South Asian International Film Festival Florida (SAIFFF)

The South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFFF) Florida is dedicated to celebrating the art of cinema from the South Asian region and beyond. To ensure a fair and successful festival, we have established the following rules and terms for filmmakers submitting their work:

• Film Submission Eligibility:
a) Films submitted must have a direct connection to South Asia, which may include films produced in South Asia or films with themes, content, or creatives (directors, actors, writers, etc.) originating from the South Asian region.
b) All Films submitted must have been completed within 2 years of festival date.
c) All Films must present South Asian content, topics, themes or have South Asian heritage within the team (Producer, Director, Screenwriter, Composer, Actor). This clause is not applicable to International and Student Filmmakers.
d) Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Iran and Tibet are included in the classification of ‘South Asian’.

• Submission Categories:
We accept films in various categories, including feature films, short films, and documentaries. Please submit your work to the appropriate category.

• Submission Deadlines:
Submissions must be received by the deadline specified on our FilmFreeway page. Late submissions may not be considered.

• Film Completion Date:
Films submitted must have been completed after a specified date as mentioned in the submission guidelines.

• Submission Format:
Films must be submitted through our preferred platform, which is FilmFreeway. Ensure that the submitted films are in the specified digital format.

• Screening Permissions:
By submitting your film, you grant SAIFFF Florida the right to screen your film during the festival. This includes public and private festival screenings.

• Subtitle Requirements:
Non-English language films must be submitted with English subtitles.

• Multiple Submissions:
You may submit multiple films, but each film requires a separate submission fee.

• Entry Fees:
Entry fees are non-refundable. Please review the fee structure on our FilmFreeway page.

• Selection and Notifications:
Our selection committee will review all submissions, and selected filmmakers will be notified of their film's status. Not all submissions will be accepted.

• Promotional Materials:
If your film is selected, you must provide promotional materials, including high-resolution images, posters, and trailers, for festival promotion.

• Screening Formats:
Filmmakers are responsible for providing the festival with the required screening formats for their films. Details will be communicated upon selection.

• Copyright and Permissions:
Filmmakers are responsible for securing all necessary rights, licenses, and permissions for their films, including music and third-party content.

• Publicity and Promotion:
By participating in the festival, you grant SAIFFF Florida the right to use excerpts, images, and promotional materials from your film for festival marketing and publicity.

• Awards and Prizes:
The decisions of the festival's jury are final. Awards and prizes, as outlined in the festival's awards section, will be presented to winning films and individuals.

• Festival Screenings and Events:
Filmmakers with accepted films may be invited to attend the festival and participate in Q&A sessions and other events.

• Film formats:
Accepted Film formats for theatrically exhibited projects are DCP, mp4 and pro-res. The required exhibition formats for virtually/online exhibited projects will be confirmed by the Festival after invitations have been extended and confirmed. Please check in with the Festival staff before creating your Festival exhibition copy or copies to ensure the format and technical specifications are correct.

• For Episodic Content:
If some but not all of the episodes have been exhibited theatrically or made available via any other public platform, you may only submit episodes that have not been exhibited theatrically or otherwise released to the public. For example, if the first season of your series is available online, you may only submit episodes from a subsequent season that have not been released to the public in any form. All episodic content must play continuously in one single video file for digital upload and do not exceed 10GB in size.

• Revisions and Updates:
SAIFFF Florida reserves the right to update or revise these rules and terms at its discretion.

Submitting your film to the South Asian International Film Festival Florida (SAIFFF) implies your acceptance of these rules and terms. We look forward to celebrating the magic of South Asian cinema with you and showcasing your exceptional work to our audience.