MARGATE FILM FESTIVAL — SUBMISSION TERMS & CONDITIONS
Effective May 2026
By submitting to Margate Film Festival (MFF) via FilmFreeway, you confirm you have read and agree to these Terms and Conditions. MFF is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered in England and Wales.
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1. ELIGIBILITY
1.1 MFF welcomes submissions from filmmakers at all career stages and budget levels.
1.2 International submissions are welcome. Films not in English must include accurate English subtitles. Films without English subtitles will be deemed ineligible.
1.3 Films must have been completed after 1 January 2023, unless stated otherwise in a specific category.
1.4 MFF has no premiere status requirement. Previously screened and online films are eligible.
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2. CATEGORIES & RUNTIME
2.1 Short Films must be 25 minutes or under (including titles and credits), of any style, genre, or theme.
2.2 Films between 25 and 40 minutes must be submitted to the Long Shorts category. Films over 25 minutes submitted to Short Films may be disqualified.
2.3 A dedicated AI category exists for films using artificial intelligence as a primary creative or production tool. See Section 7.
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3. SUBMISSION PROCESS & FEES
3.1 All submissions must be made via MFF's official FilmFreeway page.
3.2 Submission does not guarantee selection. All programming decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
3.3 Our panel reserves the right to view a film in part only where it does not meet the basic standards of the festival.
3.4 Due to the volume of submissions, MFF is unable to provide individual feedback on any submission.
3.5 Submission fees are non-refundable, including where a film is not selected. Please review all eligibility criteria carefully before submitting.
Note: FilmFreeway's optional Submission Protection (available at checkout) is subject to FilmFreeway's own Terms of Service and is not provided by MFF.
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4. RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
4.1 By accepting a place in the programme, you grant MFF a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to screen your film at the festival and at any MFF-organised or affiliated screening within 12 months of the festival. This does not constitute a transfer of ownership or other rights.
4.2 By submitting, you grant MFF permission to use publicity stills, poster artwork, and up to 30 seconds of footage solely for MFF marketing and publicity. Credit will be given wherever practicable.
4.3 You confirm that you are the rights holder or are duly authorised by the rights holder to submit the film and grant the above licences.
4.4 To withdraw your film, you must contact MFF in writing before the submission deadline. Withdrawal after the deadline cannot be guaranteed and fees will not be refunded.
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5. COPYRIGHT & CLEARANCES
5.1 You are solely responsible for obtaining all necessary licences, clearances, and permissions for your film, including music rights, archive footage, location releases, and performance rights. MFF accepts no liability for any failure to do so.
5.2 You agree to indemnify and hold harmless MFF CIO, its trustees, volunteers, and agents from any claims, losses, or expenses arising from copyright or intellectual property infringement by you or your film.
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6. DATA PROTECTION
6.1 MFF processes personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
6.2 Data submitted via FilmFreeway will be used solely to administer your submission, communicate with you about your entry, and (if selected) support festival programming and publicity.
6.3 Data will be retained for up to 24 months for record-keeping and funder reporting purposes (including BFI Film Audience Network). Data will not be shared with third parties without consent, except where required by law.
6.4 To access, correct, or request deletion of your data, contact hello@margatefilmfestival.co.uk. Requesting deletion before the festival closes will withdraw your submission; fees will not be refunded.
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7. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE POLICY
7.1 From May 2026, all submissions must declare whether AI has been used in the creation or production of the film (including AI-generated imagery, voiceover, music, or editing). This declaration is required at the point of submission.
7.2 Films using AI as a primary creative or production tool will only be considered for the dedicated AI category. They will not be eligible for standard short film programmes or the same awards as non-AI films.
7.3 Where AI use is not declared and is subsequently identified, MFF reserves the right to disqualify the film or reassign it to the AI category.
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8. GENERAL
8.1 MFF reserves the right to amend these Terms at any time. Updated Terms will be published on our FilmFreeway page and will apply to all subsequent submissions.
8.2 These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
8.3 MFF accepts no liability for cancellation or postponement due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including adverse weather, public health emergencies, venue failure, or withdrawal of public funding. Fees will not be refunded in such circumstances.
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Margate Film Festival CIO | hello@margatefilmfestival.co.uk | margatefilmfestival.co.uk
