WELCOME TO OUR WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL FILM AND MUSIC VIDEO FESTIVAL

WOMEN IN CINEMA AND MUSIC
THIS IS A LIVE EVENT

Due to the unpredictable nature of the global pandemic, and the state laws governing safety, live screening dates for our live event are subject to change. In order to keep everyone safe. Social distancing and mask-wearing will be mandatory at all our festival events, including film forums, screenings, and panels. Anybody not wearing a mask will not be given entry to the festival. There will be limited seating at all screenings and events. We will be holding both indoor and outdoor events.

PROGRAM
The festival will begin at 12 pm each day with film forums, guest speakers, panels, and live screenings of our jury-selected films followed by awards. The final day of the festival will include a poolside salon in Santa Monica

NOTE: We are expanding our film festival music program. Musicians may be male and female but video directors must be women. ALL films must be directed by women. Our top prize winners will also be interviewed on our show SHE TALKS CINEMA.

ABOUT US
We are the women of New Hollywood. In Their Footsteps: Women Pioneers of Old Hollywood Light the Way

The Hollywood Women's Film Institute is a Los Angeles-based non-profit feminist arts and education organization, bringing together women in film, music, TV, Academia, and media, from all over the world through our Global Sisters Program. The Institute provides all-inclusive platforms for women in the arts. The Hollywood Women's Film Festival is a program of the Hollywood Women's Film Institute. We were established to provide a forum for women from all countries to come to Los Angeles and show their films. Our goal toward change is to engage both men and women in raising awareness through working together and participating in panel discussions and workshops to balance the power scales and end gender and racial inequity. Our panels and workshops are focused on filmmaking, directing, writing, producing, composing, costume design, artistic support, financing, distribution, activism in the arts, and ending the systemic culture of sexism in our industry.

Our board members are writers, directors, producers, activists, professors, actors, attorneys, artists, authors, and journalists. It is our goal to bring together the film and Television industries with academia, music, and media, in order to facilitate substantial and lasting change for women in the arts. Our educational programs include panels, lectures, workshops, and a student filmmaker program.

The Women of New Hollywood are keeping the vision of the women pioneers of Hollywood’s golden era alive by re-inventing Hollywood. The success of women in film is an homage to their genius. We invite you to join us. Walking in the footsteps of the women pioneers in writing, directing, and producing, Mary Pickford, Alice Guy Blache, Dorothy Arzner, Ida Lupino, Hedy Lamarr, Lucille Ball, Marion Davies, Tressie Souders, Marion Wong, and all the women film pioneers, we bring you The Hollywood Women’s Film Institute and The Hollywood Women’s Film Festival.

In addition to our various jury awarded filmmaker awards, our special awards include the Lifetime Achievement Award, Humanitarian Award, the Dorothy Arzner LGBTQ Director's Award, and our Activism Awards. We also have a foreign film program, a student film program, and our new music program.

For the most outstanding US film, we offer access to our fiscal sponsorship, for the filmmaker's next film. Awards and prizes vary.

All FILMS AND MUSIC VIDEOS THAT ARE SELECTED TO SCREEN AT OUR FESTIVAL MUST SEND IN A DCP FILE ONLY TO THE VENUE SCREENING ROOM. NO EXCEPTIONS.

All film submissions must have a woman at the helm. A woman writer, director, and at least one woman producer. A male co-producer or co-writer is acceptable, but not a solo male director. THE HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S FILM INSTITUTE AND THE HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL RULES AND TERMS AGREEMENT
The undersigned, the authorized representative of the project named below (hereafter referred to as the "Project") to The Hollywood Women’s Film Institute and The Hollywood Women’s International Film Festival for consideration for the 2022 Hollywood Women’s International Film Festival. (hereafter called HWIFF, or the “Festival” HWFI or the Institute), and acknowledges all of the following:

1. RIGHTS AND INTERESTS
The undersigned represents and warrants to the HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S FILM INSTITUTE that (a) The undersigned is duly authorized, on behalf of the undersigned and on behalf of all other persons, parties or entities who have any ownership rights, licenses or interests (including, without limitation, intellectual property rights or distribution licenses) in or relating to the Project (collectively and separately hereafter called the “Project’s Owners”), to permit the Institute to exhibit this Project in the Festival and to make the promises, representations and warranties set forth herein, (b) exhibition of the Project in the Festival will not violate any law or any right or consent of any person or entity, whether such exhibition is theatrical (live), digital, or any combination thereof; and (c) the Project is not subject to any litigation, arbitration, or other adversarial claim or proceeding, nor is the Project the subject of any threat of litigation, arbitration, or other adverse claim or proceeding.

2. The undersigned further agrees, represents and warrants, on behalf of the undersigned and the Project’s Owners, the exhibition of the Project in the Festival, whether live, digital, or any combination thereof, will not violate or infringe any copyright, patent, privacy right, publicity right, trademark, service mark or any other personal or property right of any person or entity, and that the Project does not and will not constitute or include any defamation of any person or entity. All license fees, clearance fees, and other obligations, of any kind, arising from or associated with the exhibition of the Project in or in connection with the Festival, have been and will be timely paid in full.

3. ACCEPTANCE – INCLUSION
IF the project is accepted by the HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S FILM INSTITUTE for inclusion in the HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, (HWIFF) the undersigned acknowledges, on behalf of the undersigned and the Project’s Owners, that the Institute’s exhibition or presentation of the Project in the Festival does not and will not create any confidential or fiduciary relationship between the Institute on the one hand and the undersigned and/or the Project’s Owners on the other. The undersigned further acknowledges, on behalf of the undersigned and the Project’s Owners, that neither the undersigned nor any of the Project’s Owners will receive any compensation for such exploitation, although some Festival prizes may include cash awards. The undersigned acknowledges that no obligation of any kind is assumed by, or may be implied against, the HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S FILM INSTITUTE or the HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL in the event of, by virtue of, or as a result of the Institute’s selection of the Project for the Festival.
The undersigned and the Project’s Owners understand and acknowledge that the selection of the Project to be included in the Festival does not and will not, at all, in any way constitute an express or implied endorsement or approval by the Institute or the Festival of the content of the project or any opinion expressed in the project.

4. The undersigned agrees, on behalf of the undersigned and each of the Project’s Owners, to indemnify and hold harmless the Institute and the Festival, together with each of their parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, employees, attorneys, creative advisors, agents and representatives (collectively, “Hollywood Women’s Film Institute Related Parties”), from and against all and any claims, losses, liabilities, damages, fees and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs that may be asserted by any person or entity, or may be incurred by the Hollywood Women’s Film Institute, the Festival, or any HWFI Related Parties, at any time in connection with the Project or the Institute’s use, handling, consideration or exhibition thereof, and/or arising from any breach or alleged breach of any representation made by the undersigned to the Institute, the Hollywood Women’s International Film Festival or any HWFI Hollywood Women’s Film Institute Related Parties, including, without limitation, any express or implied representation in these Terms and Conditions.
5. The undersigned warrants and agrees, on behalf of the undersigned and each of the Project’s Owners, that the Project is being submitted to the HWFI and HWIFF voluntarily and without promise or inducement, and that the submission of the Project neither imposes nor creates any obligation or responsibility on the part of the Institute, the Festival, and/or any HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. AND OUR INSTITUTE’S related Parties to accept the Project for inclusion in the Festival, to exhibit the Project in the Festival, to acknowledge the submission of the Project, or to return any Project materials to the undersigned or others. The undersigned further agrees, on behalf of the undersigned and the Project’s Owners and every other representative or person affiliated with the Project, that , in submitting the Project for consideration, the undersigned, the Project’s Owners, and any other representative or person affiliated with the Project are jointly and severally waiving, forfeiting, forgoing and relinquishing any right that we might otherwise have to assert any claim or commence any proceeding in any forum or tribunal against the HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL or any HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S FILM INSTITUTE Related Parties, based upon, arising out of or otherwise relating to the submission, exhibition or failure to exhibit the Project (including, without limitation, claims relating to any failure or refusal to exhibit the Project in the Festival, the exhibition or marketing of the Project at or in connection with the Festival, alleged oral or written representations by the Festival or its representatives relating to the submission or exhibition of the Project, and any other matters arising from or relating to the submission of the Project), whether such claims may be based on theories of contract, implied contract, tort, statute, or other legal theory (hereinafter, “Claim”). In the event that any Claim is asserted, or any action, arbitration or other proceeding is brought or commenced, in violation of the agreement set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, the undersigned, on behalf of the undersigned, the Project’s Owners and any other representative or person affiliated with the Project agrees to indemnify the HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S FILM INSTITUTE and the Festival from any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, fees and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs) that are incurred by the Institute, the Festival, and any HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S FILM INSTITUTE Related Parties as a result of or in connection with any Claim or any action, arbitration or other proceeding brought in violation of the representations and agreements set forth in this submission agreement.

6. Without in any way limiting the provisions or scope of the agreements set forth herein, the undersigned agrees and accepts that, in the event that any Claim is asserted, or any action, arbitration or other proceeding is brought or commenced, by the undersigned, any of the Project’s Owners, or any other representative of or person affiliated with the Project, in violation of the agreements set forth herein, and in the further event that an arbitrator or other tribunal should permit such Claim to proceed despite the waiver language set forth in paragraph 5 above, the sole and maximum remedy that could be awarded to any person or entity asserting any Claim shall be a refund of the submission fee paid in connection with the submission of the Project to the Institute for consideration for the Festival. Under no circumstances shall any other remedy, including without limitation actual, expectancy, reliance, consequential, special, punitive or exemplary damages, or any other damages, or injunctive, declaratory, provisional or other relief, be available to the undersigned, the Project’s Owners, or any other person or entity representing or affiliated with the Project.

7. In the event that the Project is accepted by the HWFI our institute for inclusion and exhibition in the Festival, the undersigned, requiring the consent of no other party to do so, hereby grants, on behalf of the undersigned and each of the Project’s Owners, each of the following rights to the Institute, the Festival, and any and all HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S FILM INSTITUTE Related Parties without reservations, conditions or qualifications: (a) the right to use footage, stills and/or titles, and information from or relating to the Project for promotional purposes; (b) the right to issue and authorize publicity concerning the Project and all personnel related to the Project; and (c) to use the names, likenesses and biographical information of all Project personnel, including, without limitation, director(s), producer(s), writer(s), cast member(s) and crew members in connection with the exhibition of the Project in, and promotion of, the HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL and the promotion of Institute.

8. In the event that the Project is accepted by the Institute for inclusion and exhibition in the Festival, and if the undersigned or the Project’s Owners and any other representative or person affiliated with the Project have contractual obligations to any producers, distributors, creators, cast or crew regarding "festival benefits" (which may include but are not limited to production credits, screening tickets, Festival credentials or monetary compensation), the undersigned agrees and accepts that those festival benefits must be administered and distributed by the undersigned and/or the Project’s Owners, do not impact the nature or quantity of benefits provided by our Institute and that the Institute has no responsibility whatsoever in connection therewith.

9. The undersigned warrants and agrees, on behalf of the undersigned and each of the Project’s Owners, that the Institute has made no claims, representations or guarantees, and has provided no assurances, in relation to the internal process utilized by the HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S FILM INSTITUTE with respect to selection of projects for inclusion in the Festival, and that the submission of the Project neither imposes nor creates any obligation or responsibility on the part of the HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S FILM INSTITUTE, the HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, or any HWFI Related Parties to provide the undersigned, the Project’s Owners, or any Project- related parties with comments, feedback or other information pertaining to the viewing or consideration of the Project by the Institute for possible inclusion in the Festival.

10. The undersigned warrants and agrees, on behalf of the undersigned and each of the Project’s Owners, that by submitting the Project to the HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S FILM INSTITUTE, and all persons employed by, contracted by, or otherwise directly associated with the Institute are deemed to have been granted the irrevocable right to view and/or download all digital assets associated with the Project, including, but not limited to, any representation of the Project in the form of video files, still images, assets streamed via the Internet, and/or all other assets and information provided by the Applicant on the application. All digital assets referenced above shall remain active and accessible by the Institute until the conclusion of the Festival on OCTOBER. 23, 2022. Any dissemination of these materials, incidental or otherwise, shall not be the responsibility of the Institute or any HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S FILM INSTITUTE Related Parties.

11. The undersigned represents that if the undersigned is younger than the legal age to enter into contracts in the state of the undersigned’s principal place of residence, the Institute has been provided with signed, written consent from the undersigned’s parent or legal guardian.

12. Without in any way limiting the provisions or scope of this submission agreement, the undersigned agrees, on behalf of the undersigned and each of the Project’s Owners, that any claim, dispute or controversy arising out of, in connection with, or otherwise related to the Project, the Festival, or these Terms and Conditions, including, without limitation, any Claim (as this term is defined above) and any other claim or cause of action of any nature arising from the actual or alleged breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation or validity of these Terms and Conditions, as well as the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, will be governed by the internal, substantive laws of the State of California and will be subject to and submitted to exclusive, binding arbitration before a single arbitrator in Los Angeles, California, which shall be the sole and exclusive forum for determination of such claim, dispute or controversy. Such arbitration will be administered by JAMS pursuant to its Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures then in effect. The arbitrator will be selected by mutual agreement of the parties or, if the parties are unable to agree on an arbitrator, will be appointed by JAMS pursuant to its Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures then in effect. The arbitrator shall issue a written award and, subject to the terms of paragraph 6 hereof, shall have the right to award monetary relief.

13. The undersigned specifically agrees and acknowledges, that the arbitrator shall not have the power to award punitive or exemplary damages, nor shall the arbitrator have the power to order the Institute to include the Project in the Festival or to award any injunctive or non-monetary relief. The arbitrator shall have the power to award, and shall be required to award, to the substantially prevailing party in any such arbitration, its reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the arbitration (including, without limitation, reimbursement of that party’s share of the arbitrator’s fees and JAMS administrative charges). The arbitrator’s award shall be final, binding and non-appealable. Judgment on the arbitrator’s award may be entered in any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction in the United States. In agreeing to this exclusive arbitration provision, the undersigned hereby waives, forfeits and relinquishes, on behalf of the undersigned and each of the Project’s Owners, any right or entitlement that the undersigned and/or the Project’s Owners might otherwise have had to bring or litigate any claim or claims in any federal or state court against the Institute, the Festival, or any HOLLYWOOD. WOMEN’S FILM INSTITUTE AND HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Related Party, and further waives, forfeits and relinquishes any right to a trial by jury with respect to such claim or claims.

14. The undersigned hereby acknowledges that the undersigned has the right to consult with an attorney of its own choosing with respect to these Terms and Conditions and with respect to the Rules and Regulations for submitting a project to the Festival, located at https://hollywoodwomensfilminstitute.org/ By completing the submission application for 2022 Hollywood Women’s International Film Festival consideration, the undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the undersigned is doing so after having consulted with an attorney or having freely or voluntarily elected not to do so without coercion or duress.

15. THE HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S FILM INSTITUTE supports an environment where creative courage, and unique voices are valued. Our Institute is committed to allowing, artists, musicians, filmmakers, and festival attendees to enjoy the Film Festival free of sexism, harassment, discrimination, and threatening, disrespectful behavior. The Institute reserves the right to rescind an invitation to participate in the Festival for those who engage in any type of such conduct.

15. The undersigned hereby acknowledges on behalf of all Project Owners that the undersigned has read and understood the Rules and Regulations for submitting a project to the Festival, and that the information contained in said Rules and Regulations does and shall supersede any information obtained elsewhere, including, but not limited to, information contained in any current Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) documents and/or rules and regulations documents from prior years.

16. By completing the submission application for 2022 HOLLYWOOD WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL consideration, the undersigned, on behalf of the undersigned and all Project Owners, freely and voluntarily gives and expresses full and complete acceptance of all of the terms and provisions set forth in these Terms and Conditions. The parties acknowledge that no oral representations, inducements, promises or assurances of any kind, and no representations, inducements, promises or assurances not set forth in these Terms and Conditions, have been made to the undersigned or the Project’s Owners by the Festival, our Institute, or any HWFI Related Parties. In the event that the project is accepted for the 2022 Hollywood Women’s International Film Festival, the Project Owners will enter into a Festival Participation Agreement incorporating all of the terms and conditions of this agreement, which terms and conditions shall be and remain binding upon the undersigned, the Project and the Project Owners. The Institute reserves the right to rescind any and all Festival acceptance invitations given to the Project and the Project Owners, whether verbally or in writing, in the event that the Festival Participation Agreement is not accepted by the Project Owners.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Gail Simpson

    Thank you HWIFF!!! It was thrilling to be part of your event this year.

    November 2021
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for sharing your film and music with us.

  • What a cool festival, we had great time watching films and meeting other talented female filmmakers. Everyone was kind, helpful and willing to work with us to make our film premiere a success! Women supporting women is so important, especially in the arts.

    October 2021
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for sharing your film and music with us.

  • JC Thomas

    What an amazing experience! Everyone involved was extremely inviting and helpful during the whole process. I love what the festival stands for... empowering women in the industry. All entries were amazing. Great artists! We had a blast!

    October 2021
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for sharing your film and insights with us.

  • Sheri Sussman

    We had an amazing experience being a part of HWIFF. Everyone was so gracious and treated us with such kindness and support. The other filmmakers were all so talented and had such great film. I'm so glad we entered our film this year and was accepted.

    October 2021
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for sharing your film. It was so great having you at the festival. Congrats on your win.

  • Haleh Saberi

    A great experience participating in this highly organized festival with my short Broken. Thank you!

    October 2021