Persian Film Awards

CRITERIA, STYLE & STRUCTURE
There are no rigid thematic or genre restrictions. Every project is juried by our academy panel and will be exhibited or reviewed within its designated film category.

The Festival seeks inventive, incisive, bold, vital, and provocative works of any style, medium, or genre.

PRIZE ELIGIBILITY SEPARATION:

Official Festival Prizes are strictly reserved for Short Films, Animations, and Documentaries.

Feature Films are evaluated entirely separately through the Academy Awards track and are not eligible for standard festival-level prize categories.

SUBMISSION ELIGIBILITY
Official Competition: To enter the competitive Academy or Festival categories, the film must satisfy at least one of our core eligibility requirements (Persian filmmaker, Persian co-production, Persian crew, or Persian theme/subject matter).

Guest Exhibition: Submissions not meeting these requirements will be evaluated strictly for non-competitive Guest Showcases.

ENTRY FORMATS & DEADLINES
Exhibition Formats: Accepted formats for exhibition or academy review include Digital H.264 files (with a Blu-ray back-up if requested). Depending on venue technical specs, a ProRes file may be requested.

Submission Method: Entries must be submitted as online screeners via FilmFreeway. Secure, password-protected Vimeo links are highly welcome. Please note: We do not accept DCP files.

Completion Window: All entries must have been completed prior to February 15th, 2024.

Delivery Deadline: Accepted digital exhibition media must be received by the Persian Awards® traffic logging department no later than February 15th.

PROCEDURES & FEES
There is no Entry Fee. Film submission to the Persian Film Awards is completely free.

FILM LENGTH DEFINITIONS
Features (Academy Track): 41 minutes or longer.

Shorts (Festival Track): 40 minutes or shorter (includes Short Animations and Short Documentaries).

GENERAL AGREEMENTS & PROGRAMMING
Submission of a work confirms that the Persian Awards Group® (Persian Film Awards - PFA) has explicit permission to exhibit or review the project during the main event cycle and any subsequent official Festival Tours.

Submission implies that the event can utilize moving image excerpts (trailers/teasers) and reproduce stills for promotional, marketing, and academy/festival evaluation purposes.

Persian Awards® hosts a "Best of Fest" screening series following the conclusion of the main event cycle. If your film is selected for this, your explicit permission will be requested.

The general program, screening schedule, and venue assignments remain the exclusive responsibility and discretion of the Festival and Academy Committee.

Once an entry form is completed and submitted via FilmFreeway, accepted films cannot be withdrawn from the official schedule or voting process.

DISCLAIMER
Every reasonable precaution will be exercised in handling entries. However, neither the organizers, employees, sponsors, nor participating organizations can assume responsibility for the damage or loss of submitted materials. All films scheduled for presentation at PFA will be previewed prior to screening or academy evaluation with their physical/digital condition logged. Filmmakers will be notified immediately if a file or media arrives corrupted or damaged.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS (REGULATIONS)
I, the authorized representative of the project being submitted (the "Film"), acknowledge and agree to the following terms in connection with the Film's submittal to the Persian Awards® International Film Festival – Persian Film Awards (the “Festival/Academy”):

Acceptance of a film does not guarantee airline, travel, or hotel accommodations for talent, directors, or production crew.

No physical or digital media assets will be returned after the conclusion of the event cycle.

The number of screenings, exhibition days, review panels, and venue locations is at the sole discretion of the Persian Awards®.

All accepted films must supply an H.264 file (and/or Blu-ray screener if requested) and may be invited to participate in a "Best of Fest" program following the event.

I represent and warrant to the organizers that: (a) I am duly authorized, on my own behalf and on behalf of all other persons or entities who hold ownership or intellectual property rights in the Film (the “Film’s Owners”), to submit this Film; (b) exhibition or evaluation of the Film will not violate any law or third-party rights; and (c) the Film is not subject to any active litigation, arbitration, or adversarial legal claims.

I warrant that the submission of the Film will not infringe upon any copyright, patent, privacy right, publicity right, trademark, or property right of any person or entity, and does not contain defamatory material. I have paid, and will pay in full, all licensing fees, music clearances, and other financial obligations associated with the project.

I acknowledge that the presentation or evaluation of the Film does not create a confidential or fiduciary relationship between the organizers and the Film’s Owners. I understand that neither I nor the Film’s Owners will receive financial compensation or screening fees. Selection does not constitute an endorsement of the film's opinions or content by the Persian Awards® Collaborative.

I agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Festival, the Academy, the Persian Awards® Collaborative, and their respective parents, affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees) arising out of the presentation of the film or any breach of the representations made herein.

I warrant that this submission is voluntary. I waive and relinquish any right to assert claims or commence proceedings in any forum against the Persian Awards® or its related parties based on the selection, exhibition, evaluation, or failure to exhibit the Film.

If accepted, I grant the right to use footage, stills, titles, and biographical information for promotional, marketing, and academy voting purposes, and agree to provide valid contact info for the director and producers.

I represent that I am 18 years of age or older, or have provided a verified written consent from a parent or legal guardian.

Arbitration Clause: I agree that any claim, dispute, or controversy arising out of or relating to the Film, the event, or these Terms and Conditions will be governed by the substantive laws of the Persian Awards® and must be submitted to exclusive, binding arbitration before a single arbitrator in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Such arbitration will be administered by the Persian Awards® pursuant to its Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures. The arbitrator’s award shall be final, binding, and non-appealable, and judgment may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction in Canada. I hereby waive my right to litigate claims in federal or provincial courts and waive the right to a jury trial.

I acknowledge that this document supersedes any information obtained elsewhere, including prior years' rules, website FAQs, or verbal communications.

By submitting my film via FilmFreeway, I freely, voluntarily, and completely accept all terms, conditions, and regulations outlined above.

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