COVID UPDATE:
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Crisis, we are looking into ways to host this festival in the Spring of 2021! Stand by folks!

Thank you for your ongoing support! This festival is going to be great!

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The Brooklyn Silent Film Festival offers the unique opportunity for filmmakers to have their silent film scored by an upcoming indie band, composer, or performing musician!

We select eight to ten silent films of up to twenty minutes in length. We then pair your film up with a band who can travel to and play at the Festival. We put you in touch with the band so you can collaborate (somewhat) on the vibe you envision.

If you submit a non-silent film, you do this understanding that we will not play any of your sound with it! If you're cool with this, then submit any film that otherwise fits our guidelines!

At our screening, your film is accompanied by a live performance of the score that the band/performer composes. We even record the live performance so you can mix the score in permanently!

We will have an expert panel of film and music professionals to select and judge the entries.

Confirmed Judges for 2020:
TBA!

One band/filmmaker collaboration will win the Brooklyn Silent Award!
Four of the composing bands will play full 20-min sets at the after-party!

The Brooklyn Silent Award will go to one collaboration of a filmmaker and band. Notoriety and fame may ensue.

Other prizes may be awarded if we get our shtuff together.

Films must be original content. Prior screenings are acceptable, but you cannot have a score submitted with your film. Films must be between five and twenty-five minutes long. Selected Films must be submitted as HD digital files mp4 or mov. Films may be of any style or genre so long as there is no recorded dialogue or additional foley (sound effects) -- Placards or subtitles are acceptable. Genre and style requests will be accommodated as best as we can, but The Brooklyn Silent Film Festival and its Directors make no guarantee that the soundtrack or score will meet the Filmmakers' desires or expectations. This is a collaboration opportunity. You won't have as much control as you would were you to hire a composer. However, we will do our best to hook you up with the coolest, most fantastic, up-and-coming talent we can find!

If you submit a film for consideration that has audio attached, you do so with the understanding that it will be screened with no audio aside from the live accompaniment assigned by the Festival.

Selected Filmmakers and musicians get to party with us as long as you can get yourself to the festival. Free entry for up to 2 filmmakers is guaranteed to all accepted entries. Prize value of $200 will be split as $100 each for filmmaker and band/composer. Travel and Accommodations will not be provided for either filmmakers nor performers/bands. Bands/Performers MUST be available to perform their composed scores LIVE at the Festival on 9/5/2019 at The Well in Brooklyn, NY. Four (4) 20-minute slots for composers/bands will follow the screening. Full sets are not guaranteed. They will be offered at the discretion of the festival organizers.

Films and Musicians/Bands accepted to this festival may be promoted on the site prior to the festival and for the year after the premier. The accepted films will be available to watch with the recorded scores synched with them. Accepted films/bands/performers may also be promoted in printed materials and in our press and marketing activity. You give us the right to use the name of the film/band/performer, the images submitted and any logos for the uses listed. Films selected will only be screened at the Brooklyn Silent Film Fest for the year selected and on the website for the year following the screening.

Once a film/band/composer is submitted and accepted to the festival, you guarantee not to withdraw it from the festival under any circumstances. You also guarantee to make sure we receive screening materials at least one week before the Festival date.

By entering this contest you agree that you have read and understood each provision listed in these Rules and Terms and you accept and agree with the provisions herein.

You agree that you have read, understood, and complied with all eligibility requirements, that your film is not subject to litigation nor is threatened by any litigation.

You agree that you are duly authorized to submit your film to the Brooklyn Silent Film Festival and Competition, and that if accepted the Festival holds the right to screen your film for the Festival screening and non-commercial promotional purposes and to extract clips from your film for promotional purposes.

You understand that the Brooklyn Silent Film Festival ("Festival") is not responsible for any type of damage to or loss of the print during screenings, at any other time during the course of the Festival, while the film is in the Festival's possession, or while en route to or from the Festival.

By entering this contest you agree to defend and hold harmless the Brooklyn Silent Film Festival and its Organizers against any and all claims, demands, suits, damages, losses or expenses (including attorneys fees), of any kind whatsoever arising out of, relating from, or relating to a breach or any alleged breach of the above-described warranties and representations or any act of omission by the Festival and its Organizers regarding The Festival and its Organizers obligations and/or this Agreement, or any liability or loss arising from any violation of Laws by the Festival and its Organizers. Laws means any local, national, or state statute, regulation, code, decree, directive or other law or similar requirement of any duly constituted authority.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Joey Angerone

    Had so much fun at the festival! Great venue and the bands were amazing. They did such a great job putting it all together.

    September 2019
  • Edu Lavandeira

    Great festival, original and inspiring. Amazing bands playing live for the selected films in a creative night in NYC. There’s only one problem, I couldn’t assist, I wish I could next year. Congrats!!!

    September 2019