RULES & TERMS
Please read the Rules & Terms in this agreement carefully before you submit your film.
By SUBMITTING your film for consideration to the Alder International Short Film Festival (AISFF), you expressly acknowledge and agree that you shall be bound by the rules & terms of this agreement.
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GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR ALL SHORT FILMS
ALDER INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL is an annual event and is open to short films from all around the world.
Festival dates are October 27-30, 2022 Please note these dates could be subject to change.
All short films MUST have been completed after December 31, 2021.
All short films MUST NOT be a previously submitted film.
All short films MUST ensure a maximum amount of 20 minutes, including credits.
Super short films MUST ensure a maximum amount of 5 minutes, including credits.
Short films with non-English language MUST have English subtitles.
Short films MUST NOT be available to the public via current available distribution, online streaming, VOD, or any other streaming / video / broadcast service.
Short films MUST NOT be submitted through a YouTube link.
All submissions MUST be on either FilmFreeway or Vimeo.
Feedback for the filmmaker will NOT be provided.
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PREMIERE STATUS
AISFF feels strongly that AISFF is a platform for all filmmakers to showcase their work, therefore, there is NO premiere requirement. Shorts that have screened at other festivals are still eligible.
Please note, AISFF obviously welcomes premiers at the festival, so please state in your cover letter if your film is a premier and its status at the time of submission (Premier at Chicago / Illinois / USA / Europe / World) for promotional purposes.
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ENTRY FORM & FEES
All filmmakers must provide accurate and complete information when submitting to the SFFILM Festival.
To participate, participants MUST pay a non-refundable registration fee for ONE short film per entry in ONE selected category. If you wish to participate in more than one category, you must submit a separate entry form and an additional entry fee for each additional category selected for your Short Film. Entries will not be viewed without payment.
All films must be submitted and paid for through FilmFreeway.
Entry fees must be paid online with any major credit card. We do NOT accept checks.
Entry fees are non-refundable.
All submitted projects are required to pay fee for the deadline window they have selected.
Materials received after the appropriate deadlines will be discarded without notice or refund.
Changes to submitted films will only be accepted if accompanied by a new submission fee.
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ENTRY FEES
Earlybird Deadline - $15 May 31 2023,
Regular Deadline -$20 July 31, 2023,
Late Deadline - $25 September 30, 2023,
Extended Deadline - $30 October 09, 2023.
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NO WAIVER POLICY
We work hard to keep our submission fees as low as possible – consequently we cannot provide fee waivers. We encourage all applicants to take advantage of our early and official deadlines to save on submission fees.
Please do NOT contact us requesting waivers or reduced submission fee.
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CATEGORIES
Filmmakers are responsible to choose the category which best fits the entry. Each entry will be judged in the selected category.
AISFF accepts Fiction, Documental and Animation short films.
Each short film must be entered for one of the Categories/Competitions named below.
AISFF have 24 categories ✪ Fiction (Drama, Thriller, Sci-Fi, Western, Action, Fantasy - Horror, Comedy) ✪ Animation ✪ Documentary ✪ Women in Films ✪ Youth Section -18 ✪LGBTQ+ ✪ Latino – Hispanic ✪ Illinois ✪ Mobile phone ✪ Super Short
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SPECIAL AWARDS
✪ Film Direction ✪ First Time Direction ✪Cinematography ✪Production Design ✪Sound Design ✪Commercial - PSA´s AD ✪Music Video Clip ✪Music Video Concert/Stage ✪Network award
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ONLINE SUBMISSION
Short Films MUST BE submitted using the FilmFreeway Secure Online Screener System or via a Vimeo link entered directly on the submission application.
AISFF does NOT accept links via e-mail or streaming links others than Vimeo.
AISFF does not download data or accept Dropbox submission.
If you choose to provide a Vimeo link on your submission application, please ensure that you select “Anywhere” under the “Where can this video be embedded” section of your video’s privacy settings.
Due to the volume of submissions AISFF receive we are unable to contact each applicant individually if we are unable to access your film due to privacy settings or broken link. It is YOUR responsibility to ensure that your online screener is working.
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REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS
All entries are automatically included in the general competition at Alder International Short Film Festival. AISFF will review films in their entirety to ensure that submissions are correctly verified of their eligibility and judged only in their respective categories. A Selection Committee will evaluate all the submitted short films and after the final submission deadline, professional screeners will review the total scores of all the films in competition. All the highest rated films (finalists) will be selected for the official competition and will be part of the ‘Official Selection’ program. All short films chosen to be in ‘Official Selection’ program will receive laurels and they will be automatically nominated for award categories. All short films accepted into ‘Official Selection’ will be screened in front of a live audience in the Chicago City and screened online mode to the rest of the world. Official Selections have the opportunity for a Q&A session with on-site filmmakers and will receive a complimentary pass for all Festival screenings and two guest tickets for their film screening. Successful entrants at Official selection will be reviewed by at least three judges who will decide the best of the year of every category. All the winners will receive the Official Laurels and the winning-category certificate.
The decision of the Selection Committees, Professional Screeners and the Juries are final and irrevocable.
AISFF has the right to reject films if the content or technical quality does not correspond to the Festival conditions. AISFF also reserves the right to refuse entries.
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AWARDS INFORMATION
The ALDER AWARD is awarded to a celebrity whose career of excellence promotes cinema, inspires audiences, and enhances the rich cultural heritage of Latin American cinema.
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AWARDS FOR COMPETITORS
Selections will be in: Official Selections, Finalists and Winners.
All short films chosen to be in ‘Official Selection’ program will receive an Official Selection Laurel.
All short films chosen to be “Finalists” will receive a Official Finalist Laurel.
The Jury will be choosing a Winner of each category.
All the short film winners in each category will receive a print-ready digital Official Winner Certificate (in JPG/PDF) and the Official Winner Laurel
Awards will be presented in the following categories selected by our Panel Jury: ✪ Best Drama ✪ Best Thriller ✪ Best sci-fi ✪ Western ✪ Action ✪ Best Fantasy - Horror ✪ Best Comedy ✪ Best Animation ✪ Best Documentary ✪ Best Women in films ✪ Best Youth section -18 ✪ Best LGBTQ+ ✪ Best Latino – Hispanic ✪ Best Illinois ✪ Best Mobil phone ✪Super Short ✪ Best film Direction ✪ Best First Time Direction ✪ Best Cinematography ✪ Best Production Design ✪ Best Sound Design ✪ Best Commercial - PSA´s ✪ Best Music Video Clip ✪ Best music concert
"SUSANA DOSAMANTES AWARD" Is the highest distinction in the official contest. In other words, the award is awarded by the judges to the best short film among all the winners. Here the film that has distinguished itself from the others, in its general appearance, concept, aesthetics and / or performance especially brilliant in its direction, photography, acting and / or script will be awarded.
“NETWORK AWARD” Will be awarded to the short film with the most comment on social media (Facebook). All “Official Selection” short films participate in this category, when you submit your short film it is necessary to have a Poster. To vote for her, you must give Like to the festival page https://www.facebook.com/ALDER.ISFF and leave a comment on the publication (on your Poster) of the film and share. The winning films will be the ones that more comments achieve in their publication of Facebook.
The winner award will be announced at our ALDER AWARDS CELEBRATION and AISFF website and social media platforms.
Alder Awards Celebration is an in-person event in Chicago City and simultaneously it will have an online event broadcast for the rest of the world.
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NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE
All the short films entrants will receive a notification through FilmFreeway in both cases: if accepted or rejected.
PLEASE NOTE that due to the large number of entries we cannot guarantee to inform personally all unsuccessful entrants, so unless informed otherwise, please assume your entry has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
AISFF does not send physical mail — please ensure that your email address is accurate on your application. AISFF is not liable for emails delayed by spam filters, server rejections, or outdated email addresses.
If you have a question: info@alderisff.com
EXHIBITION
Selected films MUST provide a downloadable digital file and/or a DCP file to be screening during the festival. No YouTube links will be accepted.
You will be given a date to provide the digital file of your projection print, through an appropriate file transfer service.
There must not be a screening fee attached to the film. AISFF will not pay screening fee to any film featured in the festival; there are no exceptions.
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COMMUNICATIONS
Updated information on the festival and successful entries will be announced on the festival web site www.alderisff.com and on the Festival Facebook page www.facebook.com/aisff
AISFF does not send physical mail — please make sure the email address in your entry form is accurate. AISFF is not liable for emails delayed by spam filters, server rejections, outdated email addresses or any other technical or human error.
AISFF staff can be reached by email at info@alderisff.com.
Remember that when you submit your film you have read and consented all this entire agreement.
Entrants/Individual/Corporation/Filmmakers/ submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts all of these requirements, rules and regulations.
By submitting a film to AISFF, Filmmakers retain 100% all of the rights to their projects and materials that they submit to AISFF. Entrants are responsible for securing all rights and permissions from copyright and other holders relating to their short. The participant owns all rights concerning the usage of his/her work according to the regulations.
By submitting a film to AISFF, the Filmmaker agrees to grant the Festival the right to use the short film’s publicity/promo materials, including press releases, festival brochures, title, synopsis, pictures, poster, trailer and other materials for advertisement purposes in all our media platforms including the Festival's website. AISFF is hereby granted the rights to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted for promotional purposes of the festival.
By submitting a film to AISFF, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless us, our officers, affiliates, employees, and partners from any and all claims and liability arising out of entering or transmitting your film or screenplay in AISFF. AISFF has no responsibility to third parties.
AISFF reserves the right to promote ANY short film to print, broadcast or internet media as required to market the Festival or our parent organization ALDER PRODUCTIONS INC.
The short film participation in AISFF is subjected to agreement with these conditions and keeping to these terms. AISFF decides on the exclusion of any participants and their film in case of any breach of rules & terms. AISFF reserves the right to remove a film from the festival program for any reason or for no reason and shall not be liable for any refund or claims of any kind arising out of such removal.
AISFF decides on all issues not included in these Regulations but related to the organization of the Festival. AISFF reserves the right to update or modify these terms and policies without prior notice.
AISFF reserves the right to cancel or postpone the event in circumstances beyond our control or in the case of "an act of God.” In the case of a cancellation or postponement beyond our control, AISFF will not be responsible to refund any fees or costs attributed to submitted films or attending the festival. Tickets and passes purchased in advance for the showcase event will be fully refunded.
COMPLETE AGREEMENT. This License constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the use of films and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings regarding such subject matter. No amendment to or modification of this License will be binding unless in writing and signed by an authorized representative of Alder International Short Film Festival. Nothing in this Agreement constitutes a waiver of AISFF rights under the United States of America patent and copyright laws or any other Federal or State law, nor of any of AISFF’ rights under the rules or laws of any country, territory, republic, and/or province.
The person or institution submitting the film is responsible for clearing all rights to the content of the work relevant to the film’s use by the festival. By submitting, they state that they are authorized representatives thereof, i. e. that screening or other use of the film by the Festival does not infringe rights held by third parties (e. g. copyrights, personality or trademark rights, etc.), and that especially the rights to any material produced by others (music, film footage, photo- graphs, text etc.) used in the film have been cleared. They furthermore shall indemnify the SHORT to the Point ISFF against all third-party claims in connection with screening/using the film in the course of the Festival. This includes covering any legal costs that might be incurred.
CONTROLLING LAW, VENUE AND SEVERABILITY. This License shall be governed by the laws of the United States and the Illinois State without consideration of conflicts of law provisions and principles. All claims between the parties, regardless of legal theory and whenever brought, shall be resolved in the state or federal courts of the Illinois, USA, and you stipulate that you expressly submit to the personal jurisdiction of such state and federal courts, and you further agree that any judgment may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. If for any reason a court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision, or portion thereof, of this Agreement to be unenforceable, the remainder of this License shall continue in full force and effect.
