DIFF FILM SUBMISSION CRITERIA
Dreamspeakers is an Indigenous film festival, we require that either the filmmaker or the films content be Indigenous. Category restrictions are based on the length of the film. Each work is juried solely on its own merits. The Festival seeks any combination of inventive, incisive, bold, vital and otherwise provocative work of any genre.
Indigenous People as defined by the United Nations, “Indigenous communities, peoples and nations are those which, having a historical continuity with pre-invasion and pre-colonial societies that developed on their territories, consider themselves distinct from other sectors of the societies now prevailing on those territories, or parts of them.”
ENTRY FORMATS
1. All entries - Formats accepted for festival exhibition:
Digital Files
-1920x1080p
-MPEG-4 (H.264) in an mp4 container
-MKV
-M4V and MOV (Mp4 is preferred)
2. All entries must have been completed after January 2021.
3. Films must be presented in their original language with English language subtitles.
4. Please specify sound mix on your application. Left/Right Mix preferred.
PROCEDURES
Please include also a plot synopsis, cast and crew list, and director’s biography.
FILM LENGTH DEFINITION
Feature: 41 min. or longer; Short: 40 min. or less per Academy rules.
AGREEMENTS
Submission of a work confirms that Dreamspeakers International Film Festival has permission to exhibit it during the Festival and any Festival Tours. Submission of a work implies that the Festival can employ moving image excerpts and reproduce stills for exhibition promotion.
PUBLICITY
If your film is invited to screen at DIFF, please submit whichever of the following materials you have immediately upon notification of acceptance to better aid in Festival publicity of your work: Production stills (electronic copies), EPK, trailers or Vimeo/YouTube clips for web site inclusion. Contact us about posters.
DISCLAIMER
Every precaution will be exercised in handling entries, but neither the Festival organizers, employees, sponsors, nor participating organizations can assume responsibility for damage to or loss of materials submitted. All films submitted to play at DIFF will be previewed prior to exhibition with a log kept of their condition filmmakers will be notified if a film arrives damaged.
JURYING
All entries are initially reviewed by pre-screening officials. In March, the jury will consider the pre-screeners’ semifinalists and any other entries submitted to the Festival they may wish to see. Following the jurors’ decisions, a list of Finalists will be determined by the end of February. Acceptance of films to be invited and shown at DIFF by the Festival Director or Program Coordinator will take place via e-mail in a timely fashion to allow for planning for those wishing to attend the Festival.
SHIPPING FESTIVAL COPIES
IF sending by disks and/or digital media should be marked “For Festival Screening Only. Shipment should be prepaid by the sender. Films selected will be refunded shipping costs.
RETURN SHIPPING INFORMATION:
Filmmakers must cover shipping costs only for return of the work to the point of origin. Films selected will be refunded shipping costs. Return shipping will take place
within a three-week period following the festival.
TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY
It is DIFF’s intention to provide a worry-free environment where people can conduct business and view work with ease. Our staff will be happy to provide for you a list of local hotels and B&B’s upon request. We will also provide each attending filmmaker with a hospitality package which will include maps, passes, special offers at restaurants, entertainment complexes and local attractions.
Questions & Information about the Festival, contact:
Dreamspeakers International Film Festival
201, 11051 97 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5H 2N2 Canada
PHONE 780-378-9609 • FAX 780-378-9611 • programming@dreamspeakers.org
