Paris Play Film Festival

SUBMISSION ELIGIBILITY

Accepted formats and lengths:
• Short films under 30 minutes
• Scripts, short or feature length, under 120 pages, written in French or English
• Scripts are evaluated as written works and are not screened as films
• Music and score submissions are accepted in the Composer category. In this category, only the music itself is considered, not the film attached to it. A music selection does not imply the film’s selection, and the film will not screen unless separately submitted as a film.

Accepted languages:
• Films in any language are accepted if subtitled in English, French, or Spanish
• Films in English, French, or Spanish may be submitted with or without subtitles

Applicants must own all rights to the submitted work.

All submission fees are non refundable.

SCREENING REQUIREMENTS

A digital DCP is mandatory for all theatrical screenings and must be delivered promptly after an official selection is confirmed.

If a submission file is missing, inaccessible, or incomplete, the project may initially be marked as incomplete before being updated to not selected or disqualified.

If a selected project is not delivered for screening, or if the filmmaker stops responding to festival communications, the festival reserves the right to withdraw the selection or disqualify the project. While attendance is not mandatory, selected and winning filmmakers are expected to maintain communication with the festival team.

NOTIFICATION POLICY

The listed notification date is the date by which all submitters will have received an official decision.

However, notifications may be sent on a rolling basis ahead of the official notification date whenever possible. The festival aims to inform filmmakers early so they may organize travel and participation plans, or pursue other festival opportunities without unnecessary delay.

Projects submitted close to the final deadline will most likely receive their decision on or near the official notification date.

SELECTION PROCESS AND PROGRAMMING

Projects are reviewed as they are received by an international programming team.

Only the submitted materials and files are reviewed.

The programming team remains active until shortly before the final deadline in order to process late submissions, films, and scripts.

The festival strongly encourages early submission whenever possible, while remaining committed to delivering all official decisions by the announced notification date.

Projects are selected exclusively on the basis of quality. The festival will never select films solely to increase attendance numbers.

The festival reserves the right to move a submission into a different category if deemed more appropriate or beneficial to the project’s consideration. The festival also reserves the right not to program a category if no selected work sufficiently fits that category.

Festival decisions are final.

ATTENDANCE AND SCREENINGS

Since the return of in person events after COVID, audience attendance and filmmaker participation have both significantly declined, largely due to increasing travel costs.

Filmmakers are encouraged to attend in person whenever possible to support their projects and engage with the festival community. Applicants are encouraged to submit to editions they realistically expect to attend.

If a project is selected or awarded, filmmakers are expected to carefully review all festival emails, screening information, and correspondence. Failure to respond, failure to provide screening materials, or confirmed inability to participate may result in the project not being screened.

The festival cannot guarantee attendance levels at screenings.

The festival does not pay screening fees.

Screenings may be organized free of charge or with a box office system, entirely at the discretion of the festival. No revenue share or gross participation will be paid to participating filmmakers.

GENERAL CONDITIONS

Festival dates remain subject to change in order to secure the most appropriate venues and event conditions.

FilmFreeway is a third party platform voluntarily used by submitters for festival consideration.

By submitting a project, filmmakers authorize the festival and its affiliates to use trailers, excerpts, stills, promotional assets, and materials available on the FilmFreeway project page for festival communication, archival purposes, and promotional activities related to the festival and its events, both now and in the future. This includes, but is not limited to, videos, images, biographies, loglines, descriptions, and related submission materials.