(See TERMS AND CONDITIONS below for full details)
While films are not required to be a nationwide premiere, films must be a premiere in Columbia, Maryland. The Columbia Maryland Film Festival, due to the ever changing Covid 19 Pandemic guidelines, has been presented to date online on a password protected Virtual Platform using Eventive or similar hosting facility. Filmmakers must agree to have their films presented in this manner in addition to live public screenings, health and Covid circumstances permitting.
Entry fee is non-refundable.
Narrative and documentary feature films must have a run time of a minimum of 40 minutes. Narrative and documentary short films must have a run time of under 40 minutes.
Press Kits are not required, but requested with each entry.
Online Screener Submissions preferred.
All films submitted must be free from any legal dispute and filmmaker must have cleared all rights for music and public exhibition.
Student Films/Student Entry Fees: Student submissions will be considered by High School and College/University students who have completed the film primarily through a course of film study. STUDENT ENTRIES MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PHOTOCOPY OR SCAN OF A CURRENT AND VALID STUDENT ID CARD OR A LETTER FROM AN ACCREDITED SCHOOL VERIFYING ENROLLMENT AT THE TIME OF FILMING.
While distribution deals may be in place, submissions to the Columbia Maryland Film Festival must not be scheduled for theatrical release and/or must not be scheduled for broadcast on television or online/digital release prior to September 15, 2025.
Submissions must be in English or subtitled in English.
Columbia Maryland Film Festival will notify Filmmakers by approximately July 15, 2025 if their film has been accepted to the Festival.
Filmmaker Agreement:
To the best of my knowledge, all of the statements in this document are true. I have read, understood and complied with all eligibility requirements of the categories for which I would like this film to be considered, and I agree to the terms outlined in the General Festival Rules for the Columbia Maryland Film Festival I further represent that:
1. I am duly authorized to submit this film to the Columbia Maryland Film Festival and, if selected as a participant, will deliver the Exhibition Format electronic media, which adheres to the requirements listed below in paragraph 8, to the Festival office no later than Aug 25, 2025.
2. The Columbia Maryland Film Festival is accepting entries with a production completion date of January 1, 2024 or later. Do not submit works-in-progress, rough cuts or incomplete films.
3. A film will not be considered in multiple categories. The entrant must select the appropriate category at time of submission.
4. While films are not required to be a nationwide premiere, films must be a premiere in Columbia, Maryland.
5. Student Films/Student Entry Fees: Student submissions will be considered by High School and College/University students who have completed the film primarily through a course of film study. ENTRIES MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PHOTOCOPY OR SCAN OF A CURRENT AND VALID STUDENT ID CARD OR A LETTER FROM AN ACCREDITED SCHOOL VERIFYING ENROLLMENT AT THE TIME OF FILMING.
6. While distribution deals may be in place, submissions to the Columbia Maryland Film Festival must not be scheduled for theatrical release and/or must not be scheduled for broadcast on television or online/digital release prior to June 30, 2023. Submissions must be in English or subtitled in English.
7. Narrative and documentary feature films must have a run time of a minimum of 40 minutes. Narrative and documentary short films must have a run time of under 40 minutes.
8. In 2026 we plan to present both LIVE and ONLINE. With both platforms the festival ONLY ACCEPTS DIGITAL MEDIA that must be compatible for PC Computer playback and also for upload on EVENTIVE.COM or similar platform as follows:
File size: 1920 x 1080p h.264 @ 10Mbps
Recommended size is under 10GB (a 90 minute film is approximately 5GB).
File type: Both .mp4 and .mov format are accepted. DCPs and ProRes files are not accepted.
Audio Channels: Stereo AAC. 5.1 surround is not accepted.
Closed caption files are not required but HIGHLY PREFERRED.
Closed captions: .SRT or .VTT files
9. All films where media has NOT BEEN UPLOADED OR SENT TO US FOR UPLOAD LATER THAN 30 Days before the start of the Columbia Maryland Film Festival will cause the film to be disqualified. If you have a technical or other issue causing a potential delay, advise us at your earliest opportunity.
10. If the terms outlined herein are not adhered to, Columbia Maryland Film Festival reserves the right to disqualify the film without refunding the submission fees.
11. Columbia Maryland Film Festival will make every attempt to contact you if there is error or incompatibility with an entry, but cannot be held responsible if entry is not considered due to poorly recorded or unplayable media.
13. If the submitted Media file is not compatible with the EVENTIVE or other hosting platform and final deadlines have not passed, Columbia Maryland Film Festival will make an attempt to contact the applicant based on the contact information supplied at the time of submission in order to obtain a replacement. If a replacement is not available, Columbia Maryland Film Festival reserves the right to disqualify the film without refunding the submission fees.
14. Columbia Maryland Film Festival will attempt, but is under no obligation, to view a submission that arrives after the designated deadline without refund of the submission fee.
15. Columbia Maryland Film Festival will notify Filmmakers by approximately July 24, 2026 if their film has been accepted to the Festival.
16. Multiple versions of the same film will not be considered.
17. All applicants must complete the official festival submission form located on FilmFreeway.com. For security and administrative purposes, CMFF only reviews submissions and screeners through official FilmFreeway channels.
18. A film will not be considered in multiple categories. The entrant must select the appropriate category at time of submission.
19. If selected as a participant in the Festival, television ready media clips of the film must be provided by the date provided on notice of selection. I understand that the Festival holds the right to screen my film for Festival screening and promotional purposes and to extract clips from this film for promotional purposes. I understand this may include online streaming of clips on Festival or Festival sponsor sites.
20. I understand that the Columbia Maryland Film Festival will present films on a secured password protected virtual platform hosted by EVENTIVE.COM or similar platform and the Festival's website. The Festival is not responsible for any type of media piracy or unauthorized duplication as a result of online hosting and presentation, in addition to any damage to or loss of the print during screenings, at any other time during the course of the Festival, while the film is in the Festival’s possession or while enroute to or from the Festival, and I release The Columbia Maryland Film Festival and RNM Productions from any and all liabilities regarding damage to or loss of the print while en-route to/from the Festival, while it is in their possession or loss or theft of media as a result of the film being hosted and presented online in a virtual platform.
21. Selected Filmmakers will make all reasonable effort to provide Columbia Maryland Film Festival with promotional materials, which will benefit the filmmaker as well as the Festival. This includes 1) A brief preview trailer. 2) Comprehensive descriptive information regarding the film, plot, characters and production team 3) Quality promotional photographs, including screen captures or still from the film. 4) Social Media Links, hashtags, and related means to promote your film.
21. Submitted films that qualify based on the regulations and eligibility requirements stated here will be seen by Columbia Maryland Film Festival programming staff and be considered equally with all other submissions.
22. Columbia Maryland Film Festival reserves the right to disqualify any film for non-payment of the submission fee. Columbia Maryland Film Festival will attempt to contact the applicant based on the contact information supplied at the time of submission in order to resolve non-payment status.
23. Columbia Maryland Film Festival is under no obligation to provide comments regarding submitted films to any applicant. The festival is not responsible for any internal comments obtained by the applicant regarding their film.
24. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, exhibition, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. This film is not subject to litigation nor is threatened by any litigation. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Columbia Maryland Film Festival, RNM Productions, it agents and representatives 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 screening videos entered. Columbia Maryland Film Festival and RNM Productions shall not be responsible for any expenses or related costs incurred by participants to attend Columbia Maryland Film Festival and any and all travel related expenses, meals, or other expenses shall be the sole responsibility of the participant.
