GENERAL RULES — PLEASE READ THIS SECTION IN FULL BEFORE SUBMITTING
SOME POINTS TO REMEMBER BEFORE SUBMITTING:
1. Include at least one landscape-oriented and one portrait-oriented (1080x1920 is the best ratio) still that you would like to see in a festival program or on a festival website. Do not include any text on these two images.
2. Be prepared to make a Digital Cinema Package - DCP. You can have it done professionally but there are good guides out there for making one with Premiere or Final Cut Pro, DCP-O-Matic, and the like.
3. Captions are very, very important to a lot of festivals. Should your film be selected, your DCP should hopefully include an .srt file. There are services out there that make good captions with dialogue elements for less than one would expect. Also, the most commonly used film software now have caption/subtitles functions.
All films should be completed after Jan 1, 2023 DCP (Digital Cinema Package) required. Closed Captioning files strongly encouraged.
1. Submission Deadline Structure
Submissions Open: Jan 5, 2024
Early Deadline: March 15, 2024
Regular Deadline: May 1, 2024
Late Deadline: June 1, 2024
2. Submission Format
Films must be submitted via secure online screener (Vimeo or YouTube) or via FilmFreeway online screening portal only.
3. Submission Eligibility
All submissions must have been completed after January 1, 2023.
4. Premiere Status
- No premiere status is required, but US Premiere status is preferred.
- Pacific Northwest films (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia) must have not had prior film festival screenings in Tacoma, WA or Pierce County.
5. Selection of Films
- The Tacoma Film Festival will complete the selection process starting August 4, 2024 and by August 26, 2024 at the latest and will contact all submitting parties by email with programming status at that time. Accepted films will receive a Filmmaker Welcome Packet via email that will include important information about DCP exhibition, “Host a Filmmaker” lodging program, press and publicity, guest accreditation, festival filmmaker liaison contact information and how to make the most of participation in the festival.
- The accepted film must be received by the Tacoma Film Festival by 9/23/2024 to be played at the Tacoma Film Festival.
- The submitter is responsible for shipping or uploading the exhibition copy to the Tacoma Film Festival. TFF will pay domestic ground shipping only to return exhibition copies if applicable (no overnight or express). Non-ground or international shipping must be paid by the filmmaker.
6. DCP is Required for features and shorts*
WE REQUIRE DCP (Digital Cinema Package). Shorts must supply DCP and 1080p downloadable file backup, and features must supply either 1080p downloadable file or Blu-ray backup. If you are not prepared to meet the DCP requirement, please do not submit your film.
*(Music videos/VR submissions are not required to supply DCP).
7. TFF is committed to accessibility and all filmmakers are strongly encouraged to include a closed-caption file for exhibition. TFF commits to providing captioning or subtitles to every film, excluding when technical errors prevent playback.
8. Screening and Scheduling
The festival aspires to provide the best quality projection possible but will not be held liable for any failure in the technical quality of the projection, nor will fees be refunded in any such case. The Tacoma Film Festival assumes that the submitting party or filmmaker(s) or entrant(s) or print source company has insured for damage and loss of the festival print or hard-drive.
Screenings are scheduled during the festival at the discretion of the Tacoma Film Festival. The Tacoma Film Festival also retains the right to run limited Press & Industry screenings the week leading up to the festival.
Festival Promotion
Should your film be programmed, very brief portions of your submitted material may be copied and utilized for the purpose of promoting your film. Upon submission, filmmakers grant the Tacoma Film Festival the right to use clips and press materials from the film for promotional purposes before and after the festival unless the filmmaker requests otherwise in writing.
ADDITIONAL SUBMISSION RULES
- Please make a note in your submission if you have any connections to the Pacific Northwest region.
- Entry fees are waived for films made in Washington and/or for Directors currently residing in Washington State. Please email us at info@tacomafilmfestival.com.
- Returning TFF alumni filmmakers’ entry fees are waived. To request a waiver, please include the film title and year it played in Tacoma and email us at info@tacomafilmfestival.com.
- Works in progress will automatically be disqualified.
- Industrials, promotional, or news report films will not be considered if submitted.
- Entry fees will not be refunded.
WAIVERS -
We provide waivers and/or discounts to the following:
TFF Alumni - if you’ve screened at TFF in the past, we will waive the submission fee.
Pacific Northwest Filmmakers - we are sorry, waivers are unavailable in this category this year.
Student Discount - we provide a $10 discount for students or student works (films made during matriculation) on presentation of current student ID or proof of enrollment during production of your film.
We do not provide waivers for any other types of submissions.
No phone inquiries, please.
Please email us with questions: info@tacomafilmfestival.com
Thank you!
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
If a film obtains distribution after submission, TFF will have the right to screen the film at the festival without screening fee. TFF will place any such film in its respective category for competition.
By entering the Tacoma Film Festival, entrants release and hold the promoter and host and other contest entities harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, rights, claims and action of any kind arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the festival. The Festival will handle the films with care but cannot be held liable for any damage or loss during the shipping, preview or screening. The Festival is not responsible for any claim involving copyright, trademark or royalty infringements related to the work. Applicants are responsible for their own insurance and are not covered by the festival's insurance.
On submission, the filmmaker grants The Festival the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes.
The individual or corporation submitting the film warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.
The submitting filmmaker shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless The Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, expert witness fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.
