PROJECT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
- Projects submitted must be by a writer, director, and/or producer who is a person of color (including but not limited to Black, African-American, Latino, East Asian, South Asian, and Pacific Islander) AND/OR feature people of color in the cast/storyline. At a minimum, projects must highlight an inclusive cast that reflects the shifting demographics around the world.
- Urbanworld's programming emphasizes premieres and new works in categories including narrative and documentary films, both features/shorts, as well as animation, web series, and music videos.
- Festival screenings will only be shown on DCP formats, with Blu-Ray DVD back-ups provided.
- Projects in competition may not have had a commercial distribution or been broadcast in the United States. The programming committee reserves the right to waive this rule in the case of small non-commercial, non-publicized screenings.
- Projects receiving a theatrical or key festival screening in the New York Area prior to Urbanworld's dates will not be considered for the Festival. Exceptions will be made under special circumstances. Please contact our office if you agree to any other screenings directly before or after Urbanworld, other than those listed on your application.
- Urbanworld does not pay rental/screening fees. Instead, our limited resources are invested in the production and promotion of the best possible showcase for your work.
- Projects must have been completed AFTER January 1, 2019.
- Works in progress may be submitted, as long as the final version is shared prior to the festival and a DCP will be available for screening during the Festival.
- Previously submitted works are not eligible for re-submission.
PROJECT SUBMISSION PROCEDURE:
- All works must be submitted via ONLINE SCREENER via FilmFreeway. No other formats will be accepted.
- All submissions should adhere to the TRT requirements, as outlined in each category criteria.
- There is no limit to the number of submissions per submitter, provided they are separate submissions and the required submission fee is paid for each.
- All submissions must be uploaded as an online screener by the extended deadline, June 10, 2020.
- Content creators will be notified via email of submission status by July 20, 2020.
- You must have your festival acceptance and release paperwork completed by July 27, 2020, and your electronic press kit materials and Filmmaker Checklist must be submitted no later than August 3, 2020, if accepted as an official selection.
SCREENPLAY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
- No hard copy submissions will be considered; only electronic submissions via FilmFreeway.
- The screenwriter of the screenplay must consider himself/herself a person of color (including but not limited to Black, African-American, Latino, East Asian, South Asian, and Pacific Islander), OR, the screenplay must feature people of color as prominent characters in the story. At a minimum, the screenplay must highlight an inclusive cast that reflects the shifting demographics around the world.
- Screenplays must be the standard feature film length (90-130 pages) and standard US format only. Treatments will not be accepted. Only English language screenplays will be accepted.
- If the applicant has participated in any previous Urbanworld Screenplay competition with a script, that script will not be accepted, irrespective of any and all revisions/changes the applicant may have made subsequent to participation.
- Screenplays may not have been produced, sold, or licensed for theatrical, television, or online production.
- Screenplays must be the original work of the applicant and registered with the Writers Guild of America East Script Registration at scriptregistration.org, with the WGA West, or copyrighted.
SCREENPLAY SUBMISSION PROCEDURE:
- The applicant's name, address, and phone number MUST appear on the cover of the screenplay's title page.
- There is no limit to the number of submissions per applicant, provided separate submissions and submission fee accompanies each submission.
- All screenplays must be uploaded as a PDF file by the extended deadline, June 10, 2020.
- Screenwriters will be notified via email of submission status by July 20, 2020.
- You must have your festival acceptance and release paperwork completed by July 27, 2020, and your electronic press kit materials and Filmmaker Checklist must be submitted no later than August 3, 2020, if accepted as an official selection.
PROJECT SUBMISSION FEES:
- Your submission will not be considered until the submission fee is paid in full via credit card. No exceptions.
- Submission fees will not be returned and are non-refundable.
PROJECT SUBMISSION CHECKLIST:
The following must be included for each submission:
- Submission Form (Accepted online exclusively via FilmFreeway, 1 per submission)
- Preview Screener or Script (online screener or PDF file required, uploaded via FilmFreeway)
- Submission Fee (Accepted online via FilmFreeway)
- Film Festival History & Confirmed Future Film Festival Participation; Recommended materials include: Brief Synopsis; Filmmaker Bio; Press Kit; Stills