There are now TWO categories in the 9th Annual NY Dog Film Festival presented by Purina® Dog Chow®

CELEBRATING DOGS! is the main category of short films that celebrate the love between dogs and their people and the shelters that bring them together. Filmmakers from around the world are welcome to submit their films for consideration.

SERVICE DOG SALUTE is a new category supported by Dog Chow that invites filmmakers to explore the unique ways posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) trained service dogs transform the lives of the military veterans they serve. *Please note: Eligibility in the SERVICE DOG SALUTE category is limited to individuals who are legal residents of the 50 United States, District of Columbia or Puerto Rico. NOTE CASH PRIZES & TRAVEL AWARDS BELOW!
*Submission fees are waived thanks to Dog Chow!
Write Tracie at TheDogFilmFestival@gmail.com for the waiver code.

NOTES ABOUT SERVICE DOG SALUTE FILMS
*PTSD service dogs for veterans are not the same as emotional support, therapy, or companion dogs. They are specifically trained to help their handler perform tasks they cannot otherwise perform on their own.
* While final content is up to you, a few ideas for your exploration:
* Illustrate one or more of a PTSD service dogs’ unique skills (eg: grounding, compression, night terror interruption, etc.)
* Demonstrate the effects a PTSD service dog has on their handler’s PTSD symptoms and quality of life
* Highlight the challenges veterans face surrounding PTSD service dogs (mental health stigmas, supply/demand, not covered by insurance, etc.)
* Preferred content should be ultimately uplifting in tone
* Films must be less than ten (10) minutes in length.

*AWARDS FOR THE MAIN CATEGORY - CELEBRATING DOGS!
While there are no dedicated prizes for films in the Celebrating Dogs! Category, being chosen to be part of the NY Dog Film Festival (NY DFF) automatically makes a filmmaker a winner! All chosen filmmakers who are able to attend [at their own expense] will receive a limited edition t-shirt, a VIP doggy "sWag" gift bag, and two 2 tickets (or more if requested) to the NYC showing.

*AWARDS & PRIZES FOR the DOG CHOW SERVICE DOG SALUTE Category (SDS):

* All eligible films received during the entry period in the Dog Chow SDS category will be judged by the NY DFF, with input from Dog Chow.

* Three finalists will be selected and notified by August 15 2024 by email. From the three finalists, one will be chosen as the winner and receive a $5,000 cash prize. The remaining two finalists will each receive a $1,000 cash prize.

* The three (3) finalists will receive a trip to New York City to attend the NY DFF premiere October 24 2024 (date may be changed). Trip includes roundtrip coach airfare for two (2) people from major airport nearest winner’s home (as approved by Sponsor in its sole discretion) to New York City, NY; two (2) nights hotel accommodations at a Sponsor-specified hotel (one standard room, double occupancy); ground transportation to and from airport/hotel/NY DFF; a stipend for meals; and two (2) tickets to the NY DFF premiere.

* The finalists are responsible for any other costs and expenses not specified herein as being awarded, including but not limited to ground transportation to/from home and airport and any baggage fees or special taxes associated with the airfare. Finalists and their guest must travel on the same itinerary. The guest must be at least 18 years of age or older unless the guest is a minor child/ward of the finalist who will be traveling with said minor, and will be required to sign a liability and/or publicity release prior to issuance of a prize.

* Both finalists and the winner are responsible for paying all applicable local, state and federal taxes associated with accepting their Prize.

Rules & Terms
Submission Guidelines are as follows:

Entrants accept all rules and regulations of Pet Media Inc. (doing business as NY DFF, and referred to herein as NY DFF) and Nestlé Purina Dog Chow (referred to herein as “Dog Chow”). Filmmakers must be 18+ years old or, if under 18, must have written adult consent by a parent or guardian.
* The filmmaker must have the intellectual property rights and distribution rights to all content contained in the film prior to entering it into the competition, including the right of publicity for any and all people shown in the film.
*The filmmaker must have the performing rights for any music contained in the film and provide evidence should it be required.
* The filmmaker represents and warrants that the submitted material does not defame or invade the rights of any person living or dead and s/he fully indemnifies NY DFF and Dog Chow against any claim made for such violations of the law.
The filmmaker represents and warrants that the submitted material is his/her original work, that there are no disputes regarding ownership of the submission, that it is not subject to litigation nor is threatened by any litigation.
* The filmmaker accepts responsibility for obtaining any permissions prior to submission of the film required by copyright law in the use of any music and images used in their films. NY DFF and Dog Chow take no responsibility for copyright infringement.

NY DFF and Dog Chow are not responsible for any type of loss or damage to you pertaining to the film or its use and you agree to hold NY DFF and Dog Chow, and each of their parent, subsidiaries, and affiliates and each of their respective owners, employees, directors, officers, agents, and subcontractors harmless from and defend them against any claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses (including attorney’s fees) arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, whether or not they are groundless, based on any film submitted to the NY DFF or use thereof.

SUBMISSION FORMAT
* Films may be entered into the general Celebrating Dogs! category and/or the Dog Chow SDS Category (with specific guidelines outlined below).
The NY DFF accepts only digital submissions exclusively to FIlmFreeway and viewable online. Chosen films will be transferred to a Digital Cinema Projection file, a Blu-Ray DVD, or a digital download for delivery to theaters for screening purposes. The filmmaker is responsible for supplying a high-resolution format of their film. Filmmaker assigns NY DFF and Dog Chow the right to copy the entry in its entirety for technical operations in and through any and all current or future media formats.
* Films that are not in the English language must be subtitled or dubbed.
* Films are welcome that may have been previously seen by the public.
* Films can have been made at any point in time.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR DOG CHOW SDS SUBMISSIONS
* Entry Fees will be waived for the Dog Chow SDS Category by writing to Director Tracie Hotchner (TheDogFilmFestival@gmail.com) to receive the Waiver Code.
Films for the Celebrating Dog Category must be “shorts” with a preference for films less than 30 minutes long
* Films entered into the Dog Chow SDS category must explore the unique ways PTSD service dogs transform the lives of the military veterans they serve.
* Films must be less than ten (10) minutes long.
* Films may not include any third-party intellectual property, specifically no military insignia, logos, or uniforms may be shown in the film or the promotion thereof.

CONDITIONS FOR SUBMITTING ALL FILMS:
By submitting a film, the filmmaker agrees that NY DFF and Dog Chow do not pay screening fees under any circumstance. By submitting a film, the filmmaker is agreeing to screen his/her film without a screening fee or any other compensation if it is selected to be shown in any format as part of NY DFF anywhere in the world in perpetuity.
The filmmaker understands that films will be shown at multiple screenings across the United States, Canada, and possibly other English-speaking countries over multiple years, although there is no guarantee that every film seen in the NYC annual premiere will be included in the traveling version.
You grant NY DFF, Dog Chow and its parents, successors, licensees and assignees the use of your film, in whole or in part, including your name and image, and any associated photos or extracts for all destinations of the NY DFF in any year. You grant permission for any subsequent broadcast uses and platforms, including all digital formats, not limited to cinema projection, Video on Demand, AVOD, SVOD, DVD/Blu-Ray, streaming compilations, and emerging technology. You agree that the film, in whole or in part, including your name and image, may be used in trailers and commercial marketing, including social media and online, to promote the NY DFF or Dog Chow. Photographs, clips of the film or filmmaker submitted images may be used in commercial marketing and social media by NY DFF and Dog Chow, and they may sub-license this right without further consent. NY DFF and Dog Chow reserves the right to include any accepted films on any format used for promotional purposes.
By submitting a film, the filmmaker hereby acknowledges and agrees that the film, in whole or in part, including your name and image, may be used in perpetuity, without further compensation, in any marketing and promotional uses by Dog Chow and its parent and related entities.
The NY DFF Founder and Director, Tracie Hotchner, will have absolute discretion and make the final decision on which films will be included in the NY DFF, with input from Purina for the Dog Chow SDS Category.
The NY DFF will travel to multiple U.S. locations and Canada annually, although not every film shown in the NYC annual premiere is guaranteed to be included in the traveling version.
For promotional and publicity purposes, brief (less than one minute) clips of any film entered into the Festival may be shown on any network, the internet, or related media, including promotion by Dog Chow.
Submitting a film to the NY DFF implies acceptance of these regulations and your warranty that, to the best of your knowledge, all of the statements in this document are true.
By submitting your film, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to the stipulated terms.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • We had a great time at the NY Dog festival where we screened our film Ranger: The Canine Alpinist. Tracie took good care of us with the night before party and then selling out the screening the next day. With our film going into distribution, we should see lots of great audience reactions.

    October 2023
    Dog ny rgb
    Response from festival:

    What a wonderful addition your historic film was to the Festival- and a delight to have your enthusiastic presence at the Pooch Party the night before. Thank you for making the journey to NYC!

  • Donna Guthrie

    It was a wonderful festival. I was honored to have my film THE MEETUP show last Sunday. The audience was so appreciative and it was a fun event for everyone.

    October 2022
    Dog ny rgb
    Response from festival:

    Donna thanks so much for your kind words. Your film was an audience (and one of my!) favorites - animation is an art and you are an artist! Thank you for being part of the dog love!

  • Hope Martinez

    Amazing festival! Great communication and professionalism! ✨🎥

    October 2022
    Dog ny rgb
    Response from festival:

    Dear Hope- I wish you and your dazzling young star could have been there in person to soak up the audience love for ADAM .You made a gem of a narrative film that will stay with any people lucky enough to see the festival as it tours the country.

  • One of the best festivals out there. Communication is amazing and passion is felt! Getting a New York Times article reviewing the festival as well as a nation wide theater release ain't half bad either :)

    November 2021
  • FANTASTIC! NY DOG FILM FESTIVAL is terrific! Honored to have my animated short, WIENER DOG BLUES show in theaters in NYC and across the country with this excellent festival!

    November 2021