Bechdel Film Festival

Deadlines for Submissions:
FilmFreeway Late Deadline: April 30, 2022

4th Annual Bechdel Film Festival
Founded in 2015 by filmmaker Cressandra Thibodeaux, the Bechdel Film Festival is dedicated to supporting and promoting female filmmakers. The festival will take place Sept. 16 - 18, 2022, in Houston, Texas. In addition to films from around the world, the festival includes panel discussions, opening night receptions, and much more.

Call for Submissions: 4th annual Bechdel Film Festival
Bechdel Film Association announces the call for submissions for the 4th annual Bechdel Film Festival, Sept. 16 - 18, 2022 in Houston, Texas.

Submit
Filmmakers may submit their films via FilmFreeway.

Submission Guidelines
Films must have been completed after January 1, 2017.
Online screeners only. Include screener link and password (If required) in your submission.
Press kit is optional - electronic only, please
A Houston premiere is required. World and US Premieres are not required, however premieres (especially Texas premieres) are preferred and premiere status may be one of the factors considered when determining a film's inclusion in the Festival.
The festival does not screen films available on VOD or any online streaming portal at the time of the festival. However, the festival reserves the right to make exceptions to this rule.

All films in a language other than English must be subtitled in English for festival presentation.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
==> We HIGHLY recommend reading our rules, process and FAQs on our website: http://bechdelfilms.com

BECHDEL FILM FESTIVAL
Please read this agreement carefully before you submit your film. By submitting your film, you expressly acknowledge and agree that you shall be bound by the terms of this agreement.

GUIDELINES FOR ALL FILMS. Films must have been completed after January 1, 2017. Short films must not exceed 50 minutes in length. All non-English language films must have English subtitles. A separate entry form and additional entry fee must be submitted for each film.

ENTRY FORM AND PREVIEW MATERIALS FOR ALL FILMS. All films must be submitted and paid for through FilmFreeway. Illegible or incomplete entry forms will not be accepted. Entry forms that do not include full payment of entry fees or working online screener URL AFTER April 30, 2022 will not be accepted.

ONLINE SCREENERS. We accept online screeners through FilmFreeway via Vimeo.com. We will not watch films submitted on any other websites. Bechdel Film Festival, its members, directors, employees, and volunteers are not responsible for broken or incorrectly submitted URLs. Submissions may not be withdrawn from the Festival once they have been entered, except at the sole discretion of the Festival directors. There are no refunds for entries with incomplete entry forms, or incorrectly formatted preview materials. In our experience, Vimeo.com screeners have the best HD playback, and are preferred by our screening team. Bechdel Film Festival no longer accepts DVD screeners.

REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS. Bechdel Film Festival will review films in their entirety. Films will be watched and reviewed by members of the Selection Committee; a volunteer group of Houston-area filmmakers, film enthusiasts and critics. After the final submission deadline, the Selection Committee will review the total scores of all the films in competition and select final films from a group of the top scorers. In addition to the top scoring films, final screening decisions will be influenced by the time constraints of showcases (each showcase runs for approximately 90-minutes, with an average of eight short films). Award information is explained below.

AWARD INFORMATION. Awards will be presented in the following categories: The Bechdel Test Film Award.

NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE. Letters of inclusion or non-inclusion, will be sent to the email address provided on the entry form no later than May 11, 2022. Bechdel Film Festival does not send physical mail — please ensure that your email address is accurate on your application. Bechdel Film Festival is not liable for emails delayed by spam filters, server rejections, or outdated email addresses.

SCREENING FORMATS. Films, acceptance contracts and other materials mentioned in the Letter of Acceptance must arrive at the Festival office no later than 11:59pm, October 10, 2022. Bechdel Film Festival requires two files for projection: .MOV file or .mp4 file. Both files may be uploaded or sent via mail on a USB flash drive to be returned in a provided self-addressed, self-stamped envelope. Films with incomplete materials by the deadline will forfeit their ability to screen in the festival. Bechdel Films and its members, directors, employees, and volunteers are not responsible for lost, misplaced, and undelivered film and media.

FILMMAKER ATTENDANCE. Bechdel Film Festival encourages filmmakers to attend the festival. All filmmakers will receive passes for all film screenings (either in the general theater or in our special Filmmaker Lounge/Garden Patio.) Bechdel Film Festival is unable to provide financial compensation for travel expenses or additional expenses incurred during the Festival week.

COMMUNICATIONS. Bechdel Film Festival does not send physical mail — please make sure the email address in your entry form is accurate. Changes of email address can be sent to bechdelfilms@gmail.com. Bechdel Film Festival is not liable for emails delayed by spam filters, server rejections, outdated email addresses or any other technical or human error. Bechdel Film Festival staff can be reached by email at bechdelfilms@gmail.com, or by mailing Bechdel Films, 800 Aurora Street, Houston, TX 77009, USA.

PUBLICITY AND MARKETING. All selected films may be excerpted for publicity purposes. Bechdel Film Festival reserves the right to promote any film to print, broadcast or internet media as required to market the Festival or our parent organization.

THEATRICAL SCREENINGS. By submitting your project to Bechdel Film Festival, the filmmaker grants non-exclusive rights to screen their film once at a public programming session to then be chosen to possibly screen in the Festival. Films screened will not be announced prior to the event, and filmmakers will not be informed of their participation. The top films will be selected for this event. By accepting inclusion in Bechdel Film Festival, the filmmaker grants non-exclusive rights to showcase their film during the festival week (Sept. 16 - 18, 2022) in as many screenings as required. This includes the “Best Of” showcase which will play after the Festival ends. In addition, Bechdel Film Festival has non-exclusive rights to repeat the showcases through October 24, 2025 for fundraising purposes. All ticket sales are property of Bechdel Film Festival.

INTERNET BROADCAST. Bechdel Film Festival may include films screened at Bechdel Film Festival available for commercial internet broadcast and download. Filmmakers have the ability to opt out of this program upon acceptance into the festival. This is an optional program in which the filmmaker has the ability to opt-in on acceptance of the Participation Agreement, sent on inclusion into the festival.

TELEVISION BROADCASTS. Bechdel Film Festival reserves the non-exclusive right to repeat the various showcases on local (Houston metropolitan area) cable access channels without any further compensation to the filmmaker. Filmmakers have the ability to opt out of this program upon acceptance into the festival. This is an optional program in which the filmmaker has the ability to opt-in on acceptance of the Participation Agreement, sent on inclusion into the festival.

I hereby grant the Bechdel Film Festival 2022, presented by Bechdel Films, all rights necessary to exhibit and promote the above-referenced film at the 2022 Festival. I represent that such exhibition will not violate or infringe upon any rights whatsoever (including copyright, trademark, musical or contract right) of any person or entity. I further represent that I am authorized to submit the above-referenced film and, if selected, will deliver the screening print to the Festival office no later than Oct. 10, 2022 Additionally, I indemnify the Festival from any and all claims, demands, losses, costs, damages, and attorney's fee arising out of or in connection with third parties in regards to the screening of said film. Further, I hereby agree that I have read and agree to the Rules and Regulations and the Terms and Conditions for submissions to the Bechdel Film Festival 2022.

COMPETITION CERTIFICATION

I/We have read all of the rules, understand, and have complied with these rules.

I/We warrant the submission of my/our original work and that there are no disputes regarding the ownership of the submission.

I/We also warrant the submitted material does not defame or invade the rights of any person living or dead.

To the best of my/our knowledge, all the statements herein are true and correct.

I/We understand that failure to adhere to the competition rules and regulations will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee.

I/We acknowledge that once an entry payment has been processed, BFF will not provide a refund.

No revisions of materials will be accepted once entry has been submitted.

BY SUBMITTING THE MATERIAL, I/WE HEREBY AGREES TO INDEMNIFY, HOLD HARMLESS, AND DEFEND THE FESTIVAL, ITS EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, REPRESENTATIVES, AND AFFILIATES FROM ALL LIABILITY, CLAIMS, AND DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SUBMISSION AND FROM ANY FEES AND EXPENSES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES, THAT ANY OF THEM MAY INCUR IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.