Please Note: Training Reels Independent Film Festival does not waive entry fees. TRIFF believes waiving entry fees hurts the integrity of the competition. The same rules and entry fees should apply to all applicants so no one film is favored over another. Only films that are submitted will be considered for the competition. Each filmmaker can submit up to 3 films.
General Eligibility
Submissions must be accompanied by the applicable submission fee PER ENTRY and a completed online entry form. All films must be in English or have English subtitles at the time submitted.
Films must be submitted as an online streaming video via a participating submission platform (FilmFreeway), a password-protected streaming URL, or on DVD with NTSC or PAL formatting (please test before sending).
In the event of a password change or link change after submitting, you must email the Festival at creativecrewky@gmail.com immediately with that change so we may update your record. If the Festival is not notified of the change and the link is found to be inactive or the password to be incorrect, the submission may be deemed ineligible.
TRIFF only accepts films as digital screen films. We do not accept Blu-Ray, HD-CAM, or DCP. If you are unable or unwilling to provide us with your film as a digital file for exhibition.
Films must have been completed after January 1, 2018. Films must be available for screening during the Training Reels Independent Film Festival, which is scheduled for November 2022.
Films that have been submitted to TRIFF in previous years are eligible to be resubmitted, provided they are eligible according to all of TRIFF’s current rules.
Films with US distribution (obtained prior to being selected for TRIFF screening) or films produced, financed, or initiated by a major film studio or television network are ineligible for competition but may be considered for a special screening. Selection for screening will be determined no later than one month prior to the festival. Since this is a festival for independent filmmakers films that have screened on US networks or cable television or distributed to theaters prior to the festival dates are also ineligible for competition. But are still eligible for the Special Screening Category.
TRIFF reserves the right in its sole discretion to reject or disqualify any ineligible entries, without a refund.
Films that are selected to screen at the Festival, such as the Selected Screening titles, may not necessarily be selected to be “in the competition lineup” for awards purposes. Notifications regarding potential selection for competition status possibly may occur subsequent to notifications of acceptance for the exhibition.
Originality and Permissions; INDEMNITY
Films must be the original work of the applicants. If a film is based upon another person’s life or upon a book or other underlying work, the applicant(s) must secure any necessary rights to make such adaptations. However, it is not necessary to submit the adaptation rights agreements to the Festival. Neither the Festival nor its jurists investigate or attest to the authenticity of an applicant’s statement of authorship or rights secured. By entering the competition, you represent that you have secured all necessary rights.
Applicants are solely responsible for obtaining all necessary rights and permissions for third-party materials included in their films, including but not limited to music, trademarks, logos, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights. AFF expressly disclaims all liability or responsibility for any violations of the foregoing.
Additional Information
We strongly encourage filmmakers to submit their films only after it is fully finished and will judge each submission as a completed work, whether it is or not. Once a film is entered, we will not update the submission with a more recent cut. That said, because TRIFF’s focus is on the story, minor technical changes will not affect the final decision of any film. Should the film be accepted to play during the Festival, the filmmaker will have the opportunity to supply the Festival with their most recent version.
Training Reels Independent Film Festival reserves the right to switch the entry category or otherwise assign a category to fit programming needs and interests.
Once an entry payment has been received we cannot provide a refund. If a payment is disputed by an entrant for any reason, the entrant may be subject to any transaction fees or similar amounts incurred by TRIFF in connection with the dispute.
You MUST include your physical address either in your entry or in your cover letter. Please do not submit a film without giving us your address, which we need for our records.
Payment can be made by money order or cashier’s check or however deemed acceptable by FilmFreeway's standard procedures.
Please include in your cover letter if your film was SHOT IN KENTUCKY(include locations) or made by KENTUCKY FILMMAKERS. We don’t want to miss your film
Selected Films and Winners
1. TRIFF has no obligation (other than as stated in these rules or on our website) to disclose any of the following information: i) identities of screeners or judges; ii) notes, feedback, or information relating to the submitted project; and/or iii) details regarding the submission review or selection process.
TRIFF explicitly disclaims any liability or responsibility for any comments, notes, or opinions expressed about a submission, whether by AFF or by its volunteers.
Winners will be announced on at the end of the festival. The judges’ decision is final.
If winners receive a cash prize winners are solely responsible for payment of all applicable local, state, and federal taxes.
RETURNS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
DVDs and press materials will not be returned under any circumstances.
COMPETITION IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
