The Brahmaputra Valley FIlm Festival (BVFF) derives its name from the lush valley through which the mighty river flows between the hill ranges of the Eastern and North Eastern Himalaya range in India. Brahmaputra Valley, with its rainforest-like climate contains some of the most productive soils in the world. The Brahmaputra RIver flows from Assam to Bangladesh where it meets the Ganges and finally flows into the Bay of Bengal thus forming the world’s largest delta.
This iconic festival, hosted in Guwahati, Assam BVFF is now set for its 8th edition after seven highly successful editions. BVFF aims to be the cradle of meaningful cinema and creativity. Through the festival we showcase the region as one with an abundance of not just natural beauty and gorgeous locations but also a melting pot of cultures, talent and creativity. BVFF has also been skilling, equipping and empowering the youth of the region through workshops, masterclasses and industry opportunities.
Over the past 7 editions, the festival has witnessed a footfall of almost 2 lakh attendees with an average of 20,000 per festival that is spread over a period of 4 days. We have screened over 250 films including 5 premiers, received over 1000 short film contest entries, skilled over 550 youth through workshops and collaborated with over 80 brands. Some of the most encouraging feedback has come from the likes of Raju Hirani, Prakash Jha, Imtiaz Ali, Boman Irani, Zoya Akhtar amongst many others.
CATEGORY: DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION
This is the first set of rules and regulations, labeled as DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION version 1.0
Please ensure you are checking the latest version of rules and regulations. Kindly visit the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival (BVFF) website for latest updates.
GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS:
1. There are two methods of submitting films to the film festival- online submission and offline submission. Please read the relevant one carefully before filling the application form.
2. An applicant filling out this form, should either be the owner of the film's rights or have permission from the owner. Even if not the owner, the sole responsibility lies upon the applicant for making sure the information given is true. Any discrepancies found in the form, the entry would be disqualified. It will otherwise be assumed that the film has the requisite authority from the owner and will be screened at the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2023.
3. For submission of films, there should be a Primary Contact Person who will be the main point of contact for all future communications regarding their submission to the festival. The email address and phone number should be correctly filled up for further communication and be ensured that the Primary Contact Person is easily reachable at all times.
4. For the films selected for screenings, an acknowledging email will be sent to the Primary Contact Person with all the director/s and producer/s of the film copied on it. Hence, kindly provide names and contact details of the director/s and producer/s of the film in both the online/ offline application form correctly.
5. Completed applications need to be submitted by the given deadline. BVFF is providing special rates for applications submitted within the early bird deadline. The festival will not take responsibility for the exclusion of films if complete information is not supplied by the deadlines.
6. The application will only be considered valid upon mandatory payment of application fee.
7. By submitting the application form, the applicant confirms that they have read and understood the rules and regulations listed, that they are legally authorized to submit the film to Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2023 and that the information given by the applicant is true and correct. Further, that the applicant protects BVFF against any claims to the contrary.
8. The cost of shipping an entry to the contest must be paid by the applicant.
9. All disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Guwahati only.
10. The selected entries will be awarded a package comprising round-trip flight tickets for one individual and a two-night accommodation stay.
DOCUMENTARY FILM CRITERIA
1. BVFF documentary film competition is a part of Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival and is open ONLY to residents of India.
2. The duration of a documentary film must be between 40 to 60 minutes.
3. Films submitted to the festival must have been completed within the last 2 years (i.e. after 1st October,2021), and any films that are work in progress should be completed by September, 2023.
4. Subtitles in English is a must, without subtitles it will be disqualified. If the original version of the film is in English, English subtitles are still required. Cost of subtitling is the sole responsibility of the applicants.
5. Dubbed versions of films in other languages are not eligible for submission.
6. Films applying to the festival do not require a certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) of India. For films not having certification, the same will be screened at the festival subject to an exemption to be obtained from the Ministry of I&B, Government of India. The festival will apply for this exemption on behalf of the selected films. All the film screenings at BVFF will thus to have either an exemption from the Ministry of I&B or a CBFC certificate.
7. If the film has applied to receive a Certification during the selection process and the film does get selected for Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2023, the festival will not ask the Ministry of I&B for an exemption on behalf of the film. The onus lies with the filmmaker to obtain the certification before the festival dates and only the certified version of the film will be screened.
8. The filmmaker must disclose information about the censor certification status at the time of submission of the film.
9. The Films/ Entries submitted by the applicants must constitute original work and not be an infringement of any other copyrighted work/s and further do not infringe the Intellectual Property Rights including the moral rights, privacy and publicity rights of any third party. None of the Intellectual Property Rights associated with the films those in literary, musical and artistic works should have been assigned/ licensed to any person, firm or corporation other than the Rights Holder.
SUBMISSION, SELECTION AND SCREENING OF THE FILM
1. Submission of film in this category means that the particular submitted film must not be released on any other public platform apart from other film festivals.
2. Submission of films does not guarantee selection for screening at the festival. The festival will not provide feedback on films or share specific reasons for rejection of any film.
3. Once a film has been selected/ shortlisted it cannot be withdrawn from the competition.
4. The Primary contact Person will be notified about the selection of the film for Brahmaputra Valley Festival 2023 at the end of the selection process. No information will be divulged before that.
5. Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival accepts submissions via online application and offline downloadable application form.
6. Films that are work-in-progress at the time of application are accepted under the following conditions:
- That the film will be complete by September 2023.
- That the submitted version will be the only version watched by the selection committee.
7. Once selected for screenings at the festival, following materials to be submitted in soft copy on request to use in promotional material for the festival and the film:
- High resolution stills (2-3) of the film.
- High resolution soft copy of the film poster.
- Once selected for screening the festival logo will be shared with the filmmaker which can be used as FESTIVAL LAUREL for any communication purpose.
Please note that we require the film to be played in its entirety and therefore require a link to a single video. Multiple links for the same film will not be accepted.
8. Team BVFF is entitled to use any of the selected film’s content for promotional, publicity and marketing material including posters, images, clips, trailer etc. across media in connection with the festival.
9. Films can be submitted through online and offline mode:
Online submission:
a. Through BVFF official website (www.brahmaputravalleyfilmfestival.com). The applicant can fill up the application form and provide the link of the film in password protected screener (Preferably Vimeo link) in the designated place of the form. The password must be provided on request to the festival team.
OR
b. Can be done by on click access on FilmFreeway and browse the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2023.
Offline submission:
Can send the film in .mov format along with the duly filled up offline application form to:
Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival
C/o Tattva Creations Pvt. Ltd.
Saraswati Market, 2nd Floor, Above SBI
Six mile, Suruj Nagar, GS road, Guwahati-781022
Assam, India
Ph: +91 88110 18400
10. No individual/s claiming to be part of the BVFF team can be offered or can accept any payment to program the film in the festival. If any individuals approach you with any such offers, kindly do keep us informed so that we can verify the work claimed to be carried out by the individual/s.
11. No requests for private screenings to selection committee members will be entertained. No film links sent via email without filing the application form will be considered for selection.
12. The password protected film screener link must be active at least till the end of the festival (Vimeo link preferred). In case the online screener shared is not password protected, the festival cannot be held responsible for the security of the film screener.
13. In case the online screener shared is not password protected, the festival cannot be held responsible for the security of the film screener.
14. All online films will be destroyed/ deleted immediately after the selection process of the festival is completed.
15. A submission is considered complete when ALL (2) of the following criteria are met. Only on acknowledgement of receipt of all three criteria is the submission complete.
i. A correctly filled online submission form
ii. Realization of payment of submission fees
16. The festival accepts work-in progress submissions subject to the following condition:
i. The copy of the film submitted with the application form will be the only copy considered by the selection committee
17. For a selected film, a DCP (Digital Cinema Package) projection facility will be made available. If selected, the festival will take the responsibility for storage and safety of the DCP for the period during which the film is with the festival. However, the festival’s liability is limited to the costs of replacement of ONLY the damaged component on which the DCP is stored (external hard drive)
PAYMENT AND DEADLINE
1. The festival has a policy of no fee waivers. A submission fee is applicable to all entries submitted to the festival.
2. The fees for online submission can be done through e-payment mode available in the website.
- For domestic transactions (INR), it is advisable to use festival’s official website for submission of application form. For overseas transaction, it can be done through FilmFreeway.
- For the offline submission fees, the participant can submit the same along with the application in the form of Banker’s cheque/DD in favor of Tattva Creations Pvt. Ltd. Payable at Guwahati.
3. This fee is non-refundable and includes all transaction charges/ taxes etc.
4. The fee structure is given below:
Documentary Film
(Submission from India) Documentary Film
(Rest of the World)
Early Bird Deadline
September 15th, 2023
(Latest by 11.59 PM IST) INR 2000 USD 25
Regular Deadline
October 10th, 2023
(Latest by 11.59 PM IST) INR 3500 USD 42
Late Deadline
October 31st, 2023
(Latest by 11.59 PM IST) INR 6000 USD 72
CATEGORY: FEATURE FILM COMPETITION
This is the first set of rules and regulations, labeled as FEATURE FILM COMPETITION version 1.0
Please ensure you are checking the latest version of rules and regulations. Kindly visit the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival website for latest updates.
GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS:
1. There are two methods of submitting films to the film festival- online submission and offline submission. Please read the relevant one carefully before filling the application form.
2. An applicant filling out this form, should either be the owner of the film's rights or have permission from the owner. Even if not the owner, the sole responsibility lies upon the applicant for making sure the information given is true. Any discrepancies found in the form, the entry would be disqualified. It will otherwise be assumed that the film has the requisite authority from the owner and will be screened at the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2023.
3. For submission of films, there should be a Primary Contact Person who will be the main point of contact for all future communications regarding their submission to the festival. The email address and phone number should be correctly filled up for further communication and be ensured that the Primary Contact Person is easily reachable at all times.
4. For the films selected for screenings, an acknowledging email will be sent to the Primary Contact Person with all the director/s and producer/s of the film copied on it. Hence, kindly provide names and contact details of the director/s and producer/s of the film in both the online/ offline application form correctly.
5. Completed applications need to be submitted by the given deadline. BVFF is providing special rates for applications submitted within the early bird deadline. The festival will not take responsibility for the exclusion of films if complete information is not submitted by the deadlines.
6. The application will only be considered valid upon mandatory payment of application fee.
7. By submitting the application form, the applicant confirms that they have read and understood the rules and regulations listed, that they are legally authorized to submit the film to Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2023 and that the information given by the applicant is true and correct. Further, that the applicant protects BVFF against any claims to the contrary.
8. The cost of shipping an entry to the contest must be paid by the applicant.
9. All disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Guwahati only.
10. The selected entries will be awarded a package comprising round-trip airfare for one individual and a two-night accommodation stay.
FEATURE FILM CRITERIA
1. BVFF feature film competition is a part of Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival and is open ONLY to residents of India.
2. The minimum duration of a feature-length film is 60 minutes.
3. Films submitted to the festival must have been completed within the last 2 years (i.e. after 1st October 2021), and any films that are work in progress should be completed by September 2023.
4. Subtitles in English is a must, without subtitles it will be disqualified. If the original version of the film is in English, English subtitles are still required. Cost of subtitling is the sole responsibility of the applicants.
5. Dubbed versions of films in other languages are not eligible for submission.
6. Films applying to the festival do not require a certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) of India. For films not having certification, the same will be screened at the festival subject to an exemption to be obtained from the Ministry of I&B, Government of India. The festival will apply for this exemption on behalf of the selected films. All the film screenings at BVFF will thus to have either an exemption from the Ministry of I&B or a CBFC certificate.
7. If the film has applied to receive a Certification during the selection process and the film does get selected for Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2023, the festival will not ask the Ministry of I&B for an exemption on behalf of the film. The onus lies with the filmmaker to obtain the certification before the festival dates and only the certified version of the film will be screened.
8. The filmmaker must disclose information about the censor certification status at the time of submission of the film.
9. The Films/ Entries submitted by the applicants must constitute original work and not be an infringement of any other copyrighted work/s and further do not infringe the Intellectual Property Rights including the moral rights, privacy and publicity rights of any third party. None of the Intellectual Property Rights associated with the films those in literary, musical and artistic works should have been assigned/ licensed to any person, firm or corporation other than the Rights Holder.
SUBMISSION, SELECTION AND SCREENING OF THE FILM
1. Submission of film in this category means that the particular submitted film must not be released on any other public platform apart from other film festivals.
2. Submission of films does not guarantee selection for screening at the festival. The festival will not provide feedback on films or share specific reasons for rejection of any film.
3. Once a film has been selected/ shortlisted it cannot be withdrawn from the competition.
4. The Primary contact Person will be notified about the selection of the film for Brahmaputra Valley Festival 2023 at the end of the selection process. No information will be divulged before that.
5. Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival accepts submissions via online application and offline downloadable application form.
6. Films that are work-in-progress at the time of application are accepted under the following conditions:
- That the film will be complete by September 2023.
- That the submitted version will be the only version watched by the selection committee.
7. Once selected for screenings at the festival, following materials to be submitted in soft copy on request to use in promotional material for the festival and the film:
- High resolution stills (2-3) of the film.
- High resolution soft copy of the film poster.
- Once selected for screening the festival logo will be shared with the filmmaker which can be used as FESTIVAL LAUREL for any communication purpose.
Please note that we require the film to be played in its entirety and therefore require a link to a single video. Multiple links for the same film will not be accepted.
8. Team BVFF is entitled to use any of the selected film’s content for promotional, publicity and marketing material including posters, images, clips, trailer etc. across media in connection with the festival
9. Films can be submitted through online and offline mode:
Online submission:
a. Through BVFF official website (www.brahmaputravalleyfilmfestival.com). The applicant can fill up the application form and provide the link of the film in password protected screener (Preferably Vimeo link) in the designated place of the form. The password must be provided on request to the festival team.
OR
b. Can be done by on click access on FilmFreeway and browse the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2023.
Offline submission:
Can send the film in .mov format along with the duly filled up offline application form to:
Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival
C/o Tattva Creations Pvt. Ltd.
Saraswati Market, 2nd Floor, Above SBI
Six mile, Suruj Nagar, GS road, Guwahati-781022
Assam, India
Ph: +91 88110 18400
10. No individual/s claiming to be part of the BVFF team can be offered or can accept any payment to program the film in the festival. If any individuals approach you with any such offers, kindly do keep us informed so that we can verify the work claimed to be carried out by the individual/s.
11. No requests for private screenings to selection committee members will be entertained. No film links sent via email without filing the application form will be considered for selection.
12. The password protected film screener link must be active at least till the end of the festival (Vimeo link preferred). In case the online screener shared is not password protected, the festival cannot be held responsible for the security of the film screener.
13. In case the online screener shared is not password protected, the festival cannot be held responsible for the security of the film screener.
14. All online films will be destroyed/ deleted immediately after the selection process of the festival is completed.
15. A submission is considered complete when ALL (2) of the following criteria are met. Only on acknowledgement of receipt of all three criteria is the submission complete.
i. A correctly filled online submission form
ii. Realization of payment of submission fees
16. The festival accepts work-in progress submissions subject to the following condition:
i. The copy of the film submitted with the application form will be the only copy considered by the selection committee
17. For a selected film, a DCP (Digital Cinema Package) projection facility will be made available. if selected, the festival will take the responsibility for storage and safety of the DCP for the period during which the film is with the festival. However, the festival’s liability is limited to the costs of replacement of ONLY the damaged component on which the DCP is stored (external hard drive)
PAYMENT AND DEADLINE
1. The festival has a policy of no fee waivers. A submission fee is applicable to all entries submitted to the festival.
2. The fees for online submission can be done through e-payment mode available in the website.
- For domestic transactions (INR), it is advisable to use festival’s official website for submission of application form. For overseas transaction, it can be done through FilmFreeway.
- For the offline submission fees, the participant can submit the same along with the application in the form of Banker’s cheque/DD in favor of Tattva Creations Pvt. Ltd. Payable at Guwahati.
3. This fee is non-refundable and includes all transaction charges/taxes etc.
4. The fee structure is given below:
Feature Film
(Submission from India) Feature Film
(Rest of the World)
Early Bird Deadline
September 15th, 2023
(Latest by 11.59 PM IST) INR 3000 USD 37
Regular Deadline
October 10th, 2023
(Latest by 11.59 PM IST) INR 5000 USD 60
Late Deadline
October 31st, 2023
(Latest by 11.59 PM IST) INR 7500 USD 90
CATEGORY: SHORT FILM COMPETITION
This is the first set of rules and regulations, labeled as SHORT FILM COMPETITION version 1.0
Please ensure you are checking the latest version of rules and regulations. Kindly visit the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival (BVFF) website for latest updates.
GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS:
1. There are two methods of submitting films to the film festival- online submission and offline submission. Please read the relevant one carefully before filling the application form.
2. An applicant filling out this form, should either be the owner of the film's rights or have permission from the owner. Even if not the owner, the sole responsibility lies upon the applicant for making sure the information given is true. Any discrepancies found in the form, the entry would be disqualified. It will otherwise be assumed that the film has the requisite authority from the owner and will be screened at the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2023.
3. For submission of films, there should be a Primary Contact Person who will be the main point of contact for all future communications regarding their submission to the festival. The email address and phone number should be correctly filled up for further communication and be ensured that the Primary Contact Person is easily reachable at all times.
4. For the films selected for screenings, an acknowledging email will be sent to the Primary Contact Person with all the director/s and producer/s of the film copied on it. Hence, kindly provide names and contact details of the director/s and producer/s of the film in both the online/ offline application form correctly.
5. Completed applications need to be submitted by the given deadline. BVFF is providing special rates for applications submitted within the early bird deadline. The festival will not take responsibility for the exclusion of films if complete information is not submitted by the deadlines.
6. The application will be accepted only upon payment of the mandatory application fee.
7. By submitting the application form, the applicant confirms that they have read and understood the rules and regulations listed, that they are legally authorized to submit the film to Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2023 and that the information given by the applicant is true and correct. Further, that the applicant protects BVFF against any claims to the contrary.
8. The cost of shipping an entry to the contest must be paid by the applicant.
9. All disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Guwahati only.
10. Travel allowance up to INR 5000 would be reimbursable for the selected entries.
SHORT FILM CRITERIA
1. BVFF short film competition is a part of Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival and is North East India exclusive.
2. BVFF short film competition is open to any films fulfilling any of the following criteria:
- Director(s) form Northeast India
- Featuring stories/ topics related to Northeast India.
3. The maximum duration of a short film must be 10 minutes including credits
4. Film previously submitted to the BVFF short film competition are NOT eligible.
5. Films submitted to the festival must have been completed within the last 2 years (i.e. after 1st October 2021), and any films that are work in progress must have been completed by September 2023.
6. Subtitles in English is a must, without subtitles it will be disqualified. If the original version of the film is in English, English subtitles are still required. Cost of subtitling is the sole responsibility of the applicants.
7. Dubbed versions of films in other languages are not eligible for submission.
8. Film applying to the festival do not require a certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) of India.
9. The filmmaker must disclose information about the censor certification status at the time of submission of the film.
10. The Films/ Entries submitted by the applicants must constitute original work and not be an infringement of any other copyrighted work/s and further do not infringe the Intellectual Property Rights including the moral rights, privacy and publicity rights of any third party. None of the Intellectual Property Rights associated with the films those in literary, musical and artistic works should have been assigned/ licensed to any person, firm or corporation other than the Rights Holder.
SUBMISSION, SELECTION AND SCREENING OF THE FILM
1. Submission of film in this category means that the particular submitted film must not be released on any other public platform apart from other film festivals.
2. Submission of films does not guarantee selection for screening at the festival. The festival will not provide feedback on films or share specific reasons for rejection of any film.
3. Once a film has been selected/ shortlisted it cannot be withdrawn from the competition.
4. The Primary contact Person will be notified about the selection of the film for Brahmaputra Valley Festival 2023 at the end of the selection process. No information will be divulged before that.
5. Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival accepts submissions via online application and offline downloadable application form.
6. Films that are work-in-progress at the time of application are accepted under the following conditions:
- That the film will be complete by September 2023.
- That the submitted version will be the only version watched by the selection committee.
7. Once selected for screenings at the festival, following materials to be submitted in soft copy on request to use in promotional material for the festival and the film:
- High resolution stills (2-3) of the film.
- High resolution soft copy of the film poster.
- Once selected for screening the festival logo will be shared with the filmmaker which can be used as FESTIVAL LAUREL for any communication purpose.
Please note that we require the film to be played in its entirety and therefore require a link to a single video. Multiple links for the same film will not be accepted.
8. Team BVFF is entitled to use any of the selected film’s content for promotional, publicity and marketing material including posters, images, clips, trailer etc. across media in connection with the festival
9. Films can be submitted through online and offline mode:
Online submission:
a. Through BVFF official website (www.brahmaputravalleyfilmfestival.com). The applicant can fill up the application form and provide the link of the film in password protected screener (Preferably Vimeo link) in the designated place of the form. The password must be provided on request to the festival team.
OR
b. Can be done by on click access on FilmFreeway and browse the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2023.
Offline submission:
Can send the film in .mov format along with the duly filled up offline application form to:
Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival
C/o Tattva Creations Pvt. Ltd.
Saraswati Market, 2nd Floor, Above SBI
Six mile, Suruj Nagar, GS road, Guwahati-781022
Assam, India
Ph: +91 88110 18400
10. No individual/s claiming to be part of the BVFF team can be offered or can accept any payment to program the film in the festival. If any individuals approach you with any such offers, kindly do keep us informed so that we can verify the work claimed to be carried out by the individual/s.
11. No requests for private screenings to selection committee members will be entertained. No film links sent via email without filing the application form will be considered for selection.
12. The password protected film screener link must be active at least till the end of the festival (Vimeo link preferred). In case the online screener shared is not password protected, the festival cannot be held responsible for the security of the film screener.
13. In case the online screener shared is not password protected, the festival cannot be held responsible for the security of the film screener.
14. All online films will be destroyed/ deleted immediately after the selection process of the festival is completed.
15. A submission is considered complete when ALL (2) of the following criteria are met. Only on acknowledgement of receipt of all three criteria is the submission complete.
i. A correctly filled online submission form
ii. Realization of payment of submission fees
16. The festival accepts work-in progress submissions subject to the following condition:
i. The copy of the film submitted with the application form will be the only copy considered by the selection committee
17. For a selected film, a DCP (Digital Cinema Package) projection facility will be made available. If selected, the festival will take the responsibility for storage and safety of the DCP for the period during which the film is with the festival. However, the festival’s liability is limited to the costs of replacement of ONLY the damaged component on which the DCP is stored (external hard drive)
PAYMENT AND DEADLINE
1. The festival has a policy of no fee waivers. A submission fee is applicable to all entries submitted to the festival.
2. The fees for online submission can be done through e-payment mode available in the website.
- For domestic transactions (INR), it is advisable to use festival’s official website for submission of application form. For overseas transaction, it can be done through FilmFreeway.
- For the offline submission fees, the participant can submit the same along with the application in the form of Banker’s cheque/DD in favor of Tattva Creations Pvt. Ltd. Payable at Guwahati.
3. This fee is non-refundable and includes all transaction charges/ taxes etc.
4. The fee structure is given below:
Short Film
(Submission from India) Short Film
(Rest of the World)
Early Bird Deadline
September 15th, 2023
(Latest by 11.59 PM IST) INR 1000 USD 13
Regular Deadline
October 10th, 2023
(Latest by 11.59 PM IST) INR 2000 USD 25
Late Deadline
October 31st, 2023
(Latest by 11.59 PM IST) INR 3500 USD 43
CATEGORY: NON-COMPETITION
This is the first set of rules and regulations, labeled as NON-COMPETITION version 1.0
Please ensure you are checking the latest version of rules and regulations. Kindly visit the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival (BVFF) website for latest updates.
GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS:
1. There are two methods of submitting films to the film festival- online submission and offline submission. Please read the relevant one carefully before filling the application form.
2. An applicant filling out this form, should either be the owner of the film's rights or have permission from the owner. Even if not the owner, the sole responsibility lies upon the applicant for making sure the information given is true. Any discrepancies found in the form, the entry would be disqualified. It will otherwise be assumed that the film has the requisite authority from the owner and will be screened at the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2023.
3. For submission of films, there should be a Primary Contact Person who will be the main point of contact for all future communications regarding their submission to the festival. The email address and phone number should be correctly filled up for further communication and be ensured that the Primary Contact Person is easily reachable at all times.
4. For the films selected for screenings, an acknowledging email will be sent to the Primary Contact Person with all the director/s and producer/s of the film copied on it. Hence kindly provide names and contact details of the director/s and producer/s of the film in both the online/ offline application form correctly.
5. Completed applications need to be submitted within the given deadline. The festival will not take responsibility for the exclusion of films if complete information is not submitted by the deadline.
6. The application will be accepted only upon payment of the mandatory application fee.
7. By submitting the application form, the applicant hereby confirms that they have read and understood the rules and regulations listed, that they are legally authorized to submit the film to Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2023 and that the information given by the applicant is true and correct. Further, that the applicant protects BVFF against any claims to the contrary.
8. The cost of shipping an entry to this category must be paid by the applicant.
9. All disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Guwahati only.
10. The selected entries will be awarded a package comprising round-trip airfare for one individual and a two-night accommodation stay.
NON-COMPETITION CRITERIA
This segment extends an invitation to filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts to come together and celebrate the captivating art of storytelling through films. BVFF has introduced this category with the aim of providing a platform for a cinema-focused community to appreciate the enchantment of the silver screen, free from the constraints of competition. It's a space that is open to all genres of film, including short films, feature films and documentaries.
1. BVFF non-competition is a part of Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival and also welcomes film community across the globe.
2. This category welcomes film of all lengths (short films/ feature narratives/ documentaries)
3. Films submitted to the festival must have been completed by September 2023.
4. BVFF welcomes premiere screenings i.e., the film should not have been screened publicly anywhere. Premiere Screenings are specifically public screening meaning the film is screened for the general public.
5. BVFF is also open for children’s film screening, the films submitted in this category must be children-oriented films (aged not above 16 years.)
6. The children’s film screening can be different genres like realism, fantasy, adventure, war, musicals, comedy, and literary adaptations.
7. Subtitles in English is a must, without subtitles it will be disqualified. If the original version of the film is in English, English subtitles are still required. Cost of subtitling is the sole responsibility of the applicants.
8. Dubbed versions of films in other languages are not eligible for submission.
9. Films applying to the festival do not require a certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) of India. For films not having certification, the same will be screened at the festival subject to an exemption to be obtained from the Ministry of I&B, Government of India. The festival will apply for this exemption on behalf of the selected films. All the film screenings at BVFF will thus to have either an exemption from the Ministry of I&B or a CBFC certificate. (NOT APPLICABLE FOR SHORT FILM)
10. If the film has applied to receive a Certification during the selection process and the film does get selected for Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2023, the festival will not ask the Ministry of I&B for an exemption on behalf of the film. The onus lies with the filmmaker to obtain the certification before the festival dates and only the certified version of the film will be screened. (NOT APPLICABLE FOR SHORT FILM)
11. The filmmaker must disclose information about the censor certification status at the time of submission of the film.
12. The Films/ Entries submitted by the applicants must constitute original work and not be an infringement of any other copyrighted work/s and further do not infringe the Intellectual Property Rights including the moral rights, privacy and publicity rights of any third party. None of the Intellectual Property Rights associated with the films those in literary, musical and artistic works should have been assigned/ licensed to any person, firm or corporation other than the Rights Holder.
SUBMISSION, SELECTION AND SCREENING OF THE FILM
1. Submission of films does not guarantee selection for screening at the festival. The festival will not provide feedback on films or share specific reasons for rejection of any film.
2. Once a film has been selected/ shortlisted it cannot be withdrawn from the festival.
3. The Primary contact Person will be notified about the selection of the film for Brahmaputra Valley Festival 2023 at the end of the selection process. No information will be divulged before that.
4. Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival accepts submissions via online application and offline downloadable application form.
5. Films that are work-in-progress at the time of application are accepted under the following conditions:
-That the film will be complete by September 2023.
-That the submitted version will be the only version watched by the selection committee.
6. Once selected for screenings at the festival, following materials to be submitted in soft copy on request to use in promotional material for the festival and the film:
- High resolution stills (2-3) of the film.
- High resolution soft copy of the film poster.
- Once selected for screening the festival logo will be shared with the filmmaker which can be used as FESTIVAL LAUREL for any communication purpose.
Please note that we require the film to be played in its entirety and therefore require a link to a single video. Multiple links for the same film will not be accepted.
7. Team BVFF is entitled to use any of the selected film’s content for promotional, publicity and marketing material including posters, images, clips, trailer etc. across media in connection with the festival
8. Films can be submitted through online and offline mode:
Online submission:
a. Through BVFF official website (www.brahmaputravalleyfilmfestival.com). The applicant can fill up the application form and provide the link of the film in password protected screener (Preferably Vimeo link) in the designated place of the form. The password must be provided on request to the festival team.
OR
b. Can be done by on click access on FilmFreeway and browse the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival 2023.
Offline submission:
Can send the film in .mov format along with the duly filled up offline application form to:
Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival
C/o Tattva Creations Pvt. Ltd.
Saraswati Market, 2nd Floor, Above SBI
Six mile, Suruj Nagar, GS road, Guwahati-781022
Assam, India
Ph: +91 88110 18400
9. No individual/s claiming to be part of the BVFF team can be offered or can accept any payment to program the film in the festival. If any individuals approach you with any such offers, kindly do keep us informed so that we can verify the work claimed to be carried out by the individual/s.
10. No requests for private screenings to selection committee members will be entertained. No film links sent via email without filing the application form will be considered for selection.
11. The password protected film screener link must be active at least till the end of the festival (Vimeo link preferred). In case the online screener shared is not password protected, the festival cannot be held responsible for the security of the film screener.
12. In case the online screener shared is not password protected, the festival cannot be held responsible for the security of the film screener.
13. All online films will be destroyed/ deleted immediately after the selection process of the festival is completed.
14. A submission is considered complete when ALL (2) of the following criteria are met. Only on acknowledgement of receipt of all three criteria is the submission complete.
i. A correctly filled online submission form
ii. Realization of payment of submission fees
15. The festival accepts work-in progress submissions subject to the following condition:
i. The copy of the film submitted with the application form will be the only copy considered by the selection committee
16. For a selected film, a DCP (Digital Cinema Package) projection facility will be made available. If selected, the festival will take the responsibility for storage and safety of the DCP for the period during which the film is with the festival. However, the festival’s liability is limited to the costs of replacement of ONLY the damaged component on which the DCP is stored (external hard drive)
PAYMENT AND DEADLINE
1. The festival has a policy of no fee waivers. A submission fee is applicable to all entries submitted to the festival.
2. The fees for online submission can be done through e-payment mode available in the website.
- For domestic transactions (INR), it is advisable to use festival’s official website for submission of application form. For overseas transaction, it can be done through FilmFreeway.
- For the offline submission fees, the participant can submit the same along with the application in the form of Banker’s cheque/DD in favor of Tattva Creations Pvt. Ltd. Payable at Guwahati.
3. This fee is non-refundable and includes all transaction charges/ taxes etc.
4. The fee structure is given below:
DEADLINE OCTOBER 15TH, 2023
ENTRY FEE
(SUBMISSION FROM INDIA)
(Latest by 11.59 PM IST) INR 5000
ENTRY FEE
(REST OF THE WORLD)
(Latest by 11.59 PM IST) USD 60
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
1. I hereby declare and affirm that I have obtained necessary permission from the people who have made the film and own the rights to use the film's material for submitting it to the film festival.
2. I further declare and confirm that the movie and its content do not break any copyright, patent, or other rights, and they don't go against any laws or rules.
3. I confirm that I haven't done anything or caused anything to happen that would cause me to give up or damage any rights, including but not limited to copyrights, permissions, or approvals, for the movie and its content.
4. I agree that the film festival reserves the right to shorten and/or edit the text of the synopsis for the purpose of publication of films in the film festival catalogue.
5. I agree that the stills, posters, clips or other promotional materials of the film could be used as per the film festival’s requirements to advertise and promote the film/ festival solely for the purpose of film festival.
6. I hereby affirm and declare that all the rights granted hereunder are and will be free and clear of liens, encumbrances, or claims of every kind and all royalty and license fees required now or in the future to be paid in connection therewith are or will be paid by me.
7. I undertake not to hold BVFF liable for any loss or damage caused to film, its content including without limitation promotional materials, synopsis that I may upload, post, email, transit or otherwise make available with the film festival.