Monmouth Film Festival – Official Submission Rules & Terms
7th Annual Festival • May 29–31, 2026 @ Bell Works - Holmdel, NJ
The Monmouth Film Festival (MFF) is an event organized by the Monmouth Film Institute Inc. (MFI), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
By submitting your film (the “Film" or “Project”) to the Monmouth Film Festival (MFF) and Monmouth Film Institute Inc (MFI), you ("the Submitter") acknowledge and agree to all of the following:
(1) SUBMISSION PROCESS
> Submission Platform: All films must be submitted digitally through FilmFreeway for review and judging. Physical DVDs or Blu-Rays should not be mailed (unless explicitly requested by festival staff). Physical copies mailed that are not requested by the festival will be returned to sender.
> Submission Deadlines: All category deadlines are listed on the Monmouth Film Festival ‘FilmFreeway’ profile. Early submission is encouraged; however, early submission does not guarantee acceptance.
> Submission Fees: Fees are listed per category and per deadline on FilmFreeway. All submission fees are non-refundable, regardless of acceptance status. Films withdrawn by the Submitter are also non-refundable.
> Status Disclaimer: Submission does not guarantee or promise acceptance or selection for screening. Selection decisions are made strictly through a fair and impartial jury process in accordance with Festival guidelines. Encouragement to submit by any MFF or MFI representative does not imply preference, guarantee, or promise of acceptance.
(2) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
> Films must have been completed after November 1, 2024.
> Films must be in English or include English subtitles permanently embedded in the file (not separate subtitle tracks).
> Films must not have been commercially released or distributed within the United States prior to the Festival dates.
> Films that are publicly available online (including but not limited to YouTube, Vimeo, or streaming platforms) prior to the Festival may be subject to disqualification with no refund of your submission fee.
> There is no “Premiere" requirement for submission. While we hope to be your Premiere Festival screening in New Jersey and the NYC area, this status does not impact your acceptance for screening. However, if our Festival will be your New Jersey or East coast premiere, please let us know in your submission cover letter.
(3) EXHIBITION REQUIREMENTS
> Accepted films must provide a digital exhibition file in .MOV or .MP4 format. Minimum resolution of 1080P HD, up to 4096 4K resolution.
> Feature-length films may optionally submit a Blu-Ray for “exhibition only”, after having been notified of acceptance and notified Festival staff of the mailing. Please note that a digital file download is the preferred delivery method of your screener.
> All exhibition materials must be received by the deadline provided upon acceptance.
> Screenplays are not available for public reading.
> Web Series and TV Pilot projects are not screened in a live theatrical format. These projects are made available for online viewing via the Monmouth Film Festival website during the active festival dates, as their format and nature are better suited for online exhibition rather than an “in-theater" presentation.
(4) NOTIFICATION DATES & STATUS
The Festival reserves the right to adjust notification dates if necessary. Filmmakers will be notified on or before the official notification date listed on FilmFreeway. Please note the notification date is suggested and not guaranteed. The programming team may announce earlier or later than date if decisions are still being made. We suggest even if your project is initially marked as “not-selected”, that you keep your FilmFreeway profile and film screener video file active in the event MFF may make available additional screening slots for programming. The MFF programming team does create a stand-by list of films in the event that screening slots come available.
(5) AUTHORITY, COPYRIGHTS, & CLEARANCES
You represent and warrant that:
> You are fully authorized to submit the Film/project on behalf of all rights holders.
> Exhibition of the Film at the Festival will not violate any law or infringe upon any third-party rights.
> The Film is not currently subject to litigation, nor is any litigation threatened.
> You are solely responsible for securing all rights, licenses, and clearances necessary for exhibition of the Film.
> You warrant that the Film does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, privacy, or publicity rights, and does not defame or libel any person or entity.
> MFI/MFF shall not be held responsible for any copyright or intellectual property infringement by the Submitter.
(6) PROMOTION AND PUBLICITY RIGHTS
By submitting the Film, you grant MFI/MFF a non-exclusive right to:
> Use film stills, titles, trailers, credits, and excerpts for marketing and promotional purposes.
> Feature the Film in promotional reels, social media content, and press materials.
> Share filmmaker contact information with festival approved industry partners or sponsors for networking and publicity opportunities.
(7) EVENT EXECUTION, VENUE(S), AND PRESENTATION
> MFF will use reasonable efforts to hold the Festival on the published dates and at the published venue(s). However, MFI/MFF shall not be liable for changes to screening dates, times, or venues caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control. Submitters will be notified of any such changes. No specific venue or screening location is guaranteed. You are submitting to the Monmouth Film Festival, a public film screening event in the state of New Jersey, not any specific location or venue.
> If the Festival dates are moved to dates later than those published at the time of submission, and such change creates a direct scheduling conflict with a previously contracted public screening of the accepted Film, the Submitter may request a full refund of the submission fee. Requests must be made in writing and are subject to approval by the Festival Director.
> In the event of a Force Majeure situation—including, without limitation, pandemics, public-gathering restrictions, natural disasters, or other events preventing in-person exhibition—MFF may modify the Festival format, including conversion to an online or hybrid model. Accepted Submitters will be notified and may elect either to participate in the modified format, or decline. If the Submitter declines due to the format change, the submission fee will be refunded in full upon approval by the Festival Director.
> If the Festival cannot be presented in ANY format during the 2026 calendar year, all Submitters will be notified in writing and offered either (a) a full refund of the submission fee, or (b) a full fee waiver for the Festival’s next edition.
> Except as expressly provided above, no other refunds or returns of submission fees or other payments will be issued under any circumstances.
(8) NO COMPENSATION OR FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION FOR PARTICIPATION
Selection, acceptance, or exhibition of the Film in the Festival does not create any fiduciary, employment, partnership, joint-venture, agency, or confidential relationship between the Filmmaker and MFF. Participation in the Festival is strictly voluntary and non-compensatory. MFF shall provide no compensation of any kind—including, without limitation, screening fees, appearance fees, stipends, honoraria, travel reimbursements, lodging, per diems, revenue sharing, profit participation, box-office percentages, licensing fees, or any other financial consideration—in connection with the submission, selection, exhibition, marketing, or promotion of the Film. Festival selection does not constitute an endorsement or approval of the Film, its creators, or any opinions, depictions, or viewpoints expressed within the work.
(9) LIABILITY & INDEMNIFICATION
The Submitter agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Monmouth Film Institute Inc. and Monmouth Film Festival, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, volunteers, representatives, contractors, successors, assigns, and affiliates (collectively, the “Parties”) from and against any and all claims, demands, actions, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of, relating to, or resulting from the submission, selection, exhibition, distribution, or promotion of the Film, or from any breach of these Terms by the Submitter.
(10) CONSENT AND ARBITRATION
The Submitter affirms they are at least eighteen (18) years of age, or, if under the age of majority, possess written consent from a parent or legal guardian to submit the Film and enter into this Agreement. All disputes arising out of or relating to the submission, selection, exhibition, or participation in the Festival shall be governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey and resolved exclusively through binding arbitration in New Jersey pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). The Submitter expressly waives any right to file a lawsuit, pursue court action, or seek a jury trial in connection with any Festival-related dispute.
Limitation of Liability: In any arbitration or related proceeding, the maximum monetary recovery the Submitter may receive from Monmouth Film Institute Inc. shall not exceed the total submission fee paid for the Film. This submission fee constitutes the sole and entire financial transaction and liability between the parties.
(11) TOTAL AND FINAL AGREEMENT
By submitting a Film or other Project type, the Submitter acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to all General Rules and Terms & Conditions contained herein. These Terms constitute the entire, final, and exclusive agreement between the Submitter and the Monmouth Film Institute Inc regarding the submission and participation of the Film being submitted for consideration by the Monmouth Film Festival. No oral statements, prior communications, representations, promises, or assurances—whether verbal or written—outside of this document shall be valid, binding, or enforceable. MFF is bound only by the terms expressly stated in this Agreement.
