IIFF Rules & Terms:
Please review the following carefully. By submitting (uploading & purchasing a submission to festival), you indicate that you have read, understood, and have complied with all eligibility requirements of the Iowa Independent Film Festival (IIFF) and the categories of which you are submitting to via FilmFreeway.
No refunds will be given for any submission that asks to withdraw, regardless of reason. By submitting your film for consideration for the 18th annual Iowa Independent Film Festival, you agree for IIFF to screen your film if it is an official selection. By withdrawing from the festival, a refund will not be processed nor will your film be selected.
Submission Format:
Films must be submitted through FilmFreeway or through an online screener link with a valid password (YouTube, Vimeo, etc). Films without a valid password will be deemed invalid and disqualified with no entry fee refund. Hard copies will not be accepted, returned, or seen as an official submission to the Iowa Independent Film Festival.
All submissions must have been completed after January 1, 2023. There are no premiere restrictions or policy for the Iowa Independent Film Festival.
By submitting to IIFF, you acknowledge that your film submitted has obtained any and all necessary permissions and rights exhibited in the work.
Screenings are scheduled during the festival at the discretion of IIFF. While every effort will be made to adhere to the published schedule, IIFF reserves the right to make changes at any time for any reason.
More than one entry may be submitted and a single entry can be submitted into multiple categories. Each category and submission must be accompanied by its own entry fee.
Films produced in other language other than English must have legible English subtitles.
IIFF is hereby granted the right to utilize image(s) and/or biographical information of the filmmakers and/or the films submitted and accepted for promotional purposes.
IIFF will not review multiple versions of the submitted film. IIFF can not guarantee the newest version of the film will be reviewed and may only view and rate the initial film that was first received.
Fee waivers will be provided to filmmakers on a case by case basis. Please contact the Iowa Independent Film Festival to inquire about fee/submission waivers at iowaindieff@gmail.com. If film is granted a waiver of any kind, the film is not eligible for any monetary awards.
IIFF does not consider films that require a screening and/or rental fee.
All decisions regarding film submission acceptances and award winners are considered final.
If your film is selected, we will contact you through the email provided in your FilmFreeway submission in order to request and download a copy of your submitted and accepted film. Failure to grant request will result in in not being scheduled and may result in disqualification.
Submission category may be changed if the filmmaker or film is not considered eligible for it. If another appropriate category cannot be found, entry fee will be considered a donation, and film will not be eligible for award in that category.
Please see additional terms and rules under "Awards and Prizes" and under individual category listings.
Selection Notification and Additional Information:
Programming decisions are final and made by the film festival board of directors. If accepted, we will notify you through email. As part of our festival, the Iowa Independent Film Festival is proud is to partner with local Airbnb/VRBO’s in order to house visiting filmmakers. Additional information for housing options will be sent to selected filmmakers and priority will be made to those traveling from beyond a 2 hour radius of Mason City & Clear Lake, Iowa.
