MISSION & OBJECTIVE
The Chagrin Documentary Film Festival is a celebration of documentary storytelling and of the filmmakers who bring us their stories. Founded in honor of late filmmaker David Ponce, the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival is proud to bring stories from around the world to Ohio's beautiful Chagrin Valley.

This inspiring and highly attended documentary film festival is entering its fifteenth year. Named to MovieMaker Magazine's prestigious list of "Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee" for eight years, the Festival takes place at venues in and around the lovely century village of Chagrin Falls, Ohio with a focus on honoring talented filmmakers from around the world.

The Chagrin Documentary Film has welcomed an enthusiastic audience of more than 13,000 and streamed to a national audience of 34,000.

The Chagrin Documentary Film Festival (CDFF) is a celebration of the spirit of the documentary filmmaker, video artists and those working with the moving image from around the world and around the corner.

GENERAL RULES
1. Dates and Venue
The Chagrin Documentary Film Festival (CDFF) will take place in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA between October 1 and October 6, 2024. By submitting your film, you are giving CDFF the rights to online streaming as well as currently planned in-person screenings during the Festival dates.

2. Competition
To be eligible for competition, the submitted film must have been completed within the previous 18 months.

The Festival reserves the right to place entries into alternative categories if they feel it is to the benefit of the title. Each submission must be entered separately. Entries will be assessed and successful submissions will be programmed for screening and enter the Festival competition.

3. Formats
For the selection process, we accept online screeners ONLY.

Please note: if accepted, we require a ProRes file 1080 either via upload.
ACCEPTED FILMS NOT IN THE REQUIRED FORMAT WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM COMPETITION AND SCHEDULE.

4. The Festival committee reserves the right to invite films for the competition and program. The final award-winning entries will be selected by a Festival Jury. The winners in each category are to be announced on Oct 5, 2024, in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA. CDFF reserves the right to schedule additional screenings of selected films.

5. Screenings
It is the responsibility of the entrant to ensure that films for screening are deposited with the Festival organizers at least 30 days before any scheduled screening. The Festival DOES NOT pay screening fees.

6. We reserve the right to use submissions for festival publicity and marketing purposes. Submitted films may be used for Festival and post-festival screenings for 12 months.

7. The Programming Committee's decision is final.
Chagrin Documentary Film Festival (CDFF) is hereby granted the right to utilize a film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for online streaming and in-person theatrical screening and for promotional purposes for a period of 12 months. The Festival does not pay screening fees for any film submitted to the festival.

The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for online or in-person screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.

By submitting, you indemnify and hold harmless the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Alessandra Carlino

    We were very grateful our documentary short on homelessness, Going Home was invited to this festival.
    The communication was clear, concise, and supportive, and we hope to join this festival again. I didn't review Hospitality and Networking because we weren't able to attend. Next time!

    November 2023
  • Dimitri Kanche

    Thank you very much for selecting our medical ethics documentary "NO WAY BACK" as part of the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival. It's a great honour that we will cherish forever.

    October 2023
  • Jake Siam Solomon

    Amazing festival with amazing people and networking events, high-quality programming, and a beautiful town. One of my favorite festivals of the year!

    October 2023
  • Garrett Stiger

    I was unfortunately unable to attend the in-person screening of my documentary, "Odyssey," but the folks at Chagrin were so thoughtful and communicative in the lead-up to the festival. (I did have family that was able to attend, and they said the presentation was stellar.) My producer and I are truly grateful for the opportunity to have our movie screened in-person and via CDFF On Demand. Thank you, Chagrin!

    October 2023
  • Rory Klein

    I may be biased, as I grew up in Chagrin Falls, but pretty much any positive thing you can think of to say about a film festival applies to the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival. What stands out the most is the warm yet exciting atmosphere for filmmakers and audiences alike, the hospitality and organization of all employees, volunteers, and community members involved with the festival, and the story behind the festival as well as the stories highlighted in the films shown. It's a great part of the community I grew up in, and it brings together a great community of filmmakers.

    October 2023