1. The LCFF Film Festival is being held from Saturday, October 21st to Sunday, October 22nd, 2023.
2. The aim of the festival is to; provide a space for emerging to established B.C. filmmakers to submit and showcase their original films in the City of Langley.
3. In addition to the sections mentioned in the following paragraphs, the festival will also organize special events such as film workshops and industry days. More information about these special events will be provided closer to the festival dates.
4. Official Selection; Award Categories
4.1 Feature Films
A film created by a collection of individuals must be submitted by one of its key contributing members who resides in BC in order to be eligible for consideration.
All Feature Films must be submitted by adults 19 years of age or older. In order to submit to this category, the total running time of the film needs to be between 40 - 90 minutes (including credits) and must speak to the theme of Transitions. All films must have been created between January 1, 2019, and June 30, 2023, to enter this category.
4.2 Short Films
A film created by a collection of individuals must be submitted by one of its key contributing members who resides in BC in order to be eligible for consideration.
All Short Films must be submitted by adults 19 years of age or older. In order to submit to this category, the total running time of the film needs to be between 5 - 40 minutes (including credits) and must speak to the theme of Transitions. All films must have been created between January 1, 2019, and June 30, 2023, to enter this category.
4.3 Stock Films
A film created by a collection of individuals must be submitted by one of its key contributing members who resides in BC in order to be eligible for consideration.
All Stock Films must be submitted by adults 19 years of age or older. In order to submit to this category, the total running time of the film needs to be between 30 seconds - 5 minutes (including credits) and must speak to the theme of Transitions. Please note; only stop motion, animation, or experimental films will be accepted into this category. All films must have been created between January 1, 2019, and June 30, 2023, to enter this category.
4.4 High School Student Short Films
A film created by a collection of individuals must be submitted by one of its key contributing members who resides in BC in order to be eligible for consideration.
In order to submit to this category, the total running time of the film needs to be between 10 seconds - 60 seconds (including credits) and must speak to the theme of Transitions. High School Students must be 18 years old and under in British Columbia during the time of their film production in order to be eligible to submit as a High School Student. This means they may have graduated since the completion of the film, before the film festival. High School Students must provide proof of their enrollment during this period. All films must have been created between January 1, 2019, and June 30, 2023, to enter this category.
4.5 High School Student Medium-Length Film
A film created by a collection of individuals must be submitted by one of its key contributing members who resides in BC in order to be eligible for consideration. In order to submit to this category, the total running time of the film needs to be between 1 - 3 minutes (including credits) and must speak to the theme of Transitions. High School Students must be 18 years old and under in British Columbia during the time of their film production in order to be eligible to submit as a High School Student. This means they may have graduated since the completion of the film, before the film festival. High School Students must provide proof of their enrollment during this period. All films must have been created between January 1, 2019, and June 30, 2023, to enter this category.
4.6 High School Student Long-Length Film
A film created by a collection of individuals must be submitted by one of its key contributing members who resides in BC in order to be eligible for consideration.
In order to submit to this category, the total running time of the film needs to be between 3 minutes and 30 seconds to 5 minutes (including credits) and must speak to the theme of Transitions. High School Students must be 18 years old and under in British Columbia during the time of their film production in order to be eligible to submit as a High School Student. This means they may have graduated since the completion of the film, before the film festival. High School Students must provide proof of their enrollment during this period. All films must have been created between January 1, 2019, and June 30, 2023, to enter this category.
5. Juries and Awards
Three jurors were selected by the ARCH committee to hand out the following prizes.
General Awards (Applicants 19+); Stock, Short, and Feature. See Awards and Prizes for additional information.
And, High School Student Awards (Applicants up to 18); Short, Medium, and Long. See Awards and Prizes for additional information.
There will be no joint winners.
6. Selection of films/projects
6.1 Selection Process
Only films that have been registered can be considered for selection. Film registrations are accepted exclusively online on FilmFreeway.
Selection Process; Part 1: The LCFF Committee will review each of the submitted films to ensure they fit the film festival guidelines prior to these films being presented to the jurors for adjudication.
Selection Process; Part 2: The jurors will have an allocated amount of time to review the submissions. The selection of winners will be made under the following criteria:
1. Originality; the uniqueness and originality of the premise or story.
2. Creativity; the effective use of imagination as evidenced in the entry.
3. Plot; the actions, events, conflicts, and turning points that propel the story forward.
4. Pacing; the timing of the action, unfolding of plot elements, and character development.
5. Structure; the framework of the film or script. Effective use of three-act, odyssey, linear, or non-linear story progression.
6. Characters; personalities that are distinctive, compelling, multi-layered, and unpredictable. A protagonist and antagonist with clear and active goals.
7. Cinematography; the quality of cinematography or videography demonstrated in the work.
8. Direction; the quality of direction exhibited in the work.
9. Entertainment Value; does the story keep the viewer's or reader's attention? Is it fun, engaging, or thought-provoking?
10. Dialogue; voices that are natural, succinct, and unique to each character. Use of language that effectively reveals character and moves the story forward.
11. Overall Quality of Production; is the entry well constructed and well executed as a whole?
6.2 Submission Deadlines
The following deadlines must be met without exception:
Regular Submission Deadline: June 30, 2023
All the films have to be registered by June 30, 2023, via FilmFreeway.
Late submissions will not be accepted.
6.3 Registration Fees
For each film submitted to the selection of the Festival, a registration fee is requested to cover administrative and programming costs. Films will only be considered for selection after the entry fee is received in full. Please note; this fee will not be reimbursed under any circumstance.
There are no fees for submitting into the High School Student Film Categories.
6.4 Materials to submit
Films are to be submitted in their original version for the selection process. Films in English do not require translation. Films in other languages must be subtitled with English Subtitles. All Projects must be uploaded via the FilmFreeway Secure Online Screener system or via a Vimeo link entered directly on the online application.
The LCFF Film Festival reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from the applicant, any Project that is not submitted via one of these formats.
6.5. Dialogues/Subtitles
If your project includes non-English dialogues, please ensure all subtitles are hardcoded to your video file (we do not accept a translated list of dialogue on paper). This includes General Awards and High School Student Awards.
6.6 Completion
Projects need to be created between January 1, 2019, and June 30, 2023, to be eligible for consideration for the 2023 edition of the Festival.
6.7 Premiere Status
Films submitted to the LCFF do not need to retain any sort of premiere status.
6.8 Declaration of Rights Upon Submitting a Film
LCFF will only accept the submission of a film if the submitter is the holder of all usage rights to the film necessary for the submission and use of the film within the context of participation in LCFF. By submitting a film through FilmFreeway the submitter is agreeing they have the appropriate rights to submit the film.
6.9 Notification
All the submitted films will be notified on October 1st, 2023 in writing if their film has been successful or not. If your film is invited to the official selection of LCFF, you will be contacted by the Festival to finalize the logistical and practical details of your screening during the Festival.
7. Selected Films/Projects
The invitation to participate is issued by the LCFF Committee and jurors. Only officially selected films/projects can participate in the Langley City Film Festival. Upon completion of the Festival selection process, an LCFF committee member will attempt to contact the Applicant using the contact information provided on the submission form to notify the Applicant of the Project’s acceptance status. The LCFF disavows any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible for any failure to contact the Applicant using the contact information provided on the submission form. It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to ensure that the contact information provided on the submission form is correct.
8. Participants' Obligations
No film may be withdrawn from the festival program after its participation has been publicized. Participation in the festival requires unconditional adherence to all regulations set out in these guidelines.
The LCFF committee reserves the right to rule on any cases not provided for in these guidelines.
8.1 Acceptance Form
Selected films will receive an Acceptance Form to be duly completed and returned no later than 20 days after being notified by an LCFF committee member. Receipt of the form by the Festival implies the legal acceptance of the invitation by all concerned and will be considered definitive and irrevocable.
8.2 Announcement
The invitation of a Project to participate must remain confidential until the announcement of the program by the LCFF. Failure to comply will result in its exclusion from the selection. The general scheduling and screening times are the sole responsibility of LCFF.
8.3 Screening Formats
Selected films MUST provide an adequate DCP file to be screened (with English subtitles). The Festival reserves the right to refuse any copy that, on the advice of the Festival technicians, is considered to be of inadequate quality for public screening.
8.4 Catalog
All the material required for the Festival catalog (synopses, cast and credits, biography and a complete filmography of the director, photographs of the director, of actors and scenes from the film in b/w and color, plus a brief director’s comment on the film) must reach the Festival as soon as possible, but no later than 20 days after the end of the extended submission deadline. This also includes a short document of how the film relates to the theme of Transitions.
8.5 Press Material
The presenters of films participating in the Festival must send the promotional material for distribution to the press and potential buyers (press book, digital images of the film and the director, video material, audio clips, etc.) under separate cover, at their own expense, no later than 20 days after the end of the extended submission deadline, in the quantities that will be requested after the invitation.
8.6 Official Logo
All forms of promotional activity after the presentation of the program by the LCFF must mention their participation in the Langley City Film Festival, including the official logo of the LCFF Festival, as supplied by LCFF Committee. Films awarded a prize must also state which award was won, in accordance with the official graphic designs predetermined and supplied by LCFF Film Festival.
9. Hospitality
A representative from the LCFF will be in touch with selected filmmakers to organize attendance and post-screening Q&As.
9.1 Covid-19 Protocols
The LCFF committee will continue to monitor the ongoing pandemic and will update filmmakers if guidelines and Provincial Mandates change. Information regarding the LCFF will be communicated to the filmmakers via email.
10. Shipping & Shipping Insurance
All insurance costs covering the transport of films and press material to and from the Langley City Film Festival will be at the expense of those presenting the films.
11. Insurance during ARCH Langley City Film Festival
Insurance is not provided by the City of Langley, or the Langley Arts Council leading up to, during, or after the festival.
The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless City of Langley and Langley Arts Council 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.
12. Usage Rights
The participant declares and guarantees that he/she is the holder of all usage rights necessary for the use of the film in the context of this agreement. The participant affirms that any third parties involved in the production and distribution of the film have agreed, where necessary, to its use in the context of the LCFF as specified in this agreement. The participant guarantees that by using the film in the context of this agreement, no rights of third parties, including persons depicted in the film, are infringed.
BY SUBMITTING, YOU CERTIFY:
1. You have read and agree to the rules and regulations above.
2. This film is not subject to litigation nor is threatened by any litigation.
3. You are duly authorized to submit this film to the LCFF and its Competition and understand that the Festival holds the right to screen my film for Festival screening and promotional purposes and to extract clips from this film for promotional purposes. You understand this may include online streaming of clips on Festival or Festival sponsor sites.
4. You understand that the LCFF Film Festival ("Festival") , the Langley Arts Council, and the City of Langley (“Foundations”) are not responsible for any type of damage to or loss of the print during screenings, at any other time during the course of the Festival, while the film is in the Festival’s possession or while en route to or from the Festival, and you release LCFF Film Festival ("Festival"), the Langley Arts Council, and the City of Langley (“Foundations”) from any and all liabilities regarding damage to or loss of the print while en route to/from the Festival or while it is in their possession.
