Submission fee and deadlines:
All 2021 submissions MUST include a processing fee. Submit through FilmFreeway.
Submissions open January 11th, 2021.
Any filmmaker may submit a short film which was completed AFTER Jan.1, 2019 and has a runtime of less than 25 minutes in the following genres:
Action
Animation
Comedy
Documentaries
Drama
Horror
Music Videos
Science Fiction
Shot On Mobile
Suspense
The MIFF is primarily a short film festival that may include several features if time permits. Productions longer than 25 minutes may be submitted through special arrangement only. Contact us for details.
Productions that would be rated more restrictively than “R” will not be selected by the MIFF.
If selected:
You will be notified of your selection and receive one All Access Pass upon check-in at the theater. You will be asked to provide a high-quality copy of your program either as a theater-ready DCP or high-quality format that we will convert into a DCP for theater screening. Adhering to high standards for this copy of your movie will help us maintain the high standards possible at the Premiere Theaters/Oaks 10 MIFF location. Specific image and audio guidelines are below.
2021 MIFF Delivery Guidelines for Accepted Productions
Goal: Provide us the highest quality practical of your production.
If your submission is accepted review the guidelines below and send us a copy of your production ASAP.
• Audio levels dialog normal (average dialog level) should be -20 dBFS(1).
• Audio encoding should be 48KHz 24 bit samples with no compression(2). Mono to 7.1 is accepted.
• Non-English submissions must have English subtitles burned in (included in the video)
• Resolution should be limited to 4K (most are 2K)(3).
• Delivery format preferred formats include ProRes 422, DNxHD, DNxHR, or another high-quality commonly available low compression CODEC(4). DCPs are accepted(5).
• Delivery medium preferred is via electronic transfer (FTP server, DropBox, WeTransfer, FileZilla or other file transfer service); other delivery media are acceptable by special arrangement.
• DO NOT pad the start or end with excessive black, pillar box or letter box.
All material will be presented using a cinema projector from a 2K or 4K Digital Cinema Package (DCP).
NOTES:
Dialog normal will be adjusted to our best estimate of -20 dBFS if not provided that way.
16 bit audio when delivered at -20 dBFS is accepted, but limits audio quality.
Standard pixel dimensions are: HD 1920x1080 or 1280x720, UHD 3840x2160, 2K Flat 1998x1080, 4K Flat 3996x2160, 2K CinemaScope 2048x858, 4K CinemaScope 4096x1716, and a CinemaScope image encoded HD video is 1920x804 pixels.
All submissions are encoded to a DCP for presentation at a very high quality (100 Mbps or higher, 10 bits per sample video and 24 bits per sample audio); DNxHR HQX and ProRes 422 HQ are the preferred CODECs when providing 10 bit video; providing highly compressed video is discouraged.
All features length movies will be shown in the flat, scope or HD format in which they were provided. Shorts will be encoded to fit the frame size of the majority of submissions in the presentation grouping at the MIFF, which is CinemaScope or Flat (we will pillar box or letterbox if needed for presentation).
Send file links or technical questions to MIFF@ACutAboveVideo.com.
If shipping or delivering material, send it to:
A Cut Above Video
Attn: MIFF
4450 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., Suite 220
Melbourne, FL 32934-7214 USA
Phone number for shipping and technical questions: 321-253-5677
All other festival related questions should be sent to Contact@MelbourneFilmFest.com
Notice of release:
I hereby irrevocably grant the Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival hereafter referred to as MIFF, their licensees, agents, successors and assignees the right in perpetuity throughout the world in all media now or hereafter known to promote and advertise the MIFF utilizing my name, fictitious name, the promotional and collateral material submitted, and short segment(s) of the motion picture I am submitting to the MIFF.
The MIFF may publicly exhibit my complete submitted motion picture only during the MIFF. Other than for review for acceptance to the MIFF, promotion of the MIFF using short excerpts from the submission, and display at the MIFF, the MIFF has no rights to reproduce, display or distribute the submitted motion picture.
I am at least 18 years of age, have all licenses and rights necessary for promotion and exhibition of the submitted motion picture, and am authorized to submit it for public exhibition in a movie theater during the MIFF; specifically I affirm that proper license(s) of intellectual property (music, images, etc.) used within this production have been obtained and display of my submission by the MIFF does not violate any laws or copyright restrictions within the United States.
I understand that I am not entitled to any financial compensation from the MIFF for this release.
On my behalf, my heirs, successors, and assignees, I indemnify and hold harmless the MIFF and its agents from any and all claims, actions, and judgments, including all costs of defense and attorney’s fees incurred in defending against same, arising from and related to the display and use of materials provided by me under this agreement.
