We encourage submissions from both emerging and established filmmakers. Our team of judges will evaluate the films based on their artistic merit, technical excellence, and storytelling.
Applicant Requirements:
- UPFF welcomes applicants aged 18 (on date of submission) and above with physical, emotional, or intellectual disabilities.
- Applicants self-identify as having a disability on date of submission, and may receive services under IDEA (IEP) or ADA: Section 504
- Submissions must be made by the producer or someone with the rights to screen the film in the United States and online.
Film Requirements:
- All films will be at least 5 minutes and no longer than 45 minutes (including titles and credits).
- Films must be an original work created by disabled filmmakers, showcase disabled actors, or feature the subject of disability. UPFF reserves the right to request additional information.
- Any submissions must have a key production role filled by at least one person with a recognized mental or physical disability (e.g., Director, Writer, Producer, Cinematographer, Lead Actor, etc.). Films that prominently showcase disability themes are also welcome.
- Non-artistic accommodations (e.g. adaptive technology; transcribing; holding a camera) are allowed for applicants to participate fully in the filmmaking and application process.
- Any genre can be submitted. Films with adult content (e.g. violence, sex, language, drug use, etc.) must be indicated in the application. UPFF reserves the sole right to determine which films will be screened at the festival.
- All films must include a complete narrative, not be a trailer or commercial for a longer work.
- Films must not infringe upon any 3rd party rights (e.g. logos, music, graphics, etc.) and must be suitable for publishing.
-Filmmakers who reside in countries other than the United States are welcome to enter the contest; however, films must have Closed Captions in English that includes English translation of any (non-English) language, sound descriptions, music titles and lyrics. All films must be submitted in English. Any non-English Language dialogue, graphics etc. in films must include English subtitles or English dubbing.
- UPFF Employees, judges and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate in the current year’s festival.
- All entries must have been completed on or after January 1st 2023.
- Entry fees are as listed on the FilmFreeway site checkout form. All entry fees are non-refundable. No coupon or discount is applicable on a previously submitted entry. Entries must be received on or before the listed deadline dates by 11:59PM Pacific Time, and submission fee payment must be paid in full at time of the submission. Any submissions that are incomplete by our final deadline will be disqualified without refund.
The entry fee applies to each film. Multiple entries from the same submitter are accepted.
- All characters and content must be original creations fully owned by the filmmaker.
Submissions that incorporate fan fiction or any elements from existing copyrighted works will not be accepted.
Adaptations of books, plays, or other source material written by another author are not eligible. A script that has been adapted from your own book, play, or other source material is eligible, provided that you have retained all film and television rights to the property or if the work is in public domain.
- A script that has been sold, is currently under option, is in production by a third party, or is otherwise encumbered by a third party on the date of submission, is not eligible for an award. However, if a script is optioned, sold, or produced after the submission has been entered, it will remain eligible for the current year’s contest.
- Projects must be submitted through a secure online screener, either as a password-protected Vimeo link attached to your submission or uploaded directly to FilmFreeway. Online screeners must be streamable; we do not accept films that require downloading (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive, WeTransfer, etc.). We DO NOT accept hard copy mailings of DVDs or Blu-Ray screeners. Additionally, we do not accept partial screeners, trailers, or links that require access other than password protected links.
- Entrants must ensure that screener links and passwords are active throughout the entire festival cycle. Once we have all necessary materials, the submission will be marked “In Consideration” on FilmFreeway. Once submission is marked “In Consideration”, no further changes can be made to the entry. It is the submitter’s responsibility to make sure that all submission requirements are met.
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES FILM FESTIVAL RELEASE & FULL TERMS and AGREEMENT:
By submitting your film, you, or an individual acting on your behalf (“you”), acknowledge and agree that you have read and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions (“Terms”) below in full. You represent and warrant that you have the authority to agree to these Terms. Failure to adhere to these rules and guidelines will result in disqualification and forfeiture of any paid entry fees and/or eligible prize. In addition, you agree to receive emails from Unique Perspectives Film Festival, the festival parent company -Inner Tiger Creative LLC, and film festival partners.
By entering this contest, you authorize us to use any trusted third-party, online and cloud-based services and databases for hosting, organizing, tracking, managing, reviewing, and/or transmitting your submission file(s).
Entrants grant Unique Perspectives Film Festival permission to use their name, likeness, contact information provided, submitted work's title, logline, trailer, and judging results for publicity and promotional purposes. Contest participation signifies entrants' consent for Unique Perspectives Film Festival, its agents, and partners to use their information for promotional purposes in any media, globally, without payment or consideration. All use of entrants’ information is in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Errors and omissions: If there is a discrepancy between information in various locations, the FilmFreeway site will serve as a document of record.
Contestants represent and warrant that they have obtained all required copyright permissions for music, sound, images, etc., presented in their film, and that the film can legally be screened at UPFF’s online festival. By entering your film for consideration in the UPFF, you represent and warrant that your entry is your original work and does not infringe on the copyright, intellectual property, or rights of any third parties or entities, and that your submission is cleared for festival exhibition and assume full legal responsibility for the intellectual property therein.
Applicant(s) agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Unique Perspectives Film Festival, uniqueperspectivesfilmfest.com, Inner Tiger Creative LLC, its judges, screenplay readers, prize contributors, affiliates, staff, independent contractors, sponsors and partners, and any other organizations responsible for administering, advertising or promoting the Festival, and every one of their respective members, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Released Parties”) past and present, individually and collectively, from and against all claims, demands, losses, damages, costs, liabilities and expenses (including legal fees and court costs) arising out of or in connection with any and all claims, or third party claims, based on stories, screenplays, or films submitted to the Unique Perspectives Film Festival including but not limited to damages and negligence to property and persons, invasion of privacy, defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity, copyright, infringement of trademark or other intellectual property rights relating to a participant’s Entry, participation in the contest and/or acceptance, use or misuse of Prize.
Applicant(s) understand that it is their sole responsibility to copyright and protect their own submitted material. You affirm that your entry is entirely your own work and does not infringe upon any existing copyrights.
BINDING ARBITRATION:
By entering this film festival, you agree that any and all disputes, claims, or causes of action arising out of or relating to these Terms of Use, including any claims related to prizes, eligibility, or intellectual property, will be resolved exclusively through final and binding arbitration. The arbitration will be conducted in Los Angeles, California, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA). The arbitration shall be governed by the laws of the State of California without regard to any conflicts of law provisions. The arbitrator shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute, including but not limited to claims of contract interpretation, enforceability, and validity. The arbitration will be conducted on an individual basis, and no claim may be consolidated or joined with another party's claims, nor proceed as a class action. This arbitration clause does not preclude the parties from seeking provisional remedies, such as injunctive relief, in aid of arbitration or from enforcing the arbitrator's award in any court of competent jurisdiction. You have the right to opt-out of this arbitration agreement by sending written notice of your decision to [info@uniqueperspectivesfilmfest.com] within 30 days of accepting these Terms of Use. If you opt out, you agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in Los Angeles, California. The arbitrator’s decision shall be final, binding, and conclusive. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction.
