To be considered by the programming team, all submissions must follow the MPA guidelines for PG-13 films:
-Violence is allowed but it should not be excessively graphic or disturbing. The violence should not be glorified or gratuitous, and it should not be directed at innocent victims.
-Mild to moderate profanity is permitted, but the use of strong language should be infrequent and used only in a non-sexual context.
-Sexual content is allowed, but it should not be explicit or overly graphic. Nudity is allowed but should be brief and non-sexual. Sexual references and innuendos are also allowed but should not be too explicit or offensive.
-Drug use and references to drugs are allowed, but it should not be excessive or glorified.
The PG-13 rating is intended to provide guidance to parents about the suitability of a film for their children. Parents should use their judgment when deciding whether a particular film is appropriate for their child based on their child's age, maturity, and sensitivity to the material.
Additional Rules and Terms:
The following is an explanation of rules and regulations (“Rules and Regulations”) governing the submission of a film (hereafter called the “Film”) to City of Aurora for consideration for the City of Lights Film Festival (hereafter called the “Festival”).
By agreeing to the Terms And Conditions found on the Festival submission form located here (“Submission Form”), the person submitting the Film (hereafter called the “Applicant”) acknowledges that he or she has obtained consent from any and all owners, creators, writers, Producers and/or other authorized representatives of the Film (hereafter called the “Film’s Owners”) whose consent is required to submit the Film to City of Aurora, and has read and understood the submission rules and regulations set forth below:
1. The final deadline for submission of a Film to the Festival is September 2, 2024. The Applicant need not be a City of Aurora resident to submit a Film. Films should have been completed after January 1, 2023. Films completed prior to January 1, 2023 are subject to additional scrutiny. Categories of Films include features, shorts and student films. The Applicant will be asked to specify if the Applicant marks “other” on the Submission Form. Genres of Films include action, comedy, documentary, drama, experimental, horror, kids/family, animated, and other. The Applicant will be asked to specify if the Applicant marks “other” on the Submission Form.
2. It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to secure authorization and permission from the copyright owner(s) of any and all copyrighted content or materials included within the submitted Film. City of Aurora expressly disavows any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible for, any unauthorized inclusion of any copyrighted content or materials within or relating to the submitted Film, including any content or materials that are or may become the basis for any third party claims for copyright infringement. City of Aurora reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from the Applicant, any Film with any unauthorized inclusion of copyrighted content or materials. In the event that any claim, dispute, action or proceeding shall be brought or asserted by any person or entity that alleges that the Film makes unauthorized or unlawful use of any copyrighted content or material, Applicant shall fully indemnify and defend City of Aurora, the Festival, and each of their representatives and affiliates from any liability in connection therewith and from any fees and expenses, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees, that any of them incur in connection therewith.
3. It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to secure authorization and permission from the owner(s) of any and all trademarked content or materials included within the submitted Film. City of Aurora expressly disavows any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible for, any unauthorized inclusion of any trademarked content or materials within or relating to the submitted Film, including any content or materials that are or may become the basis for any third party claims for trademark infringement, trademark dilution or unfair competition. City of Aurora reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from the Applicant, any Film with any unauthorized inclusion of trademarked content or materials. In the event that any claim, dispute, action or proceeding shall be brought or asserted by any person or entity that alleges that the Film makes unauthorized or unlawful use of any trademarked content or material, Applicant shall fully indemnify and defend City of Aurora, the Festival, and each of their representatives and affiliates from any liability in connection therewith and from any fees and expenses, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees, that any of them may incur in connection therewith.
4. It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to clear all content of the Film from any and all actual or potential legal claims and issues, including, without limitation, claims based upon theories of libel, defamation, invasion of privacy, violation of rights of publicity, theft of trade secrets, breach of confidence, breach of confidential relationship, and breach of express or implied contract (“Third Party Claim(s)”). City of Aurora expressly disavows any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible for, any unauthorized inclusion of any content or materials within or relating to the submitted Film that are or may be the basis for any Third Party Claims based upon any of the foregoing legal theories or others. City of Aurora reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from the Applicant, any Film that is or may become the subject of any Third Party Claims. In the event that any Third Party Claim(s) shall be asserted by any person or entity, Applicant shall fully indemnify and defend City of Aurora, the Festival, and each of their representatives and affiliates from any liability in connection therewith and from any and all fees and expenses, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees, that each of any of them may incur in connection therewith.
5. Applicants submitting Films that contain significant non-English spoken dialogue must provide on-screen English subtitles. City of Aurora reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from the Applicant, any Film that contains significant non-English spoken dialogue that does not include accompanying on-screen English subtitles.
6. All Films must be submitted to City of Aurora via a URL link to high quality digital download portal or platform. City of Aurora reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from Applicant, any Film that is not submitted using this format.
7. In order to be considered for the Festival, the Applicant must fill out the Festival Submission Form located at FilmFreeway. City of Aurora reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from the Applicant, any Film that is not submitted through this procedure.
8. City of Aurora reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from the Applicant, any Film with a submission form that is considered to be delinquent due to the non-payment of any or all submission fees. City of Aurora may attempt, but is under no obligation, to contact the Applicant using the contact information provided on the submission form in an effort to bring the payment status of the account up- to-date. City of Aurora disavows any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible for, any failure to contact the Applicant and inform the Applicant of any payment delinquency or other deficiency of a submission form.
9. Upon completion of the Festival selection process, City of Aurora will attempt to contact the Applicant using the contact information provided on the submission form to notify the Applicant of the Film’s acceptance status. City of Aurora disavows any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible for, any failure to contact the Applicant using the contact information provided on the submission form. It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to ensure that the contact information provided on the submission form is correct throughout the entirety of the submission period.
10. City of Aurora is under no obligation to provide to the Applicant or any other representative of the Film any comments or feedback regarding the submitted Film, any information relating to the manner in which the Film is, will be, or was reviewed; any views that City of Aurora or any reviewers of the Film may hold concerning the Film; any reasons why the Film, should it not be accepted for exhibition at the Festival, was not accepted; or any other information relating to the Festival’s review, consideration and/or selection process regarding the Film specifically or submissions generally beyond the information set forth in these Rules and Regulations. City of Aurora disavows any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible or liable for, the contents of any internal comments or feedback regarding any Film that are or may be obtained by the Applicant or any other representative of the Film; any communications by any representative of City of Aurora or the Festival relating to the Film or the Festival selection process; the manner in which the Film shall be, is or was considered and reviewed; the identity or identities of any specific reviewers of the Film; and/or any failure on the part of City of Aurora or the Festival to provide the Applicant or any other representative(s) of the Film with information concerning City of Aurora's consideration and/or review of the Film.
