AFIN International Film Festival

⭐ Eligibility & Premieres

1. Timeframe:
Short Films: Must have been completed within the last 2 years by the time of the festival (currently no earlier than January 2024 for the 2026 festival).
Feature Films, Documentaries, Web Series, and Screenplays: Must have been completed within the last 4 years (currently no earlier than 2021).
2. Previous Submissions: Projects previously submitted to AFIN may only be resubmitted if they were not selected to nominee status or above and have undergone significant changes since the prior submission.
Projects that previously achieved nominee, official selection, finalist, or award-winning status are not eligible for resubmission in the same form.
AFIN reserves the right to determine whether revisions are substantial enough to qualify as a new submission.

3. Submission Readiness: Only finalized films and screenplays are accepted. No rough cuts or works in progress. Projects must be ready for judging at the time of submission.
4. Online Availability: Films (excluding web series) must not be publicly available for free online until after the festival. Distribution on paid platforms (e.g., Amazon Prime, Netflix) is acceptable.
5. Language Requirement: Submissions must be in English or include English subtitles.
6. Screening Subtitles: Selected films not in English must provide burned-in English subtitles for screening.
7. Student Films: Submissions in student categories must include a valid student ID uploaded under "Files & Attachments" on FilmFreeway. Failure to do so will result in disqualification without refunds.
8. Premiere Policy: While there is no premiere requirement for submission, screening premieres are prioritized in programming. Priority order: World, Australian, Queensland premieres.
9. Eligibility for Animated Films: Animated works are now eligible in the Best Feature Film and Best Short Film categories, competing directly with live-action works based on artistic and technical merit.
10. Short Screenplay Production Prize: Clarified terms that the selection of the chosen screenplay will be at the discretion of the festival and based on feasibility, originality, and production potential.

Best Queensland Film Rules
Eligibility Criteria:

To qualify for Best Queensland Film, submissions must meet at least one of the following criteria:
* The film was primarily shot in Queensland.
* The film features a Queensland-based director, producer, or writer.
* A minimum of 50% of the crew must be Queensland residents.

Dual Eligibility:

Films eligible for Best Queensland Film can also be considered for Best Australian Film, ensuring local talent is not excluded from broader recognition.

First Nations Free Entry – Terms & Verification
* This initiative applies to FILMS ONLY. Screenplays are not eligible for free entry.
* To qualify, films must be First Nations-led OR tell a First Nations story with proper cultural consultation.
* Submitters must provide a short statement within their FilmFreeway submission confirming how their film qualifies.
* AFIN reserves the right to request further verification if necessary, including a letter of support from a First Nations community or consultant.
* False claims will result in disqualification and a permanent ban from future AFIN submissions.

⭐ AI Fair Competition
AFIN recognizes the evolving role of AI in filmmaking while ensuring fair competition:

1. Projects created entirely by AI are not eligible for awards.
2. AI-generated elements (e.g., VFX, storyboarding) are permitted, but awards will not consider these elements in relevant categories.
3. Non-AI-generated aspects will be judged on standard evaluation criteria.

This ensures human creativity remains the focus of our awards while acknowledging the use of technology.

⭐ Conditions of Entry

By submitting to AFIN International Film Festival, you agree to the following:

1. Accuracy: All submitted information is true and accurate.
2. Copyright Compliance: You confirm all necessary rights and permissions have been secured for your project.
3. Indemnification: Entrants indemnify AFIN against any claims, liabilities, or damages arising from copyright infringement, libel, defamation, invasion of privacy, or other disputes.
4. Copyright Issues: AFIN is not responsible for copyright infringements or issues with screening content.
5. Notification of Claims: Entrants must inform AFIN if they become aware of any potential claims against their project.
6. Promotion: AFIN reserves the right to use up to 20% of your film in promotional materials (e.g., trailers, social media posts). Promotion depends on the availability of sufficient key art and information.
7. Withdrawal: Films may be withdrawn from consideration if entry conditions are not met.
8. Cash Prizes: Cash prizes are transferred via PayPal in AUD. Recipients are responsible for any conversion or processing fees.
9. Non-Cash Prizes: Non-cash prizes may be transferable but may be subject to location-based restrictions. AFIN reserves the right to reallocate prizes if necessary.
10. Submission Format: AFIN only accepts digital submissions via FilmFreeway. Selected films must provide at least HD-quality files for screening. Feature films requiring DCP format must deliver them well before the testing deadline.
11. Submission Fees: Submission fees are non-refundable and payable exclusively through FilmFreeway in AUD.
12. Screener Link Maintenance: Submitters must keep screener links and passwords updated.
13. Eligibility Awareness: It is the entrant’s responsibility to review the rules and ensure continued eligibility. No refunds will be issued for ineligible submissions.
14. Deadlines: AFIN does not extend deadlines on request but reserves the right to adjust them at its discretion.
15. Fee Waivers / Hardship Requests : AFIN does not respond to requests for fee waivers or financial hardship fee waivers. All submissions must be made through the standard paid entry pathway unless the festival initiates an official invitation directly with the filmmaker.
16. Associated Costs: Submitters are responsible for all costs related to entry.
17. Payment From Sanctioned Countries

AFIN understands that some submitters may face international payment restrictions due to sanctions in their country. As a general policy, AFIN does not offer fee waivers, hardship waivers, or alternate payment arrangements.

If FilmFreeway payment processing is unavailable in your region, we recommend the following options:

Using an international debit or credit card held by a family member, friend, or collaborator outside your country.

Asking your producer, co-producer, or international partner to submit the project on your behalf.

Using a production company or educational institution with international banking access.

Submitting through a US-based representative or platform account holder.

All submissions must still be completed through the standard paid entry pathway on FilmFreeway.

AFIN is unable to accept direct payments or provide exceptions.

⭐ Awards Shipping Policy

1. Award Production: Crystal trophies are provided at no additional cost to winners.
2. Postage & Handling Fees: Participants may need to cover reasonable shipping costs for trophies.
3. Live Events: Winners attending live events will receive their trophies during the awards ceremony.
4. Pickup Options: Local winners may arrange to pick up their awards in person.
5. Hold Period: Winners may request to hold their physical trophy until the following festival year. If no such request is made, winners must arrange collection or provide shipping details within 60 days of winner notification. If a winner does not respond, provide required delivery details, or arrange collection within that time, AFIN reserves the right to treat the trophy as unclaimed and otherwise deal with it at its discretion.
6. Bulk Shipping Discounts: Efforts are made to minimize shipping costs through bulk shipments.
7. Environmental Responsibility: Packaging is optimized for secure, eco-friendly shipping.

⭐ Screening & Nominations

1. All submissions are reviewed by the AFIN adjudication panel.
2. Selected films must provide appropriate screening formats by the festival’s cutoff date.
3. Submission does not guarantee selection, nomination, awards, or screening.
4. Content must not violate intellectual property, promote obscene or offensive material, or exceed an Australian classification of “R.” Films under legal disputes or litigation cannot be entered.
5. AFIN does not make submitted films available online without prior permission.
Selection decisions are final and non-negotiable.
6. Poor production quality (e.g., low resolution, bad sound, lack of subtitles for non-English films) may result in non-selection.
7. Content that sexualizes children or depicts extreme violence against them is disqualified.
8. Films selected for screening must provide watermark-free copies.
9. Due to limited cinema session time, not all nominated films can be selected for public screenings. Screening selections are made independently from award nominations, and being selected or not selected for screening has no bearing on award outcomes.

⭐ Prizes & Screening Fees, Travel Expenses

1. AFIN does not pay screening or licensing fees for festival screenings.
2. Nominees and winners will receive digital festival laurels.
3. The prize pool is subject to updates but changes are rare and only made due to circumstances outside of AFIN’s control.
4. AFIN does not pay toward travel expenses and/or accommodation for attendees

⭐ General Terms
1. By submitting to AFIN, you agree to receive festival communications, including newsletters.
2. The festival director reserves the right to address matters not covered by these rules.
3. Rules, terms, awards, and conditions are subject to change at AFIN’s discretion.

⚠️ Conflict of Interest Policy

To maintain fairness, transparency, and the integrity of the adjudication process, AFIN International Film Festival has the following rules regarding judges and submitted works:

Current judges may not have any film, web series, screenplay, or creative work submitted into competition in which they held a creative or decision-making role, including producing, writing, directing, editing, cinematography, or scoring.

If a judge appears in a submitted film as an actor or in a non-creative role, the judge must disclose their involvement immediately. The film will remain eligible provided the judge was not involved in any creative decisions.
The judge will be fully recused from viewing or scoring the project.

If a judge’s involvement in a submitted work presents a real or perceived conflict of interest, AFIN reserves the right to remove the work from competition or screen it non-competitively.

All conflicts of interest must be declared as soon as they are known.

These rules ensure a fair and unbiased judging process for all entrants.