BLACKPOOL FILM FESTIVAL: SHORT FILM COMPETITION

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the former Winter Gardens Film Festival has been renamed Blackpool Film Festival (BFF) to reflect its ambitions to become a town-wide celebration of independent and diverse cinema.

Founded in 2014, the Winter Gardens Film Festival has been a partnership project between community arts organisation Aunty Social and the Winter Gardens Trust. For the past decade it has filled a gap in Blackpool’s film offer, providing room for discussion about films and affordable screenings of diverse cinema – from independent and art house, to shorts, documentary, locally-made and foreign-language productions.

Under its new guise, Blackpool Film Festival will remain true to those founding principles but will now stand as an independent organisation and a multi-venue festival. The new Backlot Cinema on Corporation Street is a confirmed host venue for screenings and other large events, while Aunty Social on Topping Street will be the home of more intimate events and audience development activities happening between now and September, when the main festival kicks off.

All shortlisted entries will be screened as part of a special event at the new Backlot Cinema.

The 2024 event sees the return of the Short Film Competition with all entries competing to win a cash award of £500.

There will also be a runner up and People's Choice award.

THE RULES FOR ENTRY:

THEME FOR 2024 to be announced soon.

Entries must run no longer than 20 minutes.
Entries can be a narrative, documentary or music video.

Deadline for submissions to the competition is Friday 9 August 2024 at 5pm.
Entry fee is £10 per film or £5 for entries from an FY1-8 postcode.
There is also an early bird discount deadline of £7.50.

THE SELECTION PROCESS

All films wills will be viewed by a selection panel made up of industry experts and film festival organisers. All shortlisted entries selected to be screened during the festival will be notified by Mon 13th September 2024.

The competition winner and runner up will be notified in advance of the festival but The People’s Choice winner will be notified once all competition entries have been screened at the festival.

THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Please upload your film via the FilmFreeway website.
Any shortlisted entries may be asked for a full DCP package or for the film to be made available on a different format if necessary.

Any one-sheets or other marketing materials to promote your film to our festival audience during the festival are to be posted to us at least three weeks before the festival starts. Details will be sent out to successful shortlisted entrants.

Digital versions of marketing materials should be made available to be used for our marketing purposes by Friday 11 October 2024.

GENERAL AGREEMENT OF PARTICIPATION IN BLACKPOOL FILM FESTIVAL (BFF):

I have read and accept the Rules and Terms of the Blackpool Film Festival.

I will provide the festival with any additional information required pursuant to these Rules and Terms.

I authorise the BFF to exhibit my film, and if selected, I confirm that an exhibition copy will be available in a required format for screening during the 2019 festival.

I certify that I hold all necessary rights for the submission of this film/video to the BFF and that all rights and clearances have been made. This film is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation.*

I indemnify Blackpool Film Festival against all damage to, or loss of any or all materials en- route to, from or otherwise at the festival, and I assume all legal responsibilities therein.

By Agreeing to these Rules and Terms, I transfer to the Blackpool Film Festival the right to use excerpts of the submitted film, its stills, and trailers, for the purposes of publicity and marketing of the film at the 2024 festival, and for other non-commercial uses related to the promotion of the 2024 festival.

All of the copyright holders for the film agree to allow for the film to use a maximum of 20% of the material in advertising and publicity without compromising or giving away the story of plot*

All submissions certify that they have full rights to use all music or other copyrighted materials in their films.

I hereby agree to indemnify BFF, in the event that such rights have not been properly transferred.

*Where there is more than one copyright holder, a declaration must be filled out for each and the forms sent in under the same cover.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Bishara Shoukry

    I have had the most pleasant experience, participating in Winter Gardens Film Festival. Few days after submitting my film, I recieved a kind mail from Clancy and Catherine encourging me to attend the festival. On my request, they send me a formal invitation. I could not make to the festival, however, my film was a runner up. Right now I'm expecting the wonderful prize the festival offered and sent to my address in Cairo. Thank you Clancy and Catherine you have been most helpful and considrate.

    March 2019
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    Response from festival:

    It was lovely to have your film be part of our festival, the only downside was not having you there in person! Hope you enjoy your prize when it arrives,

    Best,

    Clancy and Catherine

  • Moira Rowan

    Wonderful people, communication brilliant from start to finish, thank you so much for including our short film 'Get Riel" in your festival

    March 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Hi Moira

    It was a pleasure to have you be part of our festival and lovely to meet you in person,

    Best,
    Clancy and Catherine

  • Hamish Downie

    A top notch festival with great communication every step of the way.

    February 2017
  • Impossible to have been treated better. Great venue and communication. Particular thanks to Catherine and Clancy for their patience and professionalism. Thank You!!!!

    February 2017