Submit your film for a chance to be a part of the 2018 inaugural year lineup and win cash prizes and awards.

Located on beautiful Galveston Island in Texas, the Galveston Island Film Festival & Conference is an exciting three-day festival that offers diverse up-and-coming filmmakers across the world true platforms to showcase their talent, no matter the age!

The selected filmmakers are invited to spend Oct. 5-7 on the island, an experience like no other film festival in the world. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the island throughout the three days on trolleys, golf carts, and shuttles.

They will be able to create new professional connections with like-minded entertainment professionals at various networking events. All attendees will receive a full itinerary.

The panel discussion will focus on topics regarding the integration of diversity within the entertainment industry, as well as how the entertainment business landscape has changed to provide more opportunity to all.

GIFF-CON will allow the public to explore fresh, innovative and creative content from filmmakers from all over the world. Everyone will experience the diverse culture on the historic Galveston Island, the embodiment of the American vision of unity.

GIFF-CON's importance lies in its ability to address issues of integration, diversity and new technology in the entertainment industry. It will provide a platform for aspiring creators who are not yet in the mainstream, but use their unique voices to express their artistic point-of-views.

Awards & Prizes

Grand Prizes:
1st Place for a Featured Film
➢ $250.00 Cash
➢ GIFFC Trophy
➢ Quick Film Budget (Value of $199.00)
➢ IPitch.TV – 1 year subscription (Value of $299.00)
➢ GIFFC Website Channel Screening for 12 months
➢ Hollywood Screening

1st Place for a Short Film
➢ $100.00 Cash
➢ GIFFC Trophy
➢ Quick Film Budget (Value of $199.00)
➢ IPitch.TV – 1 year subscription (Value of $299.00)
➢ GIFFC Website Channel Screening for 12 months
➢ Hollywood Screening

1st Place for a Youth Film
➢ $50.00 Cash
➢ GIFFC Trophy
➢ Quick Film Budget (Value of $199.00)
➢ IPitch.TV – 1 year subscription (Value of $299.00)
➢ GIFFC Website Channel Screening for 12 months
➢ Hollywood Screening

2nd Place for a Featured Film
➢ GIFFC Plaque
➢ GIFFC Website Channel Screening for 6 months
➢ Hollywood Screening

2nd Place for a Short Film
➢ GIFFC Plaque
➢ GIFFC Website Channel Screening for 6 months
➢ Hollywood Screening

2nd Place for a Youth Film
➢ GIFFC Plaque
➢ GIFFC Website Channel Screening for 6 months
➢ Hollywood Screening

3rd Place for a Featured Film
➢ GIFFC Plaque
➢ GIFFC Website Channel Screening for 3 months
➢ Hollywood Screening

3rd Place for a Short Film
➢ GIFFC Plaque
➢ GIFFC Website Channel Screening for 3 months
➢ Hollywood Screening

3rd Place for a Youth Film
➢ GIFFC Plaque
➢ GIFFC Website Channel Screening for 3 months
➢ Hollywood Screening

SPOTLIGHT AWARDS:

Best Lead Actor:
1. Best Lead Actor for a Featured Film
2. Best Lead Actor for a Short Film
3. Best Lead Actor for a Youth Film

Best Supporting Actor:
1. Best Supporting Actor for a Featured Film
2. Best Supporting Actor for a Short Film
3. Best Supporting Actor for a Youth Film

Best Lead Actress:
1. Best Lead Actress for a Featured Film
2. Best Lead Actress for a Short Film
3. Best Lead Actress for a Youth Film

Best Supporting Actress:
1. Best Supporting Actress for a Featured Film
2. Best Supporting Actress for a Short Film
3. Best Supporting Actress for a Youth Film

Best Ensemble Cast:
1. Best Ensemble Cast for a Featured Film
2. Best Ensemble Cast for a Short Film
3. Best Ensemble Cast for a Youth Film

Best Editing:
1. Best Editing for a Featured Film
2. Best Editing for a Short Film
3. Best Editing for a Youth Film

Best Wardrobe:
1. Best Wardrobe for a Featured Film
2. Best Wardrobe for a Short Film
3. Best Wardrobe for a Youth Film

Best Hair & Make-Up:
1. Best Hair & Make-Up for a Featured Film
2. Best Hair & Make-Up for a Short Film
3. Best Hair & Make-Up for a Youth Film

Best Special FX:
1. Best Special FX Direction

Best Art Direction:
1. Best Art Direction for a Featured Film
2. Best Art Direction for a Short Film
3. Best Art Direction for a Youth Film

Best Diverse Cast:
1. Diverse Cast Award for a Featured Film
2. Diverse Cast Award for a Short Film
3. Diverse Cast Award for a Youth Film

The Courage Award:
1. Courage Award
(For most daring film content)

The Humanitarian Award:
1. Humanitarian Award
(Films that highlight most important, relevant social issues)

Best Cinematography:
1. Best Cinematography for a Featured Film
2. Best Cinematography for a Short Film
3. Best Cinematography for a Youth Film

The Outstanding Achievement for Producing Award:
1. Outstanding Achievement for Producing a Featured Film
2. Outstanding Achievement for Producing a Short Film
3. Outstanding Achievement for Producing a Youth Film

In total there are at LEAST 40 winners this 2018 inaugural year. If you have a good film, chances are you will be recognized.

All films that place in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Grand Prize will be screened in the heart of Hollywood, California with a reception afterwards, getting the chance to network with entertainment professionals.

Films that place and receive Spotlight Awards that are in attendance will be presented with an official Galveston Island Film Festival & Conference laurels. Films that place and receive a Spotlight Award but cannot attend the festival will be sent an official Galveston Island Film Festival & Conference laurels via emailed PDF format.

Industry Professional Judging Panel to be announced February 2019 and Official Winner Hollywood Screening dates to be announced after winners are announced at the festival.

Rules & Terms

GIFF-CON Rules & Regulations
Galveston Island Film Festival is seeking films that demonstrate creative cinematic techniques, stories that has a diverse voice and diversity in the cast.

Eligibility:
1. Entries must be completed in 2012 through 2018
2. Featured-length Films must be 31-90 minutes maximum
3. Short Films must be between 3-30 minutes maximum
4. Must Be 18 years or older
5. Genres Accepted – Drama, Action, Comedy, Fantasy/ Sci-Fi, Inspirational, and Musical/ Dance
6. Films that use any other language other than English must have subtitles.

Youth Film Category:
• Must be under 17 years or younger.
• Film should be produced, directed and edit by youths that are 17 years and younger.
• Cast, crew and story should be diverse.
• Films should be 3 – 15 minutes maximum
• Genres Accepted – Drama, Action, Comedy, Fantasy/ Sci-Fi, Inspirational, and Musical/ Dance
• Films that use any other language other than English must have subtitles.

Rules & Terms:
GIFF-CON – Galveston Island Film Festival and Conference

TERMS OF USE

• Failure to comply with GIFF-CON guidelines, rules, regulations, or eligibility may be cause for disqualification and result in having your film pulled from screening.

• By submitting or entering your work to GIFF-CON you are admitting that you have read, understood and agreed to follow our Rules and Regulations for festival submissions and to abide by our Terms and Conditions of service and our general festival Rules and Regulations.

• By submitting or entering your work to GIFF-CON, entrants release it’s Board of Directors, Officers, Staff and Volunteers harmless from and against all losses, damages, rights, claims and actions of any kind arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from participation with the competition or participation in any competition related activity.

• By submitting to GIFF-CON you are granting GIFF-CON the rights to use screen grabs, press materials, and stills from your movie on our advertisements, press materials, festival programs and website for a minimum 12 months preceding and following the festival year you are submitted to.

• By submitting to GIFF-CON Featured and Short Film Category you are admitting that you are 18 years of age or older.

• By submitting to GIFF-CON Youth Film Category you are admitting that you are 17 years or younger. Also, you have submitted a parental wavier form.

• By submitting to GIFF-CON you are granting the right for GIFF-CON to screen your film publicly one to four times in the next twelve months, world wide.

• By entering or submitting to any GIFF-CON you acknowledge that you are not entitled to any refund or damage claims of any kind if your film is unable to screen due to technical or operational difficulties or if your film needs to be rescheduled or delayed for any reason or do not get chosen for the festival.

• Every Film with Non–English dialogue that is submitted selected MUST provide their film WITH ENGLISH subtitles, no matter what language the dialogue is. Films without English Subtitles will be disqualify from the submission process.

• Every Film with Non–English dialogue that gets officially selected MUST provide a copy of their film WITH ENGLISH subtitles, no matter what language the dialogue is.
• GIFF-CON is not responsible for broken or non-functioning films, DCP's (Digital Cinema Package).

• In the case that your film gets selected for the official program in 2018, a final screening copy in form of a DCP has to be delivered to the festival no later than 1 month before the opening night of the festival.

• If your Film get's to be officially selected as the OPENING FILM of the festival you MUST provide a digital high resolution file with ENGLISH if language is other than English - ALREADY ATTACHED AND SYNCHED UP TO THE FINAL SCREENING COPY. THE FESTIVAL DOES NOT TRANSLATE OR EDIT SUBTITLES ONTO THE FILM FOR SCREENING PURPOSES. We do NOT accept separated files of movies and subtitles it has to be provided in ONE file.

• If GIFF-CON does not receive a DCP copy of your film (if selected) your film will automatically be disqualified from the program/competition.

• GIFF-CON does not pay any screening fees. We also do not arrange and/or pay for any travel expenses. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.