US IN PROGRESS is an industry event held biannually in Paris, France during Champs-Elysées Film Festival (this year from June 19 to 21) and in Wroclaw, Poland during American Film Festival (November). This professional programme is a collaboration between these two festivals and seeks to facilitate the circulation of American independent cinema in Europe by bringing decision makers from all over Europe to discover new US filmmakers.

During 3 intensive days, the selected project holders will pitch their projects (show 20 min of excerpt and make a 10 min presentation) in front of top European decision makers in an intimate environment, have one-on-one meetings with them and attend workshops and networking cocktails, lunches and diners. A Jury of 5 professionals from the industry will choose the project that will receive a cash prize of 5000 euros.

Why promote US indie films in Europe?
Studio productions often offer a conventional and limited vision of American talents. American independent cinema is in a difficult position, with no public fundings for production in the US, no grants for European distribution and no official coproduction agreements between the US and other countries. US in Progress aims to fill that void by showcasing 6 to 10 American feature films (narratives only for this edition) in post production stage to an audience of European sales agents, french distributors, festival programmers and producers. Each year, our selection strives to represent the diversity and wealth of this American cinema, even its gray areas that continue to surprise us.

Thanks to US in Progress, European professionals, faithful to the program since its inception, have been able to discover new filmmakers such as Joshua Weinstein, Jessica Orek, Nathan Silver, Mike Ott, Benjamin Dickinson, Matt Porterfield, Mike Tully, Daniel Carbone, Leah Meyerhoff, Onur Tukel, Ivete Lucas and Patrick Bresnan amongst other talents.

We believe it is essential for the key actors of the industry that are working in every step of a film’s production, to join forces and highlight the strength of American independent films. Hence a jury composed of top industry professionals (distributor, sales, journalist, exhibitor) will select one project that will receive a cash prize of 5000 euros.

In addition a prize in kind will be confirmed soon.

APPLICATION BASIC REQUIREMENTS

1) Narrative feature projects with all or a majority of principal photography completed are eligible. Post production should NOT be complete.

2) Application must include a link to a rough/fine cut of AT LEAST 40 minutes. TRAILERS, ROUGH CUTS UNDER 40 MINUTES AND SHORTS ARE NOT ACCEPTED.

3) Production Company needs to be US BASED, though the project may be filmed internationally.

4) Projects looking for completion money, services and sales agent or European distribution should apply.

5) Films with no US or International premiere nor European sales representation prior to June 21th 2019 are eligible.

6) If your project is selected, the director or producer is required to be present for the entire duration of the program (June 19-21th 2019). A 20 min excerpt will be selected with the help of USIP team to be presented to the decision makers. You will need to provide a backup during the event.

7) US in Progress covers up to 500 euros per selected project to help the project holders attend the programme. If you have a scheduling conflict, we encourage you to apply in a future cycle when you are available.

RULES & TERMS

On behalf of the project being submitted (hereinafter also as "the Project"), by reading this document and sending my project to US in Progress, I acknowledge and agree as follows in connection with the Project's submittal for consideration for the US in Progress (hereinafter also as “the USP”):

1] The Project is in-progress, it is developed more than just at the script phase yet not a fully produced or post produced.

2] The Project must not be subjected to any US or International Premiere nor European sales representation prior to the end of the workshop (19th June 2019).

3] The treatment or the script for the Project has been registered with either the Writers Guild of America West [WGAw] or the Writers Guild of America East [WGAe] or the Library of Congress [LoC] prior to submitting to the USP, and the
I hereby acknowledge that there shall be NO EXCEPTIONS, and that all projects not providing a WGAw or WGAe or LoC registration number will be returned. I understand that the USP wishes to ensure that my project is fully registered and protected, prior to being reviewed by anyone participating
in the USP.

4] I hereby represent and warrant to the USP organizers on behalf of myself and the Project s Owners that: (a) I am duly authorized, on my own behalf and on behalf of all other persons or entities who have any ownership rights or interests (including, without limitation, intellectual property rights) in or relating to the Project (the “Project’s Owners”), to present this Project at the USP, (b) presentation of the Project at the USP will not violate any law or any right or consent of any person or entity; is.......................................................................... REGISTRATION NUMBER (to be written in the submission form) and (c) the Project is not subject to any litigation, arbitration, or other adversarial claim or proceeding, nor is the Project the subject of any threat of litigation, arbitration, or other adverse claim or proceeding.

5] I hereby represent and warrant, on behalf of myself and the Project’s Owners, that the presentation of the Project at the USP will not violate or infringe any copyright, patent, privacy right, publicity right, trademark, service mark or any other personal or property right of any person or entity, and that the Project does not constitute or include a defamation of any person or entity. I have paid and will pay in full any necessary license fees, clearance fees, and other obligations, of any kind, arising from or associated with the presentation of the Project at or in connection with the USP.

6] In the event that the Project is selected for presentation at the USP, I acknowledge, on behalf of myself and the Project’s Owners, that presentation of the Project does not and will not create any confidential or fiduciary relationship between the USP organizers on the one hand and myself and/or the Project’s Owners on the other. I acknowledge that no obligation of any kind is assumed by, or may be implied against, the USP organizers in the event of, by virtue of, or as a result of the USP’s selection of the Project. I and the Project’s Owners understand and acknowledge that the selection of the Project by the USP does not and will not in any way constitute an express or implied endorsement or approval by the USP of the content of the Project or any opinion expressed therein.

7] In the event that the Project is selected for presentation at the USP, I agree to be present for the entire duration of the USP and screen 20mn excerpts of the film.

8] I agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, to indemnify and hold harmless the USP, together with each of their parents, affiliates, officers, directors, employees, attorneys, creative advisors, agents and representatives (collectively, “USP Related Parties”) from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, fees and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorney's fees and other costs) that may be asserted by any person or entity or may be incurred by the USP, USP Related Parties at any time in connection with the Project or the USP’s use thereof, or arising from any breach or alleged breach of any representation made by me to the USP, including, without limitation, any express or implied representation in these Terms and Conditions.

9] I warrant and agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, that the Project is being submitted to the USP voluntarily and without promise or inducement, and that the submission of the Project neither imposes nor creates any obligation or responsibility on the part of the USP or any USP Related Parties to accept the Project for the USP, to present the Project at the USP, or to return the Project to me or others. I further agree, on my own behalf and on behalf of the Project’s Owners, that I and the Project’s Owners, in submitting the Project for consideration, are waiving and relinquishing any right to assert any claim or commence any proceeding in any forum or tribunal against the USP organizers and USP Related Parties, based upon, arising out of or otherwise relating to the submission, presentation, or failure to present the Project (including, without limitation, claims relating to any failure or refusal to present the Project at the USP, the presentation or marketing of the Project at or in connection with the USP, alleged oral or written representations by the USP or its representatives relating to the submission or presentation of the Project, and any other matters arising from or relating to the submission of the Project), whether such claims may be based on theories of contract, implied contract, tort, statute, or other legal theory. In the event that any claim is asserted or any proceeding is commenced in violation of the agreement set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, I agree, on my own behalf and on behalf of each of the Project’s Owners, to indemnify the USP from any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, fees and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorney's fees and other costs) that are incurred by any of the foregoing as a result of or in connection with any such claim or proceeding brought in violation of the representations and agreements set forth in this paragraph, including, without limitation, reimbursement of all attorney’s fees incurred or to be incurred by the USP organizers or any USP Related Parties in connection with any claim, arbitration or other proceeding brought or initiated by me or any of the Project’s Owners or any other representative of the Project.
10] In the event that the Project is accepted by the USP, I hereby grant, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, each of the following rights to the USP organizers and their related entities without reservations, conditions or qualifications: (a) the right to use footage, stills and/or titles, and information from or relating to the Project for promotional purposes; and (b) the right to issue and authorize publicity concerning the Project creators and the Project and to use all associated names, likenesses and biographical information. I also agree to provide contact information for the director and producer(s) of the Project.

11] I hereby understand that USIP organizers are non-profit entities whose mission is to provide connectivity for filmmakers to potential sources of financing, distribution and other contacts and resources in order to help bring their projects to fruition, that it is the full responsibility of the filmmaker to capitalize on such connectivity, that USP can make no guarantees about the success of any Project, and that USP organizers are operating in good faith to assist in any way it can.

12] By signing the document below, I freely and voluntarily give and express my full and complete acceptance of all of the terms and provisions set forth in these Terms and Conditions. I acknowledge that no oral representations, inducements, promises or assurances of any kind, and no representations, inducements, promises or assurances not set forth in these Terms and Conditions, have been made to me or the Project’s Owners by the USP organizers and USP Related Parties.

13] At the completion of his/their film(s), the winner(s) of the USP Prize will have to add 2 logos at the end credits: US in Progress and Champs-Elysées Film Festival.

By submitting your film to the programme you accept all the rules and terms above.