Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival

ELIGIBILITY
The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival accepts films and mediaworks that are principally made by and/or about Asian Pacific Islander individuals and communities around the world. All lengths and genres will be considered.

SUBMISSION CATEGORIES
Feature Film (Narrative, Documentary)
• Fiction or non-fiction films of any genre principally created by and/or about Asian Pacific Islanders with themes involving, but NOT limited to, Asian Pacific American and/or Asian Pacific diasporic culture, history and experiences. Works eligible for this category MUST have a running time of at least 41 minutes and is expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required.

Short Film (Narrative, Documentary)
• Fiction or non-fiction films (and music videos) of any genre principally created by and/or about Asian Pacific Islanders with themes involving, but NOT limited to, Asian Pacific American and/or Asian Pacific diasporic culture, history and experiences. Works eligible for this category MUST have a running time not to exceed 40 minutes and is expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required.

Episodic
• Series of multiple videos in episodic form intended for digital platforms, including but not limited to mini-series, web series, serialized television, etc. Episodic submissions should have ongoing storylines, where multiple episodes will be shown. Works eligible for this category must submit at least 3 episodes in the series, with a combined total running time not to exceed 40 minutes.

Children/Youth Short Films
• Films that are children and family friendly. Works eligible for this category MUST have a running time not to exceed 40 minutes.

Emerging Media
• Content including but not limited to virtual/augmented/mixed reality, site-specific installations, and cross-platform projects. (See additional submission requirements under Exhibition Formats)

HBO APA Visionaries Short Film Competition
**Submissions for this category open on Sunday, September 15 at 9am PST. If you submitted a film to LAAPFF from Sep 1 - Sep 14, 2019, your film may be eligible for consideration via email. Such individuals will be sent an email on or about September 15, 2019 with instructions on how to enter the APA Visionaries Short Film Competition. If, after September 15 you do not receive an email, please email festival@vcmedia.org**
• Live action narrative fiction films of any genre responding to this year’s theme of "Breaking Barriers," directed by a person of Asian Pacific Islander descent who is a resident of one of the 50 United States or Washington, D.C. Works eligible for this category MUST have a running time of 10-15 minutes, inclusive of credits. Films should provide a unique lens into the challenges and victories of overcoming obstacles from the perspective of an Asian Pacific American cinematic storyteller. Read more about competition guidelines at www.hbovisionaries.com.

Please submit your film ONCE to the category most suitable for your film. If our programmers think your film may be suitable for another LAAPFF program category, it will be recommended for further consideration.

If your film is submitted to the wrong category, you are responsible for any changes in submission fees. If the new category has a higher fee, you are responsible for paying the difference or risk ineligibility. We do not offer refunds.

FILM COMPLETION DATE
All submitted works should have been completed on or after January 1, 2019.

EXHIBITION FORMATS
• FEATURE LENGTH - Digital; D-Cinema (DCP) with required Blu-Ray disc (NTSC)
• EPISODICS, MUSIC VIDEOS, AND SHORTS - Digital; D-Cinema (DCP) with required .MOV file conforming to Apple ProRes 422 HQ (1920 x 1080 24p 48kHz)
• EMERGING MEDIA - ALL submissions MUST BE accompanied by a detailed description of how the work should be exhibited. Please include any specific logistical, spatial, or equipment needs for your project as well as an estimated cost of and needed equipment for presentation.

PREVIEW FORMATS
Password-protected Vimeo (720p optimal) preferred, or secure online screener.

ADDITIONAL SUBMISSION MATERIALS
• Synopsis
• Director’s statement *optional
• Director’s biography
• Cast and crew listing

If your film is selected for exhibition, you are responsible for delivering their exhibition copy and other materials, such as: trailer, screener link, press stills, and press-kit, by deadline. The Festival will use your materials for print and online promotion. We may also request various other items (posters, etc.) to maximize exposure for your film.

ENTRY DEADLINE & FEES (two tiers)
Signed entry form, screener, and entry fee must be filed via FilmFreeway.com; to be RECEIVED by one of these dates:

FEATURES:
• EARLY DEADLINE - Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at 11:59pm PST | $40 USD entry fee
• REGULAR DEADLINE - Friday, November 1, 2019 at 11:59pm PST | $50 USD entry fee
• FINAL DEADLINE - Sunday, December 1, 2019 at 11:59pm PST | $65 USD entry fee

SHORTS, EPISODICS, AND EMERGING MEDIA:
• EARLY DEADLINE - Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at 11:59pm PST | $35 USD entry fee
• REGULAR DEADLINE - Friday, November 1, 2019 at 11:59pm PST | $45 USD entry fee
• FINAL DEADLINE - Sunday, December 1, 2019 at 11:59pm PST | $65 USD entry fee

**Visual Communications Members at the Filmmaker level submit for FREE! Limit one waived submission per member. Find out more about Visual Communications Membership at vcmedia.org/membership**

The Festival does not provide waivers other than for current Visual Communications Members at the Filmmaker level. We understand the severe financial restrictions among many of our artists. As a non-profit organization, we also operate under limitations on resources and the entry fees sustains us to produce the best possible space to showcase your works. We encourage all artists to submit by the early deadline.

SHIPPING
Digital media of invited entries must be sent to the Festival pre-paid at a date to be determined prior to the Festival. Return or forward shipping will be covered by the Festival.

SUBTITLES
Invited entries in language(s) other than English must be subtitled in English.

RENTAL FEES
The Festival does not pay rental fees. Instead, we choose to invest our resources in producing the best possible showcase for your work and promoting your work as widely as possible.

GRANT OF PERMISSION
Signatory of submission grants Visual Communications permission to screen the aforementioned work at the 2020 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival if accepted, and warrants that all necessary steps have been taken to obtain the rights to use, exhibit, and display the work. Signatory also gives Visual Communications permission to solicit and use stills, excerpts, and other materials from such accepted work for promotional purposes.