https://youtu.be/Giq8k30m2Ik

***NOTE: In light of 2020 Coronavirus epidemic and other constraints, we are rescheduling our 2020 event for FALL/WINTER 2020. Please stay tuned for updates.***

Everyone needs a Hero.

Hero Film Festival & Awards recognizes visionaries who use their filmmaking voice to forge new pathways through the human condition. This non-traditional international film festival and awards competition accepts entries from around the world with a welcoming spirit and the drive to bring acclaim to those voices that need to be heard.

As the film festival landscape is vast, Hero Film Festival & Awards maintains the utmost of integrity in this niche approach to jury selection and film recognition. Our primary goal is differentiation of films with a conscience, those shining a spotlight on extraordinary people and their heroism. In turn, Hero Film Festival & Awards boosts industry professionals behind these scenes through credibility and the motivation publicity brings.

Of course, Hero Film Festival & Awards is not just about heroic depictions and stories that challenge the next generation. HFF also shines a light on talented producers, directors, actors and other talent making their mark through high quality productions.

Hero Film Festival & Awards provides impressive films with early press recognition, advocacy group pairing and promotion to industry contacts. Pop-up events invite the general public, real heroes, advocacy groups, press and distributors to view winning entries and engage with the filmmakers.
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***How We Help Promote Your Film***

Randomly selected submissions receive additional promotion through Roulez Magazine [RoulezMagazine.com] articles and related social media/website coverage. In these articles, we explore the creative and filmmaking process from a first-person perspective. If you have interest in this coverage for your submitted film, feel free to ask. View sample articles from the Hero Film Festival website [HeroFilmFest.org] or on RoulezMagazine.com.

[Published articles do NOT reflect category selections or favor. Jury activities and film promotion in Roulez Magazine are not connected. This is simply an added benefit for participating films, available as space and time permit.]

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***Our Jury***
The Official Jury of Hero Film Festival & Awards is one of the differentiating factors of our event. In tribute to the nature of our awards and applicable subject matter, we look to the following people as our jurors:

Members of the Armed Forces
Law enforcement officers
Advocates and advocacy groups
Organizational leaders across healthcare and other industries
True crime survivors
Members of the film industry
Known celebrities and cause leaders
Members of the media
Subject matter experts

***Our Screening Audience***
As with our jury selection, we take screenings very seriously. When your winning film screens in our theater, we look to the above groups for esteemed individuals in attendance.

Whenever possible, we also use our 35-plus years of marketing executive leadership, marketing agency and filmmaking experience to promote your film to applicable advocacy groups, both for attendance of your screening and potential partnership for promotion of your film.

Expected attendance for the 2020 HFFA film festival is about 600 guests.

***Categories for Entry & Award***
As of 2020, HFFA is an annual festival program. Specific categories of entry for the annual Hero Film Festival & Awards include:

**Feature Categories:**
Films over 45 minutes in duration, only
Dramatic Feature Film
Documentary Feature
Experimental Feature

**Short Categories:**
Films 45 minutes or less in duration, only
Fictional Short
Documentary Short
Experimental Short

**Film Genres / Subjects / Markets:**
True Crime
Advocacy in Action
Hero in Uniform
Everyday Hero
Western
LGBTQ
Animal Advocacy
Health
Political
Other / Not Listed

**Best of Show:**
Pioneer | First-Time Filmmaker
Voyager | Overall Production Value
Luminary | On-Screen Talent or Real-Life Hero
Conqueror | Most Memorable
Revolutionary | Best Cause-Oriented

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***Annual Festival & Awards***
Hero Film Festival & Awards Annual Best of Show winners receive:

HFFA Annual Best of Show Laurels
HFFA Official Crystal Hero Trophy
Private Screening at the Annual Festival (Digital and/or Theatrical) - as time/space permit
Cross-Promotion through Festival Partner(s)
Promotion to thousands of followers, media and industry contacts

Hero Film Festival & Awards is an annual film festival and awards competition with annual live screening in Hampton Roads, VA. Based out of the largest American military hub on the East Coast and only a few hours’ drive from the nation’s capital, HFFA celebrates heroism in filmmaking. Competitive films originate from around the globe to receive HFFA recognition, industry contacts and film promotion.

Hero Film Festival & Awards presents awards within multiple categories. Invitees include real life heroes, press, industry contacts, advocates, filmmakers and other people suited to your film’s market. We engage your public audience for presentation of the film and filmmaker Q&A.

**Quarterly and Annual Competition Rules**
All HFFA entries must include a subject, story line or thread of heroism.

Each category offers its own jury-selected award. In addition to these awards, the best among these films vie for four Best of Show levels, called the Pioneer (first-time filmmaker), Voyager (exceptional production), Luminary (on-screen talent or real-life hero) and Conqueror (most memorable) awards.

Annual awardees and screening films are named March 5 to 10 of each year for the associated festival/private screening and public presentation. Hero Film Festival & Awards also reserves the freedom to invite secondary films from the entry tiers for additional screenings or appearances.

Submissions must take place on FilmFreeway.com. Non-English language films must have English subtitles. While works in progress are accepted for competitions, we encourage film completion prior to submission. Films must have a completion and/or premiere date within the prior three years (36 months) for consideration.

Film entries are not limited to only one category, when others apply to the genre and content. But for each submission or category entered, a submission fee is required. Entry fees are non-refundable.

By entering your production in Hero Film Festival & Awards, you grant non-exclusive rights to HFFA for festival program promotional use of excerpts, poster art, trailers, teasers and stills. Selected films for the live screening in Virginia grant non-exclusive theatrical (one-time showing) rights to HFFA. Films will NOT otherwise be made available to outside parties or for download online.