Bloomington Indiana Film Festival

BIFF screens an exclusive array of world cinema showcasing a rich diversity of features, animations, documentaries, shorts, student films, and music videos.

1 – GENERAL ELIGIBILITY

Unless a Special Waiver is granted by BIFF

Films must have been produced during the production years 2018, 2019, 2020

The festival presents international films.

2 – ELIGIBILITY FOR THE BLOOMINGTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS

All short films must be 25 minutes or less and will not be considered if are longer. No Refunds under any circumstances.

Music Video: running time less than 12 minutes, all forms accepted.

*Exceptions require authorization of the festival.

Student Film: Films, animations, and documentaries made by Students attending Universities/Film Schools internationally.

***Student films: Must state what school, college and university which you are attending in the submission. *** Will not accept previous submissions
FESTIVAL WINNERS MUST PAY FOR THE SHIPPING OF AWARDS TO THEIR GLOBAL LOCATION. BIFF IS A SMALL BUT GROWING FESTIVAL AND CANNOT AFFORD INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING.

Original Content: All entries submitted to the BIFF must be original works by the applicant. If the script or film is an adaptation or based on source material to which the entrant doesn’t own the rights, permission to adapt the original work must be submitted as the first page in the screenplay PDF.

Multiple Categories: Entrants may submit the same entry to more than one category. Each category entered requires an entry fee for that category

Ineligibility: BIFF Screenwriting Competition does not accept novels, short stories, stage plays, treatments, synopses, reality show concepts, scripts for existing TV series, or works that are not original. Scripts also must not have been sold or currently be under option prior to 1/3/21.

BIFF employees, including seasonal staff, board members, sponsors, and their immediate families, are not eligible to submit in any category.

Co-Authors: If a screenplay has more than one author, it is up to the authors to decide how many authors to list on the application and who will be the primary contact email. Awards are given per entry, not per author. Therefore, groups of authors associated with one entry are responsible for the division of awards, including laminates. NashFilm does not assume responsibility for arrangements with regard to laminate or cash divisions.

Judging: Scripts and Films will be judged by volunteers at festival numerically on several different criteria (including, but not limited to, structure, premise, and entertainment value.) Awards, selections, and decisions of NashFilm are final.

Any submission can be used to promote the festival and bring an audience to Bloomington. All filmmakers attending will receive a pass.

Please note once submissions have been made the festival is unable to provide a refund under any circumstances.

All films must be submitted via one of three accepted formats: FilmFreeway, or a Vimeo link entered directly on the submission application, We do not accept links via e-mail! 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.

SUBMISSION FEES 
In order for your film to be considered you have to pay a registration fee as per FilmFreeway.
Please enter in your full name and name of your film when making a payment.
Deadlines: Entries must be submitted online before late deadline submission March 09 2022. Online Submission Form must be completed in English.  Submissions and/or material must be postmarked on/or before March 09 2022.
Submitted Material:
Title of the film;
Online Submission receipt ID#;
The full name of the Director(s);
The duration of the film;
The original language(s) of the film;
Date of completion of production.
Submission Shipping: All shipping costs of the submitted material must be borne by the submitter/sender (Please note that it is recommended to use a courier for shipping submissions as regular post does not guarantee any expected arrival date). For the avoidance of doubt, the Submitted Material will not be returned to the submitter/sender. All submissions should be sent directly to the hereunder address with “For cultural use only” and “Without commercial value” clearly marked on the envelope.
BIFF ADDRESS:
Attention: Submissions Manager
Bloomington Indiana Film Festival
2780 S Walnut St. Pike
Bloomington, IN, 47401
NOTE ON ENVELOPE:
[film name]  [online submission ID #];
“For cultural use only” and “Without commercial value”.
Submission of Works in Progress: 
It is possible to submit a working copy of a film. When filling out the BIFF Submission Form as well as when labeling the DVDs copies, the submitter must make sure that it clearly identifies the submission as a ‘work-in-progress’. However, the final title of the film should be listed and not the working title. For the avoidance of doubt, all other terms related to submissions shall be herein applicable (i.e. submission of the work in progress DVD shall take place on or before September 30th 2020). If selected, BIFF must receive a DVD of the final version of the film by no later than March 12, 2020.
Storage of Submissions: 
BIFF retains the right to keep all submissions as well as associated materials for its internal use.  BIFF reserves the right to transfer submissions to a master hard drive digital library, building a digital reference archive (“BIFF Permanent Digital Library”). BIFF will not theatrically or publicly screen for commercial purposes any films without the express written consent of the appropriate rights holder(s).

Please see Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

6 – SELECTED FILMS
The Selection Committee will at its own discretion select the BIFF categories selections. If a film is selected for the BIFF Awards, BIFF will send an official selection letter by e-mail in November 2020  and will advise of further requirements and next steps. It is imperative to understand that BIFF hereby reserves the first right to announce the list of films included in its Final Lineup. The submitter shall in no case, prior to the announcement by BIFF of its Final Lineup, publicly confirm that the submitter’s film is part of BIFF.
The final BIFF program selection will be announced by beginning January 2021. If a film has not been selected, BIFF will inform by e-mail within one week of the announcement of the final BIFF Programme selection. For the avoidance of doubt, BIFF is not obliged in any way whatsoever for providing any justification and/ or comments regarding the reasons for non-selection of a film.

FINAL SCREENING MATERIAL:
The final screening copy of the film can only be submitted in one of the following formats: (a) Pro Res Digital File: (b) H 264 Digital File or (c) DCP* (d) BLU RAY Disk or (e)protected link.
The submitter must label the cover of the screening copy, with the following details:
Title of the film;
The full name of the Director(s);
The duration of the film;
The original language(s) of the film + subtitles (if applicable);
Aspect ratio;
If the original language(s) of the film is not in English, the final screening copy must be subtitled in English.
It is BIFF’s general policy to screen all non-English language films in their original language version with English subtitles. Exceptions to this general rule will be made on a case by case basis.
Selected films should be submitted with an Electronic Press Kit (“EPK”) of the film including but not limited to a high resolution copy of the trailer used for promotional purposes. For the avoidance of doubt, BIFF shall be entitled without prior notice to use the trailer online and on broadcast TV for periods of time to be solely decided by SRFF.
Deadlines: 

BIFF must receive the SCREENING COPY of the film on or before ONE WEEK OF THE FESTIVAL SCREENING TIME. The screening copy of the film must be received in good condition and BIFF reserves the right to refuse screening copies if found to be not in good condition and request the submitter to re-submit a new copy. In the event that the submitter fails to submit a screening copy suitable for screening and in good condition, BIFF reserves the right to cancel the selection of the film without any liability whatsoever.

Additional Terms: 
For the avoidance of doubt, once a film is selected, the submitter will not be able to withdraw nor change the Premiere status of the film at any given time before it is screened at BIFF unless accepted by BIFF in writing. In the event that the submitter is found to be in violation of any condition of the Rules and Regulations, BIFF at its sole discretion may chose to cancel and eliminate such film from the selection or the Final Lineup and BIFF Program.
Screenings & Scheduling: 
At the discretion of BIFF, the film may be screened prior to the festival an additional time for accredited press and industry members. BIFF will at its sole discretion decide on the dates and order of the screening(s) of each film.
Screener(s): 
BIFF will make a digitized copy of the final screener of the film for media screening purposes. For the avoidance of doubt, said digitized copy will only be viewed by media accredited delegates during the period of the festival and on a closed internal circuit. The digitization process is secure and no copy or duplication of the Film can be made by third parties.
7 – ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND UNDERTAKING
Submission and participation in BIFF Programme implies acceptance of the Rules and Regulations. The submitter hereby represents and warrants that he/she holds all rights in and to the film and its related materials and that he/she has the authority and capacity to submit the film and its related material for the BIFF Programme. Except as stated in the Rules and Regulations, the submitter acknowledges that BIFF shall not be held liable or responsible in any manner whatsoever for any loss or damage of whatever type or nature incurred as a result of the submission, acceptance and/or screening of the film and/or its related material.
Furthermore, the submitter undertakes to indemnify and keep BIFF indemnified against all liabilities, claims, demands, actions, costs, damages or loss arising out of the submission, acceptance and/or screening of the film and/or its related material. The submitter also understands and acknowledges that the BIFF Submission Form and the present Rules and Regulations form a consolidated and unified document and that therefore the BIFF Submission Form shall be considered as incorporated herein by reference.
8 – ADDITIONAL TERMS
Censorship: No editorial cuts or changes to any film will be made at any time by BIFF for any reason or under any circumstances.
 
Anti-Piracy Precautions:  BIFF undertakes to take all possible anti-piracy precautions. All prints and associated copyrighted materials will be securely stored while on BIFF premises. Access is limited to BIFF’s nominated staff only and all movement of prints will be strictly monitored. No duplication or loaning is permitted and no prints will ever leave the custody and care of BIFF or its authorized agents during BIFF.
 
Festival Management’s Discretion: BIFF will decide in its discretion on all issues and matters not foreseen by these Rules and Regulations. BIFF further retains the right to permit exceptions to the application of these Rules and Regulations at any time in its discretion.
 
Promotional Material: All BIFF selected films including BIFF Awards winners undertake to include, in a clear and visible manner, on the Home Video release of their film (i.e. DVD. Blu Ray, online availability…) and on any and all promotional material (including but not limited to posters, banners, EPK’s, websites…) a specific logo to be provided by BIFF.
 
Rights Holder:If you have any reason to believe you hold any rights regarding a videos, please contact us with support of your claim.

FESTIVAL WINNERS MUST PAY FOR THE SHIPPING OF AWARDS TO THEIR GLOBAL LOCATION. BIFF IS A SMALL BUT GROWING FESTIVAL AND CAN NOT AFFORD INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING.