THE ARTISTS FORUM FESTIVAL OF THE MOVING IMAGE: 2024 (#theartistsforumfilmfest) is now accepting submissions.

Part of our on-going juried arts programming, our 9th annual international film festival is a juried competition, open to innovative filmmakers with unique perspectives seeking to gain exposure in the formidable New York City and international arts and media markets.

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Our 2024 Competition Theme is TECHNO-FEUDALISM

THE ARTISTS FORUM invites artists to showcase interpretations for the phrase: Techno-Feudalism*.

Techno-feudalism, a recently coined term by Greek economist and politician Yanis Vaoufakis, is the transformation of capitalism by tech platforms, done by exploiting the labor force through new technologies.

An example of this concept would be companies hiring people to work from home or through and app, but not paying for employees computers, car repairs, or the infrastructure needed to perform their work.

An expansion on this concept covers the manipulating of media to better serve a political agenda, such as running bots on niche topics that create a sense of divisiveness or political unease.

Additionally, our theme gives a nod to Tech-Deserts. Even in New York City, Tech-deserts (places where many households lack reliable computer and internet access) abound, giving people restricted access to information, thereby limiting their access to other points of view or the ability to research topics.

*While submissions aligned with our theme are preferred, we also accept non-theme related works.

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Each submission, reviewed by a panel of industry professionals, will be rated upon its individual merits. Finalists in each category will be judged against one another and a winner declared. Please see Rules & Terms for eligibility.

A list of competition jurors is forthcoming on our website: https://theartistsforum.org

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We are accepting both feature length (over 40 minutes, but no longer than 120 minutes) screened virtually) and short film submissions (30 minutes or less).

>> Please note: Shorts with a run time between 30 and 40 minutes may be considered for acceptance into the festival upon discretion of the festival committee. However, these entries might be programmed for online screenings only.

Our list of categories include:

FEATURES:
Narrative
Documentary

SHORTS:
Narrative
Documentary
Experimental
Comedy
Dark Themes
Sci-Fi
LGBTQ+ (New)
Animation
Music Video
Web Series Only (New)

AWARD CATEGORY LISTINGS:

Best Narrative Feature
Best Documentary Feature

Best Narrative Short
Best Dark Themed Short
Best Comedy Short
Best Experimental Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Animated Short
Best Music Video
Best Student Short
Best LGBTQ+ Short (New)
Best Web Series (New)

Best Sound Design
Best Musical Score (New)
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Screenplay
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Jurors Award

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Award recognition will be given at a ceremony in New York City, alongside screenings of selected films. In the case of COVID-19 restrictions, our award ceremony will be conducted online and then televised on Manhattan cable stations shortly thereafter.

All finalists will be considered for a MEET THE ARTISTS video profile and promoted on our online platforms.

Winners will be considered for a formal studio or Zoom interview with host to be promoted via THE ARTISTS FORUM TELEVISION - a 20+ year arts based television program broadcasted from mid-town Manhattan in New York City.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Who is eligible: Anyone from any country is eligible to submit their work to The Artists Forum and its Juried Competitions, except for those listed below.

Who is ineligible: Any member of the Board of Directors, Advisory Board, any competition judge or mentor, and any employee of The Artists Forum and their family members* are ineligible to participate in our competitions.

*Family is defined as relationships to the third degree of consanguinity or affinity. Consanguinity (blood relations) include: spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, great grandparent, great grandchild, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, niece, and nephew; the listed relatives include whole and half blood relatives. Affinity relationships apply to step relatives and in-laws.

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ALL SUBMISSIONS:
Submissions are only being accepted through FilmFreeway.com

• Films must have been completed after January 1, 2022.
• Works-in-Progress will not be accepted.
• Films without audio will not be accepted.
• All entries must be in English or with English subtitles.

FILM LENGTHS:
• Feature Films must have a running time of over 40 minutes, but no longer than 2 hours.
• Short Films must have a running time of 30 minutes or less, including credits.
• Shorts with a run time between 30 and 40 minutes may be considered upon discretion of the festival. However, these entries may be programmed for online only.
• Web series can compete utilizing a single episode submitted under any of the given categories.

• SUBMISSION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

• No commissioned works (industrials, infomercials, etc.) are accepted into this festival. Only independently produced films and videos are to be considered for competition. (However, films receiving production funding is permissible).

• THE ARTISTS FORUM FESTIVAL OF THE MOVING IMAGE does not pay screening fees. By submitting your film via FilmFreeway.com you acknowledge that THE ARTISTS FORUM FESTIVAL OF THE MOVING IMAGE will not pay to present your film.

• Selected entries and all required materials must be submitted by July 30, 2023 to be included in the festival line-up.

STUDENT SUBMISSIONS:
In order to submit to this category, college undergrads must provide documentation of active enrollment in an educational institution plus your student ID.
• Grad Students and all others are not eligible for student rates.

MULTIPLE ENTRIES:
Filmmakers may submit multiple entries to THE ARTISTS FORUM FESTIVAL OF THE MOVING IMAGE. Each submission must be accompanied by a separate FilmFreeway.com online entry form.

AWARD CRITERIA:
Category winners are based on the quality and quantity of entries.
Therefore, THE ARTISTS FORUM does not guarantee a winner in each category if judges deem the entrees do not meet our standard criteria.

IF SELECTED:
The following Apple-friendly format are required:

• Your film's exhibition copy as a Quicktime Pro Res 422 (1920x1080) plus a high bitrate back up copy.
• Your trailer (if you have one available) as a .mov or mp4 film format, 1GB or less.
• Film stills and other promotional images in a high-resolution .png or .jpg format.
• Name, Mailing Address, Email Address, Phone Number, Website (if any), social media handles, Bio, Filmmaker's Country of Origin, Filmmakers Current Residency, Country of Filming, Film title, log line, synopsis, crew listings, and social media handles for your main cast or crew members in one pdf document.

TERMS & CONDITIONS:
By submitting your film to THE ARTISTS FORUM FESTIVAL OF THE MOVING IMAGE you are hereby agree to the following terms & conditions:

I hereby state that I am legally authorized to enter this film into THE ARTISTS FORUM FESTIVAL OF THE MOVING IMAGE.

I guarantee that I own the rights to the film in its entirety, or that I have secured in writing all proprietary rights as required by law the use of the following: music, audio samples, images, performances, text, trademarks and/or service marks, and any other intellectual property used in the film and indicated on this form.

I have also acquired the necessary releases for all persons, talent, crew, and/or location(s) involved in producing the film submitted for this competition.

I will indemnify, safeguard, and hold harmless THE ARTISTS FORUM INC., THE ARTISTS FORUM FESTIVAL OF THE MOVING IMAGE, and all of their festival sponsors, related parties and/or affiliates, from any claims, damages, costs, expenses, and liabilities arising from the creation, publication, use, viewing, or reproduction of the film at present or in the future, including, but not limited to, claims for negligence and other infringements, fraud, unauthorized exhibition, discrimination, defamation, and breach of contract.

I agree to give THE ARTISTS FORUM INC. and THE ARTISTS FORUM FESTIVAL OF THE MOVING IMAGE a non-exclusive, perpetual right at no cost to duplicate, screen, or disperse the film in any media and in any manner it deems appropriate for promotional and educational purposes related to the festival. I hereby have all the rights, power and authority necessary to grant the foregoing license, and all of my content does not infringe, violate, misappropriate or otherwise conflict with the rights of any third party, and complies with all applicable laws and regulations, foreign and domestic. I accept full legal responsibility for the intellectual property therein.

I agree to allow THE ARTISTS FORUM INC. and THE ARTISTS FORUM FESTIVAL OF THE MOVING IMAGE to use photographs, audio or visual interviews of myself, and other likenesses of me, as well as, my name, either actual or fictitious. I hold THE ARTISTS FORUM INC. and THE ARTISTS FORUM FESTIVAL OF THE MOVING IMAGE harmless from the damage to, or the loss of, film media and/or any publicity materials that I supply.
My submission and all activities related to my submission will be in compliance with the FilmFreeway’s Terms of Service for Filmmakers.

I have read and fully comprehended the guidelines. I have complied with the terms of submission stated above and my application and payment into the competition verifies my acceptance of all Rules, Terms, and Submission Conditions.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Sharon Shepard-Levine

    Amos White, Artistic Director of The Artists Forum Festival of the Moving Image, shows his deep commitment to independent film makers! Providing guidance in supplying media assets, to communications leading up to the screening, the screening itself and making networking available enhanced our entire experience. We also had the opportunity to be filmed to share our creative process. Winning, Best Documentary Feature, for our film, Gabriel’s Daughter, The Life and Legacy of Clara Brown was thrilling!!! I highly recommend this amazing film festival to all film makers.

    December 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Dear Sharon. It was an honor to showcase your documentary on an unsung American heroine. Congratulations on winning the 2023 Best Documentary Feature at this years film festival. It was fantastic to meet you and Lori, your partner in crime, once again after the festival run. I look forward to learning more about the great works you do.

  • Robbie Robertson

    This was one of my favorite festivals I have ever been a part of... the level of professionalism and love of film was evident at every interaction and I was so delighted to have my film, COMMON AS RED HAIR, screen at the Dolby screening room in Manhattan. Just a dream come true to be part of this festival and we were so excited to be awarded Best LGBTQIA+ Short Film at the live event!! Highly recommend this thoughtful and wonderfully-run film festival!

    December 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Hello Robbie! Congrats on your 2023 award for Best LGBTQ+ short. We'll deserved as are the additional awards you've won world wide for this impactful short on the intersex community. Continued success.

  • Nikki Hevesy

    We were honored to have A Year to Life screened here. Amos and his crew cared deeply about the quality and creativity of the films selected and the festival provided several networking opportunities where we got to know some of the other filmmakers. They went the extra mile to take interviews of all of us to showcase our work👏 Thank you again.

    December 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Hello Nikki! It was great spending time with you at the festival. Thank you for your very kind words and congratulations on winning a 2023 Audience Award at this festival event, as well as your nominations for Best Actor and Best Narrative Short! We look forward to seeing your new productions in the near future.

  • Hello and thank you for your work that you put for us and made this experience really amazing and wonderful
    This is the movie Dawn of Death which was an award winner in the best experimental short section
    It was an honor to be part of your festival and we hope and waiting for future cooperations

    December 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Hello Armin! Thank you for your kind words and congratulations on your win as BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT for Dawn of Death! The work is excellent and the audience really found it very compelling. Looking forward to watching your career development.

  • Nicholson Billey

    The Artists Forum Festival of the Moving Image 2022 was a brilliant experience. It was an honor to be part of the 2022 Festival! Yakoke!

    December 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Nic! It was a pleasure to showcase your work. Congratulations on your wins in our 2022 Spoken Word Competition! Looking forward to seeing what is next for you!