitted for consideration in the previous NYCA editions are eligible for re-submission only if there are significant rework done to the films.
5. Short film entries must not exceed a running time of 30 minutes.
6. Student films and videos must present proper documentations from their academic institution, example: academic ID of the director/producer or a letter of recommendation from an academic adviser or institution. Any films submitted as student film without proper identification will be disqualified in the category.
7. Student films must be submitted no later than one year after graduation.
8. All submitted films and/or videos must pay the necessary entry fee. Student entries are eligible for discounted fees.
9. Entry fees are non-refundable in case of any submission withdrawal.
10. All submission deadlines and important dates regarding festival screenings, award ceremoniesand its venues are announced on the NYCA official website.
11. Any changes to the rules will be at NYCA’s discretion.
HOW TO SUBMIT
1. All entries must be submitted online via FilmFreeway.
2. Complete the submission form.
3. The films must be uploaded to the submission portal as required or send NYCA a link to your film or video preview upon submission.
4. Requested in the online entry form are available press kits which includes a synopsis in English, the director’s statement and biography, a full list of cast and crew and additional publicity materials such as trailers, film posters and stills.
5. Payment of entry fee.
SELECTION PROCESS
1. All submissions are screened and evaluated by the NYCA Selection Committee.
2. Criteria for judging is based on creativity of visual images, production quality without prejudice to the cost of production, originality of storytelling and entertainment value.
3. Selections will be in stages namely Preliminary, Semifinalist and Finalist. This is to ensure that submissions are correctly verified of their eligibility and judged only in their respected categories.
4. We are choosing the Winner of the category, only if submited films/scripts/song to this category, meet enough high level. The NYCA makes sure it assesses filmmakers to their highest standard. Only valuable films can recive the Winner certificate in the competition.
5. All monthly winners in each category will be announced at NYCA website and social media platforms.
AWARDS
1. Monthly winners for each categories will receive an NYCA certificate with an online verification and a digital copy of the official NYCA laurel.
2. “Best Film of the Month” is automatically chosen as “OFFICIAL SELECTION” to the 1st Edition of New York Cinematography Awards screening and awarding ceremony to be held in New Yoek.
3. All monthly winners vie for the most prestigious awards of the film festival — The Cinematographer of the Year and The Best Film of the Year awards.
4. The winners of the main award prizes will be chosen by a Jury of film industry professionals especially selected by NYCA Executive committee for this edition.
5. Winners of both awards will be handed NYCA’s official statuette called the “Golden Eagle” during the awarding ceremony.
6. In case of the recipients’ absence during the award ceremony, NYCA will send the statuette to them via post.
7. Other additional award prizes may be given during the ceremony.
SCREENING
1. All official selections are included in the festival programme for exhibition.
2. NYCA reserves the right to chose other shortlisted films to be screened in the film festival.
3. All films and videos for screening during the festival will be announced at NYCA official websiteand social media platforms.
4. The filmmakers and/or production companies must provide NYCA a copy of their films for screening at least 14 working days prior to festival. This is to make sure the festival have enough time to check for any technical concerns that may occur and resolve them prior to the screening.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR EXHIBITION
1. All films must be of standard cinema aspect ratio and resolution (Square Pixels 1.0)
2. All film screening formats must be subtitled in English.
3. Provide NYCA with an HD quality digital copy of the film in Quicktime (Pro Res 422) if applicable.
OTHER AGREEMENTS
1. NYCA does not download nor make your full preview screener available publicly online.
2. The NYCA is hereby granted the rights to utilise an excerpt from any film submitted for promotional purposes of the festival. The individual or production studio submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorised to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements, rules and regulations.
3. In the event of any film being withdrawn from the festival screening for reasons beyond the festival’s control, for example copyrights impingements, NYCA must not be held liable and the filmmakers or production company agree to accept such liabilities if any.
4. The filmmakers and/or the production company allow NYCA to use their film’s Press Kit for promotional purposes.
5. The submission of any films to the festival means that the filmmakers and/or the production company agree without any reservation to all the rules and regulations of NYCA.
6. The Festival operates within and under the law of European Union & USA.