MidWest WeirdFest

We require films initially be submitted via online screeners, i.e. private Youtube or Vimeo links. We do not accept physical preview copies (i.e. DVDs).

In submitting your film or video to MidWest WeirdFest film festival you guarantee that you have all the relevant permissions, licenses and releases for your film or video to be screened in a public exhibition. You must have in your possession the permissions, licenses and releases for the submitted film or video's music, script, actors etc.

If your film is selected to screen at the festival, neither you, nor any sales agent, nor distributor, nor other entity attached to, or associated with, the film, will require a screening fee from MidWest WeirdFest.

There is no restriction as to the year that the film was made.

If your film is selected to screen at the festival, you must supply us with a copy of your film in digital format. We prefer you to upload a digital file to the festival's Dropbox, according specs that you will be given upon acceptance into the festival. We produce our own DCPs to screen at the festival from these files. We can also screen from a DCP that you provide us. However, WE PREFER NOT TO, due to issues with filmmaker made DCPs in the past. Even DCPs made by supposed professional post houses have failed on more than one occasion. All Digital Media Files or physical DCPs MUST be received by the festival admin no later than two (2) weeks after notification.

While care will be taken, we are unable to guarantee the safety of your hard drive, or film while in our possession, or in transit. If selected to screen at the festival, and you ask to send a DCP on a hard drive, please do not send us a master copy, or your only copy of the film.

After the festival, hard drives containing digital files submitted to the festival for exhibition will be either returned to entrant or forwarded to another film festival as requested by entrant.

The festival only pays for return shipping. We do not pay for shipping both ways of DCPs or other exhibition mediums. We do not pay for rush shipping to other festivals. If selected to screen at the festival, and unable to upload a digital copy of their film to the festival's Dropbox account, the filmmaker agrees to arrange for and pay for digital file/hard drive, and/or DCP shipping to the festival in Wisconsin, USA. Filmmaker also agrees to provide necessary KDM for any DCP sent to the festival at no expense to the festival.

Additional publicity materials (jpg stills etc.) are required if your film is selected to screen at the festival.

Please select the most relevant category for your film. You may choose between:

1. Feature films: Narrative length feature film (45 to 145 minutes in duration). We welcome horror, sci-fi, underground, fantasy, thriller, experimental and any feature film one might consider weird.

2. Documentary films: Feature length documentary films (45 to 145 minutes in duration). Ideally dealing with off-beat, strange, dark, divergent, and/or peculiar, topics, places, people, and/or themes, or any documentary topic or theme one might consider weird.

3. Short Films: Any live action film, narrative or documentary (45 minutes or under in duration). We welcome horror, sci-fi, underground, fantasy, thriller, experimental and any short film one might consider weird. Narrative and documentary films are accepted in this category.

4. Short Documentaries: Short length documentary films (under 45 minutes in duration). Ideally dealing with off-beat, strange, dark, divergent, and/or peculiar, topics, places, people, and/or themes, or any documentary topic or theme one might consider weird.

5. Short Animations: Any animated short film (45 minutes or under in duration). We welcome horror, sci-fi, underground, fantasy, thriller, and experimental animations or anything one might consider weird.

6. Music Videos: Any music video that deals with horror, sci-fi, fantasy, or thriller themes or tropes, or those that are experimental or underground in style. Or any music video portraying subject matter that one might consider weird.

7. Web or TV: Single episodes of web series or television series, and/or short films and/or videos, made primarily for exhibition or distribution on television or the internet (46 minutes and under in duration). We welcome horror, sci-fi, underground, fantasy, thriller, experimental and anything one might consider weird. Narrative as well as documentary content is accepted in this category.

8. Feature Screenplay Competition: Competition for feature length screenplays. We welcome horror, sci-fi, underground, fantasy, thriller, experimental, off-beat, and any feature screenplay that one might consider weird.

9. Short Screenplay Competition: Competition for short film screenplays. We welcome horror, sci-fi, underground, fantasy, thriller, experimental, off-beat and any short film screenplay one might consider weird.

Judges, selected by Lovecraft 21C Productions LLC, will decide the winners of each of the above categories. In all cases, the judges' decisions are final.

Entrants whose films are chosen for screening at the festival will be notified by mid February 2025.

If you decide to attend the festival we are unable to cover any costs that your travel or accommodation might incur.

By submitting to the festival you agree to abide by and commit to the following statement: "I authorize Lovecraft 21C Productions LLC to screen the film or video listed above, upon the film or video's acceptance in MidWest WeirdFest. For the purpose of the screenings I authorize Lovecraft 21C Productions to market the film or video in whatever manner they see fit. I acknowledge that Lovecraft 21C Productions holds the screening rights of the film that I submitted to MidWest WeirdFest for the purposes of screening the film at the 2025 MidWest WeirdFest film festival. I confirm that all other rights remain the sole property of myself and/or my nominated production company. I hereby confirm that all material used in the production of the film or video is the original work of myself or my nominated production company, or is work for which I or my nominated production company have obtained with releases, including but not limited to actors, performances and the musical score. I guarantee that I have obtained all the necessary permissions, licenses and clearances to enter this film or video into MidWest WeirdFest film festival, and that the film and the screening of the film by Lovecraft 21C Productions, does not infringe the moral and ethical rights including copyright of any third party. I understand that my submission is in no way a guarantee of acceptance into MidWest WeirdFest, and that nobody representing Lovecraft 21C Productions or MidWest WeirdFest has guaranteed my acceptance into the festival prior to this submission. I have read and agree to the general rules, terms and conditions of MidWest WeirdFest. I have also read and agree to any specific rules relating to the category that I am entering my film or video."

RULES AND CONDITIONS FOR SCREENPLAY COMPETITIONS

There is no restriction to the year that the screenplay was written.

Screenplays must be submitted electronically online.

All screenplays should be formatted in accord with industry standards.

All Screenplays must be submitted in PDF format (no Word format, or Txt, or FDS Final formatted submissions will be accepted).

Please include a paragraph synopsis, and logline.

No rewritten/corrected pages, or newer drafts will be accepted once entry is received.

Screenplay must be in English.

Screenplay must not have been previously optioned, purchased, in production or produced.

Screenplays written as adaptations of other works must have secured rights before being submitted.

The entrant retains copyright to their screenplay.

Finalists and winners of the screenplay competition will be notified and announced at the same time as winning films of the 2025 MidWest WeirdFest: in the week following the completion of the festival.

The entrant agrees that he or she will never assert against Lovecraft 21C Productions or MidWest WeirdFest any claim or action based on plagiarism, infringement, confidential or fiduciary relationship, implied contract, idea theft, unfair competition or any other theory arising in connection with their submission to MidWest WeirdFest, and the entrant understands that Lovecraft 21C Productions accepts no liability of any kind for the unauthorized use of all or part of such submissions by any person. In this regard, the entrant hereby absolutely releases and forever discharges Lovecraft 21C Productions, MidWest WeirdFest and its officers, employees, volunteers, judges, readers, affiliates, and associates, individually and collectively, of or from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, legal fees, expenses, debts, actions, and causes of action against Lovecraft 21C Productions or MidWest WeirdFest of every kind whatsoever, now and in the future, in connection with the entrant's submission.