GENERAL RULES (PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING) :
ELIGIBILITY
The guidelines are easy.
1. You must be a filmmaker of color who is currently living in Wisconsin. If not, your film is disqualified. Please provide full address to verify. Not supplying an address could disqualify your film.
This competition is open only to those filmmakers; they can be student level to professional.
To qualify you must be a filmmaker of color and a current resident of Wisconsin. Otherwise, your film will be disqualified.
We will not accept films that are playing for the public on youtube or vimeo. If it is, we will not take your film.
And we will not take films over 15 minutes.
TYPES OF FILMS ACCEPTED
Narrative, documentary, experimental or animated films or videos up to 15 minutes in length.
All entries in a language other than English must be subtitled or dubbed in English unless dialogue is inessential to comprehension and appreciation.
The festival will not consider demo reels, commercials or advertisements, video or new media games, films with prior commercial release, industrial and instructional films or films screened in the Milwaukee area nine months prior to the fest.
All films and press kits are due 10 days after being accepted into the festival.
FORMATS ACCEPTED
All submission copies must be DVD, Blu-Ray (NTSC system only) with a digital file (H .264/MP.4) or as an online screener. Exhibition formats accepted are only data digital files (H. 264/MP.4).
For questions on other video festival screening formats, please contact the MSFF.
ENTRY LIMITATIONS
Filmmakers can submit up to three entries.
Each entry must include a separate entry and fee. Entries previously submitted to the Milwaukee Short Film Festival and Voices Heard cannot be re-submitted.
Entrants are responsible for securing all necessary rights / permissions for festival exhibition of each work submitted and all accompanying materials. (Including music rights)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Clips from accepted films may also be used by the Voices Heard staff for festival promotion, festival program and possible televised broadcast.
While the festival will take precautions to handle your film and publicity materials responsibly, the festival, its committee and staff cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to any materials entered.
The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.
The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Voices Heard from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.
NOTIFICATION DATE
Approximately 1-June-2025
RUN TIME
Shorts: under 15 minutes, we will not accept films over 15 minutes.
COMPLETION DATE
Projects completed after 01-Jan-2024
PREMIERE STATUS
No premiere requirement, but premieres are preferred and will get special consideration. If your film has played before an audience, we could pass on it.
ENTRIES MUST INCLUDE:
-Entry fee
-Film synopsis, principal cast list, and brief filmmaker bio
-Press kit
-Local Wisconsin filmmakers must supply an address to verify. Without one your film may be dis-qualified.
PRESSKIT REQUIREMENTS
A press kit is required with the entry form, including:
> Film Poster meeting social media standards
> High Rez Production Still Photos meeting social media standards - Digital
> High Rez Photo of the Director - Digital
> Biography/Filmography - Director
> Statement by the Director
> Press Clippings (Optional)
> Website info - Digital
> Social media links (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)
> Trailer - Digital
INCOMPLETE ENTRIES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
Entrants are invited to submit promotional materials with initial submission. After notification of acceptance into the festival, filmmakers are encouraged to provide one still each of the director and a scene from the film, either 8 x 10 photos or 600 dpi 6” x 8” JPEG files, for publicity. All publicity materials should be labeled with the name of the filmmaker and of the film.
Please note that publicity materials cannot always be returned. We will send notification of receipt of entry to each entrant via email. Media will not be returned.
Entries are eligible to be selected for programming and exhibition at Voices Heard.
