SABIFF 2025 - San Antonio Black International Film Festival

SABIFF 2025 OPEN CALL Submissions are competitive. Works judged and accepted will be considered for curated exhibitions only in the following categories:

• Documentary (features and shorts)
• Narrative (features and shorts)
• Animation
• Student films
• Music Videos

All submissions must have subjects/subject matters by, for and about people of the African Diaspora (Black people of African descent from around the world). Films must consist of a Black Creative in a key role(s) which include, but are not limited to the: director, producer, writer, primary actors, and essential crew positions.
All entries must be in English, or have English subtitles.

Completed films/videos must have been created after January 1, 2020. The film submitted can not be older than 5 years old. *For SABIFF 2025, if you have a compelling film that you'd like us to consider that is older than 5 years, email us the reason why, and a preview.

No Works-in-Progress films, or Film Scripts are accepted.

Format: Please submit the film that you would want exhibited if selected in an
MP4, 1080 x 1920 format (a link of the winning films are also required w/ the MP4 format)

Web-series are ONLY accepted if it can be presented as a one- STAND-ALONG narrative or documentary. Otherwise, only single features, shorts, narratives, documentaries, animation films, and/or music videos are accepted into the festival.

At the time of OPEN CALL submissions, film/video works MUST NOT have had a national or international standard commercial theatrical release, television run, or on public broadcast networks, or Public Television at the time of the festival run.

Based upon their Open Call submission, the filmmaker (producer or director) agrees to make available, and allow SABIFF permission to use any photographs, bios, video excerpts/trailers in the required format (MP4, quicktime file, link), and any other media associated with the film, for use in SABIFF 2025 trailers, website postings, social media outlets, publicity, and promotions at the discretion of the film festival needs.

It is the sole responsibility of the filmmaker to ensure that the film submitted and ALL material screened is owned, legally cleared, by the Filmmaker/Filmmaker's company. SABIFF is not responsible for any legal issues associated with the filmmakers film entry to SABIFF 2025's Open Call. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless the San Antonio Black Intl Film Festival 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.

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SUBMISSION AGREEMENT
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As the submitter of entry, I have read and have complied with all of the San Antonio Black International Film Festival rules. (See recommended format needs below)
I acknowledge that the submission is my/our original work and there are no disputes regarding the ownership of the submission as well as the footage in the said project.
I warrant the submitted material does not defame or invade the rights of any person living or dead, and I fully indemnify the Festival against any claim made for such violations of law. To the best of my/our knowledge, all of the statements herein are true and correct.

I understand that failure to adhere to the Festival rules will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee.

The individual submitting the film hereby warrants that they are authorized to commit the film for SABIFF 2025's screening(s), and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.

I agree to hold the San Antonio Black International Film Festival (SABIFF 2024) harmless from any and all claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses (including attorney’s fees) arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, 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.

FORMATS: Please note the necessary formats for accepted film submissions. We are capable to handle most kinds of mp4, mov, and m4v files, however, as advance notice for selected video/films, we recommend the following video settings for BEST live streaming results when streaming via our sabiff.tv platform.

- Format: mp4
- Video codec: H.264 (AVC)
- Audio codec: AAC
- fps: 30 max (Higher fps may cause disruption of stream)
- Video duration: At least 1 minute
- Orientation: Landscape, Portrait, Square
- Audio bitrate: 128 kbps
- Video bitrates: 1500 kbps - 6000 kbps
- 360-degree Video bitrate: 5000 kbps - 10000 kbps