We strongly encourage you to review this carefully. By submitting your project, you acknowledge that you have read and agreed to all of the following rules and terms. All projects that have been submitted by our final deadline and that adhere to the following terms will be considered for inclusion in the Lima Films International Film Festival.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Each submission must be accompanied by a submission fee paid in full and a working screener in order to be considered. Once we have all the necessary materials, the submission will be marked “In Consideration”. It is the submitter’s responsibility to make sure that all requirements are met. If your film has not been listed “In Consideration” within 7 business days of submission, please contact us to find out what is needed to move your film into consideration.
Press kits and cover letters are not required but are appreciated. If you wish to submit either, please attach it to your submission. DO NOT send hard copies to our office; they will be recycled.
SCREENERS
Online screeners only format that will be accepted, either via a password protected Vimeo link or uploaded directly to FilmFreeway. The submitter is responsible for ensuring that their screener link and password are active through the final day of submissions. In the event of a password or URL change after submitting, email us immediately. If we discover an error with the screener, we will attempt to email the submitter for an update. Failure to respond by the final submission deadline will result in disqualification without refund of submission fees. Online screeners must be available to stream, we do not accept any films that must be downloaded.
SUBTITLES
All foreign-language films must be submitted with English subtitles. Any films that do not provide working subtitles will be disqualified without refund of submission fees.
WORKS IN PROGRESS
Works-in-progress are accepted with the following stipulations:
Incomplete projects must be clearly listed as such. Films should be marked as either a “Rough Cut” or “Work in Progress/WIP”. All incomplete materials or changes to be made should be clearly indicated (ex: temporary sound, missing VFX, no color-correction) both in your cover letter and either the film cut itself OR the screener’s thumbnail.
The entrant may update their screener up until the final deadline, as long as the link and password for the submission remains the same. However, LFIFF is only responsible for considering the project as it exists at the time of review. We are under no obligation to revisit updated cuts once a screener has been seen. We do not accept updated cuts via email or DVD.
No updated cuts will be accepted after the final submission deadline: June 1, 2021.
If selected, the final version of the film must be available by February 1, 2021.
SUBMISSION CATEGORIES
Please review submission categories carefully before submitting. All entrants are required to pay the submission fee of their film’s appropriate category. If you believe you have submitted your film to the wrong category, contact us immediately. While we can facilitate a change in category, the entrant will be responsible for any changes in submission fees. We cannot offer partial refunds for categories with a smaller fee. If the new category has a higher fee, the entrant is responsible for paying the difference.
Please read category descriptions carefully to determine where your submission belongs. If the entrant wishes to submit to multiple categories, a separate submission fee must be paid for each category. LFIFF reserves the right to determine the eligibility of submission in each respective category. Refunds will not be offered for submission to the incorrect category.
DEADLINES
Please keep track of deadlines closely if you plan on submitting within a certain window. All deadlines are set for 11:59 pm EST.
Any submissions with an unpaid balance after a deadline will be required to pay the following deadline’s submission fee. Failure to pay the appropriate fee may result in disqualification without a refund.
ACCEPTED FILMS
All works selected must be available within 15 days of inclusion in the festival and we must be notified via e-mail of it being updated otherwise we will assume the film you sent in prior to the festival submission deadline is the film you want to be judged for festival.
Should your film be accepted in the 2021 Lima Films International Film Festival, you grant LFIFF the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes.
SCREENING FEES
The Lima Films International Film Festival DOES NOT PAY SCREENING FEES. By submitting your film, you acknowledge that the festival will not pay to present your work.
COPYRIGHT & LEGAL TERMS
By entering your film for consideration to the 2021 Lima Films International Film Festival, you authorize that your work is cleared for festival exhibition and accept full legal responsibility for the intellectual property therein. The submitter and all filmmakers associated with the project shall indemnify and hold harmless the Lima Films International Film Festival, Lima Films International Film Society, and any representative or affiliates 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.
REFUNDS & DISQUALIFICATION
Once a project is listed “In Consideration” on FilmFreeway, we are unable to offer refunds for any reason, including (but not limited to):
- Submission to the wrong category
- Change in premiere status or distribution
- Duplicate submissions
- Failure to pay the full submission fee by the final deadline
- Failure to provide a working screener by the final deadline
- Project’s failure to comply with submission Rules & Terms
- Rejection from the festival
- Withdrawing your submission for any reason (including changes of heart)
DISTRIBUTION
The winner of the distribution price will be eligible to negotiate the terms of their deal with our distributor partner. Lima Films and the Lima Films International Film Festival does not negotiate on behalf of the winner and we are unable to provide you with any legal advice on the terms of distribution or contract presented to the winner of the award.
LFIFF reserves the right to disqualify any submission without refund of submission fees.
(Awards will only be awarded based on categories your film is entered under)
