Welcome to the Voices Rising Film Festival! We're thrilled that this unique event attracts the kindest, most thought provoking and talented folks out there. Join us in our mission to create awareness for subjects deserving attention.

Each season we showcase Filmmakers, Screenwriters, Artists with captivating films, screenplays, music videos, series and more. This event is a celebration of diverse voices and storytelling through all mediums. Get ready to be inspired by thought-provoking movies from talented filmmakers and screenwriters. Don't miss out on this opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of cinema and connect with fellow film enthusiasts. See you there!

Our main goals:
1) Audience Engagement and Outreac
2) Distribution for Award Winning titles through our parent company. The most transparent deal the Industry has to offer.
3) Partnerships to expand your audience, setting goals for long term mutually beneficial relationships through grassroots screenings at Organizations, Universities, Cinemas, Festivals and beyond.

Each season we're expanding into new markets and venues. It's critical that you and your team are available for an in person screening for our live event. While we accept all titles and stages, we will prioritize premieres as well and create buzz with PR and collaborate with you and your team for target marketing efforts and creating key partnerships. Our programming is filled with features, shorts, live performances and other Artists and Art forms. There are a myriad of reasons our schedule can change. We encourage folks invited to attend to understand they are committing to the day, and we encourage you and your team to support your work, the other important projects. We work in windows of time and do not provide a hard screening time as it's a per day event.

In an effort to grow your audience and target the right audience, we like to explore partnerships with non-profit organizations and corporations that might align with your Films message. Our company has a long history creating such relationships. It makes the Q&A time impactful to have advocates join the discussion, and therefore imperative that we have representatives from your Film at the live event. After cross checking dates, locations and speaking to your cast and crew please make an informed decision the live event submission or virtual submission works best for you. Our virtual channel reaches a subscriber based network around the world. Our live events take place in various venues in New York and Los Angeles.

Does your Film help create awareness for subjects deserving attention or are you a unique Filmmaker that deserves the spotlight?

Our focus is to support and help advance Filmmakers careers. We have partnered with a streaming Distribution companies and our awards will include streaming Distribution options and Marketing for the winning Films. We have helped secure National and International Distribution for titles featured on our website.

Equally as important as connecting with industry and moving your project forward we will move the winning Films into consideration with partner Festivals that have live screening events that takes place in New York and Los Angeles.

The team behind the Festival has a wide range of professional experience which includes every facet of Entertainment. Building an egoless environment with heart centered visions for human rights, LGBTQIA+, Diversity and Inclusion, Women's Empowerment is our mission. Making this not only a memorable event but an important gathering where each artists voice is heard through their choice of expression.

We celebrate and support Independent, new, and Alternative filmmakers throughout the year through Production support, streaming Distribution relationships, marketing, and more!

Awards will include Online Streaming Distribution deal that earns you money back per view! A unique and transparent deal

Built in Marketing to a like-minded network of people looking for films that are heart centered and message driven.

Stunning venues, and memorable events that include networking, Q&A's, live performances, awards ceremony and more!

Terms and Conditions:
· Entries must be in English or - Subtitled, dubbed in English.
> A representative from your cast/crew must attend the live event. We reserve the right to change your submission status if there is no representative from your Film that attends. Your title will be pulled from the lineup as there is far too much planning and connections made prior to the event to not meet our team halfway.
We reserve the right to pull a title at any stage of the process from submission, to programming and after completion of the festival. If a Filmmaker, and/or their team act inappropriately, go against the written terms or communication and anything the board deems to be out of alignment with our overall mission, the title can be pulled from our festival page, lineup, programming, website, and the laurels should be removed as well. The Festival reserves the right to change your selection status to “unselected” for these and any reason the board agrees is not within our brand.
Our festival has a mix of features, shorts, performances, table reads and many other art forms. We reserve the right and communicate throughout the process that our schedule can change for a myriad of reasons.
-Our ticket sales are per day and within the submission details, we ask each filmmaker, screenwriter/artist/team to make a commitment for the day. Supporting each project is essential to being respectful of the other important work displayed. Participating in the live Q&A's is a crucial aspect as we work tirelessly to form partnerships, and the many aspects of the live event, finding wider audiences following the event, extending Distribution opportunities and funding projects. Your commitment and respect on the day of your screening is vital to the ways in which our company can further support.
· Multiple entries are allowed for each filmmaker and each entry may be entered in multiple categories.
· All entries should be sent via FilmFreeway. Please don't send discs or any downloadable files to us.
· Works in progress are accepted.
· Entries will not be returned.
· Entry fees are non-refundable

I, the authorized representative of the project being submitted (hereafter called the "Project") to Voices Rising Film Festival (hereafter called the “Voices Rising Film Festival”) for consideration for the 2020 Voices Rising Film Festival (hereafter called the “Festival”), hereby acknowledge the following:

1. I represent and warrant to the Voices Rising Film Festival 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 (hereafter called the “Project’s Owners”), to exhibit this Project at the Festival, (b) exhibition of the Project at the Festival will not violate any law or any right or consent of any person or entity; 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.

2. I further represent and warrant, on behalf of myself and the Project’s Owners, that the exhibition of the Project at the Festival 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 all license fees, clearance fees, and other obligations, of any kind, arising from or associated with the exhibition of the Project at or in connection with the Festival.

3. In the event that the Project is accepted by Voices Rising Film Festival for inclusion in the Festival, I acknowledge, on behalf of myself and the Project’s Owners, that Voices Rising Film Festival's exhibition or presentation of the Project at the Festival does not and will not create any confidential or fiduciary relationship between Voices Rising Film Festival on the one hand and myself and/or the Project’s Owners on the other. I further acknowledge, on behalf of myself and the Project’s Owners, that I and we understand that neither I nor any of the Project’s Owners will receive any compensation for such exploitation, although some prizes at the Festival may include cash awards. I acknowledge that no obligation of any kind is assumed by, or may be implied against, Voices Rising Film Festival or the Festival in the event of, by virtue of, or as a result of the Institute’s selection of the Project for the Festival. I and the Project’s Owners understand and acknowledge that the selection of the Project for inclusion in the Festival does not and will not in any way constitute an express or implied endorsement or approval by Voices Rising Film Festival or the Festival of the content of the Project or any opinion expressed therein.

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

5. I warrant and agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, that the Project is being submitted to Voices Rising Film Festival 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 Voices Rising Film Festival, the Festival, or any Voices Rising Film Festival Related Parties to accept the Project for inclusion in the Festival, to exhibit the Project at the Festival, to acknowledge the submission of the Project, 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, and any other representative or person affiliated with the Project, in submitting the Project for consideration, are waiving, forfeiting, forgoing and relinquishing any right that I or we might otherwise have to assert any claim or commence any proceeding in any forum or tribunal against Voices Rising Film Festival, the Festival, or any Voices Rising Film Festival Related Parties, based upon, arising out of or otherwise relating to the submission, exhibition or failure to exhibit the Project (including, without limitation, claims relating to any failure or refusal to exhibit the Project at the Festival, the exhibition or marketing of the Project at or in connection with the Festival, alleged oral or written representations by the Festival or its representatives relating to the submission or exhibition 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 (hereinafter, “Claim”). In the event that any Claim is asserted, or any action, arbitration or other proceeding is brought or 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 Voices Rising Film Festival and the Festival from any and all Claims, losses, liabilities, damages, fees and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs) that are incurred by Voices Rising Film Festival, the Festival and any Voices Rising Film Festival Related Parties as a result of or in connection with any such Claim or any action, arbitration or other proceeding brought in violation of the representations and agreements set forth in this paragraph.

6. Without in any way limiting the provisions or scope of the agreements set forth in paragraph 5 above and paragraph 10 below, I further agree and accept that, in the event that any Claim is asserted, or any action, arbitration or other proceeding is brought or commenced, by me, any of the Project’s Owners, or any other representative of or person affiliated with the Project, in violation of the agreements set forth in paragraph 5 above, and in the further event that an arbitrator or other tribunal should permit such Claim to proceed despite the waiver language set forth in paragraph 5 above, the sole and maximum remedy that could be awarded to me or any other person or entity asserting any Claim shall be a refund of the submission fee paid in connection with the submission of the Project to Voices Rising Film Festival for consideration for the Festival. Under no circumstances shall any other remedy, including without limitation actual, expectancy, reliance, consequential, special, punitive or exemplary damages, or any other damages, or injunctive, declaratory, provisional or other relief, be available to me, the Project’s Owners, or any other person or entity representing or affiliated with the Project.

7. In the event that the Project is accepted by Voices Rising Film Festival for inclusion in and exhibition at the Festival, I hereby grant, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, each of the following rights to Voices Rising Film Festival the Festival, and any Voices Rising Film Festival Related Parties 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 filmmakers and the Project and to use all associated names, likenesses and biographical information. I also agree to provide up-to-date contact information pertaining to the director(s) and producer(s) of the Project, and to grant Voices Rising Film Festival and the Festival, at their sole and absolute discretion, the right to provide this information to film industry organizations that sponsor Festival events.

8. In the event that the Project is accepted by Voices Rising Film Festival for inclusion in and exhibition at the Festival, and I or the Project’s Owners have contractual obligations to any producers, distributors, creators, cast or crew regarding "festival benefits" (which may include but are not limited to production credits, screening tickets, Festival credentials or monetary compensation), I agree and accept that those “festival benefits” must be administered and distributed by myself and/or the Project’s Owners, and do not impact the nature or quantity of benefits provided by Institute.

9. I warrant and agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, that Voices Rising Film Festival has made no claims, representations or guarantees, and has provided no assurances, in relation to the internal process utilized by the Institute with respect to selection of projects for inclusion in the Festival, and that the submission of the Project neither imposes nor creates any obligation or responsibility on the part of Voices Rising Film Festival, the Festival, or any Voices Rising Film Festival Related Parties to provide me, the Project’s Owners, or my or their related parties with comments, feedback or other information pertaining to the viewing or consideration of the Project by the Institute for possible inclusion in the Festival.

10. I warrant and agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, that by submitting the Project to Voices Rising Film Festival, I hereby grant Voices Rising Film Festival and all persons employed by, contracted by, or otherwise directly associated with Voices Rising Film Festival the irrevocable right to view and/or download all digital assets associated with the Project, including, but not limited to, any representation of the Project in the form of video files, still images, assets streamed via the Internet, and/or all other assets and information provided by the Applicant on the application. All digital assets referenced above shall remain active and accessible by Voices Rising Film Festival until the conclusion of the Festival on February 2nd, 2020. Any dissemination of these materials, incidental or otherwise, shall not be the responsibility of the Institute or any Sundance Related Parties.

11. I represent that I am 18 years of age or older, or that, if I am younger than the legal age to enter into contracts in my state, I have provided the Institute with signed, written consent from my parent or legal guardian.

12. Without in any way limiting the provisions or scope of the agreements set forth in paragraph 5 above, I further agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, that any claim, dispute or controversy arising out of, in connection with, or otherwise related to the Project, the Festival, or these Terms and Conditions, including, without limitation, any Claim (as this term is defined above) and any other claim or cause of action of any nature arising from the actual or alleged breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation or validity of these Terms and Conditions, as well as the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, will be governed by the internal, substantive laws of the State of New York and will be subject to and submitted to exclusive, binding arbitration before a single arbitrator in New York, which shall be the sole and exclusive forum for determination of such claim, dispute or controversy. Such arbitration will be administered by JAMS pursuant to its Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures then in effect. The arbitrator will be selected by mutual agreement of the parties or, if the parties are unable to agree on an arbitrator, will be appointed by JAMS pursuant to its Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures then in effect. The arbitrator shall issue a written award and, subject to the terms of paragraph 6 hereof, shall have the right to award monetary relief. I specifically agree and acknowledge, however, that the arbitrator shall not have the power to award punitive or exemplary damages, nor shall the arbitrator have the power to order Voices Rising Film Festival to include the Project in the Festival or to award other injunctive or non-monetary relief. The arbitrator shall have the power to award, and shall be required to award, to the substantially prevailing party in any such arbitration, its reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the arbitration (including, without limitation, reimbursement of that party’s share of the arbitrator’s fees and JAMS administrative charges). The arbitrator’s award shall be final, binding and non-appealable. Judgment on the arbitrator’s award may be entered in any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction in the United States. In agreeing to this exclusive arbitration provision, I hereby waive, forfeit and relinquish, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, any right or entitlement that I or the Project’s Owners might otherwise have had to bring or litigate any claim or claims encompassed by this paragraph in any federal or state court against Voices Rising Film Festival, the Festival, or anyVoices Rising Film Festival Related Party, and further waive, forfeit and relinquish any right to a trial by jury with respect to such claim or claims.

13. I hereby acknowledge that I have the right to consult with an attorney of my own choosing with respect to these Terms and Conditions and with respect to the Rules and Regulations for submitting a project to the Festival, located at www.LoveWinsProductions.com. By completing my submission application for 2020 Voices Rising Film Festival consideration, I agree that I am doing so after having consulted with an attorney or after I freely or voluntarily elected not to do so without coercion or duress.

14. I hereby acknowledge that I have read and understood the Rules and Regulations for submitting a project to the Festival, located at www.LoveWinsProductions.com, and that the information contained in said Rules and Regulations does and shall supersede any information obtained elsewhere, including, but not limited to, information contained in any current Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) documents and/or rules and regulations documents from prior years.

15. By completing my submission application for 2020 Voices Rising Film Festival consideration via FilmFreeway, 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 Festival, Voices Rising Film Festival, or any Voices Rising Film Festival Related Parties.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • The Voices Rising Festival is an exquisite and unique festival to attend and participate in. The festival was showcased in a beautiful, regal and welcoming venue and was flawlessly executed.

    What stood out to me were the diverse range of films showcased in the festival which were handpicked for their production quality and brilliance in communicating its message to their audiences. The films showcased touched so many chords through their relevance as they advocated social issues like oppression and marginalization, a reality in today's times. I was amazed to watch films that talked about the essence of mental health and the role of trauma and its aftereffects. The festival management was courteous and approachable and ensured the participant's work was recognized and resonated with its audience. The Q& A segment was my favorite as it allowed producers/artists to describe their motivation and process for their creative work. I have loved being a part of this incredible festival and its fabulous team. Meeting the festival director Jaret and watching his hands-on involvement in the festival was also a rejuvenating experience. Wishing the team success galore in their future endeavors.

    December 2024
  • Jackie McGriff

    We LOVED our experience with the Voices Rising Film Festival. This was our first film festival ever and what a wonderful time!

    We really felt taken care of from the time we received our official selection to the time we were already back home still riding the high of having received an award for our film, "Being Black in America".

    It was a great chance to not only have more folks see our film, but we definitely valued the opportunities to network with other filmmakers.

    The only critiques that we have were to have more breaks between films. Several of the films had heavy subject matter and as both filmmakers and film fans, we feel that it's important to let folks sit in the discomfort and to take it all in. We know that the organizers could only control so much, but that's our only suggestion.

    Otherwise, Jaret and everyone else on the team, we appreciate you! Thank you again for the opportunity and we wish you all of the best!

    December 2024
  • Many thanks to the Voices Rising Festival for choosing my short Null Island - Cyano Sun Suite as an official selection. I wish so much I could have attended in person! Congratulations to all the filmmakers and festival crew.

    December 2024
  • Heidi Schooler

    I just wanted to thank the Voices Rising Film Festival for having such a FAB festival for our poignant yet comedic musical short film, "Millicent & Me and The Apple Tree”, to be in!!
    We are also VERY honored that we were awarded for Best Musical Short Film! Thank you so much!

    I have known Jaret Martino, the Founding Dir. of this film festival, since 2017, when we worked together on his film, “Inner Warrior”, which won many awards because it created an awareness for subjects deserving attention. - It was an award-winning docuseries that navigated several diverse & inspiring stories of survival. - So, it didn’t surprise me when this fabulous festival had a huge mixture of truthful &/or uplifting films in it that educated the audience about having courage, and also had many different meaningful topics and categories within it!

    This truly is a wonderful festival! Jaret & his team were always super helpful, fantastic with communicating about the screenings, & all necessary info. etc., and we were honored to be included in such a FAB lineup! They were always amazingly professional, and the theatre (& online screenings) were top notch! They also publicized the event, and were wonderful in that regard as well.

    Thank you Jaret, Andrew Vass, & your whole team, for all of your efforts & hard work!! & I look forward to continuing to submit other projects in the future! Thanks again, and we are SO Grateful for ALL! - from myself, & Millicent! 🙏❤️!

    December 2024