Burbank International Film Festival accepts no responsibility for loss or damage of entries during shipment to or from Burbank International Film Festival.
1. Entries must be submitted by the date of the Final Deadline of May 3rd, 2026.
2. Entrants will upload an ONLINE digital version of their film for viewing consideration.
3. Please upload a poster; a trailer; three or more high resolution production stills; a log-line and short (1-2 sentence) synopsis; along with the director's full name, biography and contact information (email address AND phone number required). Notices & important info are sent through FilmFreeway, so please use a primary email. The phone number is only used if you are not responding to email. Please note if your film will be any kind of Festival Premiere: World, U.S., West Coast or Los Angeles. We don't consider a private screening a Premiere.
4. All entries must be in English or subtitled.
5. College student submissions must be by current students, not graduates. All student Filmmakers must include proof of student status with their submission (i.e. copy of current student I.D.) or their film will not qualify as a student film and could be disqualified. Students must be currently enrolled (2025-2026) in an educational institution for their films to be eligible.
6. All Official Selections of the Burbank International Film Festival need their film to be in DCP format, which is required for screening by the Burbank AMC 16 Theatres. If filmmakers need to have a DCP created, it can be converted by our festival partners for a nominal fee. Films selected for screening at the festival must also adhere to specific audio and video specifications. Sound levels need to be at the industry standard for theatrical DCP release. Films that do not comply with these requests may be dropped from the festival. Any questions regarding these guidelines should be addressed to the festival before submission.
8. By submitting, the filmmaker agrees to let the festival use excerpts from their screeners for use in BIFF trailers, publicity and promotions.
9. The individual, company or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it has all pertinent legal clearances and is authorized for the film screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. Furthermore, once a film is submitted, approval is granted for festival screening whether it is accepted in other film festivals or not. Any film that is an official BIFF selection is not guaranteed to screen at the festival. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Burbank International Film Festival 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 films screened or entered.
10. Exceptions to the festival regulations and guidelines must be authorized by the Festival's Board of Directors.
11. Films currently screening online through worldwide digital formats such as YouTube, or films that are currently screening digitally through U.S. platforms or U.S. distributors will not be eligible for acceptance into the Burbank International Film Festival unless given a special waiver by the current BIFF President.
12. Films completed prior to 2024 will not be eligible for acceptance into BIFF.
13. Films that have been accepted into BIFF with the approval of the filmmaker and announced as screening at the Festival cannot be pulled from the schedule by filmmaker without the understanding that there will be no refunds for filmmaker expenses spent in preparation for the BIFF festival screening nor any refunds for audience members whom had already bought tickets for that specific film.
14. Films that have been accepted into BIFF with the approval of the filmmaker must have their DCP (required format to screen at AMC Theaters) created by the deadline imposed by BIFF or risk being released from the Festival schedule.
15. Films that become Official Selections will be asked to submit a trailer for marketing purposes. Trailers are not mandatory but help when marketing your film to festival audiences.
