American INSIGHT’s nonprofit nonpartisan 2023 Free Speech Film Festival encourages INDEPENDENT filmmakers to exercise their right of Free Speech and the power of film to speak out on issues that are important to them and to their communities. We do not accept films that are produced by commercial entities of any type.

Championing different perspectives (and listening to other points of view) is vital to the future of Democracy! During the past decade, we have received FREE SPEECH FILMS from hundreds of filmmakers in over 58 countries.... but you will now have to wait until February 2024 to submit your film, because this year's submission process is over!

Each year, ONE film is selected as the Free Speech Award Winner by audiences of all ages from around the globe, as well as by residents of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: a "cradle of liberty” for decades before the American Revolution.

American INSIGHT's annual Free Speech Film Festival is unique in that it showcases FREE SPEECH FILMS, and also provides a marketing platform, networking opportunities, and educational workshops to independent filmmakers in need of exposure and visibility.

Only ONE of the 6 Official Selection films is chosen to receive the Free Speech Award, and receive $1,000...

However, all 6 Official Selection Directors are interviewed for our Free Speech Spotlight Blog, promoted on all of American INSIGHT’s social media channels, on our websites, and on Eventive, our FREE SPEECH FILM distribution platform, in perpetuity.

Also, each Official Selection Director is featured in a SPEAK EZ Workshop as part of American INSIGHT’s new Free Speech Center: an online educational resource that offers a fresh outlook on the foundations of America’s early legal system that began with the signing of the Magna Carta at Runnymede, England in 1215.

Students enrolled in American INSIGHT's online course “Make History Every Day!” will write about your film for years to come, as they discuss how the core values of Free Speech, Human Rights and the Rule of Law emerge in societies around the world through the lens of independent filmmakers.

American INSIGHT’s annual Free Speech Award Ceremony showcases the final 6 Official Selection films, a full screening of the ONE Free Speech Award-Winning film, and an in-depth discussion with its Director. All of these events are recorded, co-promoted, and featured in perpetuity on our websites listed below.

Submit your FREE SPEECH FILM from February 1st - April 30th!

Save the Date:
2023 Free Speech Award Ceremony
Wednesday, November 15th
Broadcast live from Philadelphia, PA

Discover more here:

https://americaninsight.org

https://watch.eventive.org/freespeechaward

https://freespeechfilmfestival.org/award-winners

https://www.makehistoryeveryday.com/

Awards & Prizes

Past Free Speech Award-winning Directors and Speakers include:

Eugene Marlow, 2022 Free Speech Award WINNER
https://freespeechfilmfestival.org/2022-festival-highlights/

Maya Sanbar, 2021 Free Speech Award WINNER
https://freespeechfilmfestival.org/2021-festival-highlights/

Wanjiru Njendu, 2020 Free Speech Award WINNER https://freespeechfilmfestival.org/2020-festival-highlights/

Robert Greenwald, 2019 Free Speech Award WINNER https://www.bravenewfilms.org/suppressed

Team Enough, 2018 Free Speech Award WINNER
https://www.teamenough.org/

Abby Huntsman, American television personality and former co-host of ABC’s The View.

David Kilgour, human rights defender, author, former lawyer and Canadian politician, remains continuously vocal on many human rights violations around the world

Reggie Shuford, Executive Director, ACLU Philadelphia

Anne-Marie Slaughter, President and CEO of New America; University Professor Emerita of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University

Ben Wizner, Director, American Civil Liberties Union’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project

Samuel Zhou, Deputy Director, Global Internet Freedom Consortium

Michael Perlman, Producer/ Executive Producer of American INSIGHT's 2012 Free Speech Film Festival Award winning film “Free China: The Courage to Believe,” and Amnesty International official Artist For Amnesty

Discover more:

https://americaninsight.org

Rules & Terms

RULES & REGULATIONS

By agreeing to the terms and conditions stated herein, participants in the Free Speech Film Festival unconditionally accept these rules and regulations:

SELECTION COMMITTEE

American INSIGHT's Free Speech Film Festival Judges include well-known writers, lawyers, scientists, recording artists, media specialists, scholars, historians, civic and cultural leaders from Philadelphia, as well as the general public, and the filmmakers who have submitted their films.

Judges will not be prejudiced by film length, subject matter, filmmaker. They follow established Judging Criteria (below) as they select the SIX Official Selection films. Although it is understood that any evaluation of artistic material involves a certain degree of subjectivity, their decisions will be considered final.

JUDGING CRITERIA

THEME: Relevant to the topic of Free Speech, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law.

EMOTIONAL IMPACT/AUDIENCE APPEAL: Visually appealing and entertaining, engender an emotional response, and create a lasting impression.

STRUCTURE/STORY: Clear, logical and effective plot with a meaningful and unique story line.

AUDIO/MUSIC: Appealing soundtrack, original, consistent volume, no background noise.

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Effective visuals, lighting and camera angles.

EDITING: Smooth flow, creates a powerful and emotional response from the viewer

DEADLINES

Film submissions deadlines:

Early Deadline: February 28, 2023

Regular Deadline: March 31, 2023

Late Deadline: April 30, 2023

Email Notification of acceptance or rejection: before August 1, 2023

Free Speech Award Ceremony: Sunday, November 19, 2023

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

– Submissions must be made electronically through FilmFreeway.

– Guidelines must be followed by all applicants, or films will not be accepted.

– Defective submissions will not be accepted into the Festival.

– Multiple submissions are permissible; however, each submission must be accompanied by its own Entry Form and Entry Fee.

ACCEPTED FORMATS

FilmFreeway Online Screener

RESTRICTIONS

Restricted to individuals 18 years old or above.

Incomplete films will not be accepted.

American INSIGHT’s selection committee(s) reserves the right to determine inappropriate content, such as violence, hate speech, defamation, or pornography; if any content is deemed by the committee(s) to be such, the film will not be accepted.

Previously broadcasted and/or independently/commercially distributed films will not be accepted.

LENGTH

No restrictions.

INTERNATIONAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

International submissions will ONLY be accepted through FilmFreeway, including the Entry Form and Entry Fee.

All non-English films must include English subtitles.

All International film submissions must agree with copyright rules and regulations.

TRAILERS

Filmmakers submitting to the Free Speech Film Festival are encouraged to submit trailers along with their signed Entry Form and Entry Fee. Trailers may be included in our online pre-Festival promotional activities. Trailers must be submitted on FilmFreeway only. All terms and conditions regarding the Free Speech Film Festival apply to Trailer content, too.

NOTIFICATION

Submitter is responsible for notifying the Free Speech Film Festival of any and all changes in contact information as soon as they occur.

All communication will be through email to the primary email address provided, including: reception of submissions, acceptance and non-acceptance of submissions into Festival, defective submissions, etc.

Notification of acceptance status will be sent no later than August 1, 2023

OFFICIAL SELECTIONS

The final five films chosen may be promoted in perpetuity by their filmmakers as Official Selections of the Free Speech Film Festival.

Acceptance of a film by the Free Speech Film Festival in no way obligates the Festival to screen or award any film, and such additional actions are done so at the discretion of the Festival and its committee(s).

Official Selections for the Free Speech Film Festival are selected by the Selection Committee, based solely on the Judging Criteria stated above.

Official Selections are in no way an endorsement of the film’s content by any representative of the Free Speech Film Festival or American INSIGHT.

PRESS KITS

Do not submit press kits until notified (unsolicited kits will not be returned).

Upon notification of acceptance, press kits will be requested and preferably should be submitted through FilmFreeway.

Press Kits should include: still photos (300 dpi); synopsis of the film (100 words or less); Trailer; filmmaker statement, photo, and biography.

TERMS + CONDITIONS

Entry Fees are non-refundable.

Filmmakers retain the copyright of their film.

GENERAL INFORMATION

All archival materials used in your film must be credited within the film itself and be included within its run time.

The submitter and/or undersigned expressly warrants that it has obtained all necessary copyright clearances for original works of authorship used in the film, and all rights and clearances necessary to exhibit the film.

The submitter and/or undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless American INSIGHT and the Free Speech Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, fees, and expenses (including but not limited to reasonable attorney’s fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos submitted, and any claims arising out of or in connection with the exhibition of the film.

American INSIGHT is grateful to FilmFreeway for being a Sponsor of the 2023 FREE SPEECH FILM FESTIVAL