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The 2019 Directors Circle Festival Of Shorts has officially opened our call for entries and will accept submissions internationally of short length films in any and all genres including Narrative, Documentary, Horror, Experimental, Avant-garde, Animation, Religious/Spiritual, Gay/Lesbian and all genres of Music Videos for our 2019 festival.

We will accept all forms of religious, Christian, and spiritual films including African, African American, Gay/Lesbian, Black, Hispanic, Islamic, Latino, Jewish, Native/Aboriginal and student films from the United States and around the world.

Festival horror categories for films will include Horror, Thrillers, Science Fiction, Suspense, Grindhouse Horror, Horror Documentary, Horror Animation, and student horror films.

Our Film Festival shall accept music videos from around the world of cross-continent and cross-genre productions of all ranges from pop, punk, rock, alt-country, country-western, folk, reggae, hip-hop to electronica, jazz, blues, Zydeco, industrial, gothic, karaoke, avant-garde, world music, and experimental.

The Directors Circle Festival Of Shorts is internationally recognized as a premiere showcase for creative, inspiring, and influential films of all types.

Bold visions, adventurous ideas, skillfully crafted and artistically inspired projects are the kinds of films we are looking for.

Our unique film festival reaches new heights internationally for independent film festivals presenting our films in a way unlike any other film festival in the world via our online screening platform and theater system. Viewing interactively online allows independent filmmakers and fans to take pleasure in the films worldwide on the go, from work and from the comfort of their own homes. In the technologically advanced world we live in, where communication and convenience MUST be at the tips of our fingers, we knew this was the next progressive step in film festivals.

Since debuting our fest in 2010 we have gained even more recognition among the film viewing public and filmmakers, not to mention production houses and distributors, because they no longer have to travel to find the next film that will make Hollywood sit up and take notice. Currently, convenience is the name of the game, especially for the independent film industry.

The 2019 DCSF will host a live film festival event in the great City of Erie Pennsylvania that will screen the best and most innovative films of the 2019 season. Housed in the historic Renaissance Centre located in beautiful downtown Erie, the 2019 DCSF live Festival will run consecutively with the opening weekend of the Festival.

Our online festival is presented in a virtual theater setting that will allow users to watch the films while the films remain completely safe from download or reproduction.

Films in this festival cannot be downloaded, the films HAVE NO EMBEDDING CODE and the HTML codes of the films, if copied and pasted, the films will not play, therefore they CANNOT be placed on other websites. The only time and place they can be viewed is in our festival. In short, we have gone to great lengths to set this system up to protect the safety and security of each filmmaker’s film, always keeping the filmmaker in mind. Basically, it is just as secure as a brick and mortar theater screening, only much better. We made the decision to screen films online because of two reasons, first we understand that filmmakers around the world pour not only all of their time and heart into their work but also most of their money. Because of financial and time constraints independent filmmakers most times find it difficult to attend the screenings of their film. Now not only can the filmmaker attend, but all of their friends and family members can as well. In addition, the number of attendees to the festival is literally limitless giving the filmmaker much more exposure for their work.

In addition, you hear so much about the environment and global warming it got us thinking. When you realize how much power is used during the film fest, electricity for the building, natural gas for heat and the gasoline the people use to get to the fest it left one hell of a carbon footprint. By doing the whole festival online it actually helps cut down on greenhouse gasses.

The DCSF recognizes Filmmakers for outstanding achievements in their craft through creativity and imagination, while always paving the way and opening doors for the very talented Filmmakers world-wide.

Awards & Prizes

Best of Genre Awards
Audience Choice Award

Rules & Terms

PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW ALL BELOW INSTRUCTIONS
Not following the guidelines, rules, regulations, or eligibility may be cause for disqualification.

Genre Summary

Narrative Short........................49 or less minutes
Comedy Short..........................49 or less minutes
Documentary Short.................49 or less minutes
Horror Short.............................49 or less minutes
Religious/Spiritual.....................49 or less minutes
Gay/Lesbian............................ 49 or less minutes
Experimental............................ 49 or less minutes
Animation............................... 49 or less minutes
Music Video..............................15 minutes or less

Sub Genre

Religious/Spiritual
Religious - Christian
Spiritual - African - Islamic
African American - Black
Hispanic - Native/Aboriginal

Horror
Wicken - Magical -Slashers
Thriller - Science Fiction
Suspense - Supernatural
Horror Animation - Horror Documentary - Horror Animation

Music Video
Pop - Punk - Rock - Folk
Jazz, Blues, Zydeco
Country-Western - Reggae
Alt-Country - Electronica
Industrial - Gothic - Karaoke
Avant-Garde - World Music
Experimental - Hip-Hop
Electronica

Only one title per entry form. Productions from 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 may be submitted. Do not submit works in progress.

All films must be submitted in Digital .MP4 Film File Format (NTSC system only) for consideration. All films submitted must be available on DVD for presentation.

Films submitted in digital format must be no larger in file size than 2 Gigabyte.

To ensure that your entry is properly processed, you must fill out the form completely and include proper payment.

Along with the film (Digital .MP4 Film File), press kits must include a black and white or color still of the film that is 1920x1080pxls or 1280x720pxls, a complete cast and crew list and a 250-word synopsis of the project must be included.

We will notify you by email when your entry has been received.

Films submitted must be no more violent and have no more adult content as that which would be considered as a NC-17 rated motion picture. NC-17 does not mean “obscene” or “pornographic” in the common or legal meaning of those words, and should not be construed as a negative judgment in any sense. The rating simply signals that the content is appropriate only for an adult audience. A NC-17 rating can be based on violence, sex, aberrational behavior, drug abuse or any other element that most parents would consider too strong and therefore off-limits for viewing by their children. If your film meets with this requirement then we welcome it.

Exhibition entries should be submitted as a .MP4 File format, unless a DVD is requested. No DVDs will be returned.

Participation in the Directors Circle Festival Of Shorts implies understanding and acceptance of all terms included in this application.

Films submitted in the incorrect Category and/or submitted as a Short Length Film, but having a total runtime that is equal to that of a Feature Length Film, will be disqualified from consideration.

All films accepted into the 2019 Directors Circle Festival Of Shorts will be screened online through our Virtual Theatre system.

Films in this festival cannot be downloaded, the films HAVE NO EMBEDDING CODE and our HTML code if copied and pasted, the films will not play, and therefore they CANNOT be placed on other websites. The only time and place they can be viewed is in our festival. In short, we have gone to great lengths to set this system up to protect the safety and security of each filmmaker’s film always keeping the filmmaker in mind. Basically, it is just as secure as a brick and mortar theater screening, only much better.

General. By entering this Contest, entrants agree to abide by the terms of these Official Rules, which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to this Contest. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. All taxes (including, without limitation, federal, state, and local taxes) on or connected with any prize (including, without limitation, prizes that are opportunities to make donations to a charitable organization), and the reporting consequences thereof, are the sole and exclusive responsibility of respective winners. Each Winner must, if so requested by Promoter, complete Promoter’s winner verification process and/or execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and a Liability/Publicity Release within a period of time required by Promoter. All prizes awarded in connection with the Contest are nontransferable and nonendorseable. No substitution of prizes is permitted. The Promoter or Host’s employees or agents or representatives may view all Concepts in the interest of providing technical assistance to Contestants. Technical questions may be referred to Host for assistance at Promoter’s discretion. Dates of official announcements are subject to change. Release, Waiver and Indemnification. BY ENTERING THE CONTEST, ENTRANTS RELEASE AND HOLD THE PROMOTER AND HOST AND ALL OTHER CONTEST ENTITIES HARMLESS FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LOSSES, DAMAGES, RIGHTS, CLAIMS, AND ACTIONS OF ANY KIND ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FROM THE CONTEST OR PARTICIPATION IN ANY CONTEST-RELATED ACTIVITY (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE REMOVAL FROM THE SITE OF, OR DISCONTINUATION OF ACCESS TO, ANY SUBMISSION OR OTHER MATERIAL), OR RESULTING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE, OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE AWARDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONTEST, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH, AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, AS WELL AS CLAIMS BASED ON PUBLICITY RIGHTS, DEFAMATION, AND/OR INVASION OF PRIVACY.

Entrant agrees to convey, transfer, and give promoter, host, contest, its parent corporation and subsidiaries, all rights to submitted materials for the purposes of but not limited to screening and fundraising activities and such screening and fundraising activities shall be at the complete and total discretion, consideration, and full and complete authority of the promoter, host, contest, its parent corporation and subsidiaries in perpetuity. You grant us a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual, and irrevocable right to copy, transmit, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, and display any information, data, Work, or any other information associated with your Work (collectively the “Submitted Materials”) you submit to us via the Services in any media or format. Your use of the Services does not grant us ownership of your Work. As between you and us, you retain ownership of your Work.

If selected, entrants agree and understand, that their film shall screen in either or both, our live festival event and/or our online festival event that utilizes our virtual theater platform. Entrants also understand that through the virtual theater platform films cannot be copied, downloaded, or reproduced by any virtual theater attendee, nor can the html code of any film be used in or on any other site, and that each and every film is completely secure and safe from theft due to the technology of the virtual theater that is unique to our system and is unlike any other utilized by any online festival throughout the world.

THE PROMOTER, THE HOST AND CONTEST ENTITIES DO NOT NOW AND SHALL NOT HAVE IN THE FUTURE ANY DUTY OR LIABILITY, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, VICARIOUS, CONTRIBUTORY, OR OTHERWISE, WITH RESPECT TO THE INFRINGEMENT OR PROTECTION OF AN ENTRANT’S INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, IF ANY, RESPECT TO ANY SUBMISSION OR CONCEPT, REVIEWS, MATERIAL, VIDEO AND/OR OTHER MATERIALS PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONTEST. BY ENTERING THE CONTEST, ENTRANTS RELEASE, WAIVE ANY CLAIMS WITH REGARD TO, AND HOLD HARMLESS THE PROMOTER, THE HOST AND THE CONTEST ENTITIES FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS OF ANY KIND THAT ARE OR COULD BE ASSERTED WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER RELATING TO THE CONTEST. ENTRANTS FURTHER AGREE TO INDEMNIFY. DEFEND AND HOLD THE PROMOTER, HOST AND ALL OTHER CONTEST ENTITIES HARMLESS FROM ANY AND ALL DAMAGES, LIABILITIES, FEES AND COST INCURRED IN DEFENDING AGAINST ANY THIRD PARTY CLAIMS OR THREATS OF CLAIMS ASSERTED AGAINST PROMOTER, HOST AND/OR OTHER CONTEST ENTITIES ARISING FROM ANY ENTRANT’S PARTICIPATION IN OR CONDUCT ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTEST. Entrant agrees to convey, transfer, and give promoter, host, and contest all rights to submitted materials for the purposes of but not limited to fundraising activities and such fundraising activities shall be at the complete and total discretion, consideration, and full and complete authority of the promoter, host, and contest in perpetuity.

Force Majeure. Nonperformance of any party shall be excused to the extent that performance is rendered impossible by strike, fire, flood, earthquakes, war, governmental acts or orders or restrictions, or any other reason where failure to perform is beyond the reasonable control, and not caused by the negligence of, the nonperforming party. Governing Law and Waiver of Damages. The Contest and these Official Rules are governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States of America, without regards to its principles of conflicts of law. For any dispute not subject to arbitration according to Section 4(g) above, entrant agrees to personal jurisdiction by the federal and state courts located in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States of America, and waives any jurisdictional, venue, or inconvenient forum objections to such courts. Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby irrevocably waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys’ fees, other than participant’s actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e., costs associated with participating in the Contest), and entrant further irrevocably waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased. Privacy. Information submitted in connection with the Contest will be treated in accordance with these Official Rules and the Site’s Privacy Policy, provided that in the event of any conflict between these Official Rules and such Privacy Policy, the terms and conditions of these Official Rules shall prevail. All Contestants and Team Members hereby acknowledge and agree that Promoter will have access to some or all of their personally identifiable information, including but not limited to registration information collected by the Host.
33 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Dara Semerad

    It was a great experience. Everyone was very professional and our film got a lot of exposure. Thank you so much.

    July 2019
    Helpful
  • Gary Centrone

    Thank you to the festival organisers! Very informative and kind communication!

    The only feedback I would add is to utilise your FaceBook Page more for the Live Event and announcements.

    It has been a privilege to part of this festival that has been running for nearly 10 years!

    January 2019
    Helpful
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    Response from festival:

    We completely agree with you. The problem that we have had in the past is that the very high number of films selected to screen in the Festival takes such a great deal of time to actually produce the Festival, that unfortunately we really have not had the manpower to devote to our Social Media as we would like to do.

    It is an excellent suggestion, and one that we are currently looking into .

    Thank you.

  • Shane Pergrem

    They were great to work with and communication was fantastic!

    January 2019
    Helpful
  • Tom Ptasinski

    Great experience, honored for the chance and for the opportunity. Great experience with communication and welcoming atmosphere for the filmmakers. I would submit again.

    December 2018
    Helpful
  • Melissa Skirboll

    I think they have a great idea that falls apart in the way the concept has been actualized. I understood in advance that anyone who wanted to watch the films would need to pay to do so - but to ask for an audience to vote on their favorite but make them pay $1.99 for each and every short film they watch is excessive and greedy. I can rent a full length feature for that price and watch it repeatedly for 48 hours or more - compared to a single viewing of an 8 minute short. The fest may want to think about offering blocks of films or day passes or full festival passes as is common with live festivals if they are going to insist on charging. In addition, all audience awards are, by nature, a popularity contest - especially online - but the fact that the audience isn't able to watch all of the films in a category before voting makes the nature of this vote blatant.

    December 2018
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    Response from festival:

    First, we wanted to thank you for your comment and input, we greatly appreciate it.

    As I'm sure you know, almost every festival that I know of charge a ticket price for film screenings, whether those screenings are physical or virtual. All festivals, including ours use the funds generated by these ticket sales to help cover the costs of producing the film festival each year, along with the administrative and operating costs for the very hard work that is done throughout the year in preparation of the festival.

    The main difference between ours and the others is that our virtual screenings at 1.99 USD are lower than anyone else's, and our physical screening have no charge to anyone, attendees from the public and Filmmakers.

    Additionally, we keep the cost as low as possible for the virtual screening ticket price, and realize no positive cash flow there from, but instead the funds raised solely support the festival production costs.

    Finally, when you think about all of the transportation costs, hotel accommodations, food and beverage costs, and miscellaneous expenses that a Filmmaker would incur in visiting a Festival where their film is screening, the cost of only $1.99 USD per film adds up to a sum that is negligible in comparison.

    While it is true that one could rent a VOD film for approximately 48 hours and watch it repeatedly for relatively the same amount as one of our screening ticket prices, you must put the very big differences into consideration. First, unlike the scenario that you described, when purchasing a screening ticket in ours, or any other festival, you are not only supporting your film, but the films of every other filmmaker participating in that festival, along with the festival itself and helping to make it possible for the festival to continue to provide a valuable service to every Independent Filmmaker in the world.

    Without the revenues derived from ticket sales most festivals would go out of business, and where would that leave Independent Filmmakers such as yourself to present and showcase your visions, dreams and work?

    As you might see, without the very important screening ticket fees, the world of Independent Film might very well grind to a halt, leaving Independent Filmmakers the world over at a loss for a platform of expression, and most importantly their amazing films without much of an outlet at all, and for anything.

    Finally, the nature of our Audience Award Competition and the balloting process is without doubt completely fair to all. At the very low screening ticket price of $1.99 USD, a virtual attendee could screen approximately 30 films in our Festival which is the same, or in most cases a much lower cost of screening less films in a physical festival, anyone who has ever attended a physical festival would know this. Moreover, why wouldn't we want our Audience Award Competition to be "blatant", as you put it, we work very hard to make sure that it is obvious, and undisguised for every single Filmmaker, and we are glad that you noticed.

    In closing, no matter how you look at the situation, the price that we charge for a virtual screening ticket is not only more than reasonable, but far below the average screening ticket of any festival in comparison.

    Please accept my gratitude for your thoughts and for the time spent in posting them here, is truly appreciated, and we will certainly consider everything that you have mentioned, and the possibilities to incorporate your ideas in our event so as to make the DCFS an even more exciting and productive event for every future Filmmaker who participates.

    Thank you.

    All the best,