SUBMISSION CATEGORIES – RULES & TERMS
8th Annual LightReel Film Festival
June 3–5, 2027 | Washington, DC
We strongly encourage all applicants to carefully review the following Rules & Terms before submitting a film, episodic project, or screenplay. Submission to the LightReel Film Festival ("LightReel," "the Festival," or "LFF") constitutes acknowledgment and acceptance of all terms outlined below.
Once a project has been submitted by the final deadline and meets the criteria outlined herein, it will be considered for inclusion in the 8th Annual LightReel Film Festival.
**Please Note:** Projects may not be withdrawn within thirty (30) days of the Festival start date.
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GLOBAL ACCESS SUBMISSION FRAMEWORK
The LightReel Film Festival is committed to expanding access to filmmakers whose participation in the global festival marketplace may be limited by economic, geographic, political, or structural barriers.
Through the Global Access Submission Framework, LightReel offers a limited number of full submission fee waivers and reduced-fee opportunities each year to eligible filmmakers, including but not limited to:
• Indigenous storytellers
• Filmmakers residing in low-income or developing nations
• Filmmakers from Small Island Developing States
• Refugee, displaced, or stateless filmmakers
• Emerging filmmakers and first-time feature directors
• Creators from historically underrepresented communities worldwide
Global Access opportunities are limited and awarded solely at the discretion of the Festival.
Projects submitted through the Global Access Submission Framework are evaluated using the same artistic, technical, and programming standards applied to all submissions. Receipt of a fee waiver, fee reduction, or access accommodation does not guarantee selection, exhibition, award consideration, or Festival participation.
As part of its ongoing commitment to international cultural exchange, LightReel actively seeks submissions representing diverse voices from Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, North America, and Indigenous communities worldwide.
The Festival reserves the right to establish annual limits on Global Access awards and may modify eligibility criteria from year to year based on available resources and strategic priorities.
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GENERAL ELIGIBILITY
By submitting a project, filmmakers and screenwriters confirm that:
• They have read, understood, and accepted the official Rules & Terms of the LightReel Film Festival.
• They hold all necessary rights, licenses, and permissions required for the exhibition of the submitted work.
• The submitted work is not subject to any actual or threatened litigation.
• They agree to indemnify and hold harmless the LightReel Film Festival, the Foundation for the Augmentation of African Americans in Film (FAAAF), and all affiliated parties from any claims related to rights, licensing, or permissions not properly secured.
The Festival encourages submissions from filmmakers of all backgrounds and nationalities whose work reflects excellence in storytelling, artistic vision, and diverse cultural perspectives.
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SCREENING PLATFORMS
Selected films may be presented in the following formats:
In-Person Screenings
During the 8th Annual LightReel Film Festival, held June 3–5, 2027, across multiple venues throughout Washington, DC.
The Festival reserves the right to modify screening venues, schedules, formats, and presentation methods as necessary.
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INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKER PARTICIPATION
The LightReel Film Festival welcomes submissions from filmmakers worldwide.
All accepted international films must provide English-language subtitles where applicable and comply with all Festival deliverable requirements.
Selection to the Festival does not include travel, lodging, visa sponsorship, appearance fees, or other financial support unless expressly offered in writing by the Festival.
LightReel may, at its sole discretion, provide networking opportunities, filmmaker engagement activities, promotional support, cultural exchange programming, or other participation benefits for selected international filmmakers.
Filmmakers are solely responsible for securing any required travel documents, visas, permits, or authorizations necessary for participation in Festival activities.
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RIGHTS & PROMOTIONAL USE
By submitting to LightReel, applicants grant the Festival a non-exclusive, royalty-free right to use excerpts from the submitted work, including stills, trailers, posters, and brief clips, for non-commercial promotional purposes, including but not limited to:
• The Festival website and social media platforms
• Press, publicity, and media outreach
• Festival programs and digital publications
• Highlight reels and promotional videos
• Sponsor and partner presentations related to Festival promotion
These materials will be used solely to promote the film, the filmmaker(s), and the LightReel Film Festival.
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SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Submissions for the 8th Annual LightReel Film Festival open September 14, 2026.
To be eligible:
• Films, episodic projects, and screenplays must be completed on or after September 1, 2025.
• Projects must not be theatrically released, nationally broadcast, or publicly screened in Washington, DC prior to June 1, 2027 unless otherwise approved by the Festival.
To be officially considered:
• Submissions must include all required materials and either the applicable submission fee or an approved fee adjustment through the Global Access Submission Framework.
• Submissions will be marked "In Consideration" only after all required materials have been verified.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring all submission requirements have been met.
If a submission does not appear as "In Consideration" within seven (7) business days of submission, applicants should contact the Festival.
Notification of acceptance status will be issued no later than March 17, 2027.
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SCREENERS
LightReel strongly prefers online screeners submitted through FilmFreeway or password-protected Vimeo links.
Screeners must remain active and accessible through June 12, 2027.
Failure to maintain an active screener link may result in disqualification without refund.
Screeners requiring downloads or containing public-facing watermarks that substantially interfere with viewing may be deemed ineligible.
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SUBTITLES
All non-English-language films must include English subtitles.
Films submitted without functioning English subtitles will be disqualified without refund.
The Festival strongly encourages closed captioning for all submissions whenever possible.
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PREMIERE STATUS
District of Columbia premieres are strongly preferred for feature-length films, including narrative and documentary features.
Short films are exempt from premiere requirements, though Washington, DC premieres are encouraged.
Exceptions to premiere preferences may be granted at the sole discretion of the Festival programming team for works deemed to have significant artistic, cultural, educational, community, or strategic value to the Festival.
Films that have secured U.S. theatrical distribution, national broadcast, or major streaming release prior to Festival selection may be deemed ineligible for competition consideration.
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SCREENPLAYS
Eligibility & Language
All screenplays and teleplays must be submitted in English.
Submitted works must not have been optioned, sold, or produced prior to March 17, 2027.
Fees & Process
Each screenplay submission must include the appropriate submission fee or approved fee adjustment.
Submission fees are non-refundable.
Rights & Indemnification
Applicants affirm the originality of their work and accept full responsibility for securing any underlying rights.
The Festival assumes no responsibility for verifying ownership.
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SCREENING FEES
The LightReel Film Festival does not pay screening fees.
By submitting, filmmakers acknowledge that exhibition at the Festival does not include compensation.
Submission fee assistance may be granted through the Global Access Submission Framework; however, such assistance does not imply or guarantee Festival selection.
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REFUNDS & DISQUALIFICATION
Once a submission is marked "In Consideration," no refunds will be issued under any circumstances.
LightReel reserves the right to disqualify any submission that fails to comply with these Rules & Terms.
Submission fees are non-refundable.
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NON-COMPLIANCE & ENFORCEMENT
LightReel reserves the right to disqualify any submission, at any stage of the selection, programming, or exhibition process, that fails to adhere to these Rules & Terms, eligibility requirements, or deliverable specifications.
Failure to comply with required deliverables, technical specifications, promotional asset requests, participation requirements, or executed agreements may result in:
• Removal from Festival programming
• Removal from screening schedules
• Loss of award eligibility
• Exclusion from future Festival participation
• Additional contractual remedies as outlined in the Filmmaker Participation Agreement
All accepted filmmakers will be required to execute a Filmmaker Participation Agreement governing exhibition rights, deliverables, promotional participation, and Festival policies.
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FINAL NOTES
All submissions are final.
Applicants are responsible for reviewing all materials carefully before submission.
If a project is selected, additional deliverables, technical specifications, deadlines, and participation requirements will be communicated through the official acceptance notification and Filmmaker Participation Agreement.
The Festival reserves the right to amend these Rules & Terms when necessary to ensure the successful operation of the Festival.
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DATES & DEADLINES
Opening Date: September 14, 2026
Super Early Deadline: October 11, 2026
Early Deadline: November 15, 2026
Official Deadline: December 13, 2026
Late Deadline: February 16, 2027
Notification Date: March 17, 2027
Festival Dates: June 3–5, 2027
