AfroAnimation 4.0 Indie Short Film Award

**UPDATED: MARCH 12TH, 2023**

We accept diverse-centric indie animated short films (inclusive of having diverse and multiracial creators, writers, storytellers, content creators, artists or multiculture characters that play a central or prominent role in the creative process or film) from all countries worldwide including narrative shorts, non-narrative/experimental shorts, fiction shorts, and documentary shorts. We welcome all animation techniques and dimensions.

Short films submitted must not exceed 12 minutes. The first 8-minutes will be screened.

The Children's Content Short Animated Film category is open to animated shorts produced to entertain/inform children 12 and under with family-friendly content.

The Adult Short Animated Film category is open to any animated film with content that would be rated PG, for audiences over the age of 12.

Filmmakers may submit one film and both categories. A separate entry form and entry fee must be submitted for each.

If your film is selected, you agree for your film to be screened both online and in-venue. Screening locations is at the discretion of AfroAnimation management team. They will be judged by an industry jury as standard.

For cinema screenings we require DCP format and for online screenings we require .mov or .mp4 format. You will be advised by March 29, 2024 by email of the format requirement.

Finalist films will be invited to be screened out-of-competition in our AfroAnimation Animation screening to open the festival.

Films must comprise at least 50% animation in any dimension of animation to be considered.

Films featuring languages other than English must have English subtitles.

Short films already publicly viewable online are welcome and eligible for consideration.

Each applicant must be the rightful owner of submitted films, have the authority to enter the contest and own all literary and musical rights.

If your film is selected, you allow us to use brief excerpts (stills & video clips) in promotional and marketing campaigns for the AfroAnimation 4.0 competition, Summit and platforms. We are happy to use any trailer you may have. We will not use any media from any films not selected as a semi-finalist, finalist or winner.

The decisions of the selection panel are final, and we regret that we cannot enter into direct one-on-one correspondence or feedback regarding films not selected in the semi-finals or finals.

Finalists and winners do not have to be present to win. (2nd runner up, 1st runner up and winner). However, it is recommended that you be present, if possible, to meet film studios and streaming executives, who might show interest in your content.

Rules for Semi-Finalist and Finalist:

1. Must identify the contact person to represent your film and provide a phone number and email address for that person.

2. You must confirm by email the date your film was completed.

3. You must agree that if selected as a semi-finalist or finalist a short 30-second clip of your film and a still photo image or artwork can be used by AfroAnimation future promotions.

4. Reconfirm that your film does not infringe upon the copyrights of another person or entity.

5. There will be 3 Finalist competing for second runner-up, first runner-up and Summit winner.

There will be three official judges. In the event of a tie, a fourth judge will make the tie breaking vote. AfroAnimation maintains the right to make rule updates from time-to-time. Check back here for new updates.

TO SUBMIT A FILM , YOU NEED TO:

1. HAVE COMPLETED THE FILM AFTER NOVEMBER 10TH, 2021.

2. COMPLY WITH THE PRESELECTION CONDITIONS

3. FILL OUT THE ONLINE ENTRY FORM

4. UPLOAD ONE ANIMATION SHORT FILM PER PERSON
(UP TO 12 MINUTES RUNNING TIME) ONLINE TO FilmFreeway

FILM SUBMISSIONS CLOSE ON MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2024 BY 11:59 PM EST.

5. IF YOUR FILM IS SELECTED, YOU MUST COMPLY WITH
AFROANIMATION’S RULES AND REGULATIONS.

Indemnification. Applicant and rightsholder shall at all times, indemnify, defend and hold AfroAnimation Plus Inc, and their respective affiliates, officers, directors, judges, employees, service providers, contractors and sponsors of the foregoing harmless from and against any and all claims, damages, penalties, liabilities, costs and expenses including, reasonable counsel fees, arising out of or relating to: festival violations, omissions, violations of copyright.