The Asheville Film Festival celebrates the art of film making! Great film making. The kind of film that can only be described with sentences that end with an exclamation mark! Films that excite and entertain. Our goal is to showcase thought-provoking films and offer a venue where movie lovers who appreciate independent vision can celebrate this unique art form.
We are dedicated to bringing unique, interesting, quality, challenging and entertaining films to Western NC by providing a cultural hub for an emerging film-artists community to showcase their works to the region’s top producers, peers, investors and viewers.
Just watch as we earn the title of the premiere film festival of Western NC. We are dedicated to providing opportunities for emerging and innovative creative professionals through our annual film festival, summer camp for teen talent, year round online screenings and an extensive community outreach program.
Viewer's Choice
Judge's Choice
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Director
Best Student Film
Screenwriting Award
Stephanie Digeno Courage Award
RULES & TERMS for film submission
In order to be eligible for submission:
• All submissions are received through www.filmfreeway.com.
• Provide access to a full screening of your film for judging (through filmfreeway.com)
• You must provide a 3 sentence Tag Line that describes your film
• Provide the genre of your film (Documentary / Drama / Comedy / Action)
• You must include any necessary warnings of (Nudity / Violence / Language / Adult Situations)
• You must provide English sub titles if the language of the film is not in English
Should you become an "Official Selection" for the 2018 Asheville Film Festival you MUST:
• Provide a DVD (sorry, we are not able to screen Blu-Ray)
• Provide a JPEG of your Film cover
• Send a separate email that includes the above information to info@ashevillencfilmfestival.com.
• You will have to mail a DVD copy to the address below for actual screening at the festival. (The digital version is for the judge's screening ONLY)
• If you would like Asheville Film Festival to provide T-Shirts of your movie - You must provide a marketing visual
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
By entering your film for consideration for the 2018 Asheville Film Festival, you authorize that your work is cleared for festival exhibition and accept full legal responsibility for the intellectual property therein. Additionally, you agree that your film does not violate any copyright laws. Entry into the festival constitutes permission to exhibit your work at the 2018 Asheville Film Festival.
Each entry understands that submitting a film does not ensure that the film will be chosen as an "Official Selection". Only "Official Selection" films will be screened by the selection committee.
Each "Official Selection" understands that the judges will vote their choice. All of the judges’ scores will be added together. The official selection with the highest combined score will win. Nominees for each award will be posted on the website and social media pages prior to the event on September 8, 2018.
Each entry is required to pay a submission fee of $20 by the regular deadline.
Entries understand and give permission to the Film Fest, Director, Kaleigh Group Entertainment, Indie Spotlight Network and their subsidiaries to utilize the entry's film visuals on the Indie Spotlight Network and in the Kaleigh Group Entertainment for marketing purposes. All films submitted are eligible for review for distribution through Kaleigh Group Entertainment. If a film is selected for distribution, it will only be done AFTER filmmaker signs the film distribution agreement. Kaleigh Group Entertainment will provide revenue earning opportunities for the film maker at each screening of said film at events after the sheville Film Festival has concluded for that year.
Each entry is required to include a 3 sentence log line to describe the film and provide any warnings (such as, adult themes, nudity, language violence, etc...)
Non-English speaking films must be dubbed or subtitled in English.
Please do not send press kits or any other print materials until they are requested by the festival staff.
RULES & TERMS for Screenwriting Competition
In order to be eligible for submission:
Call For Entries will end on July 15, 2018 at 11:55 pm (EST)
Winner will be announced at the 2018 Asheville Film Festival.
$20 Entry Fee
Eligibility
Submitted scripts must be original screenplays, and the sole property of the applicant(s).
All ages are eligible.
All entries must be in English.
Screenplays must be no more than 10 pages in length. Absolutely no exceptions.
There is no limit to the number of screenplays you may submit.
All entries must be uploaded in PDF format.
Screenplays will not be returned.
If a submitted screenplay becomes optioned, produced or purchased between the time of submission and the end of the judging period, that screenplay will no longer be eligible.
Competition judges, employees of the Asheville Film Festival, Kaleigh Group Entertainment or Indie Spotlight Network, past and present, and their immediate friends and families, are not eligible to enter.
Screenplays, including outlines, treatments, pitches, log lines or any developmental material related to screenplay, that have previously won any contest, competition, grant, lab, fellowship, mentorship, reading or award of any kind, are not eligible.
Screenplays submitted under a pen name will be immediately disqualified.
Screenplay titles cannot be changed upon resubmission under any circumstances.
All submissions are received through www.filmfreeway.com.
By entering your script for consideration for the 2018 Asheville Film Festival, you authorize that your work is cleared for festival exhibition and accept full legal responsibility for the intellectual property therein. Additionally, you agree that your script does not violate any copyright laws. Entry into the festival constitutes permission to exhibit your work at the 2018 Asheville Film Festival.
Each entry understands that submitting a script does not ensure that the script will be chosen as an "Official Selection". A selection committee will review each script to ensure that it meets the rules and guidelines listed here. If all rules and guidelines are met your script will then be an Official selection and forwarded for the judging process.
Each entry understands that submitting a script does not ensure that the script will be chosen as an "Official Selection". Only "Official Selection" scripts will be read by the judges.
Each "Official Selection" understands that the judges will vote their choice. All of the judges’ scores will be added together. The official selection with the highest combined score will win. Nominees for each award will be posted on the website and social media pages prior to the event on September 7, 2018.
Each entry is required to pay a submission fee of $20 by the deadline.
The winner understands and has the option and gives permission to the Film Fest Director, Kaleigh Group Entertainment, Indie Spotlight Network and their subsidiaries to provide the production process for your turning your script into a film. Red Carpet and distribution opportunities will be made available as well..
Each entry is required to include a 3 sentence log line to describe the script and provide any warnings (such as, adult themes, nudity, language violence, etc...)
All scripts must be submitted in English.
SELECTION & NOTIFICATION
All entries will be read by the selection committee. The Festival will make no cuts or changes. Official Festival selections will be announced on or around July 21, 2018. All Official Selection entrants will be notified by email. Official Selection script Titles and author name will be posted on our website. The festival does not pay rental fees for submitted work.
By entering your script for consideration for the 2018 Asheville Film Festival Screenwriting Contest, you authorize that your work is cleared for festival exhibition and accept full legal responsibility for the intellectual property therein. Additionally, you agree that your script does not violate any copyright laws. Entry into the festival constitutes permission to exhibit your work at the 2018 Asheville Film Festival and through the distribution channels of Kaleigh Group Entertainment.
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Asheville Film Festival, Kaleigh Group Entertainment, Indie Spotlight Network and any other agents, owners and employees of said entities 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.)
MAILING ADDRESS
Submit by mail:
Asheville Film Festival
3929 A Palmer Dr
Greenville, NC 27834
All submissions that become “Official Selections” will automatically be eligible to receive the option of distribution services from Kaleigh Group Entertainment.
Festival Date, September 8, 2018
FILM SUBMISSION DEADLINE July 15, 2018. ($20 entry fee per entry, non-refundable)
SCREENWRITING SUBMISSION DEADLINE July 14, 2018. ($20 entry fee per entry, non-refundable)
SHIPPING
Cost of shipping is the responsibility of the entrant. DVDs must be sent to the festival prepaid. C.O.D.'S will be refused. All DVD's must be labeled with the title of the entry, running time, genre, viewer warnings and the name of the director. The festival cannot accept responsibility for damage or loss of materials while in transit.
Please note: Do not use registered or certified mail. Use First class, Priority, Airmail, Media Mail, FedEx, UPS or DHL.
RETURN OF SUBMISSION DISCS AND SCRIPTS
We strongly encourage you to only send materials you do not wish to have returned, it's cheaper and easier for all involved. Please do not send us masters, originals, your only copy, etc. Videos and scripts will not be returned.
By entering your film or script for consideration for the 2018 Asheville Film Festival, you authorize that your work is cleared for festival exhibition and accept full legal responsibility for the intellectual property therein. Additionally, you agree that your film does not violate any copyright laws. Entry into the festival constitutes permission to exhibit your work at the 2018 Asheville Film Festival and the option of distribution through the distribution channels of Kaleigh Group Entertainment.
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Asheville Film Festival, Kaleigh Group Entertainment, Indie Spotlight Network and any other agents, owners and employees of said entities 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 or scripts entered.)
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This is a sham of a film festival and a disgrace to the local filmmaking community and the city of Asheville. The Asheville Film Festival used to run by the city and was an excellent film festival, however it ended in the mid-2000s. This recent incarnation is run by a man who does not live in Asheville. He has created other “film festivals” in the past and has been running this one for 3 years, despite all that experience this festival was badly managed, haphazardly thrown together and poorly attended. This is the worst film festival I've ever been to.
When I arrived, I walked into an empty table full of passes. A woman came in arguing with someone on the phone about where to go. I assume the person on the other end, like me, had no idea what was happening. I got my pass and went to my block. The venue was a community college classroom. There was poor quality sound and projection with sunlight from the windows pouring into the rooms through ineffective blinds. The source of the movies screened was an unattended laptop. After the first film in my block ended, there was no one to cue up the next film and after waiting more than 5 minutes and searching for staff of any kind, one of the other filmmakers walked up to the computer and found the next film to play.
While we were waiting, I walked around to the other venue/classrooms to see if they were as poorly attended. I counted 8 people in my room (down to 5 later,) 4 people in another venue and 4 people in the last venue. The films were being screened directly from Filmfreeway and the festival director was logged in so that everyone could see all the information that should have been private, like who submitted and how much they paid. After some searching, the next film was found by the filmmaker who made it. After that film finished, I went up and queued my own film to play.
The viewers choice award was done online before the film festival happened so no one could actually see the films they were voting for. It was merely a popularity contest. No one from the festival communicated prior to the festival except to announce acceptance. There was a vague schedule printed on a piece of paper with no information about who made the films, how long they ran, what they were about, not even a genre. The block that I was in mixed features with shorts, documentary with horror and had no discernible cohesion.
I spoke with another filmmaker equally frustrated by the festival, but not wanting to leave a bad review and instead choosing to say nothing.
I’ve been to small film festivals in small towns that had no budget, but they were still very enjoyable and valuable experiences because the people running them were passionate and hard working. That is not the case here. One cannot help but feel that this “film festival” is being run so poorly either because of incredible incompetence (despite running multiple festivals for multiple years) or as a way to glean money from hardworking filmmakers.
September 2018
Response from festival:
Hello,
First let me say I am so sorry you did not enjoy your time at the festival. I truly put my heart and soul in the festival and I take your concerns very seriously . I would like to address a few things in the hopes it may clear up any confusion . First- you are absolutely right. I do not live in Asheville . In fact I live 5 hours away. if you read the "about us " section on the facebook page it explains how I had a dream to bring the film community together and I needed a place that had the passion and appreciation for the art of making films ..then I found Asheville. With it's eclectic and diverse people and its natural beauty I fell in love with it at first sight. I could have easily stayed closer to home (which would save a whole lot on gas ) and taken the "easy way out" but I didn't. I truly believed (and still do ) that Asheville has an energy that is unsurpassed and is the perfect place to have an event such as this
Second - you are right about the lack of staff - I had 5 volunteers cancel on me last minute and we were running on a skeleton crew trying to get everything ready and still "go on with the show" I am truly sorry there was no one there to play your film there should have been..I apologize for that.
third- The viewer's choice award is exactly that..a chance for the filmmaker's to have their friends, fans and family vote for their film. If we made it so you could watch all the films there would be no reason for anyone to go to the festival..
Fourth- We will work on grouping the films better so there will be a clearer understanding as to what films you would be watching.Anyone who knows me knows I do not make a dime off this festival. In fact I put up my own money to pay for everything and I do it because of my love for the film industry. I appreciate everything you said and I will do my best to make corrections where needed and to go forward with a positive attitude .
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Shorni Hardy
I would recommend the Asheville Film Festival. First of all, the location is absolutely beautiful with a beautiful venue. Secondly, the director Ron is absolutely wonderful to work with. He provided great communication throughout the festival process. He really loves what he does and really cares about us filmmakers. The festival has made some great improvements from last year and they are all about continuous improvements “how can they get better?”. We were treated like family and that’s hard to find at a festival. Everyone had a great time. Love the fact that Ron had the “Viewer’s Choice Award” category for folks to vote for their favorite film.
I’d recommend for next year, that Ron gets a microphone. The place is big, so it was a bit hard to hear while I was recording on my phone.September 2018 -
Brynna Robinson
This festival was my first acceptance for my student film. I could not be more unhappy with how it played out. There was 0 communication. I called, emailed, facebook messaged, regarding where to send my DVD's and in what format and some other questions. No response. I found the address on filmfreeway and sent them in. They were sent back to me two days before the festival! I don't even know if my film actually showed. It was to the point where I began to wonder if somehow the festival was a hoax. I planned on attending but since the DVDs were sent back I cancelled my plans to drive to Asheville. I wasted my money on entry fee, DVD's, and mailing them there. What a disappointment for my first ever film festival acceptance. The photos don't look like I missed anything. Wish I could give 0 stars. If reviews are giving them stars on communication then they must be employees or related to the festival somehow. Do not waste your money submitting.
October 2017 -
Tom Gore
September 2017 -
Robert Phillips
The location of the festival in beautiful downtown Asheville drew me to apply to this festival. Though I read some of the lukewarm reviews from the previous year, I figured that a festival just finding itself would make some substantive adjustments, so I was excited by our selection. Prior to composing this review, I reread the reviews from last year, and I'm sad to report that my experience is virtually identical to David Weintraub's from a year earlier. There was clearly an effort to reach out to the press because I noticed some social media sharing of news items about the fest, which is evidently an improvement from last year. On the AB Tech campus, which is a very attractive community college campus, there was little to no signage, save a handwritten note that read "Film Fest" taped to an exterior window of an AB Tech building, and I saw no posters or signage outside the venues. I'm sympathetic to the expense of generating signage, but it is so important for patrons trying to navigate unfamiliar terrain. There may also have been a hospitality room, though I wasn't directed toward it, and there were some seminars for filmmakers that I missed out on that may have helped me with networking. However, if there was a designated location or hospitality room where filmmakers were gathered, it wouldn't have been possible to easily distinguish filmmakers from patrons from staff. Most festivals offer some sort of wearable credential that allows you to quickly identify a person's role in the festival, which is absolutely necessary for strangers to mingle and connect. The perfectly nice folks at check in handed me a "Filmmaker Pass" on card stock, cut into the shape of a ticket, which frankly doesn't function as an appropriate credential. As I moved from check-in, the screenings were all scheduled in various community college classrooms in one building, which is fine by the way, and our screening, which was attended by no one, was in well-appointed auditorium that could easily seat more than a hundred. Sadly, I was the only one in that auditorium. For a town that loves and embraces the arts, I was stunned by the poor attendance, which was amplified by the choice to screen too many films at the exact same time. Though all festivals use this strategy to some extent, there's usually enough patrons to avoid empty screening rooms. I'm deeply disappointed by a missed opportunity to connect with a new audience, and I hope that the festival organizers make some significant adjustments to how they promote, publicize, organize, and build community partnerships. The town and the venue go a long way toward making this festival attractive and successful, but nothing can replace eager patrons ready to share a screening experience. I wish the organizers all the best as they move forward with their planning for next year.
September 2017
