WOLF MEDIA FESTIVAL

Film Duration:
Feature- A feature film must be a minimum of 40 min with no limitation on length.
Short-A short film must be a minimum of 5 min and no longer than 40 min
Web/New Media – A web film must be a minimum of 8 min and no longer than 30 min.
Social Media Content- No longer than 10 minutes.

Completion Date: Films must have been completed after a specific date to ensure recent content. Film must have been completed within 12 months of submission date, film must be completed in full, no partial films or concepts (unless labeled proof of concept), they will be rejected without refund.
Premiere Status: No previous premiere required. Your submission does not need to be a premiered at our festival.

Language: Films must be in English or have English subtitles.
Previous Screenings: Films that have been screened publicly and/or online previously are eligible for submission but will not be eligible for audience choice awards.

Submission Requirements:
Entry Form: All submissions must be accompanied by a completed entry form.
Submission Fee: Submission fees are per film entry, per main category. Your entry will automatically submit you into subcategories within your submission genres if your film is selected for nomination.
Formats: Films must be submitted in full, digitally.
Press Kit: Submission requires a press kit, including a synopsis, director's statement, cast and crew information, trailer, and stills.
Content Warning: Works with explicit content should be appropriately labeled and may be subject to specific guidelines.
Rights and Clearances: Filmmakers must have all necessary rights and clearances for the content, including music and archival footage. This is especially important for screenings.

Judging and Awards:
Selection Process: Initial submissions will be reviewed to ensure they meet basic eligibility criteria (genre, length, completion date etc.) A screening committee composed of industry professionals, critics, filmmakers, and festival staff will watch and evaluate eligible submission based on predetermined criteria (storytelling, cinematography, performances, originality, etc.) Films will be scored on point system, in multiple areas within the film (plot, direction, acting, technical quality, etc.) Points scale in 1-10 per area. Based on scores and feedback from the screening committee a short list will be created of submissions that will move forward in the selection process. A final jury, comprising of members in the film industry, will review the shortlist, debate merits, and make a final selection. Submissions to qualify for the current month must be submitted before the 20th day of the month. Submissions submitted after the 20th day of the month will be rolled into the following month. Submission status will be updated on the first of the following month of submission. Additionally, for a fee, whether accepted or rejected, filmmakers can request a critique of their film, including scoring and constructive criticism to aid in future projects. If your film is rejected, you are allowed to resubmit film, for a future month, only after feedback has been received and possible edits have been made. All film submissions for festival theme must be entered by March 1st 2025 to be considered for a nomination, and public screening.
Nominations: All films that are selected for nomination will be promoted on various websites, as well as Wolf Media Festival website. Your film will be made viewable via streaming platform on the Wolf Media festival website. Only paying members of the streaming platform will be able to view the film, and make votes towards the film. Profits from the streaming platform go directly to the nominated film makers. If your film is already being streamed on other streaming platforms you are still eligible for our platform as well, as long as it does not go against other contracts you have. We will never take exclusive rights of your film. Nominees will also receive an affiliate code for ticket sells, so that if they chose to share our in-person annual festival the will receive payments for their efforts. It is not a requirement to share any links or sell tickets.
Awards: Monthly winners will receive digital laurel, certificate mailed to them, announcement on festival website, as well as social media, and a nomination for annual award ceremony. They will also receive a discounted booth at the annual in-person festival. Having a booth is not required, but gives an opportunity to promote your film(s) and sell merchandise and more, if you so choose to.
Festival winners of the year will receive digital laurel, certificate mailed to them, announcement on festival website, as well as social media, a single trophy (additional trophies may be purchased by winner, at cost) a cash prizes and other items that are to be determined. Select winners will be announced at the in-person annual festival.

Screening and Exhibition:
Format: Films must be submitted in highest quality digital format in order to be screened.
Scheduling: Films must be available for screening during the festival dates.
Promotion: Filmmakers must agree to the use of film stills and clips for promotional purposes.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:
Copyright: Filmmakers must warrant that their film does not infringe on any copyrights or trademarks.
Content Warning: Films with explicit content must be appropriately labeled.
Liability: The festival is not liable for any damage to submission materials during transit or screening.

Special Considerations for Your Festival:
Diversity and Inclusion: To qualify for consideration in a Diversity and Inclusion category, submissions must meet the following criteria:
Racial Representation: For submissions to a specific racial category, at least 51% of the film's cast and crew must belong to the racial group specified in the submission category. Additionally, the lead actor must also represent the specified racial group.
LGBTQIA2+ Representation: For LGBTQIA2+ submissions, a minimum of 20% of the cast and crew must identify as members of the LGBTQIA2+ community, including the lead actor.
Multi-Diversity Category: In the multi-diversity category, no single racial group should constitute more than 20% of the cast, ensuring a balanced representation of diverse backgrounds.
These criteria are designed to promote and celebrate diversity and inclusion within our festival's submissions, ensuring that a wide range of perspectives and experiences are represented on screen.

Subcategories: If your film is selected for a genre it will automatically be entered into the subcategory that may pertain to your film—Audience Choice, Best Actor in Genre, Best Actress in Genre, Best Duo in Genre, Best Director in Genre, Best Child actor in Genre, Best Supporting Role in Genre, Best Script Writer in Genre, etc.