Submissions to the 2025 UFFyc are only accepted through FilmFreeway.
Only the producer, director, screenwriter, or someone closely connected to the film may complete the application. Schools may submit films on behalf of student filmmakers with the permission of the student(s). Students must provide their advisor's contact information so that the UFFyc may verify with them their status as a student during production.
Original formats may have been shot on 8mm, 16mm, 35mm, and all formats of video as well as all formats digital and computer multimedia.
Submissions must include:
• Entry Fee,
• Final Cut of the Submission,
• Synopsis of no more than 50 words,
• Summary of no more than 500 words,
• Director and producer with short bios,
• An above the line cast and crew list,
• Release date,
• At least 1 digital, hi-res, promotional photo from the film,
• A listing of previous screenings, festivals and awards, including dates.
• Optional: Links to official website, Facebook, Instagram, X, Vimeo, YouTube, etc.
Films submitted for consideration in the Underexposed Film Festival yc must be:
• Independently developed, financed, and filmed,
• Less than 35 minutes in length,
• Fall into one of the following categories:
- Narrative, Documentary, Animation, Experimental, or Puppetry.
We regret that a submission cannot be accepted if:
• The entry fee is not paid in full in US dollars;
• It is received after the final FilmFreeway deadline of Sunday, December 15, 2024;
• Any part of the submission is incomplete;
• The film contains erotica or explicit sex.
• The film is created utilizing artificial intelligence (AI).
FESTIVAL SCREENING
The selection and scheduling of all films screened at the Underexposed Film Festival yc are entirely at the discretion of the Arts Council of York County’s Executive Director and the UFFyc Programming Director.
Films accepted into competition are not eligible to receive screening fees. Festival entrants will be notified by written correspondence on or around Monday, January 27, 2025.
Once accepted to the Underexposed Film Festival yc, filmmakers agree and certify that the accepted title(s) will not be withdrawn. The selection and scheduling of all films screened at the UFFyc is entirely at the discretion of the ACYC.
No cuts or changes will be made to any film by the Arts Council of York County, however, participation in the UFFyc implies allowing of broadcast on U.S. television and on the internet (excerpt will not exceed 15% or 3 minutes, whichever is less) and for marketing current and future festivals. If you do not want your film to be used for such purposes, please notify the Arts Council of York County in writing with your submission. Acceptance to the UFFyc also entitles ACYC to use titles and information about the films for the purpose of promoting the festival.
The primary screening format for films at the UFFyc is digital via a Windows-based operating system. Final films accepted for festival screenings must be resubmitted digitally. Final cut must be delivered to the Arts Council of York County (or an appointed agent thereof) no later than Monday, February 24, 2025. The required electronic press kit (EPK) must be emailed to arts@yorkcountyarts.org no later than Monday, February 24, 2025.
Filmmakers whose films are accepted to the UFFyc must provide the following with their festival screening package:
• SCREENERS:
- Final films accepted for festival screenings must be resubmitted digitally.
- The primary screening format for films at the UFFyc is digital via a Windows-based operating system.
- DELIVERY DEADLINE | Monday, February 24, 2025
- Formatting and delivery instructions will be provided upon acceptance to the UFFyc.
• PRESS KIT:
- The preferred format for press kit submission is digital, submitted to the UFFyc via email to arts@yorkcountyarts.org.
- The required electronic press kit (EPK) must be received by the UFFyc no later than Monday, February 24, 2025.
⁃ If not provided in the submission process:
⁃ Synopsis of no more than 50 words,
⁃ Summary of no more than 500 words,
⁃ Director and producer with short bios,
⁃ An above the line cast and crew list,
⁃ Release date,
⁃ An up-to-date listing of previous screenings, festivals and awards, including dates,
⁃ At least 1 digital, hi-res, promotional or suitable still photo from the film. Behind the scenes shots are not acceptable
⁃ If Available: Links to accepted film’s official website, Facebook, Instagram, X, Vimeo, YouTube, Instagram, etc.
⁃ Optional: Film trailers, promos, interviews
Failure to provide any of the above materials, or submission of the film in an incorrect screening format will disqualify the film from the festival
VIP TICKETS | DISCOUNTED CAST & CREW TICKETS
Filmmakers whose films are accepted into competition at the 2025 UFFyc will receive a maximum of two (2) complimentary VIP passes to the 2025 UFFyc. Confirmation of VIP tickets and discounted ticket packages for cast and crew must be arranged with the Arts Council of York County’s box office up to two weeks prior to opening night.
LIABILITY
The Arts Council of York County (ACYC) and the Underexposed Film Festival yc (UFFyc) will not assume costs of shipping competition entries or associated collateral, nor does the ACYC or the UFFyc provide insurance while in transit to or from the Arts Council’s facilities. Do not send original prints or master copies. The ACYC and the UFFyc reserve the right to refuse any entry, and to withdraw any work from the Festival at its discretion.
All work is the property of the applicant. By entering the competition component of the UFFyc, all entrants consent to give the ACYC the rights to use footage and/or titles and/or information about the submissions for promotional and educational purposes.
By submitting your film, you are assigning non-exclusive rights to the Arts Council of York County, the Underexposed Film Festival yc and its affiliated sub-venues and to use said film in conjunction with the aforementioned event. The Underexposed Film Festival yc is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt (not to exceed 15% or 3 minutes, whichever is less) from any film submitted and accepted for screening at the Festival for promotional and educational purposes.
Film entries must be submitted by the rights holder(s) or with express written permission of the rights holder(s). By submitting, entrants affirm that they have the right to submit their entry to the Festival and that all clearances and licenses have been obtained, including but not limited to, music, locations, on-camera talent and voice talent. The rights holder(s) will hold the Underexposed Film Festival yc or the Arts Council of York County harmless for any claim involving, but not limited to, claims, liabilities, losses, damages; and expenses involving, but not limited to, copyright, trademark, credits, intellectual property, credits, publicity, screening, or royalty infringement(s) related to submitted work(s).
The Arts Council of York County and the Underexposed Film Festival yc promote the Festival and the schedule of screenings via media including newspapers, emails, social networks, television and radio. We encourage filmmakers to help promote the screening of their films at the UFFyc by promoting their screenings to industry professionals, distributors, the press, and the general public.
SHIPPING
All shipping costs must be paid by the entrant or the entrant's representative.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Filmmakers may submit multiple entries. Each film must be submitted separately and a separate entry fee must be paid per film.
All submissions must be in English or subtitled in English, with the exception of films submitted in the Experimental category.
Submissions created with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) are not eligible for consideration. Films that are submitted and are found to have used AI will be disqualified and removed from the screening lineup.
Films screened at the UFFyc MUST BE York County, SC festival premieres.
The UFFyc reserves the right to include non-competition films in the festival.
Screening fees are not paid to films accepted into competition.
The UFFyc does not accept rough cuts or works in progress.
The UFFyc does not accept partial screeners, trailers, or screener links that require access other than password protected links.
Films may not be edited after acceptance to the festival. Films that are submitted with edits will be disqualified and removed from the screening lineup.
The Underexposed Film Festival yc does not edit films for time or content when selected for screening at the Festival.
Films produced, financed or initiated by a major motion picture studio are not eligible for screening.
Employees of the Arts Council of York County and organizers of the Underexposed Film Festival yc are not eligible to submit films for competition in the Underexposed Film Festival yc.
Payment of submission fee does not guarantee inclusion in the Underexposed Film Festival yc. Films are selected on overall quality, production value, community relevance and/or other factors as determined by the screening committee.
The UFFyc cannot issue refunds.
The UFFyc reserves the right to remove films received after the submission deadline from the screening lineup.
Screeners are non-returnable.
The UFFyc retains the right to reschedule or cancel festival dates, venues, and awards under special circumstances. Changes will be published online, and festival authorities will make every effort to notify selected filmmakers in advance. By submitting to the UFFyc, you give the festival consent and the right to screen your film in front of a live audience, and under special circumstances, online screening.
Filmmakers may NOT install banners or posters at the screening locations. Space permitting, the Arts Council may provide a table where postcards and small promotional materials advertising films screening at the 2025 UFFyc may be placed.
Award recipients will be notified via email after the Festival wraps. Shipping details must be confirmed before awards are mailed. Should the Festival representative not receive confirmation from the filmmaker or the assigned representative, awards will be forfeited.
Prize money can be distributed via check or PayPal. International bank transfers are not available. Fees will be incurred by the filmmaker.
