DIFF SHORTS

Rules & Terms
DIFF values the health and safety of all the Festival’s participants, audience members, staff, and volunteers, especially in light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. To protect these individuals, as well as comply with any applicable governmental health and safety orders or guidelines, DIFF reserves, at any time and at its sole discretion, including, but not limited to, after having accepted films to be exhibited at the Festival to:
(1) cancel the Festival;
(2) institute health and safety rules applicable to all individuals participating in the Festival, such as theater- or event-capacity limits and face-covering requirements; and (3) revise the dates, location, and format of the Festival, including moving the Festival entirely online. DIFF will not, in the event it takes any of the foregoing actions, refund any payments or fees paid to DIFF prior to such time. In addition, by submitting your project to be exhibited at the Festival, you agree that DIFF will not have any liability to you for any claims, actions, costs, liabilities, judgments, obligations, losses, penalties, expenses or damages of whatsoever kind or nature incurred in connection with, relating to, or arising out of, COVID-19. DIFF will attempt to communicate any such changes to the Festival applicants, participants, and audience members in a timely manner via our website and/or direct communication with filmmakers.

Premiere status is taken into consideration for every submission in each category strand with priority given to Dallas/Fort Worth Premieres, Southwest Premieres, US Premieres, North American Premieres, and World Premieres.

Films in competition must not be commercially available prior to October 2025. However, we will consider these films for Special Presentations.

More than one entry may be submitted. Each entry must be accompanied by a separate entry form and entry fee.

If your film is selected, you will be asked to provide a digital press kit which includes: head-shot and filmography of director, color and/or B&W stills from the film, screeners for press, and a video trailer (cleared for broadcast). You will also be asked to deliver a 30-60 second promotional video that can be used by DIFF and our DIFF marketing partners to help promote your film at the festival.

DVD/Blu-ray screeners will not be accepted for consideration.

Any films submitted without a paid entry fee by the given deadline will be disqualified from the submission screening process. No refunds will be offered.

All film entries selected for the festival grant DIFF the rights to use footage, stills, titles and information from the film for promotional purposes.