There will be no refunds unless there are multiple submissions.
• Student films are highly encouraged.
• Short films can include music videos, webisodes, pilot episodes, and anything in-between.
We love filmmakers and want everyone to have a great time! However, we do need a few rules to help us best organize and utilize our dedicated and awesome Mount Vernon Independent Film Festival team.
These regulations apply to all sections and submissions:
• The Mount Vernon Independent Film Festival is open to anyone who wishes to enter.
• Please submit as early as possible. Just makes things easier all around.
•The Mount Vernon Independent Film Festival is an eco-friendly festival, so to reduce waste and environmental impact films must be submitted digitally.
• All films must be in English or with English subtitles if the language isn't in English.
• In our experience, Vimeo screeners have the best HD playback, and are preferred over FilmFreeway’s video uploads by our screening team.
• The Mount Vernon Independnet Film Festival does not consider films that require SCREENING/RENTAL FEES and DOES NOT PAY SCREENING or LICENSING FEES for submitted films. By submitting your film, you acknowledge that the festival will not pay you to present your work.
• FILMS ON YOUTUBE, VIMEO, NETFLIX, ETC.: submitted films should not be commercially available on DVD, or already be on Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Vimeo, etc. We want to show great films to our enthusiastic audience in a dark room on a big screen. Though we consider all submissions, we prefer to give screen time to films that have not been released to the public on YouTube, or other free sites. If your film is selected, we ask that you remove it from all free platforms so that we have the best chance to bring an in person audience to see your film.
• Filmmakers accepted and attending the Mount Vernon Independent Film Festival are responsible for travel and all other expenses.
• If accepted, filmmakers are expected to assist the Mount Vernon Independent Film Festival in the promotion of their screening. We will do the same.
• All films submitted must be free from any legal disputes and it is the sole responsibility of the filmmaker to have cleared all rights and releases for exhibition (including music, audio, images, graphics, trademarked images, etc.)
• Only the submitted version of the film may be considered, and swapping it out for alternate cuts is not possible, so please keep this in mind when deciding when to submit.
• If your film is selected, then you will be asked to provide digital stills from the film, press materials, promo clips and video trailer (if available). Please make sure all assets are current and uploaded to your FilmFreeway account if possible.
• Once accepted, all student films must provide a copy of the entrants current student ID or student ID from the year the film was made.
• By submitting your film, you grant the Mount Vernon Independent Film Festival the nonexclusive right to use footage, stills and/or titles and information from the film, as well as your name, photograph, and likeness in connection with any and all publicity and promotional activities regarding Mount Vernon Film Festival prior to, during, and/or after the festival.
• The Mount Vernon Independent Film Festival and its social media channels may use images, sounds and excerpts from the films for promotional purposes in all media including the website and may present accepted films at any Mount Vernon Independent Film Festival event.
• Please note that materials, drives, discs, etc. cannot be returned under any circumstances. Please DO NOT send film prints, master tapes, primary hard drives, DVD Masters or other irreplaceable original media.
• The Mount Vernon Independent Film Festival and its team is not responsible for any materials that are lost or damaged.
• The entrant shall release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless the Mount Vernon Independent Film Festival, and its agents, respective officers, directors, employees, representatives, contractors, partners, sponsors, and volunteers from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs and expenses (including, without limitations, attorneys' fees).
• The entrant warrants that he/she is the sole and exclusive owner(s) of all legal right and title thereto have absolute authority to submit the enclosed material to the Mount Vernon Film Festival.
• Please allow for a number of days before or after the notification date to send all rejections and selections of films.
• By entering, the applicant agrees that all information is true and correct and agrees to all festival rules and guidelines.
*We are currently slated to present the festival at the Denzel Washington School of the Arts at Nellie Thornton High School in the summer but anything is subject to change.
* No refunds for incorrectly formatted pieces submitted
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