The Fallbrook International Film Festival (FIFF) started in 2007 and ran for 5 years as a volunteer run event until 2012. We are relaunching the festival for its 6th official season with 4 film showcases running through 2022 and the festival itself in 2023.

Fallbrook, California is just south of Los Angeles nestled in the bustling SoCal winery scene...the perfect location for film lovers and filmmakers! Fallbrook was once home to film director Frank Capra. A special award will be given out in his name, with the blessing of his family, at the 2023 FIFF. The festival is open to all people, whether you are an emerging filmmaker or a seasoned veteran.

As a relaunch to this great festival we are starting with the Rodarte Emerging Filmmakers Showcase (April 2022).

SHOWCASE AND FESTIVAL AWARDS
Showcase films will be featured at our live event and awards will be given out in each of the categories in the showcase. Award winners will receive a laurel.

Please read these Rules carefully before you submit your film. By submitting your film into competition , you expressly acknowledge and agree that you shall be bound by the terms of these Rules.

The showcases are for emerging filmmakers. Even though our larger festival includes adults, it also has a very strong emerging filmmaker component. Although we are open to a wide range of film, because of our educational focus, we prefer films in our emerging filmmaker showcases and larger festival that do not contain gratuitous violence, gratuitous drug use, gratuitous language, nudity, or content that is disrespectful to cultures and communities. When assessing films, we will take into account the artistic merits of the piece. Submitting your film is not a guarantee of selection. A selected film does not guarantee an award. We treat every filmmaker equally.

1. Beyond content concerns in an educationally focused setting, filmmakers should know there are a range of technical issues that also factor into the selection process (ex: poor audio, a low resolution video, etc…). We reserve the right to refuse entries without explanation.

2. We strongly encourage film entries from a wide variety of cultures and communities. Films made in languages other than English, however, must have English subtitles.

3. Please select the correct category while submitting to avoid disqualification. We will not refund any fees if the filmmaker fails to submit the film in the correct category. We also reserve the right to re-assign films to an appropriate category if we think the filmmaker may have submitted to a different category in error. We will not consult the filmmaker on those decisions.

4. Even if you submit in the correct category, your film could be disqualified for having missing requirements. Please make sure your submission requirements are met (ex: correct fees and media). Specifics on this vary from entry to entry. Please refer to the requirements on our submission provider, FilmFreeway.

5. We do not cover any costs incurred by the filmmaker (in either the creation of the film, the submission of the film, and any issues with copyright, trademark, or any other form of compensation that may arise from showing the film publically).

6. A filmmaker’s submission fee will not be reimbursed if they decide to withdraw their submission. All entry fees are non-refundable.

7. By submitting to the festival, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless the festival and showcase team 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, and publicity. By submitting to the festival, you are telling us that your work is original or that you have given proper credit and/or compensation to any outside group that has contributed to your film. It is not the festival’s responsibility to check for copyright violations.

8. A filmmaker may submit more than one film in a category and more than one category at a time.

9. Submissions will be privately reviewed by the judging panel, and will not be screened initially to the public. Selected films will be privately reviewed by the judging panel prior to awards and prior to public screening.

10. A film submitted in any particular month can be highlighted as a Notable Film. If you are not selected as a Notable Film in the particular month you submitted in, it does not mean you will not be selected for a showcase or festival. Nor does it mean you won’t ever get selected as a Notable Film in another month. You do not need to resubmit your work for a second chance.

11. Our hope is to be as clear with you as early as possible, but we may without advance notice amend these Rules from time to time. Each and every such amendment shall be become effective immediately. It is your responsibility to periodically check for updates of these Rules.

DISCLAIMER
All filmmakers understand and accept that if their film is accepted for presentation and screening at a showcase or at the film festival, they grant full and unrestricted permission to screen the film/video at times of the festival’s choice and to charge an admission fee for the presentation of the digital video program.

The filmmakers understand and accept that if their film is accepted for presentation and screening online as a Notable Film, they grant full and unrestricted permission to have that work presented online at a time of the festival producer’s choice.

The Filmmaker understands and accepts that they do not participate in receiving any funds from the Box-office proceeds, submission fees, and any online compensation from sponsors, which are fully retained by the festival to help cover the overall cost of the festival presentation.

The filmmaker understand that we reserve the complete right to make changes in the program dates and times and to possibly not screen the video, despite its being selected for screening.