The Sprout Touring Film Festival (STFF) showcases the best in film featuring the diverse lives and creative talents of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This is a year-round touring program in which sponsoring organizations can select the specific film line-up they wish to include in their customized festival. Please note: Acceptance into the STFF makes your film eligible for every Sprout Touring Film Festival, but it is the sponsoring organizations that make the ultimate decision for each of their events. Acceptance into the STFF also automatically makes your film eligible for inclusion in Sproutflix (www.sproutflix.org), our distribution site for films featuring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. (Participation is optional.)

By introducing powerful, thought-provoking films from around the world to new audiences, we hope to breakdown stereotypes, promote acceptance and inclusion… making the invisible, visible.

In order to qualify for consideration into the Sprout Touring Film Festival entrants must comply with ALL of the following Rules and Eligibility Requirements. Failure to comply with these rules will render a submission ineligible:

. Submissions must feature a person with I/DD or be made by a filmmaker with I/DD. We do not accept films in which a non-disabled actor portrays a character with I/DD.

. You must submit a separate application for each project.

. If you send in a signed application and your submission is accepted into the festival, you may not withdraw your application.

. All foreign language film submissions must have English subtitles.

. All lengths and genres are accepted.

. There is no restriction as to when the film was made.

. Submission and acceptance into the Sprout Film Festival indicates that Sprout has the right to use select images and clips in printed and digital materials.

. The Sprout Film Festival does not pay rental/ screener fees to filmmakers.

. The Sprout Film Festival does not accept responsibility for damaged or lost materials.

All submissions must include the following:

. Applicants must complete and sign the online application via FilmFreeway or by mailing all application materials to:
Sprout Film Festival, 270 West 96th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10025 USA.

. All applications must include a screener. Applicants can provide a link to the film or a digital download. If DVDs are mailed, they must include a completed application. Unmarked DVD's will not be eligible for consideration.

. The Sprout Film Festival does not cover shipping costs for filmmakers who choose to mail in application materials.

. All applications must include an entry fee. If you submitted a film to a past SFF we will waive the fee for new submissions

-$20 for films under 30 minutes
-$30 for films over 30 minutes

SELECTION

The film festival selection committee will select and invite films at their discretion. Everyone who submits a film will be contacted via email regarding acceptance into the festival on an ongoing basis.

The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening at the Touring SFF, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.

The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Sprout 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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  • Sprout Touring festival works tirelessly to share great selections of films about disability (featuring disabled artists) or made by disabled film makers. The festival has been incredibly supportive over a number of years championing good and groundbreaking films. Don't hesitate to share your films with this great festival and organisation.

    July 2020
  • Cory Reeder

    Sprout is a touring festival, so that means my short film Best Friend got screenings many times in several places. They do a great job of informing me about screenings so I can help promote.

    Since I'm based on the west coast and many of the screenings were East Coast-based, I didn't have a chance to mingle, or network. But Anthony and his team did a great job of keeping me updated.

    Will submit again for sure. Thanks, Sprout!

    June 2018