Rules
Technical tips for favorable results TO BE CONSIDERED FOR OFFICIAL SELECTION:
• Complete films must have been finished within 3 years prior to the festival dates (works-in-progress, screenplays, etc. are the exception).
• Have a downloadable trailer of 2 minutes or less with English subtitles.
• Submit a professional poster image with the title clearly displayed.
• Include a brief synopsis, director bio, and essential cast and crew credits.
Entrants may submit more than one film. Each entry requires a separate submission and fee but each title is eligible for all applicable award categories.
For student fee, it is mandatory to provide the active student status evidence (e.g. copy of student card included in the project).
OFFICIAL SELECTION CRITERIA (if selected):
• There must be no publicly available or distributed version of the film outside of the festival circuit (YouTube, Vimeo, or similar platform links must be private or password protected). Music Videos, Trailers, Teasers, and Sizzle Reels are the exception to this rule.
• Films must include a version with English subtitles (unless the spoken language is English).
• Entrants must provide ROSWELL SHORTS with a downloadable full HD (1080p recommended) .mov or .mp4 digital file of the film AND the trailer for screening use at least 30 days prior to event (special "for preview" and "festival screening" water marks are acceptable).
ATTENTION: Once selected, we proudly co-promote your project in our festival. TRAILERS, TEASERS, and/or SIZZLE REELS for ALL film projects MUST be available for download upon entry submission or upon request in HD or 1080p format.
MOST IMPORTANT: We do not want to rely on streaming technology during the screenings. If our team does not receive the required downloadable assets 30 days prior to screening, your project WILL BE WITHDRAWN, potentially disqualified, and removed from the screening schedule.
IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE: Filmmakers who plan to attend the screening will NOT be required to purchase a festival pass (attendance is FREE to you and your entourage). If filmmaker cannot attend, it is highly encouraged that an introduction reel be presented.
At this time, ROSWELL SHORTS does NOT pay, provide, or reimburse submitters/filmmakers and their entourage for travel and/or lodging expenses to/from festival, but filmmaker may be eligible for a stipend if asked to join a panel discussion or workshop (planned for future editions).
Legal stuff: By submitting the film, script, or music video, the entrant agrees that:
• ROSWELL SHORTS & PAIFF can use trailer/teaser/sizzle/film poster/stills or BTS and script excerpt for promotional purpose (but do not release, under any form or circumstances, the full film or script).
• Entry fees and Pass fees are non-refundable.
• The entrant / submitter owns all the rights to the film or script, meaning that the submitted work (i) does not violate or infringe any copyright, patent, privacy right, publicity right, trademark, service mark or any other personal or property right of any person or entity, that (ii) does not constitute or include a defamation of any person or entity, and that (iii) its representatives have paid and will pay in full all license fees, clearance fees, and other obligations, of any kind, arising from or associated with the exhibition of the Film at or in connection with the Festival. Also, the submitter is duly authorized, on his own behalf and on behalf of all other persons or entities who have any ownership rights or interests (including, without limitation, intellectual property rights) in or relating to the film, to exhibit the film at the Festival.
Projects that do not comply with the rules and terms above may be disqualified or withdrawn at ROSWELL SHORTS’s sole discretion. All fees are non-refundable.
