First Nations Film and Video Festival

FESTIVAL GUIDELINES:
The guidelines are simple: DEADLINE is JULY 15, 2023

1) DIRECTOR MUST BE OF INDIGENOUS/NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE. Any film or video of any genre or length may be submitted as long as the Director is enrolled in a U.S. American Indian tribe or of Native American/Indigenous American descent. (Producers or Distributors may submit on the Director’s behalf.) You MUST inform us of your tribal affiliation. See note below.

2) All submitted film MUST be made within the last five (5) years. This year we are accepting films made after January 2019.

And that’s it. Remember, there is NO ENTRY FEE for submitting films to the First Nations Film and Video Festival.

NOTE: We will be scrutinizing the technical aspects of our entries. If the audio mix or image issues are making the film difficult to watch, we will turn down the submission with a note to fix the issue and to re-submit the film for the next festival.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The First Nations Film and Video Festival considers "Native American", "Indigenous American" and "American Indian" to include people of heritage or enrolled with the indigenous peoples/tribes of the United States, North, Central, and South America, including Canada and Mexico. To protect Native American first-voice and self-representation, the Director must be of U.S. Native/Indigenous American heritage or an enrolled member of a tribe of U.S. Indians. U.S.-born Native Hawaiian also accepted. Co-directors will be judged on a case-by-case basis!

Also, FNFVF Inc is working to minimize the usage of the term "Indian" when discussing the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Due to the terms origins, we feel that the term to be incorrect and offensive.

DO NOT: list your name, nationality, a name of a non-existent tribe, or a Native American Organization in the "Tribal Affiliation" field below. TRIBAL AFFILIATION MUST BE FILLED OUT. We do research tribal names/recognized tribes and if we cannot find a tribal name, we consider the application "incomplete". Please make sure your biography mentions your tribal affiliations to help with the process. Also, involvement or paid membership with a Native American Organization does not constitute "Tribal Enrollment".

FIRST NATIONS FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL ARCHIVE: PLEASE READ!
FNFVF Archive is First Nations Film and Video Festival, Inc’s library of films and video collected over the years, which are made available to community members, educators, students, non-profit organizations, and artists and are re-screened for educational purposes only. Copies in Archives are kept on premises and are not open to public access. At NO TIME during the re-screening or use of your Archive films will the FNFVF charge for admission. All events or programs must be free and open to the public.

NOTE: If you do not wish for your film to become a part of the FNFVF Archive and be reused for educational purposes, you MUST make answer clear in applications questions below, and any hard copies for festival usage sent, must come with a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the return of your materials.

Please note if submitting physical media; that by not providing a self-addressed, stamped envelope, you agree to your film’s submission into the FNFVF Archive and this signed application will serve as proof of permission of use and as Public Performance Rights for the FNFVF’s future screenings of your film.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING:
I, the applicant, by submitting this online application form, do understand that First Nations Film and Video Festival, Inc, if accepted, will; screen my work, promote the screening of my work via their website, press materials, social networking, and

I grant First Nations Film and Video Festival, Inc permission to screen my work for public audiences and to use my work (whole or in part) and any images from for promotional and educational purposes, and

I understand that First Nations Film and Video Festival, Inc will NOT charge any admissions fees for nor make any profit from the screening of my work, that all their screening events are free and open to the public, and

I also understand that while First Nations Film and Video Festival, Inc does not charge admissions, that any hosting venues may ask for donations on behalf of their own 501c3 to cover staff costs for the event, and

I understand that I will submit a copy of, or a link to my film, submit a press kit or provide a link to an EPK, images, bio pic and to make known my availability for attending any screening, and that I am clear as to the dates of the festival, also if I do not submit the requested materials by the specified date, that my film MAY NOT be included in the festival, and

I have the necessary clearances, rights, and releases to allow First Nations Film and Video Festival, Inc. to screen my work publicly, and

In the event I cannot attend a screening, or that between now and the festival dates, I choose not to have First Nations Film and Video Festival, Inc screen or promote my film as part of their festival, I will contact them immediately to withdraw my film and application, and

I understand that First Nations Film and Video Festival, Inc is not responsible for lost or damaged submissions, and

I also give notice that by indicating "YES" on this online application for an online submission and by NOT including a self-address, postage-paid envelope to return my film and materials for a physical submission, I grant the First Nations Film and Video Festival, Inc permission to include it in their FNFVF Archive and the archive’s intended use, and

I have read, understand, agree to and will comply with the guidelines of the First Nations Film and Video Festival, including the guideline’s definition of “Native American”, and its decision to screen or not screen my work, and do understand this memorandum, and the purpose of the FNFVF Archive.