Please Note: Rising Sun International Film Festival (RSIFF) does not waive entry fees. RSIFF believes waiving entry fees hurts the integrity of the competition. The same rules and entry fees should apply to all applicants so no one film is favored over another. In a similar respect, RSIFF does not invite films to be in competition. Only films that are submitted will be considered for competition.
GENERAL ELIGIBILITY
Submissions must be accompanied by the applicable submission fee PER ENTRY and a completed online entry form. All films must be in English or Japanese or have English and/or Japanese subtitles at the time submitted.
Films must be submitted as an online streaming video via a participating submission platform (FilmFreeway), a password-protected streaming URL, or on DVD with NTSC or PAL formatting (please test before sending).
RSIFF screens films as digital files during the Festival. We DO NOT screen films on HD-CAM, . If you are unable or unwilling to provide us your film as a digital file for exhibition, DO NOT SUBMIT your film.
Films must have been completed after January 1, 2019. Films must be available for screening during the Rising Sun International Film Festival from November 23-26, 2023 and we may also screen it one subsequent time later in the year as part of an encore series to help promote your film.
Films with Japanese distribution (obtained prior to being selected for RSIFF screening) or films that are available on streaming services in Japan like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video etc. and/or publicly available online and/or have screened on Japanese network or cable television or distributed to theaters prior to the festival dates are also ineligible for competition.
RSIFf reserves the right in its sole discretion to reject or disqualify any ineligible entries, without a refund.
Films that are selected to screen at the Festival may not necessarily be selected to be “in competition” for awards purposes, a selected film in competition may also not be screened due to various circumstances. Notifications regarding potential selection for competition status possibly may occur subsequent to notifications of acceptance for exhibition.
ORIGINALITY AND PERMISSIONS; INDEMNITY
Films must be the original work of the applicants. If a film is based upon another person’s life or upon a book or other underlying work, applicant(s) must secure any necessary rights to make such adaptations. However, it is not necessary to submit the adaptation rights agreements to the Festival. Neither the Festival nor its jurists investigates or attests to the authenticity of an applicant’s statement of authorship or rights secured. By entering the competition, you represent that you have secured all necessary rights.
Applicants are solely responsible for obtaining all necessary rights and permissions for third-party materials included in their films, including but not limited to music, trademarks, logos, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights. AFF expressly disclaims all liability or responsibility for any violations of the foregoing.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We strongly encourage filmmakers to submit their film only after it is fully finished and will judge each submission as a completed work, whether it is or not. Once a film is entered, we will not update the submission with a more recent cut. Should the film be accepted to play during the Festival, the filmmaker will have the opportunity to supply the Festival with their most recent version. RSIFF reserves the right to switch the entry category or otherwise assign a category to fit programming needs and interests, and films will not be penalized for the original submission selection.
Once an entry payment has been received we cannot provide a refund. If a payment is disputed by an entrant for any reason, the entrant may be subject to any transaction fees or similar amounts incurred by Rising Sun International Film Festival in connection with the dispute.
You MUST include your physical address either in your entry or in your cover letter. Please do not submit a film without giving us your address, which we need for our records.
Payments are only accepted through FilmFreeway.
SELECTED FILMS AND WINNERS
RSIFF has no obligation (other than as stated in these rules or on our website) to disclose any of the following information: i) identities of screeners or judges; ii) notes, feedback, or information relating to the submitted project; and/or iii) details regarding the submission review or selection process.
RSIFF explicitly disclaims any liability or responsibility for any comments, notes, or opinions expressed about a submission, whether by RSIFF or by its volunteers.
Winners will be announced live on the last day of the event and announced on line the following day. The judges’ decision is final.
Trophies/plaques or certificates will be presented at an award ceremony on the final day of the festival. For those not in attendance, we will send your award via international post.
If selected, we attempt to make make Japanese subtitles for your film abd we require an srt file to make them, please DO NOT SEND a dialogue script or screenplay. We will only work with srt files. Due to time constraints, technical factors and unforeseen circumstances we may not be able to make Japanese subtitles for all films. However, this will not have any effect on the film’s competitive standing.
We also host subsequent screenings throughout the year in which distributors are in attendance, if your film is selected will ask your permission to allow us to show the film a second time at a later date throughout the year.
RETURNS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
DVDs and press materials will not be returned under any circumstances.
COMPETITION IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
COMPETITION CERTIFICATION
I/We have read all of the rules, understand, and have complied with these rules.
I/We warrant the submission of my/our original work and that there are no disputes regarding the ownership of the submission.
I/We also warrant the submitted material does not defame or invade the rights of any person living or dead.
To the best of my/our knowledge, all the statements herein are true and correct.
I/We understand that failure to adhere to the competition rules and regulations will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee.
I/We acknowledge that once an entry payment has been processed, AFF will not provide a refund.
No revisions of materials will be accepted once entry has been submitted.
BY SUBMITTING THE MATERIAL, I/WE HEREBY AGREES TO INDEMNIFY, HOLD HARMLESS, AND DEFEND THE FESTIVAL, ITS EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, REPRESENTATIVES, AND AFFILIATES FROM ALL LIABILITY, CLAIMS, AND DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SUBMISSION AND FROM ANY FEES AND EXPENSES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES, THAT ANY OF THEM MAY INCUR IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
