BETTER CITIES FILM FESTIVAL

2026 RULES & TERMS FOR ENTRIES

DEFINITIONS
As used herein, the term ENTRY includes a film, an animation, a television (TV) pilot, a documentary, a web series of any type or kind, and/or a music video, stills, and combinations thereof.
BCFF means Better Cities Film Festival.

GENERAL RULES
1. Film ENTRIES must be submitted online via FilmFreeway.com
2. Each ENTRY will only be considered for BCFF screenings hosted after the corresponding deadline on FilmFreeway.
3. Films must be submitted to the proper length category and with the proper fee to be considered for the festival. Fees paid to an inappropriate category will not be returned.
4. All ENTRIES must be in English, subtitled, or dubbed into English.
5. All authors and/or owners of the ENTRIES including the films selected for screening at the festival grant BCFF a nonexclusive, global, royalty free right and license to use stills and excerpts of up to two minutes long for promotional purposes, online, at BCFF exhibitions, or at any exhibition promoting the BCFF. The authors and owners also grant to BCFF a nonexclusive, global, royalty free license and right to publicly display the films selected for screening.
6. Exceptions to the festival regulations must be authorized by the Festival Director of the BCFF.
7. Multiple entries are permissible, but each entry must be made separately via FilmFreeway.
8. Submissions sent as hard copies or regular mail will not be accepted or returned.
9. All fees are nonrefundable.
10. BCFF reserves, in its sole discretion, the right to refuse to consider any submission. In the event BCFF refuses to consider a submission no fees and no entry fees will not be returned or refunded.
11. Film ENTRIES may be screened more than once at BCFF or at any future BCFF event.
12. BCFF retains rights to screen all ENTRIES at any future BCFF event without compensation to the authors and owners without needing permission from the authors and owners.
13. All authors and all owners of the ENTRIES including film submissions waive the right to collect any screening fees from BCFF and waive the right to collect any other fees associated therewith.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
I/We wish to have our film/animation/TV pilot/documentary/web series/music video/ entry(ies), collectively referred to ENTRIES included in the BCFF. If more than one (1) party signs this agreement as submitter, then reference to “I”, “me”, “my” throughout this agreement shall apply to each party; jointly and separately.
RIGHT TO USE EXCERPTS FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES
I hereby do grant BCFF, its festival director and producers a nonexclusive, global, royalty free license and rights to use stills and excerpts of any ENTRY up to two minutes long for promotional purposes, including but not limited to online, podcasts, BCFF trailers, BCFF website or BCFF sponsor websites, screening at BCFF exhibitions, or at any exhibition promoting the BCFF, and grant to BCFF a nonexclusive, global, royalty free license and rights to show for promotional purposes on television, on the BCFF website, twitter, and Facebook page, on sponsors’ websites, print and digital promotional material, press releases, etc., excerpts from the ENTRY and/or stills submitted by me with this application. No more than two minutes or up to the length of the trailer submitted by the filmmakers may be used.
SCREENING RIGHTS
I hereby do grant BCFF, its festival director and producers a nonexclusive, global, royalty free license and permission to use my entire ENTRY for public screening at BCFF film festival and BCFF events, including third party organizations, entities or persons producing an official BCFF screening or event, without having to compensate me, and without having obtain any consent from me, and without having to advise me.
VIRTUAL BCFF EVENTS
I hereby do grant BCFF, its festival director and producers a nonexclusive, global, royalty-free license and permission to use my entire ENTRY for BCFF virtual screening events, including online streaming my ENTRY at BCFF virtual events.  (A virtual event, also known as an online event, virtual conference or livestream experience, is an event that involves people interacting in an online environment on the web, rather than meeting in a physical location).

PROMOTIONAL USES
BCFF may use excerpts from the ENTRY (limited to two minutes) to create promotional trailers and ads for BCFF, which may appear online, on television or at screening events. I waive any and all rights to compensation for and use by BCFF of the ENTRY for these promotional purposes.
OWNERSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
All intellectual property ownership of all ENTRY remains with the personnel who contributed to the ENTRY. I still retain the right to sell, distribute, and exhibit my ENTRY elsewhere, including but not limited to other festivals and broadcast outlets. I own the intellectual property rights to all material submitted with application and that will be viewed at BCFF.
PERPETUITY
The nonexclusive, global, royalty free licensing and permission to use my entire ENTRY (as described in this agreement) exists in perpetuity. In the event that I sell my intellectual property rights in the ENTRY to another entity, I sell the rights to said intellectual property encumbered with this nonexclusive, global, royalty free license to the ENTRY. Thus, BCFF will still have the right to use my ENTRY even if I sell the intellectual property rights to another entity.
I understand that BCFF, its producers and sponsors are relying on this release and accordingly, I hereby irrevocably waive any and all rights to seek or obtain any injunction or other equitable relief against BCFF, its officers, agencies, employees and sponsors.
I warrant that the use of the rights granted here and of any material supplied by me/us will not violate the rights of any third party. I agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless BCFF, its officers, agencies, employees, and sponsors from any claims by third parties alleging that our content or material infringes on any third party’s rights. This Release and Hold Harmless Agreement shall bind my assigns and any representative.
This contract is the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and replaces and supersedes any prior agreement or understanding, verbal or written, with respect to the subject matter hereof. No amendment, addendum, modification or waiver of this contract or any portion hereof shall be valid unless contained in a writing signed by both parties hereto.
In consideration for this release and in consideration of permitting BCFF to use my ENTRY as detailed above, I receive the opportunity to have my ENTRY shown at BCFF and any future BCFF events. I accept and hereby do acknowledge that there is no promise of payment, in any form for likeness, image, biography, recording, equipment, or for any other contribution to us on this production.
I hereby certify that I am over eighteen years of age and competent to contract in my own name. If I am signing on behalf of an organization, I certify that I have authority to do so and that my signature binds the organization and its performers to all elements of this contract.
I have read the foregoing release and authorization and agreement, before affixing my signature below, and warrant that I fully understand the contents thereof.
I am authorized to sign and give consent for everyone (including but not limited to performers, writers, directors, technical crew, distributors) who contributed to all ENTRY(IES) and all materials submitted with this application to the Better Cities Film Festival.

FAQ
Save yourself a headache and read these answers to our Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. Do you accept films completed prior to 2026?
A. We accept all films regardless of date filmed, completed, distributed, etc. Our mission is to curate the best films about urban design.
Q. I produced a series of videos on this issue, can I submit more than one in my series?
A. Yes! If you produced a web series or episodic piece about urban planning, please send it in. You can submit individual episodes as short film entries, or you can submit the entire series as a feature. If you submit as a feature, we’ll watch the whole series and consider it as a feature and also consider individual episodes as short films in the relevant categories.
Q. Can you waive my entry fee? I am a starving filmmaker / work for a good cause and I can’t afford the entry fee.
A. While we are fellow filmmakers and can completely relate, unfortunately we cannot waive any fees. It’s just not fair to all the other starving filmmakers. We do suggest submitting early to take advantage of the reduced fees.
Q. How will I know if you received my DVD?
A. We strongly discourage sending physical copies for consideration. If you have to submit through the mail, please contact us first. We’ll want to make sure your format is compatible with our players. This has been a problem in the past, so please message us and we will help you get your video to us.
Q. Will the DVDs be returned?
A. Nope.
Q. Can I submit more than one film?
A. Sure, you can submit a thousand films – as long as they all accompany their own entry form and fee.
Q. Am I eligible if I live outside the U.S.?
A. Absolutely! Submit it online using FilmFreeway.com. Please note that the film must be in English or have English subtitles.
Q. Can I submit a rough cut?
A. Yes, but the final version must be uploaded before the final deadline. We try to make accommodations for updated versions, but make no guarantees.
Q. Can I submit my film if I am under 18?
A. You can, if you have a parent or guardian submit it for you.
Q. Can I enter if my film has screened at other festivals or on the Internet?
A. Yes. And please let us know if you’ve won any awards!
Q. My film was made a while ago, can I still submit it?
A. Yes. We have no time limit on when it was made. As long as it is still relevant.
Q. Is the deadline ‘received by’ or ‘postmarked by’?
A. Received by. And seriously, submit it online.
Q. I have a film that I think might fit in the theme, but I am not sure. Can you preview it and tell me if I am wasting my entry fee?
A. Send us a link and we’ll take a look. Email us at info@bettercitiesfilmfestival.com. We’ll be happy to watch a trailer or the first few minutes of your film and let you know if it fits.
Q. I just missed your deadline – am I screwed?
A. Email us at info@bettercitiesfilmfestival.com. If we still have enough time to fairly review your project, then we may waive the deadline.
Q. How will I know if I am accepted in the festival?
A. We will notify you by email with a series of instructions arranging to get a screening copy of the film, film stills, a video trailer, press release, and how to tickets for you/your crew. The FilmFreeway.com website will also send a notification but will not provide information or instructions regarding screenings.
Q. How will I know if I won the big contest?
A. We announce the winners on the final night of the festival. If you are not present, follow the hashtag #BCFF2026 for all the updates on the festival, including award winners.
Q. Do you offer any discounts on submissions?
Yes, we offer discounts for students, volunteers, previous years’ winners, CNU members, and members of sponsoring organizations. Email us for details.