Gold Coast Film Festival

FEATURE FILM CONDITIONS OF ENTRY:

Gold Coast Film Festival SIPFEST) will take place 30 April - 11 May 2025. By submitting your film (Film) to Gold Coast Film Festival (Festival), which is organised by Film Fantastic Ltd (A.C.N. 098 091 260) (GCFF), you (Filmmaker) agree to the following:

1. Queensland Premiere Status, if your film screens elsewhere in Queensland prior to GCFF in any public arena or festival it will be automatically disqualified. The only exceptions to this requirement are for film-school graduation screenings. Exemptions may be considered by the programming team on a film by film basis but the Premiere Status will be necessary in order to comply and screenings at other Queensland festivals will automatically disqualify films.

2. All the information provided either through the online entry form or through email correspondence with GCFF is true and accurate.

3. You either own the rights to, or have permission to use, the footage, sound, music, images, and all other contributions that are part of the Film to the extent necessary to submit the Film to the Festival and, if accepted, screen the Film at the Festival. Please note: if you have any doubts about any of the rights in the Film, you must notify the Festival at the time of submission.

4. We discourage entries which may be considered corporate or marketing documentaries.

5. To be eligible for consideration, all submissions must meet the following requirements:
Films must not be theatrically released prior to or during the period of the festival. Nor have been (or will not be) available commercially online and accessible from the state of Queensland, Australia, either for free or via on-demand services prior to or during the festival dates.
Screenings as part of a digital or online festival are permitted if the festival is for a limited run and geo-blocked such that access by Australian viewers is prohibited.
Exemptions may be considered by the programming team on a film by film basis.

Work In Progress Submissions:
Our programmers are well accustomed to viewing work that is near completion. If you need to send the film when there is still post-production work left to do, then please let us know what is left to be done (eg colour grade, sound mix, vfx). However, please note that we will not re-view different cuts of the same film, so it is best to wait until you have a cut you are happy with. If you are submitting a work in progress, please ensure a final completed film will be delivered to the festival (if the film is selected) by the content delivery date (noted below).

The film must be completed in the past two years with completion date after 1 January 2023.

Official Selection for feature films:

In the event of your feature film being officially selected, you will be notified by invitation. At that point an Official Selection form will be sent for your completion, to confirm the invitation has been accepted, and to gather all the information necessary for the presentation and marketing of the film in the Festival.

For international and Australian feature film filmmakers, all "Official Selection" films will be paid a screening fee via a Box Office split.

The festival ultimately holds the right to reject a selected film should any unforeseen circumstances or issues, politically themed or otherwise come to light that the festival programming team was not aware of at the time of selection. In the unlikely event that this situation arises the festival will not commercially compensate the filmmaker or distributor for withdrawing the title from the festival.

If your Feature film is selected to screen as part of Gold Coast Film Festival:

1. As the unencumbered rights holder of the film in the territory you grant GCFF a non-exclusive, Australian license to screen the Film between 30th April and 11th May 2025.

2. You agree to provide GCFF with a downloadable English Language subtitled version of the Film or DCP of the feature Film by no later than 29th March 2025. Regardless of the language of origin an English language subtitled version must be provided to the festival.

3. The GCFF screening must be the Queensland Premiere of the Film, and this first screening for a public audience. (GCFF recommends that local filmmakers hold a cast and crew screening post-premiere as this may impact our selection process.)

4. As is necessary the GCFF will prepare professional session compiles at its own cost for screening at its venues. You grant GCFF all necessary rights to copy and otherwise reproduce the Film for the purpose of making such compiles in order to screen the Film and promote the Festival.

5. You must notify GCFF immediately if any of the rights in the Film become disputed or a claim is made against you in relation to the Film.

6. By submitting to the festival you undertake to indemnify GCFF from all possible claims made against the film. For the avoidance of doubt this includes any claims made against the film or the relevant production entity for any known or unforeseen issues regarding the production. This includes any type of infringement of intellectual property that could potentially impact the screening of the Film as part of the Festival.

7. The party that submits the film will be the GCFF’s primary contact during the event, should this change during the period of communication, written notification to the festival’s programmer will be necessary before the festival can enter into any communication, for any reason, with a third party.

8. You grant GCFF and the Festival a royalty-free, non-exclusive Australian license to use film excerpts, film stills, press kits, and other promotional materials from the Film for publicity and promotional purposes in relation to the Festival, including on its website, social media and relevant printed materials.

SHORT FILM RULES

1. We accept Australian and International short films up to a maximum 15 minutes in length, including credits.

2. Queensland Premiere Status, if your film screens elsewhere in Queensland prior to SIPFest in any public arena or festival it will be automatically disqualified. The only exceptions to this requirement are for film-school graduation screenings. While exemptions may be considered by the programming team on a film by film basis, the programming team reserves the right to remove any films from the schedule that do not comply.

3. Short films must have been completed within the last 2 years (after 01 January 2023).

4. We discourage short film entries which may be edited versions of longer length films or short film entries which may be considered corporate or marketing documentaries.

5. To be eligible for consideration, all submissions must meet the following requirements:
Films must not be theatrically released prior to or during the period of the festival. Nor have been (or will not be) available commercially online and accessible from the state of Queensland, Australia, either for free or via on-demand services prior to or during the festival dates.

Screenings as part of a digital or online festival are permitted if the festival is for a limited run and geo-blocked such that access by Australian viewers is prohibited. Exemptions may be considered by the programming team on a film by film basis.

Work In Progress Submissions:
Our programmers are well accustomed to viewing work that is near completion. If you need to send the film when there is still post-production work left to do, then please let us know what is left to be done (eg colour grade, sound mix, vfx).
However, please note that we will not review different cuts of the same film, so it is best to wait until you have a cut you are happy with. If you are submitting a work in progress, please ensure a final completed film will be delivered to the festival (if the film is selected) by the content delivery date (noted below).

IMPORTANT TO NOTE FOR SHORT FILMS

a. Short films are screened open-air so GCFF reserves the right to request filmmakers bleep any swear words as we see necessary. This is to be undertaken by the filmmaker in consultation with the festival.
b. If selected, all films regardless of their language of origin must have English Language subtitles.
c. SIPFEST is an outdoor curated short film program and films with strong themes may not be selected for the final program. Films with mild to moderate themes for an all ages audience are encouraged.
d. Entry fees are non-refundable.

In the event of your short film being officially selected, you will be notified by invitation. At that point an Official Selection form will be sent for your completion, to confirm the invitation has been accepted, and to gather all the information necessary for the presentation and marketing of the film in the Festival.

If your short film is selected to screen as part of Gold Coast Film Festival:

1. As the unencumbered rights holder of the film in the territory you grant GCFF a royalty-free, non-exclusive, Australian license to screen the Film between 30th April and 11th May 2025

2. You agree to provide GCFF with a downloadable English Language subtitled version of the Short Film or DCP of the feature Film by no later than 29th March 2025. Regardless of the language of origin an English language subtitled version must be provided to the festival.

3. The GCFF screening must be the Queensland Premiere of your Film, and this first screening for a public audience. (GCFF recommends that filmmakers hold a cast and crew screening post-premiere as this may impact our selection process.)

4. As is necessary the GCFF will prepare professional session compiles at its own cost for screening at its venues. You grant GCFF all necessary rights to copy and otherwise reproduce the Film for the purpose of making such compiles in order to screen the Film and promote the Festival.

5. You must notify GCFF immediately if any of the rights in the Film become disputed or a claim is made against you in relation to the Film.

6. By submitting to the festival you undertake to indemnify GCFF from all possible claims made against the film. For the avoidance of doubt this includes any claims made against the film or the relevant production entity for any known or unforeseen issues regarding the production. This includes any type of infringement of intellectual property that could potentially impact the screening of the Film as part of the Festival.

7. The party that submits the film will be the GCFF’s primary contact during the event, should this change during the period of communication, written notification to the festival’s programmer will be necessary before the festival can enter into any communication, for any reason, with a third party.

8. You grant GCFF and the Festival a royalty-free, non-exclusive Australian license to use film excerpts, film stills, press kits, and other promotional materials from the Film for publicity and promotional purposes in relation to the Festival, including on its website, social media and relevant printed materials.

QUEENSLAND FEATURE FILM SCRIPT RULES

1. All scripts must be submitted in English.

2. Length of script submitted must be at least 70 pages. It is recommended it is below 120 pages, however there is no maximum page number that will be accepted.

3. Applicants must submit a synopsis paragraph at approximately 100 words, and a log line at 30 words max.

4. Submitters must be living and based in Queensland at time of submission.

5. Entrants may submit more than one script but each script must be submitted as a separate submission and payment.

6. All scripts must be submitted in PDF format and formatted in industry standard.

7. All scripts submitted must be applicant’s own original work and applicant must have all rights to submit script.

8. Entrants agree, that if chosen as the winner, they will take part in a live script read of their entry script in front of an audience at the Gold Coast Film Festival in May 2025. The festival will organise and source local actors for the read.

9. A prize will be awarded to the winner at the Gold Coast Film Festival 2025.

10. Entry fees are non-refundable.

11. Submissions must be made online. No mailed or emailed entries are accepted.

12. No revisions will be accepted after the screenplay has been submitted.

Judging:
Scripts will be judged on several different criteria (including, but not limited to, structure, premise, and entertainment value). Awards, selections, and decisions are final.
Co-Authors: If a screenplay has more than one author, it is up to the authors to decide how many authors to list on the application and who will be the primary contact e-mail.
Awards are given per entry, not per author and the awarded author must be a Queensland resident.

Entry Fees for all submissions:
All entrants must pay a flat fee per film entered. The fee varies based on the category entered and whether it is submitted in the early bird period or not.
PLEASE NOTE, THE ENTRY FEE CANNOT BE WAIVED AND IS NON-REFUNDABLE.
Unselected Projects:
Please note the team and judging PANEL DO NOT PROVIDE SPECIFIC FEEDBACK on unselected projects.

Important details for all Submissions:
All entrants must pay a flat fee per film entered. The fee varies based on the category entered and whether it is submitted in the early bird period or not.
PLEASE NOTE, THE ENTRY FEE CANNOT BE WAIVED AND IS NON-REFUNDABLE.
We DO NOT OFFER REFUNDS to films or projects that aren’t selected for the festival.
In the event that the Gold Coast Film Festival's in-person events are cancelled, restricted or rearranged due to COVID-19 or any other Government regulations, GCFF will award all prizes to winners either during a digital awards ceremony or otherwise. Submission fees will not be refunded in the case of restrictions to the Festival.
Programming decisions are made at the discretion of the programming team and take into consideration a myriad of factors for curation of the overall final festival program.
It is the filmmakers’ or rights holders' responsibility to ensure that the film or submission meets the eligibility criteria. If a submission subsequently becomes ineligible, while we are grateful if you could let us know, it is not possible to refund once films are already submitted.