Midwest Video Poetry Fest

GENERAL RULES
The Midwest Video Poetry Fest will take place in person on October 5th and October 12th, 2024. The works will be available on ALL's YouTube channel for one month following the in-person screening.

Format of the Series
There will be two evenings of live poet+filmmaker performance followed by film screenings on October 5th and October 12th at ALL in Madison, WI. Each evening's screening will be unique and will include a selection of works from the open call alongside works by artists especially invited by the Curatorial Team. The films will be available on ALL's YouTube (youtube.com/artlitlab) channel for one month after the initial screenings.

Submission Format
Films must be submitted via the FilmFreeway online screener only. If your work is selected for the festival, you will need to submit a .mp4 or .mov file.

Submission Eligibility
Only work created after January 2022 is eligible.
There is no premiere policy for submission.

Submission Fee
Regular submissions are $10 ($6 before May 1) and student submissions are $5 ($3 before May 1). Filmmakers who live in economically disadvantaged areas of the globe and/or who face financial hardship may have the fee waived at the discretion of the festival organizers. Email genia@artlitlab.org to find out more. Artists should not expect to receive any compensation for screening fees, travel, or accommodation.

Length of Work
Maximum length of 7 minutes.

Selection of Work
Submissions are reviewed and selected under the following criteria:
Strength of text and images
Originality
Quality of narrative and production values

Midwest Video Poetry Fest endeavors to complete all selection procedures on August 1, 2024.

Number of Works
Entrants may submit multiple films in multiple categories but a submission fee is required for each entry.

Subtitles for Works not in English
All works in languages other than English must be submitted with English subtitles, unless their absence is intended.

Submission Date
All submissions must be received by 11:59pm CST on June 1, 2024. Late submissions will not be accepted.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

Submission of work(s) (the “Work”) to Midwest Video Poetry Fest (the “MVPF”) will be understood to constitute agreement by and consent on the part of the artist-applicant (the “Artist”) to the conditions listed below, as well as the information provided on the submission guidelines:

1. The Artist will not receive monetary compensation for the inclusion of their Work in the series and understands that participating in the exhibition is considered the prize and compensation and no additional prize or compensation will be awarded.

2. By submitting to the MVPF, the Artist agrees to have their Work screened at the festival if it is selected to be shown.

3. The Artist gives the MVPF permission to use stills and clips (under 1 minute) of selected Works for promotional, archival, and educational purposes. Images of accepted Works may be cropped or rotated in the festival’s promotional materials.

4. Screenings are scheduled at the festival at the discretion of the MVPF. While the festival organizers will undertake to make every effort to adhere to the anticipated schedule, it reserves the right to alter or move the schedule or venue at any time for any reason. The Artist agrees that it will not hold Arts + Literature Laboratory liable or seek any relief or damages from Arts + Literature Laboratory for altering, canceling, or modifying in any way the schedule or venue for the exhibition.

5. The Artist represents that they have either the legal rights to the Work or explicit permission to use all of the material included in the Work. The Artist must be able to provide written proof of permission upon acceptance of the Work.

6. It is the responsibility of the artist(s) to obtain rights and permission for use of music, video footage, and all other creative work related to their Works prior to entering the MVPF. MVPF is not responsible for any infringement of such rights.

7. The Artist agrees to indemnify and hold the MVPF and any associated entities, volunteers, or representatives harmless for all damages or losses of any kind arising out of or relating in any way to the Work.

8. The Artist represents that they are 18 years of age or older, or that, if they are younger than the legal age to enter into contracts in the Artist’s state, they have provided the festival with signed, written consent from their parent or legal guardian.