1. DESCRIPTION
1.1. The International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA) is devoted to the promotion and presentation of the world’s finest films on art, videos, media art and interactive and/or immersive works. Every year, its selection captures the quality and the diversity of this world production. Its goal is to increase public awareness and appreciation of art, as well as to recognize the work of artists and professionals working in the fields of cinema, video and television. Its core activity is a competitive festival, considered the most important of its kind in the world. The FIFA is a non-profit organization and since its inception, has presented close to 5,000 films from 77 countries, and awarded more than 400 prizes.
2. SUBJECTS
2.1. The Festival presents notably documentaries, fiction films on art, biopics, performance recording, music videos, art video and interactive and/or immersive works and encompasses all of the arts, representing all eras and styles, such disciplines as animation, archeology, architecture, art and politics, art and science, art brut, art history, art historians, art market, art technology, art theory, broadcasting, calligraphy, crafts, cinema, circus art, collage, collections, comic books, contemporary art, culinary arts, dance, design, drawing, experimental, fashion, films by artists, gallerists, gardens, graphic arts, interior design, installations, lifestyle, literature, media arts and digital arts, mime, museums, music, new technologies, opera, outsider art, painting, performance, photography, poetry, public art, textile arts, therapeutic art, video art, restoration, sculpture, sociology of art, street art, tattoos, theater, urbanism, works on paper, and related subjects.
3. ELIGIBILITY
3.1. All films, videos or interactive and/or immersive works must be submitted to the 3.1. All films, videos or interactive and/or immersive works must be submitted to the Festival no later than October 31, 2023.
3.2. Only films or videos in one of the following eight versions will be accepted: French; English; dubbed into French; dubbed into English; subtitled in French; subtitled in English; no dialogue, no sound.
3.3. Films or videos presented publicly in Montreal theaters, at any other local festival, on the television screen, online or on any other platform accessible freely or not to the Montreal audience prior to March 31, 2024, are not eligible.
3.4. Although preferable, no exclusivity is required for the interactive and/or immersive works, as well as for the music videos (if applicable).
3.5. Films, videos or works whose registration file is incomplete or whose entry fees have not been paid will not be eligible.
3.6. FIFA reserves the right to refuse any late or incomplete entry.
4. REGISTRATION
4.1. The registration of a film, video or work must be done online, using the form available on the FIFA’s website at www.lefifa.com.
4.2. For each film, video or work submitted, the applicant must send the following elements via the registration form:
4.2.1. synopsis of the film, video or work (100-200 words) (does not apply for music videos);
4.2.2. biography of the director(s) (maximum 200 words);
4.2.3. filmography of the director(s);
4.2.4. complete film, video or work credits;
4.2.5. a minimum of 5 stills from the film or video (location shots excluded); 1 photo of the director(s) (digital images in TIFF or JPEG, minimum 2,200 pixels [190 mm / 7.5 in.] at 300 DPI). The photographs must be free of copyright and credited if applicable;
4.2.6. download link of the film or video or a link for streaming with password valid until March 31, 2024;
4.2.7. press kit and press coverage (if available);
4.2.8. electronic version of the poster of the film, video or work in the following format: TIFF, JPEG, or PDF at 300 DPI (if available) (does not apply for music videos);
4.3. The complete registration file must be received by the FIFA no later than October 31, 2023.
4.4. Work copies are accepted as long as the final version will be available no later than January 31, 2024.
4.5. Physical documents (promotional documents, DVDs, etc.) are not accepted and will not be returned.
4.6. The FIFA shall not be responsible for incomplete reception or non-reception of the registration files, whatever the reason.
4.7. Applicants are responsible for providing correct and functional information in the registration file. The same applies to the contact information. The FIFA is not responsible for any failed attempts to contact applicants using the contact information provided.
5. ENTRY FEES
5.1. Applicants must pay a $55,00 CAD ($47,84 CAD + taxes) administration fee, for each submitted film or video over 40 minutes in length, no later than October 31, 2023, failing which the work will be ineligible for pre-selection. After this date, additional fees might apply.
5.2. Applicants must pay a $30,00 CAD ($26,09 CAD + taxes) administration fee, for each submitted film or video of or under 40 minutes in length, no later than October 31, 2023, failing which the work will be ineligible for pre-selection. After this date, additional fees might apply.
5.3. Applicants must pay a $55,00 CAD ($47,84 CAD + taxes) administration fee, for each submitted interactive and/or immersive work, no later than October 31, 2023, failing which the work will be ineligible for pre-selection. After this date, additional fees might apply.
5.4. Only the following forms of payment are accepted: by credit card using the secure Paypal™ payment system or by cheque in Canadian currency in the name of the Festival International du Film sur l’Art (5333, avenue Casgrain, local 403, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H2T 1X3). Additional charges will apply for all other means of payment.
5.5. Entry fees are non-refundable.
6. SELECTION
6.1. FIFA’s final decisions are based on the recommendations of a qualified pre-selection committee.
6.2. Only the Festival shall schedule the dates, times, locations and the number of the screening.
6.3. All decisions and choices concerning the selection are at the FIFA full and entire discretion. They are final and irrevocable. The FIFA shall issue no justifications for their decisions.
6.4. Candidates will be notified of the selection results by email as of January 2024.
6.5. Once registered, the films, videos or works may not be withdrawn without the consent of FIFA.
6.6. The selection of a film or video does not guarantee financial support for the presence of producers, directors and/or distributors.
6.7. The complete and official selection will be revealed in February 2024. Any public announcement of the selection of a film, video or work in the official program of the 42nd FIFA before the official unveiling cannot be made without FIFA’s consent.
7. SENDING FILMS AND VIDEOS FOLLOWING SELECTION
7.1. The applicant whose film or video have been selected must send to the Festival a screening copy in perfect condition in the following required format, according to the following modalities:
7.1.1. Authorized format:
7.1.1.1. Digital files using the Prores codec. Other codecs may be accepted by le FIFA.
7.1.1.2. The FIFA does not accept any physical support (hard drive, DVD, Blu-ray, etc.).
7.1.1.3. A DCP could be requested, depending on the venue where the film or video will be screened.
7.1.1.4. Exceptions can be made according to the needs of interactive and/or immersive works.
7.1.2. Audio standards:
7.1.2.1. Depending on the case, a stereo and a 5.1 audio mix may be required.
7.1.2.2. All channels must be clearly identified.
7.1.2.3. Exceptions can be made according to the needs of interactive and/or immersive works.
7.1.2.4. The FIFA will not do any sound mixing.
7.1.3. Encoding:
7.1.3.1. For the purposes of promotion, broadcasting and archiving (see clause 10.1.), encrypted supports and files will not be accepted.
7.1.4. Download:
7.1.4.1. The transmission of the digital file must be made only by download (in accordance with FIFA standards).
7.1.4.2. Files of inadequate quality may be rejected.
7.1.4.3. In the event that the required format is not available, please contact us at technique@lefifa.com.
7.1.4.4. The costs of any technical and/or handling fee shall be borne by the applicant.
7.2. A trailer and/or excerpt from the film, video or work, not exceeding three minutes, should be sent, under the same conditions for promotional purposes (does not apply for music videos).
7.3. In the event that the FIFA does not receive the projection material within the deadline, the FIFA reserves the right to screen in its venues the pre-selection copy of the film or video submitted at the time of registration.
7.4. If a screening copy is in a language other than French or English, a subtitled or dubbed version in French or English is required. Subtitles must respect safe zone standards.
7.5. Screening copies that include commercial breaks or any form of publicity will not be accepted.
7.6. The FIFA reserves the right to ask for a new screening copy in the event that the above standards are not respected.
7.7. In the event that, with the agreement of the FIFA, the transmission of films and videos is made by other means than by the one authorized (see section 7.1.4):
7.7.1. Please contact us at technique@lefifa.com to arrange the shipping of the physical support.
7.7.2. The costs of sending and forwarding and the customs clearance, in both directions, as well as any technical and/or handling fee, shall be borne by the applicant.
7.7.3. Films, videos or works accepted by the Festival must be sent PREPAID and received by January 31, 2024 at the following address:
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF FILMS ON ART
5333, avenue Casgrain, bureau 403
Montréal (Québec) Canada
H2T 1X3
7.7.4. Applicants can send a courier service to pick up the physical support at its own expense as of April 2024, with the agreement of the FIFA.
7.7.5. The FIFA shall assume no responsibility for loss or damage of any copy on a physical support.
7.8. If a master copy of the film or video is sent, the FIFA shall assume no responsibility for loss or damage to this original copy.
7.9. The FIFA reserves the right to withdraw from the program any film or video whose final screening copy does not meet the Festival’s criteria, or that was not received by January 31, 2024.
8. COMPETITION
8.1. Jury members may not be associated in any way with a film or video presented in competition.
8.2. No contact between contestants or their intermediaries and jury members is permitted during the Festival.
8.3. The jury has the power to grant special awards.
8.4. The decisions of the jury are final and irrevocable.
8.5. With respect to promotion and publicity, prizewinners in all categories shall use the name and/or logo of the International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA), Montréal and to mention the prize obtained in accordance with the FIFA guidelines regarding the use of its name and logo.
8.6. The prizewinner films may have an additional screening at the end of the Festival.
8.7. Films selected for competition must have an English version or English subtitles in order to be evaluated by all members of the International Jury.
9. PROMOTION
9.1. By submitting a registration file, the applicant authorizes the FIFA:
9.1.2. to distribute and present trailers and excerpts from the submitted films, videos or works, not exceeding three minutes via various media (television, radio, Internet), on the FIFA website, and any other presentation site, for the purpose of promoting FIFA, its Festival and activities, or the film, video, or work.
9.1.3. to use, reproduce, distribute or present the photographs, texts, promotional material and other documents submitted, for the purpose of promoting FIFA, its Festival and activities, or the film, video, or work.
9.1.4. to reproduce or make available to film industry professionals and media any materials provided to FIFA by the applicant, including the film, video, or work, or the trailer or other audiovisual documents, for the purpose of promoting FIFA, its Festival and activities, or the film, video, or work.
9.1.5. to make available to film industry professionals and FIFA’s accredited media, a copy of the selected film on the FIFA's digital platform for promotional purposes. This digital video library will only be accessible from Canada unless special permission is granted at the sole discretion of FIFA to a professional or accredited media located outside of Canada.
9.1.6. Experimental, interactive and immersive works will not be included in the virtual videotheque.
10. USAGE RIGHTS
10.1. By submitting a registration file, the applicant authorizes the FIFA:
10.1.1. PRESENTATION
10.1.1.1. to publicly present all selected films or videos within the context and duration of the Festival for one screening or more in physical or virtual venues;
10.1.1.2. to publicly present the selected films, videos and works, whether prizewinning or not, at various educational or cultural sites in Canada and abroad, as part of FIFA's off-festival activities, according to a screening agreement previously established between the FIFA and the rights holders.
10.1.1.3. to exempt FIFA from all distribution and screening fees with regard to the films, videos and works presented physically or virtually during the 42th Festival.
10.1.2. CONSERVATION AND ARCHIVES
10.1.2.1. to reproduce the film or video submitted for purposes of conservation, archiving, consultation and research. The applicant acknowledges that this authorization is not time limited.
11. MODIFICATION, CANCELLATION
11.1. The FIFA reserves the right to shorten, postpone, interrupt or cancel the Festival, the Tour, and any other off-festival activities, or to modify their content should exceptional circumstances or circumstances beyond its control require it, or to ensure the safety, fairness or integrity of the Festival and the Tour. It shall thus bear no responsibility in these incidences.
11.2. No compensation of any kind whatsoever shall be granted to participants and rights holders.
12. GENERAL PROVISIONS
12.1. By submitting a registration file, the applicant attests and guarantees that they possess all the necessary rights and authorizations, including the usage rights stipulated in the clause 10.
12.2. By submitting a registration file, the applicant attests and guarantees that the film, video or work and documents submitted are original works and in no way contravene any third-party rights or are the subject of litigation, either ongoing or anticipated. The applicant pledges to vigorously defend FIFA in the event of any complaint from a third party with respect to the film, video, work or documents submitted to FIFA.
12.3. By registering a film, a video or a work, applicants agree to the present Regulations.
12.4. The management of FIFA reserves the right to adjudicate all cases not covered by the present Regulations.
12.5. All legal disputes, differences or controversies regarding the application or interpretation of the present Regulations shall be governed by the applicable laws of Quebec and/or Canada, and fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Quebec courts sitting in the judicial district of Montreal.
