Sluice Film Festival

About the Festival

1. At Sluice, we evaluate submissions through the lens of our festival's overarching vision—a curated space for films that transcend convention. We welcome all forms, from narrative to non-linear, experimental to scripted, abstract expressions. We're looking for films that offer fresh, evocative perspectives, embodying intersectional voices and explore new modes of storytelling that speak to the Sluice Expo theme of World Building.

Key dates
2. The first edition of SFF takes place 23-25 May 2025 in Seyðisfjörður, Iceland.
3. The deadline for entries is 23:59 on Sunday 20 April
4. Selected film entries will be notified by 28 April 2025.
5. If selected to be showcased during the event, all screening copies must be received by 5pm on Monday 5 May.

Eligibility
6. The primary contact completing the submission process must be authorised to submit the film for consideration including permission from a distributor or sales agent representing the film and must have obtained necessary permissions for the inclusion of copyrighted music and/or images within the films. With this submission, the applicant confirms that they possess all rights necessary for the screening of the submitted film at this film festival.
7. SFF has no premiere status rule, and accepts works that are available online.

Submission fees
8. There is a submission fee to enter your film. Films submitted by the Regular Deadline of Monday 31 March 2025 are charged UK £15. Films submitted by the Late Deadline of Monday 21 April 2025 are charged GBP £20.
9. SFF does not have the facility to apply refunds. Please ensure your film meets the eligibility criteria before submitting.
10. Applicants may enter as many eligible films as they wish. A separate entry form, upload and additional entry fee is required for each film submission.
11. For anyone wishing to submit multiple entries special discounted rates may apply. For a multiple entry discount please contact film@sluice.info.
12. Discounts for multiple submissions must be sought before the films have been submitted. Multiple discounts cannot be applied retrospectively after the films have already been submitted.
13. All FilmFreeway submissions for Sluice Film Festival are to be paid by credit card or PayPal. The submission fee is non-refundable.

Film submissions
14. Films must be submitted digitally.
15. All films not in the English language are required to have subtitles.
16. SFF accepts submissions via FilmFreeway. You are able to upload your film as a digital file via a secure external link, or to provide a password-protected Vimeo link, once your registration details have been completed. SFF guarantees that your film will never be used in any way other than that to which you agree and will not be available online to the public except under the restrictions outlined herein.
17. Please ensure that your upload adheres to the specifications supplied by FilmFreeway.
18. It is up to the applicant to ensure that the preview copy is in full working order.

Contact
19. For all enquiries please contact info@sluice.info

Selection procedure
20. All submitted films are viewed by the Co-Directors for the Festival selection - the prizes will be awarded by a panel of judges tbc.
21. SFF will not provide comments on films prior to submission, nor reasons for rejection of a submitted film.

Prizes
22. Jury Award and audience award winners will be announced at the end of the final day at the closing wrap event.

Notification
23. The festival will not confirm the receipt of submissions and preview copies. All applicants will be notified via e-mail about the selection or rejection of their film by 28 February 2025.

Festival competition screenings
24. Films in competition screen from DCP. The festival prefers to receive films on professionally made and tested DCPs.
25. If a selected filmmaker is unable to provide their film on DCP, SFF will make a DCP transfer from digital file. This DCP transfer is the property of SFF, and can be supplied to the filmmaker after the festival for a charge to cover the cost of making it.

Film format
26. Selected films MUST provide a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or video file (.mov or .mp4) in order to be screened at the Sluice Film Festival.
27. The festival prefers to receive films on professionally made and tested DCPs. For details of a special DCP creation offer from submissions partner The Ark, go to https://theark.uk.com/sff-dcp/
28. Recommended settings:
Colour: rec709
Aspect ratio: 1998x1080
29. Required settings
Your frame rate needs to be 24

Screenings, out-of-competition selection and touring programmes
30. Films in the competition screen publicly once.
31. There are no fees for participating in the festival competitions. Participants are not entitled to claim rental or other fees for the screenings of their films at the festival.
32. If selected for the festival, the submitter authorises SFF to file their film in the festival archive, where it may be made available for further screenings or events promoted by the festival itself, solely for cultural and not for commercial purposes (unless otherwise specified on accepting an invitation to screen at the festival). Sluice will always request permission and give reasonable notice before proceeding with any further screening, whether theatrical or online. The festival will never allow any third party access to the film without the submitter's permission.
33. SFF may curate out-of-competition screenings or themed touring programmes from films that were submitted to the festival, including those that were not selected for competition. These programmes will be subject to separate agreement between the festival and filmmaker.

Publicity
34. By submitting your film, you consent to its potential inclusion in our program. Should your work be selected, we are honored to present it at the festival and feature it in our newsletter and on the Sluice website, where it will become part of the ever-evolving Sluice Film Archive. As we aim to amplify the voices of the filmmakers we showcase, we will promote the event through our Instagram channels, using imagery and brief preview clips (under 10 seconds) to highlight the films in our programming. By submitting your film, you grant permission to the Sluice team to use these stills and clips exclusively for promotional purposes. All copyright remains firmly in your hands, as the filmmaker. All entrants certify that they have been given full rights to use any and all music in their films.
35. In addition to the reproduction of stills of selected films for all SFF publications and press, selected films may also be screened as part of preview screenings to promote SFF 2025.

Submission agreement
36. Artists who are accepted and are attending the festival are responsible for travel, lodging, and all other expenses.
37. At the point of payment on your submission you will be asked if you have read and agreed with the festival’s regulations. By agreeing to proceed with your submission you are agreeing to these regulations and your application can then be processed. Entry of a film is binding and implies acceptance of these regulations.
38. In the event of disagreement concerning the interpretation of the regulations, the interpretation of the festival will take precedence.
39. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in the submission being disqualified.
40. All stated information, eligibility and submission guidelines, terms and conditions of entry, and entry information is subject to change by the Sluice Film Festival, without notice.

GENERAL AGREEMENT OF PARTICIPATION IN SLUICE FILM FESTIVAL:
By submitting to the Sluice Film Festival I confirm that I have read and accept the terms and regulations of SFF. I will provide the festival with any additional information required pursuant to these rules and regulations. I authorize the Sluice Film Festival to exhibit my film, and if selected, I confirm that an exhibition copy will be available in a required format for screening during the 2025 festival. I certify that I hold all necessary rights for the submission of this film/video to the Sluice Film Festival and that all rights and clearances have been made. This film is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation. I hold Sluice Film Festival harmless from damage to, or loss of any or all materials en route to, from or otherwise at the festival. I assume all legal responsibilities therein. By Agreeing to these terms, I transfer to Sluice Film Festival the right to use excerpts of the submitted film, its stills, and trailers, for the purposes of publicity and marketing of the film at the 2025 festival, and for other non-commercial uses related to the promotion of the 2025 festival. I hereby agree to indemnify Sluice Film Festival, in the event that such rights have not been properly transferred.