Queen City Film Festival (NJ)

Queen City Film Fest (NJ) Entry Submission Guidelines

Queen City Film Fest (NJ) is now accepting film entries for our 2023 Festival. We are seeking films from a wide variety of independent filmmakers from every walks of life. We are filmmakers and enjoy watching well made, crafted productions that open our minds to worlds previously unimagined.

Please read the following information fully and complete the online submission form found on FilmFreeway. Note: if your film was shot in New Jersey or there are any verifiable New Jersey ties of your principals (NJ residence) there is a $10 entry fee reduction (Early Bird, Regular or Late deadlines applies). You are encouraged to submit prior to the deadline for a reduced fee. Please state why your film is eligible in this category.

QCFFNJ Eligibility

Entries must be written, directed, produced and/or principally acted by a person of color. Works in progress are not considered.
More than one entry can be submitted; however, each entry must be accompanied by a separate online submission form, entry fee, color JPEG publicity photo, one - two sentence synopsis and URL link and password.
Year of completion must be 2020 or later.
Foreign language films must have English subtitles.

Online submissions must include the fully completed submission form, entry fee, JPEG publicity photo(s), downloadable trailer link, two sentence synopsis and URL link (Vimeo preferred). The URL link and password for selected films must be available until Nov 1, 2023.

Completion of the entry form certifies that you are the rightful owner of the submitted work and own all rights and releases necessary for public screening. All legal clearances and releases including, but not limited to talent, intellectual property, music or stock footage are the responsibility of the filmmaker. The submitted film is not subject to litigation and is not threatened by litigation. If selected, you agree to provide a final exhibition downloadable link and password no later than Oct 1, 2023. You give permission for QCFFNJ to utilize clips or stills of your entry for festival promotional purposes (including but not limited to television, web, and presentations).

QCFFNJ encourages at least a NEW JERSEY premiere for the selected films and shorts, but is not required. Projects may have distribution but not yet had a theatrical release, airplay on television, or broadcast on the Internet (excluding webisode series).
Official Selection Announcement will be made the week of Oct 9, 2023, via Facebook Live or via email. It will be followed up by an official acceptance sent via e-mail.

Submission and Judging Categories include:

- Feature Film (narrative fiction): (60 minutes or less)
- Short Film (32 minutes or less) All shorts must provide a link and password.

- Documentary: (120 minutes or less)
- Digital Series (two in a series; each not to exceed 30:00 min)
- Music Video (must be an original song, not a cover and not to exceed 6:30)

- Student Shorts (up to 39 minutes); must be written, shot, directed and produced by
students who were in college during the time of its production and submission.
(Student shorts are not eligible to be submitted in the Shorts category;
QCFFNJ reserves the right to move them to the Student category)

BEST OF recommendations will be based on the judge's evaluations.