Leander Film Festival

Premiere Status & Eligibility: Priority is given to celebrate and elevate exceptional storytelling, regardless of where your journey began. Because this is our inaugural year, we do not mandate strict World, National, or Regional premiere status.

Texas Circuit Alumni Welcome: If your film has already screened at SXSW, the Austin Film Festival, or other regional festivals, you are fully eligible to compete for all jury awards and prizes.

Public Availability Restriction: Films that are currently available to the general public via free or commercial streaming platforms (such as YouTube, Vimeo, or public VOD) or broadcast television are strictly ineligible for competitive screening slots. We protect the theatrical experience for our audiences and visiting distributors.

Completion Date: Features and short films must have been completed after January 1, 2024.

Submission Medium: All submissions must be uploaded via a secure online screener link directly through Film Freeway.

Works-in-Progress: We accept rough cuts or works-in-progress (WIP) for consideration provided that image lock and final audio delivery are guaranteed by September 1 of the festival year. Please note "Work in Progress" clearly on your submission page.

Language Requirements: Non-English language films must feature burned-in or selectable English subtitles.

Exhibition Formats: If selected, the filmmaker agrees to provide a professional Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or ProRes 422 HQ file for theatrical exhibition by the designated print traffic deadline.

Official Selection Commitment & Late-Withdrawal Penalty: Upon accepting an official invitation to screen at the festival, the filmmaker or authorized rights holder must execute a formal Exhibition & License Commitment Agreement. To safeguard the integrity of our curated theatrical program and print traffic scheduling, any project officially withdrawn by the filmmaker within thirty (30) days of the festival opening night will be subject to a $500 late-withdrawal penalty fee.

Asset Delivery Deadline: Final presentation deliverables, screening files, and legal assets must be submitted to the festival committee within two (2) weeks of receiving an official selection notice. Failure to deliver completed assets within this timeframe grants the festival management absolute authority to vacate the project's slot and replace it with a runner-up from the programming waitlist.

Stipend Eligibility: The two $100 daily stipends are awarded per selected project (not per individual filmmaker) and require physical attendance at the designated festival events to be distributed.

Alumni Submissions: Future submission waivers and priority fast-track reviews granted to Grand Jury winners apply strictly to the evaluation process. All future selections remain strictly merit-based and are subject to final approval by the programming committee.

Intellectual Property & Chain of Title Clearances: The submitter warrants that they hold full legal ownership of the film's copyright, including all synchronized music, talent releases, trademarks, and literary rights. The Leander Film Festival explicitly disclaims any liability for copyright infringement or chain-of-title disputes brought forward by third parties. Failure to produce clear chain-of-title documentation upon request will result in immediate disqualification from the program

Legal Indemnification Clause: By submitting to the festival, the applicant agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Leander Arts & Film Alliance, its directors, employees, sponsors, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees and court costs) arising out of or resulting from any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, or screening rights.

Promotional Rights & Media Assets: Upon official selection, the filmmaker grants the Leander Film Festival a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to utilize film trailers, loglines, production stills, cast bios, and up to two (2) minutes of film footage for promotional, marketing, broadcast, and press purposes across all media platforms to drive ticket sales, audience engagement, and industry attendance.

Financial & Refund Protocols: All submission fees are non-refundable and non-transferable under any circumstances. The festival does not issue retroactive discounts or refunds if a film is not selected. Programming decisions made by the selection committee, grand juries, and market panels are final, absolute, and binding.