A. General Festival Rules
1) Eligibility:
All submissions:
• Must be completed from 1 January 2019 onward,
• Must be at minimum New Zealand Premieres with preference is given to World Premieres (see below).
• The submitting party ("the Submitter") must have the authority to submit the film to Doc Edge and the exclusive rights (including all music clearance rights) to screen theatrically the film in New Zealand.
2) Submission Requirements
Documentary films are accepted for selection in the following International and New Zealand categories. Please read the qualification for each category carefully, entering into the incorrect category will result in disqualification. If in doubt, please contact us.
International Documentaries
• Short (40 minutes or less)
• Feature (more than 40 minutes)
New Zealand Documentaries
A film can only qualify as a New Zealand documentary PROVIDED it:
- has a key crew member who is a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident and/or
- if more than 50% of its funding is from New Zealand.
Proof of qualification is required with your submission.
• Short (40 minutes or less)
• Feature (more than 40 minutes)
Kids Documentaries
• Any length
• Open to NZ and International submissions
• Films with themes and subjects suitable for and of interest to children aged 10-17
• Selected films may be used for Doc Edge Schools
Submissions that are not suitable will be disqualified.
Maori/Pacific Documentaries
• Any length
• Open to NZ and International submissions
• Films with Maori/Pacific themes and subjects
Submissions that are not suitable will be disqualified.
AR/VR/Interactive Documentaries for Doc Edge Exhibition held during the Festival
• Augmented Reality/ Virtual Reality/ Interactive projects
• Virtual Reality projects must be delivered on Oculus Go
• Interactive projects must be delivered on either Windows or Mac laptops
Submissions that are not suitable will be disqualified.
Premiere Policy
All qualifying films MUST BE minimum New Zealand Premieres (i.e. cannot have been screened publicly in New Zealand at other festivals, theatrically, on broadcast, available on VOD/online, and/or any other public platform).
Preference given to premieres in the following order:
• World
• International
• Asia-Pacific
• Australasia
Deadlines and Fees
International
Early Bird: 15 Sept 2019 Feature $40 | Short: $25
Regular: 15 Dec 2019 Feature $50 | Short: $35
Late: 15 Jan 2020 Feature $60 | Short: $45
NZ Films: 15 Jan 2020 Feature $30 | Short: $20
Kids/Family: 15 Jan 2019 Fee: $20
Maori/Pacific: 15 Jan 2019 Flat Fee: $20
AR/VR/Interactive: 15 Jan 2020 Fee: $20
Other
• All submissions must include a secure working online screener link.
• All non-English films must have English subtitles. Dubbing is not acceptable.
• Incomplete entries will not be accepted. Works In Progress may be accepted with prior consent from the Festival organisers.
• Doc Edge is under no obligation to provide comments or feedback regarding the submitted film to the applicant or any other representative of the submitted film.
• It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to secure clearance from all copyright holders of materials and music included in the submitted film.
• The Submitter warrants to keep Doc Edge indemnified against all claims for the unauthorised inclusion of copyrighted materials or music within or relating to the submitted films.
• Doc Edge reserves the right to disqualify any film with unauthorized copyrighted materials or music.
• Submitters will be notified of programming decisions by 31 March 2020. Doc Edge's decision is final.
3) Selected Films
Screener Link
It is your responsibility to ensure that Doc Edge is supplied with a valid password until the end of the festival.
Screening Fees
The Submitter acknowledges that:
• Doc Edge is a not-for-profit charitable organization and does not pay screening fees
Screenings
Doc Edge may at its discretion schedule:
• up to three ordinary festival screenings in Auckland and Wellington
• encore/best of screenings in Auckland and Wellington
• screenings as part of Doc Edge Schools and Doc Edge Goldies
• encore/best of screenings in regional centres
Doc Edge may agree with the filmmakers to include films on the Doc Edge VOD platform after the main festival screenings in Auckland and Wellington
Exhibition Format
The Submitter will provide Doc Edge with the following required formats:
• ProRes
• DCP
• Blu-ray
Complete details will be provided upon selection to the Submitter.
Required Materials
Upon selection, all required information about the film must be provided to Doc Edge.
• At least 3 film stills (jpeg, high resolution, at least 300dpi or 2Mb each)
• Separate electronic press kit (EPK) if available
• One high quality (1080) video file of the trailer (up to 3 minutes)
• One high quality (1080) 15-30s promo video to be used on social media
Shipping & Insurance
• Shipping instructions will be sent to the film supplier once the film has been selected.
• Doc Edge will cover one-way shipping (inbound or outbound) unless agreed otherwise.
• Only hard drives of selected films will be returned.
• If the film is being shown at another festival/venue immediately following Doc Edge, the other festival/venue will be responsible for the costs of shipping from Doc Edge.
• Customs declarations must be properly marked as follows: "For Festival Purposes Only. No Commercial Value."
• The dollar value should not exceed $100 (NZD).
• The shipper will be responsible for any duties payable as a result of an incorrect customs declaration.
• Doc Edge is only responsible for serious loss or damage caused to the Exhibition Print through the fault of Doc Edge. It is not responsible for any loss or damage through force majeure, natural elements, theft and loss caused while in transit or when the Exhibition Print is under the control of a third party.
• In the event of loss or serious damage, Doc Edge's obligation is limited to compensating the producer or distributor for the cost of making a new print from another master.
Physical Shipping address (for couriers only):
Doc Edge Festival 2020
ATTN: John Lau
Suite 2-3, 72 Dominion Road
Mount Eden, Auckland 1024, New Zealand
Tel: +64 9 3600329
Film Withdrawal Policy
Once the film's selection has been confirmed in writing by Doc Edge:
• The film cannot be withdrawn.
• The film's sales agent/s and/or distributor/s must be notified of this policy and comply with this policy.
• If the film is not made available to the Festival after confirmation, the Submitter will be responsible for any resulting losses.
Changes to Film Status
Doc Edge must be given prior notice in writing of any changes that may affect the selection or legality of any such screenings of the film. Failure to do so may result in the film being withdrawn at Doc Edge's discretion.
Publicity
Upon selection, Doc Edge is authorized to use the publicity materials related to the film (i.e. press kits, posters, trailer, stills, etc.) for promotional purposes and to broadcast or screen clips up to a maximum of three minutes.
B. Agreement
I, the Submitter, have the sole and exclusive ownership of all rights related to the submitted production and/or have the full authority to submit the production to Doc Edge and bind all other third parties with an interest in the film (director, producer, sales agent or film distributor) to this Agreement.
I also confirm that all rights and clearances have been obtained and we will indemnify Doc Edge should any dispute arise as a result of the public screening of the film by Doc Edge pursuant to these rules and regulations.
I undertake that the information provided in this Entry is complete and correct. By submitting the film, I understand, accept and agree to comply with this Agreement.
