Pumpkin Pictures Film Festival

**SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:**

Each film submitted with its proper material and requirements will be marked as “In Consideration”. Once our panelists properly view the film, discuss its potential viewing, and ultimately decide that your film would be a great addition to the festival, then you will be emailed back by us stating that your film has been selected.

Any submitters whose film is ultimately decided to not be included in our festivals will be emailed letting them know that their film has been declined.

All projects must be submitted via a secure online screener - online screeners such as Vimeo and YouTube are what we demand. We do not accept any films that must be downloaded (ex: Dropbox, Google Drive, WeTransfer, etc.)

In addition, we DO NOT accept DVD, USB, or Blu-Ray screeners.

The submitter is responsible for ensuring that their screener link and password are active throughout the entire submission cycle. If you change your screener URL or password, please see that it’s updated on its email immediately. If we discover an error with your screener before our final deadline, we will email you, asking you to fix it. Failure to respond by the final submission deadline will result in disqualification without refund of submission fees. If we discover that a screener is incomplete after our final deadline, it may be directly disqualified without refund of submission fees.

**SUBTITLES:**

All foreign-language films must be submitted with English subtitles. If we discover a foreign-language submission is missing subtitles, we will email you to request an updated screener with English subtitles. If the submitter fails to provide working subtitles by the final submission deadline, the project will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified without refund of submission fees.

**SUBMISSION CATEGORY:**

The film mediums submitted can be **live-action, stop motion, claymation, suitmation, puppeteered, and or animated (2d and 3d).**

This is a “*Halloween*” film festival. To us, “*Halloween*” is a wide umbrella term that covers many different themes and genres. Our festival isn’t only dedicated to “scary” films but includes films that can have *Halloween* in its plot. (i.e. a rom-com that takes place on Halloween. Or an educational documentary about the history of *Halloween*)

The *Halloween* umbrella genre as defined by us is stated but not limited to the genres below:

- Horror
- Slasher
- Cult Film
- Thriller
- Crime Film
- Teen
- Mystery
- Suspense Film
- Indie Film
- Spooky
- Dark Comedy
- Halloween/Horror Comedy
- Halloween/Horror Educational film
- Halloween/Horror Documentary
- Halloween/Horror Family Film
- Halloween/Horror Music Video

If you do not know if your film fits into the potential themes and genre stated above, please contact us at [pumpkinpicturesff@gmail.com](mailto:pumpkinpicturesff@gmail.com) and we can determine if your film is eligible. If you feel your film loosely fits into several genres, please contact us as well.

Only 1 film can be submitted per submitter.

**AWARD CATEGORY:**

Us being only in our 4th official year, we are still a small film festival. With that being the case, we only have one award category, BEST HALLOWEEN FILM. There will be a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize pool attached to the category. As we grow more and more each year, our categories are bound to expand and change.

**PREMIERE STATUS:**

PPFF does not require a World Premiere to submit.

**DEADLINES:**

Please keep track of deadlines closely if you plan on submitting within a certain submission window. Our final and official deadline for submission is...

***October 4th, 2025 (10/04/2025)***

**SCREENING FEES:**

The *Pumpkin Pictures Film Festival* does not pay screening fees for submitted films. By submitting your project, you acknowledge that *PPFF* will not pay to present your work.

**THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE:**

*PPFF* regularly uses private, secure third party software to organize, track, and review submissions. By submitting to our festival, you are authorizing us to handle your film using those third party softwares.

**USE OF GENERATIVE A.I.**

Any use of generative A.I. is NOT ALLOWED within any category.

(This does not include subtitles nor credits)

If a film is submitted with the use of generative A.I., the film will be automatically disqualified and will not receive a refund. The submitter may appeal their case if they feel their film was misjudged for this particular case.

If you have any questions about your film's use of generative A.I., please contact us via email.

**CODE OF CONDUCT:**

Please be advised that the *Pumpkin Pictures Film Festival* has instituted a code of conduct by which all attendees of the festival are expected to follow. Those who fail to follow the terms of this code of conduct will face possible dismissal from the festival. Possible grounds for dismissal may include, but are not limited to, the following: gross misconduct or insubordination, theft of property or misuse of agency materials, abuse or mistreatment of clients, guests, staff or other volunteers, failure to abide by agency policies and procedures, any form of harassment or assault.

**COPYRIGHT & LEGAL TERMS:**

By entering your film for consideration to the 2025 *Pumpkin Pictures Film Festival*, you authorize that your work is cleared for festival exhibition and accept full legal responsibility for the intellectual property therein. The submitter and all filmmakers associated with the project shall indemnify and hold harmless the *Pumpkin Pictures Film Festival* and any representative or affiliates from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

**REFUNDS & DISQUALIFICATION:**

Once a project is listed “In Consideration”, we are unable to offer refunds for any reason, including (but not limited to):

- Failure to pay the full submission fee by the final deadline
- Failure to provide a working screener by the final deadline
- Project’s failure to comply with submission Rules & Terms
- Rejection from the festival
- Withdrawing your submission for any reason (including changes of heart)

*PPFF* reserves the right to disqualify any submission without refund, even after a film has been invited or final programming has been announced, at the sole discretion of *PPFF* staff.

Films made with the direct involvement of *PPFF* staff and board are ineligible for consideration for the festival and will be disqualified without a refund.

*PPFF* reserves the right to decline any submission for consideration for any reason.

If you have any questions that are not answered here or in our Submission FAQ, please email us at pumpkinpicturesff@gmail.com. We are unable to address inquiries via phone.

### Weapons Policy

*PPFF* bans firearms of any type on our premises. This includes those attendees who maintain a Georgia Weapons Carry License or a similar permit from another state. No functioning projectile weapons - including water pistols, silly-string guns, and ping-pong pistols.

If your costume includes a sword or dagger it must remain properly sheathed and peace-tied. Drawing of any type of weapon at any time is NOT allowed. Broadaxes, claymores, maces, halberds, tipped arrows, or pole weapons are NOT allowed.