Manchester Film Festival

Manchester Film Festival is looking for independent feature-length and short films from around the world from any genre.

Our Standard Festival Participation Agreement (Terms and Conditions), which all submitted films are also expected to follow is as follows:

GENERAL RULES AND CONDITIONS

1. Submission Format
Films must be submitted via online screener.

2. Submission Eligibility
- All submissions must have been completed after 1 January 2022.
- Manchester Film Festival requires that all films (excluding music videos) have not played to a public audience in Manchester before the festival dates.
- Works-in-progress and films with distribution are accepted.
- All films not in the English language are required to have subtitles.

3. Premiere Status
- Manchester Film Festival requires that all films (excluding music videos) have not played to a public audience in Manchester before the festival dates.
- There is no Premiere policy for music videos, they may have screened at other Festivals and/or online.

4. Film Classification
All films screened during the Manchester Film Festival receive an age rating that is decided by the Manchester City Council.

5. Submission Fee
All FilmFreeway submissions for Manchester Film Festival are to be paid by credit card or PayPal. The submission fee is non-refundable.

6. Shipping
All shipping and postage costs, if the film is selected for the Festival, for all DCPs and additional materials sent to and returned from Manchester Film Festival must be borne by the submitting party. Manchester Film Festival will not accept Cash On Delivery shipments. Manchester Film Festival will not absorb any fees incurred in British customs. All charges must be pre-paid

7. Selection of Films
Submissions are reviewed and selected under the following criteria:
- Quality of narrative and production values
- Independent nature of the production

8. Notification
Manchester Film Festival endeavours to complete all selection procedures by 10th of January 2024 and inform all submitting parties, in writing, if their film has been successful or not after that time. Successful submissions will receive a Filmmaker Festival Pack that will include important information on shipping the DCP to the Festival, press and publicity, guest accreditation, contact information and how to make the most of participating in the Festival.

9. Festival Screenings
Selected films MUST provide a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or video file (.mov or .mp4).in order to be screened at the Manchester Film Festival. The film title MUST be clearly labelled on the hard drive.

10. Scheduling
Screenings are scheduled during the Festival at the discretion of Manchester Film Festival. Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the published schedule, Manchester Film Festival reserves the right to make changes at any time for any reason. Manchester Film Festival will not be liable for any costs claimed as a result of a change in scheduling.
No film may be withdrawn from the festival programme after its selection.

COVID-19 - Due to the unprecedented and ongoing problems presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. We reserve the right to change the festival to a geo-blocked virtual online festival if it is not possible to host the event in a physical venue.

GENERAL AGREEMENT OF PARTICIPATION IN MANCHESTER FILM FESTIVAL:

By submitting to the Manchester Film Festival I confirm that I have read and accept the terms and regulations of MANIFF. I will provide the festival with any additional information required pursuant to these rules and regulations. I authorize the Manchester Film Festival to exhibit my film, and if selected, I confirm that an exhibition copy will be available in a required format for screening during the 2024 festival (March 15 - 24th 2024). I certify that I hold all necessary rights for the submission of this film/video to the Manchester Film Festival and that all rights and clearances have been made. This film is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation. I hold Manchester Film Festival harmless from damage to, or loss of any or all materials en route to, from or otherwise at the festival. I assume all legal responsibilities therein. By Agreeing to these terms, I transfer to Manchester Film Festival the right to use excerpts of the submitted film, its stills, and trailers, for the purposes of publicity and marketing of the film at the 2024 festival, and for other non-commercial uses related to the promotion of the 2024 festival. I hereby agree to indemnify Manchester Film Festival, in the event that such rights have not been properly transferred.