Our festival highlights the best in urban storytelling and filmmaking. We also incorporate activities and events that celebrate the entire film experience. It is our aim and goal to promote and showcase emerging film talent and work. Please email us with any questions.
Best Documentary
Best Short Film
Best International Short Film
Best Music Video
1) What are your submission categories and how do I choose the right one for my film?
We have 4 categories: Short Film, Documentary, International Short and Music Video.
Documentary Films:
Any non-fiction film with a running time of 50 minutes or less WITH THE EXCEPTION OF, and NOT INCLUDING, entirely scripted or improvised fictionalizations of actual events. If your documentary contains some dramatization of actual events, you may submit in this category, but we will ultimately decide which program is best suited for your project, if accepted.
Music Video:
Any music performance video with running time less than six minutes.
Short Films:
Any narrative OR documentary film with a running time of less than 50 minutes.
2) How do you distinguish short films from feature films?
Films with running times of less than 50 minutes (including credits) are classified as Shorts. Films that are 50 minutes or longer are classified as Features. You should select your submission category based on what the final projected running time of the film will be.
We have no minimum or maximum length restrictions-- the only requirement is that your film must fit on a on a single DVD,
3) Which formats do you accept for submissions?
All films must be submitted on a single disc. We accept any digital
download or streaming link. For FEATURE FILM SUBMISSIONS and SHORTS, we accept physical discs in two formats: DVD and Blu-ray.
Please ensure that your DVD plays in a standard DVD player before it is mailed to us! Do not simply burn a
video file to a disc as data-- your disc must be authored as a DVD.
For DVDs, it is highly preferred that you send us an NTSC, region 1 or region free (region 0) DVD when submitting to us.
4) Do you accept submissions on vhs or any other format?
No. All films must be submitted on a standard DVD-R/DVD+R.
5) If my film includes non-English dialogue, do you require English subtitles?
All films that contain significant non-English dialogue MUST include on-screen English subtitles at the time of submission.
6) Where do I send my submission?
All submissions should be mailed to us at the address below. ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE MAILED.
2016 Oklahoma Urban Cinema Festival Submissions
PO Box 351
Nicoma Park, OK. 73066
7) How old can my film be and still qualify for submission?
Any film submitted for 2016 Festival competition consideration must have been completed in 2014 or after.
8) Can I submit my film as a rough cut?
No. We need the finished film.
9) Can I submit my film with a temporary music track?
Temp tracks, scratch music, and temp scores are perfectly fine for your submission, but please include a list of missing or temporary elements directly on-screen before the film begins.
10) Am I required to obtain rights clearance for music or other copyrighted material included in my film?
From a legal standpoint, you must clear all copyrighted materials included in your film before you can publicly screen it. However, OUCF does not check to ensure that you have obtained clearance for these materials at any point during the application process, nor will we be held responsible for any inclusion of uncleared materials in your film. It is the sole responsibility of the entity submitting the project to secure permission from the copyright holder of the material in question, whether it is music, stock footage, or any other elements that could violate an existing copyright. Films that are accepted into the Festival must sign a waiver stating that materials used in the film do not violate any existing copyright. Quite often, rights holders offer reduced rates for festival films, so you should contact them directly to avoid any potential rights infringements.
11) If my film has aired on television, may I still submit it?
Yes.
12) Do I really have to fill out the submission application?
Yes. Unregistered submissions will not be viewed! If you are having trouble, please e-mail us at
Okurbancinema@gmail.com and we will be glad to help guide you through the process.
13) What should I include with my submission?
After you have completed the submission application, all we need from you is a single copy of your film. In an effort to cut down on waste, we ask that you do not send printed press or promotional materials to us-- we will not keep anything in your package except for your disc. We recommend mailing your film in a paper sleeve or slim jewel/clamshell case. Please refrain from taping your disc to any surface, as tape residue may also render your disc unplayable. Our preferred method of packaging is a medium (approximately 6” x 9”), bubble padded envelope. It is not necessary to wrap your disc in bubble wrap and mail it to us in an oversized box. Doing so will only make it more difficult for us to process your film once it is received. Please do not use a paper label on your disc!
There are many different variables with stickers and paper labels that could render your disc unplayable-- a permanent marker (such as a Sharpie) will work just fine. Discs with text or graphics printed directly on the surface are also acceptable.
14) What happens if you are unable to get my film to play?
We will make every effort to view your disc, but in the event that we are unable to watch your film, we will attempt to
contact you to request another copy using the primary contact information that you provided on your application. However, there is no guarantee that we will get your replacement disc in time, and we must give preference to those who sent in a working copy to begin with. For this reason, we ask that you make absolutely sure that your disc or online screener plays all the way through BEFORE you send it to us! If your disc arrives broken, we will also make every attempt to contact you for a replacement.
15) Will you notify me if you do not receive my film?
We are unable to contact each applicant individually if we do not receive his or her film. It is your responsibility to ensure that your package arrives at our office before the deadline you have selected. Please allow up to four four weeks for us to process your submission if it has been mailed.
16) Can you return my DVD to me once you’re done with it?
Unfortunately, we are unable to return any physical materials that are sent to us. However, we do take the security of this process very seriously-- at no point will your disc leave our hands, and once our submissions process is over, all physical discs are recycled at a secure facility.
17) Is there a screenplay competition at the festival?
We do not currently have a screenplay competition, nor do we accept screenplay submissions.
18) Do I need to meet a minimum age requirement in order to submit a film?
No, we encourage filmmakers of all ages to submit their work. However, we do not have any separate categories or programs specifically related to young or student filmmakers. All submitted films will compete against each other for available slots in each program. If you are under the age of 18 and your film is accepted, we will require signed, written permission from your parent or legal guardian before we are able to screen your film.
19) How many films may I submit?
You may submit as many films as you'd like. We do not offer reduced rates in fees for multiple submissions. If you submit three films, you must pay the submission fees for all three of them. Please do not submit multiple projects on the same disc. If we receive a submission with multiple films on one disc, we will only consider the first film included.
20) What if my contact information or anything else about my submission changes after I’ve filled out the application?
We will use the public contact information from your application to contact you regarding problems with your submission and to notify you of your acceptance status, so please ensure that this information is up-to-date.
21) Can I make trailers, clips, and/or scenes of my film available online?
Yes. Posting minimal footage or scenes from your film on the Internet does not affect its eligibility for any submission category. It is also acceptable for cast and crew to use scenes from your film for the purposes of an exhibition reel.
22) When will I find out whether or not my film was selected?
We will contact you via e-mail no more than two weeks after you’ve submitted. Please make sure that the e-mail address you provided on your application will be operational at that time. We will not be held responsible for any failed delivery of notification. If you haven’t heard from us with three weeks of submission, please contact us at okurbancinema@gmail.com for an official notification.
23) You don’t actually watch all of these submissions, right?
If your film is received in time, your account is paid in full, and there are no playability issues with your disc or digital upload, your film will be treated in exactly the same manner as all other films submitted to us for consideration.
24) What types of films are you looking for? What stands out?
We are looking for all types of films and subjects.
25) If my film is not chosen, may I speak with a programmer for notes or feedback?
Unfortunately, no. While we would love to speak with each individual filmmaker about their films, it simply isn’t viable for us to correspond with everyone.
26) Where does my submission fee go?
The non-refundable submission fee goes towards the costs of producing the festival and making sure it’s the best event possible.
27) When does the 2017 Oklahoma Urban Cinema Festival take place?
The Festival will take place in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from April 7th – 9th, 2017. We hope to see you there!