SUBMITTERS, IF (1) ONE OR MORE OF YOUR SUBMISSIONS ARE SELECTED, YOU ARE ONLY GUARANTEED (2) TWO FREE VIP PASSES FOR ALL 5 DAYS OF SCREENINGS, which also includes the Award Show! If more passes, tickets, etc., are needed, they can be purchased from our website at www.thewildbunchfilmfestival.com
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
This festival is for the Western and western sub-genres, but other categories such as screenplays, manuscripts & TV Pilots also accept "all genre".
For film screenings, MP4, MOV & DCP are accepted. If you have questions, contact us at thewildbunchfilmfestival@gmail.com
Our Selections / Awards Procedure / Festival Director / Producers make official selections for TWBFF by vote. Official Selections of films and screenplays are then screened/graded by 5 different judges anonymously, and given an overall grade for various categories (with the exception of the “Directors Choice Award”). All judges points are then added together to give it a grade.
If your work is selected, you must fulfill the following requirements by the date(s) designated by the The Wild Bunch Film Festival: You also must be prepared to supply at least three electronic images (publicity stills) either in jpeg or PDF format, 300dpi, for publication purposes. Press kits would be helpful, but not required.
STUDENT FILMS CATEGORIES: School ID's is required that matches the date your film was created. Copies of Student ID's must be emailed to thewildbunchfilmfestival@gmail.com
PLEASE NOTE: The 'Ads/Tributes', 'Western trailer/teaser', 'Web Series', 'Western Youtube" films, Western TV show and "Vodcast' are the ONLY categories that can be streamed to YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, etc., for FREE viewing to the public prior to TWBFF. ALL OTHER FILM CATEGORIES CANNOT be streamed on ANY media to the public until after TWBFF has completed. If you do so, you risk your film being disqualified.
Entrant will allow usage of clips from the film for promotional use on television, radio, in print and at live Festival events. All entries must be in English, contain English subtitles or be dubbed in English.
Works in Progress: While entrants are permitted to submit films that are not fully complete (i.e.,without final color correction and sound mixing), please note that the festival committee will accept the version submitted. Completed work or replacement copies MUST be uploaded no later than Sep 2nd, 2025.
The Wild Bunch Film Festival and BrenRock Productions LLC is not responsible for incorrect wording in publications or on awards if the entry information is incorrect or illegible.
Entry fees are not refundable. Fees cover registration, notification that your entry has been received and notification of results. These fees must be paid during the entry process.
By entering the The Wild Bunch Film Festival competition, all entrants agree to hold harmless The Wild Bunch Film Festival, BrenRock Productions LLC, the Staff and Volunteers from all losses, damages, rights, claims, and actions of any kind arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from participation with the event.
By submitting your work you are automatically stating that you accept full responsibility for obtaining any and all clearances necessary to exhibit your film at The Wild Bunch Film Festival, and warrants you have the rights necessary to exhibit your submission; and indemnify and hold harmless The Wild Bunch Film Festival, its parent company BrenRock Productions LLC, affiliates, event venue, subsidiaries and any of the respective officers, employees, and representatives against any claim arising from exhibition of your submission at The Wild Bunch Film Festival.
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SCREENPLAY SUBMISSION RULES:
What are the judges looking for? They'll be judging screenplays based on:
PREMISE/CONCEPT
The idea behind the story. What the movie is about. The “hook.”
PRESENTATION
Standard spec screenplay or teleplay format (12 pt. Courier font, correct margins, etc.), as well as spelling, punctuation, grammar, and usage.
STRUCTURE
The framework of the script. Effective use of three-act (most common), odyssey, linear, or non-linear story progression.
PLOT
The actions, events, conflicts, and turning points that propel the story forward. How the story unfolds (points for originality/unpredictability).
PACING
The timing of the action, unfolding of plot elements, and character development.
CHARACTERS
Personalities that are distinctive, compelling, multi-layered, and unpredictable. A protagonist and antagonist with clear and active goals.
DIALOGUE
Voices that are natural, succinct, and unique to each character. Use of language that effectively reveals character and moves the story forward.
THEME
The underlying message of the story as revealed through plot, dialogue, and visual elements.
STYLE/TONE
Overall quality of the writing. Tone that is appropriate to the material and narrative that is distinct, cinematic, and effectively conveys the mood or “feel” of the movie.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL
Audience appeal and box-office potential.
If selected, do finalists get a VIP Pass? Yes. They'll get two FREE VIP PASSES allowing access to the Film Festival. Only two FREE passes are allowed per finalists/submitter.
Is there a PRIZE for winners? Yes. Screenplay winners will get Trophies or Awards at the big award show!
Format: All entries must be written in English and submitted as a PDF file less than 5 MB, size 12 Courier font, standard industry format. Title of script only on title page: no author name. Pages should be numbered. MovieMagic Screenwriter, Final Draft, or Celtx are suggested software programs.
Our Selections / Awards Procedure / Festival Director / Producers make official selections for TWBFF by vote. Official Selections of films and screenplays are then screened/graded by 5 different judges anonymously, and given an overall grade for various categories (with the exception of the “Directors Choice Award”). All judges points are then added together to give it a grade.
Original: All entries must be original works by the applicant.
Co-authors: If a screenplay has more than one author, it is up to the authors to decide who will be the primary contact e-mail.
English: All entries must be submitted in English.
Pages: (approximate numbers) Short Scripts: 50 pages or less. Feature Scripts: 51 pages or more.
Disqualifications: Submissions ARE NOT disqualified for minor formatting errors (title page, software or length.)
Rules For TV Pilots -
Short Form TV Pilot (pilot episode under 20 mins duration). TV pilot of any genre is allowed.
Long Form TV Pilot (pilot of over 20 mins in duration). TV Pilot of any genre is allowed..
TV Pilot Entries must also include a Series Vision Sheet which is to be sent to thewildbunchfilmfestival@gmail.com with the project title and tracking number in the email subject line. The Series Vision sheet would be a 1-5 page doc that gives an overview of the show including how many episodes not produced, have been produced, or that are in production, potential character arcs, and a synopsis of future episodes to give us a general idea of what the show would become.
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NOVEL & MANUSCRIPT" - RULES:
Submissions are accepted in PDF only. Several short stories in one novel is not permitted and will be disqualified. Material must be submitted by the Author or their representative.
Corrected pages of the entered material are not allowed. Proof read carefully before submission. All ownership and rights to the material submitted to this contest remains with the original rights holders unless and until the rights holder settles negotiations of any proposed deal for partnership or transfer of rights.
The material submitted must not be encumbered by any obligation to, or option held by, a third party prior to entering the competition.
Material must include Title, Logline (one to three sentence description of the book), and Synopsis Outline.
The western novel finalists and winner(s) in various western & western sub-genre categories as well as "All genre" will be chosen based on the following criteria: originality, perceived entertainment value, plot, characters, goal, conflict, theme & setting.
All entries must be original works by the entrant, in English.
Plagiarism, which includes the use of third-party characters or another person’s universe, without written permission, will result in disqualification.
Work submitted can be published or unpublished (see both categories when submitting and choose the one that falls under your work). Please let us know if your novel is published or unpublished when you are filling in your bio, details, etc., on FilmFreeway, as there will be awards for the winners of both published and unpublished work.
Applicants may submit multiple applications, however, each application must be complete with entry fee. Each submission must be uploaded separately.
Your novel must be a close to minimum of 8,000 words or roughly 18 pages single spaced or 30 paged doubled spaced, and not exceed close to 120,000 words or roughly 267 pages single spaced, or 439 pages double spaced. We prefer that you use a twelve point Times New Roman in black type only. Courier and Arial fonts is also acceptable.
If selected as a finalists, does the person that submitted the novel manuscript get film festival passes? Yes, the finalist would get two TWBFF passes allowing access to all film festival screenings for 2024, including the award show. Only two FREE passes are allowed per finalists/submitter.
Is there a PRIZE for novel manuscript winners? Yes. Winners will be presented trophies or awards at the Award Show!
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The submitter agrees to indemnify TWBFF against any and all claims, expenses, losses, or liabilities that may be asserted against TWBFF in connection with the Material or any use thereof, including, without limitation those arising from any breach of the warranties and promises given by the submitter.
The submitter releases and discharges TWBFF from any and all claims and demands and will not assert, maintain or assist any party in asserting or maintaining any claims or demands against TWBFF in connection with the Materials, including, any and all claims for libel, rights of publicity, theft or misappropriation of ideas or trade secrets, or infringement of copyright and other intellectual property rights.
The submitter agrees to warrant that he/she is the sole owner and author of the described material or has the official representation of the co-author, and has the full right and authorization to submit the material to TWBFF.
The submitter has retained a copy of the Material and agrees that TWBFF shall not be obligated to return the Material to the submitter. The submitter releases TWBFF from all liability if the Material is lost, misplaced, stolen or destroyed.
The submitter acknowledges that TWBFF is under no obligation to use the Material in any manner and further represents and warrants that the Material is original, that the submitter has the right and authority to submit the Material to TWBFF on the foregoing terms and conditions, each and all of which shall be binding on the submitter, his/her agents, heirs, successors, licensees and assigns.
REFUND POLICY
All entries are non-refundable.
