Albuquerque Film + Music Experience

FESTIVAL RULES & TERMS
By submitting your project to Albuquerque Film + Music Experience, submitter agrees to adhere and implies unconditional acceptance to the Festival Rules and Terms which is required to participate in the festival.

AFMX’s USE OF YOUR FILM
• Your film may be archived for internal historical and research purposes. We guarantee that no public screenings will occur without your express written consent.

• We reserve the right to retain a copy of your work for our private records. However, we maintain a strict policy against unauthorized public exhibition.

FILM RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS:
• Own Your Work: Your film must be 100% your own. You must have the legal right to use all music, photos, and story elements, plus signed releases from your cast.

• Clear the Rights: Ensure all copyright fees are paid and that your film doesn't break any privacy or defamation laws.

• No Legal Baggage: There should be no active legal disputes or claims against your film.

• Not Yet Released: Your film cannot be currently available on TV, Netflix, Hulu, or other streaming services.

• Your Responsibility: You are responsible for ensuring all licenses for public screening are secured. We do not vet these rights for you, so please ensure everything is in order before submitting.

FILM CATEGORIES
• AFMX accepts films in the following categories: Narrative, Documentary, Student, Animation, BIPOC, Music Videos, and New Mexico, both feature and short film.

• Student entries must provide a photocopy of a current and valid student ID or a letter from his/her school verifying enrollment.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
• Production Date: Your film must have been completed between January 2024 and March 2026.

• Submission Deadline: April 15, 2026 - Make sure to submit your film by this date! If it is late, you might need to pay a late fee, or your film might not be considered.

• Acceptance Notification: We will let you know if your film has been selected by Monday, May 31, 2026.

• Submission Fees: Each film you submit has a separate entry fee. You can pay these fees securely through FilmFreeway.

• No Refunds: All submission fees are non-refundable.

• Final Version/”Picture Locked” Only: Submit the final version of your film. We will not accept any updates or changes after you’ve submitted.

• Subtitles: If your film has dialogue in a language other than English, please include English subtitles. When possible, provide closed captions for accessibility accommodations.

• Re-Submitting Your Film: You can re-submit a film if you have made significant changes. Include a short letter explaining the updates.

• Premiere Status: We welcome premieres of narrative and documentary features. The only requirement is that your film can’t be currently available on any streaming service (like Netflix or Hulu), broadcast channel, or video-on-demand platform.

SUBMISSION FORMAT:
• Must submit through FilmFreeway to be eligible for award consideration.

• Provide a downloadable link to your film (from FilmFreeway, Vimeo, Dropbox, or WeTransfer). Include any passwords that are required to access the film.

• Properly name all of your submission file documents with your film title, including poster files, trailers, films, etc. Avoid using the following format: final_cut_v6.mp4.

• You can use the following naming conventions or similar to easily recognize your film:

FilmName_Poster_AFMX.jpg
FilmNamePosterAFMX.jpg
FilmName_TrailerAFMX.mp4
FilmeNameTrailerAFMX.mp4
FilmName_AFMXSubmission.mp4
FilmnameAFMXSubmission.mp4

• File size is 20GB max
• Video: .mp4 container, H.264 codec, 1080p resolution
• Variable bit rate export 8-10 Mbps minimum suggested
• Audio: AAC, 2.0 Stereo, 320kbps suggested
• We do not accept ProRes files.
• We hope to accept DCP format in the future.
• Projection: We aim to provide the best quality projection possible, but we are not responsible for any technical issues with the projection.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact film@afmxnm.com

SCREENING PROCESS:
• Screening Team: Our team is composed of professional producers, directors, screenwriters, actors and festival programmers. We also encourage film and music students to join our screening as part of their internship or classroom assignment.

• Easy Access: Please upload your film directly to FilmFreeway so our entire screening committee can easily access it.

• Our selection process is based on the following criteria: story, screenwriting, cinematography, sound, production value, music, performance, editing, structure and pacing.

FILM ACCEPTANCE
• No Extra Services: Choosing your film for the festival does not mean AFMX is your agent or representative. Our only commitment is the festival itself.

• Opinions are Your Own: AFMX’s selection of your work is not an endorsement of the views or messages presented in your film.

• Legal Protection: You agree to cover AFMX and its team if any legal issues, losses, or lawyer fees arise because of your film or a breach of these rules.

RETURNING YOUR MATERIALS
• You're responsible for shipping costs: You'll need to pay to ship your film to us, whether it's coming from inside the US or another country.

• Want your stuff back? If you want us to return your film after the festival, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your submission.

• Physical copies: If you send us a physical copy (like a thumb drive or hard drive), we won't return it unless you specifically ask us to and include a prepaid, self-addressed envelope or package with your submission.

MARKETING & PROMOTIONAL USE:
Help us promote your film! We suggest providing a Digital Press Kit containing:

1. Lead Contact Information (Name, email, phone)
2. Two (2) Production Stills (960x380px)
3. Film Poster Link (960x380px)
4. Social Media Handles

You can use the following naming conventions or similar to easily recognize your poster and stills:

FilmName_Poster_AFMX.jpg
FilmNamePosterAFMX.jpg

By submitting, you agree to allow the festival to:
• Use your name, stills, and trailer/clips to promote the festival and your film.
• Feature filmmakers' names and photos in promotional materials.
• Share director/producer contact info with relevant industry organizations upon request.

Note: We will never use your film for external screenings or press previews without your prior consent.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
• Commitment to Screening: Once we have accepted your film and you have sent us a digital copy, you cannot withdraw it from the festival program as it will be already programmed.

• Unexpected Changes: We might need to change how screenings or events happen due to unforeseen circumstances (like public health concerns or government regulations). Submission fees cannot be refunded in these cases.

• Scheduling: Screenings are scheduled at AFMX’s discretion. We may make changes to the schedule at any time.

• Representing Your Film: We encourage all filmmakers to attend the festival and represent their films. We invite distribution companies to the festival and present networking events to maximize filmmaker attendance.

• Troubleshooting: If you have any problems with your submission, please contact us at film@afmxnm.com.

TRAVEL SUPPORT:
• AFMX does not provide travel stipends to help with travel costs. We do offer discount codes for lodging to help make your trip to Albuquerque more affordable.

• More information about venues and locations can be found on our website, www.afmxnm.com.