I. APPLICATION OF THESE TERMS & CONDITIONS
The following terms and conditions govern the submission of films to the IFFM Short Film Competition via FilmFreeway.com (FilmFreeway) for consideration for the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2026 programme. Any questions about these Terms should be directed to programming@mindblowingentertainment.net
We advise you to read the rules and regulations carefully before you submit your film.
II. SUBMISSION AGREEMENT
1. By submitting a film for consideration at IFFM, the submitter confirms that all necessary consents have been obtained from owners, creators, writers, producers, and any other authorized representatives required for submission and festival screening, and that they have read, understood, and agreed to the festival’s Terms and Conditions.
2. All submitted films should be the filmmaker’s original work, and all associated rights, including music, footage, and script, must be duly cleared.
3. IFFM may reject or disqualify any submission that, in its sole discretion, is found to be partly or fully not in line with these terms, though it is not obligated to do so.
III. SUBMISSION CATEGORIES AND ELIGIBILITY
Films that do not meet the eligibility requirements for any of the categories below should not be submitted and will not be considered by IFFM.
1. For the below categories, “Indian” films are films that were directed by an Indian citizen or permanent resident of Australia and list India or Australia as one of the countries of production. All other films are considered “International” films and therefore are not eligible.
2. A film will be deemed ineligible for consideration if:
- The runtime exceeds 15 minutes.
- The film doesn't have hardcoded English subtitles.
- The year of production is not between June 2025 and June 2026.
- The film was previously submitted to the festival.
IV.. PROCESS FOR SUBMISSION
(Submission Procedure)
1. All films submitted under these Terms must follow the submission process outlined above. IFFM may reject or disqualify any film that is not submitted in accordance with these procedures.
2. To submit a film for festival consideration, applicants must (a) complete the registration process via FilmFreeway and/or (b) provide a screener for feature films for review by the IFFM programming team. IFFM does not accept submissions through any other method or format, including RW discs, Blu-ray discs, external links, downloadable files, or trailers. The screener must contain one version of the film in the original language of production, with mandatory hardcoded English subtitles. Legal screen watermarks are acceptable.
3. IFFM will not review multiple versions of a submitted film. Only one version of the film may be submitted. If multiple versions are submitted, the submission will be disqualified.
4. Applicants should test their screener links thoroughly before submitting them. The applicant is solely responsible for ensuring that the submitted screener plays in its entirety. If IFFM is unable to view the screener link, IFFM may attempt, but is under no obligation, to contact the applicant to obtain an alternate screener link.
5. For competitions, the jury's decision will be considered final and binding.
V. SELECTION
1. IFFM will consider for inclusion in the festival all eligible films that have been submitted by the above deadline and in accordance with these terms.
2. Once the film lineup is officially announced and published on the website and other places, it cannot be withdrawn from the lineup.
3. All selection decisions are made solely by IFFM and are final. IFFM is not obliged to provide feedback, comments, or reasons for the selection or non-selection of any film. IFFM is not responsible or liable for its selection decisions, any internal comments or feedback about the film, communications from IFFM representatives, how the film was reviewed, or any failure to provide information about the film’s consideration.
4. IFFM will contact applicants using the contact information provided in the FilmFreeway registration form. Applicants are responsible for providing correct and functional contact information. IFFM is not responsible for any failed attempts to contact applicants using the contact information provided.
VI. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, LEGAL CLAIMS AND INDEMNITIES
1. The festival reserves the right to screen the selected films during the festival dates and use excerpts for promotion.
2. By submitting a film to IFFM, the Applicant and Film Owners confirm and agree that:
Originality and Rights:
The film is entirely original and does not copy or include any work protected by copyright or other rights unless it is in the public domain or all necessary permissions, releases, licenses, or authorizations have been obtained. The film does not defame anyone or violate any legal rights, including privacy, publicity, or other personal rights. The film is not involved in any legal dispute or litigation. There are no agreements, nor will there be any future agreements, that would prevent the submission of the film or conflict with these Terms.
Authority to Submit:
The submitting parties have the full right and authority to submit the film to IFFM and grant all rights as outlined in these Terms and the FilmFreeway registration form. Nothing prevents or restricts the submitting parties from fully fulfilling their obligations under this submission.
Indemnity:
The submitting parties agree to protect and hold harmless IFFM, its licensees, staff, volunteers, affiliates, and representatives from any claims, losses, costs, damages, or legal fees arising directly or indirectly from the use or screening of the submitted film, or from any breach of these Terms or the FilmFreeway registration form.
Film Security:
IFFM takes reasonable precautions to protect films from piracy. All films are securely stored, and access is limited to staff who need it to screen and review submissions. By submitting a film, the submitting parties release IFFM and its representatives from any liability in case of theft, unauthorized access, copying, or copyright infringement while the film is in IFFM’s possession.
VII. OTHER
IFFM reserves the right to rule, in its sole discretion, on cases and situations not foreseen by these Terms.
