FilmFest52 is produced by the organizers of Connecticut Film Festival (CTFF) and The Bethel Film Festival (BFF) in partnership with The Bethel Cinema. For more than a decade, these three independent film marketing powerhouses have passionately supported filmmakers, showcasing and premiering cutting edge cinema way before the likes of many of the biggest first-tier festivals.

It’s the 15th Anniversary of CTFF and we have now been disrupting ( way before disrupting became part of our daily lexicon ) the peace in the film festival kingdom with weekly and monthly film screenings throughout the nutmeg state. For more than 3 years, FilmFest52 has screened more than 900 films in Bethel & Bridgeport CT and Bennington VT. We're kind of over achievers when it comes to getting the word out about your film. It wasn’t enough that we were the first statewide, year-round festival with 9 three-day weekend festivals, a signature 6-day and night festival with 6 monthly and bi-weekly screenings throughout the state. So, how about 52 weeks a year of incredible visual content on the screen, panels, Q&As, discussions, receptions, premieres and networking? It's not just a film series, we've taken film festival to a whole new level with FilmFest52! Wednesday Nights at The Bethel Cinema and now Friday Nights at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport CT have become Independent Film Central. We have now screened more than 900 (short & feature) films since it's inception in May of 2015.

Every Wednesday, (that’s approximately 240 - 260 films a year) FilmFest52 showcases a diverse array of International fictional and documentary feature films, dramatic and comedic shorts, micro shorts, student films as well as animations, music videos, web series and commercials! All accepted projects have the opportunity to compete in a variety of categories to become quarterly award nominees. The nominees of each quarter are judged as finalists and the Best of Category award winners will be selected at the end of the season.

When you submit to FilmFest52 your project will also be considered for screenings at our affiliated venues in New Haven and Bridgeport CT, Bennington VT and Colorado Springs CO.

Numerous film premieres, after parties and receptions are held in the theaters and lobby of The Bethel Cinema as well as local restaurants and pubs within a short walk or drive of the theater. We always have audience Q&As, panels or discussions after every film or block of shorts.

Educational workshops, panels and keynotes take place on more than two-dozen random Saturday and Sunday mornings throughout the year.

More: FilmFest52 uses independent film, video and new media as a vehicle to challenge and excite audiences, inspiring them to support independent film with their hearts, minds and their wallets.

Thought provoking visual stories, inspire our audiences to take action! We hope your submission will be the one to fuel this fire and provide our viewers with a strong Independent Point of View!

For more than 20 Years, The Bethel Cinema, owned by a film industry executive, and host of FilmFest52, has been Connecticut’s premiere art and independent film house, highlighted by some of the most captivating independent and thought provoking releases from the smallest to the largest production houses and distributors.

Visit facebook.com/filmfest52 for updates, times and locations.

FilmFest52 Season – 52 Weeks over 365 Days (1 Year)

All accepted projects have the opportunity to compete in a variety of categories for quarterly award nominees. The nominees from each quarter will be judged and the Best of Category award winners will be selected at the end of the year.

Please check back from time to time to see what awards have been added to the booty.

Current Awards As Of March 1, 2020
$500.00 Best Feature (Fiction or Documentary)
$250.00 Best Short (Fiction or Documentary)
$200.00 Best Student Film (High School, College or Graduate School)
$150.00 Audience Favorite
$100.00 Best Very Short (PSA, Music Video or Commercial)

FilmFest52 Submission Rules

Film Fest 52 strives to use independent film, video and new media as a vehicle to challenge and excite audiences, inspiring them to support independent film with their hearts, minds and their wallets.
Thought provoking visual stories, inspire audiences to take action! We hope your submission will be the one to fuel this fire and provide our viewers with a strong Independent Point of View!
For more than 20 Years, The Bethel Cinema, host of FilmFest52, has been Connecticut’s premiere art house, highlighted by some of the most captivating independent and thought provoking releases from the smallest to the largest production houses and distributors.
Connecticut Film Festival, Bethel Film Festival and The Bethel Cinema joined forces in 2004. For more than a decade years these three powerhouses have supported filmmakers and showcased and premiered cutting edge cinema way before the likes of the biggest first-tier festivals.

FilmFest52 Season – 52 Weeks over 365 Days (3 Year)

FILM SUBMISSION GUIDELINES & APPLICATION
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible for consideration, all films must meet the following requirements:

-All entries must be submitted online no later than the deadline dates.
-Submission Media Format:

Feature film screeners must be uploaded to a private Vimeo account and password protected. The Vimeo code may then be embedded in the submission profile.
Alternatively, feature film screeners can be submitted on 2 DVDs with labels indicating the ClickForFest tracking number (FF52# _ _ _ _ ), the title, director's name, running time, a phone number, email address and applicable website URL. The festival will consider online screenings for feature length films.

Short Film screeners must be made available online and should be uploaded to a Vimeo account and password protected. The Vimeo code may then be embedded in the CFF submission profile.
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-All films must not have been commercially screened in Connecticut.

-All films must be in English or must have English subtitles.

-Only completed projects will be accepted.

-Filmmaker must have obtained all clearances for exhibition and must certify that the work is original and no disputes regarding ownership exist on the film.

-Only completed entry packages will be accepted.

-All films must be available to screen immediately.

-Although complete care is given to every entry, the festival cannot be held responsible for loss or damage to materials submitted.

-Please do not send DVD entries in fiber -filled mailers. Use only bubble wrap or foam type envelopes.

- DVD Screeners will not be returned.

Marketing of your film and the festival:

To facilitate the promotion of selected films, FilmFest52 requests that submissions include an electronic press kit via Dropbox or other FTP site or through ClickForFest website. The EPK should not come on a disc.

The EPK should include the follow:
5 JPEG formatted images. 300 Dpi and no greater than 500kb each
1 Poster image. Lo Res. JPEG formatted and no greater than 500kb
1 Poster image. Hi Res PDF or Vector file. No greater than 2 Gb
1 WORD document with 3 synopses: a short 50-100 words, medium 100 – 250 words and a long 250 – 500 words.
1 WORD document with 1-2 Press Releases. One short press release describing the film, a second more in depth press release.
1 WORD document listing all URL and social media links

Theatrical Screening Formats
All accepted must be made available in the following formats:

Feature Length Films
BluRay and 2 Standard Definition DVD discs as backup. Possible option to be discussed is Digital format file: QT H264.MOV files

Short Films, Commercial/Advertisements and PSA
Screening Format: QT H264.MOV file with 2 Standard Definition DVD discs as backup. Additional backup option: BluRay copy.

ALL –DVDs must be in NTSC format -- Please label all submitted materials with title, name of entrant, category and running time, and tracking ID number. Other formats may be possible. The festival needs to be notified before any other regional formats are mailed.

The management of Film Fest 52 reserves the right to decide all questions regarding the rules and regulations. Submission of a film constitutes that the filmmaker accepts the rules and regulations set forth herein.

All film entries selected for the festival give FilmFest52 the right to use footage and/or titles from and information about the film for promotional purposes. Incomplete submissions will not be considered for the FilmFest52.

-Submission fee. Payments are made through an online submission portal. Checks may be made payable to The Connecticut Film Festival.

I, the undersigned, have read and understand the rules, regulations and guidelines of the Connecticut Film Festival LLC and FilmFest52. To the best of my knowledge, all the information is correct as indicated on the submitted entry.

The Connecticut Film Festival LLC and FilmFest52 is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes.

The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.

The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless The Connecticut Film Festival, FilmFest52 and other CTFF entities 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, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Kevin McCarthy

    Film Fest 52 provided a great smallish venue for the screening of our film. The staff is motivated and willing to go the extra mile for filmmakers. I do think they are a bit understaffed, but the organizers worked very hard to promote the screening, and participating in Film Fest 52 opened up other opportunities with festivals in Connecticut.

    June 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Greetings Kevin, I believe the communication with you and your film was excellent. I called you multiple times, partnered with an LGBTQ organization and along with several other volunteers, spent an entire day handing our filers after a Pride parade. I truly believe in your film and that's why I had several people involved and we made a huge effort promoting TransGeek to every media outlet in the state. Even though I felt we had a great screening, the turnout was mediocre and there were not even enough audience members to sustain the event financially. You and I have arranged to screen your film before a student audience in the Fall at Housatonic Community College because we believe in your efforts and the topic.

  • Film was accepted, which I'm grateful for, but then I never heard another word from the programmers? Reached out to them and got no response. Not sure if my film truly played or not, or when, or anything.

    June 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Greetings Josh, your film was accepted. The festival screens movies 52 weeks a year. We notify filmmakers when we program their films. Sorry if there was a misunderstanding. We are planning on screening your film twice. Once in Bethel and once at our other location at Housatonic Community College. Your film and it's collaterals were downloaded a long time ago and are in the cue with several similar murderous films. We like your film very much and it is in competition.

  • Angelique Webster

    Referred by a friend. Submitted all needed information. Film was accepted...never heard back.

    June 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Greetings Angeligue, your film was accepted. The festival screens movies 52 weeks a year. We notify filmmakers when we program their films. Sorry if there was a misunderstanding. We are planning on screening your film. Once in Bethel and once at our other location at Housatonic Community College. Your film and it's collaterals were downloaded a long time ago and are in the cue with several similar topic films. We like your film very much and it is in competition.

  • Gino Pinetti

    Excellent communication and live screenings combined with important film productions
    Thanks Tom and thanks to Bethel Cinema. Recommended

    May 2018
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    Response from festival:

    Greetings Gino, Your film was awesome! The timing of the screening couldn't have been better. It gave us the opportunity to discuss the differences between the circus in your film and the demise of a large entertainment conglomerate discarding Americas Greatest Show on Earth because it wasn't worth the new owner's time to reinvent it for the modern audience. It all came down to big profits instead of scaling back the icon.

  • colin J graham

    Excellent Festival great communication and organisation

    May 2018