2019 NEW BIRTH INT FILM FESTIVAL FILM COMPETITION RULES
The following rules govern all film submissions to the New Birth International Film Festival (“NBIFF” or the “Festival”)
Please Note: New Birth International Film Festival does not waive entry fees. NBIFF believes waiving entry fees hurts the integrity of the competition. The same rules and entry fees should apply to all applicants so no one film is favored over another. In a similar respect, NBIFF does not invite films to be in competition. Only films that are submitted will be considered for competition.
General Eligibility
1. Submissions must be accompanied by the applicable submission fee PER ENTRY and a completed online entry form. All films must be in English or have English subtitles at the time submitted.
2. Films must be submitted as an online streaming video via a participating submission platform (FilmFreeway), a password-protected streaming URL, or on DVD with NTSC or PAL formatting (please test before sending).
3. In the event of a password change or link change after submitting, you must email the Festival at Info@NBiff.org immediately with that change so we may update your record. If the Festival is not notified of the change and the link is found to be inactive or the password to be incorrect, the submission may be deemed ineligible.
4. NBIFF screens films as digital files during the Festival and does NOT screen films on Blu-Ray, HD-CAM, or DCP. If you are unable or unwilling to provide us your film as a digital file for exhibition, DO NOT SUBMIT your film.
5. Films must be available for screening during the NBIFF, October 16-18, 2019.
6. Films with US distribution (obtained prior to being selected for NBIFF screening) or films produced, financed or initiated by a major film studio or television network are ineligible for competition, but may be considered for a special screening. Selection for screening will be determined no later than one month prior to the festival. Films that have screened on US network or cable television or distributed to theaters prior to the festival dates are also ineligible for competition.
7. Short Films that have played in a theatrical setting to a public audience prior to October 16, 2019 are not eligible to compete at NBIFF. This includes Shorts Night or other festivals. The ONLY exception is that a short may play as part of a class screening for an accredited university’s film program.
8. Private invite-only screenings (for instance for cast and crew or donors) do not affect a film’s eligibility.
9. NBIFF reserves the right in its sole discretion to reject or disqualify any ineligible entries, without a refund.
10. Films that are selected to screen at the Festival may not necessarily be selected to be “in competition” for awards purposes. Notifications regarding potential selection for competition status possibly may occur subsequent to notifications of acceptance for the exhibition.
FILM CATEGORIES
Narrative Feature
Entry Requirements:
• Films must be feature-length narratives, 41 minutes or longer.
• Shorter than 91 minutes
• Open to anyone who wishes to enter.
Narrative Short
Entry Requirements:
• Films must be short narratives of 40 minutes or less.
• Open to anyone who wishes to enter.
Narrative Student Short
Entry Requirements:
• Films must be short narratives of 40 minutes or less.
• The film’s writer or director must have been enrolled in an accredited college or university during production in order to qualify for this category.
• Entrants must provide proof of enrollment from accredited university or college in the form of an official transcript or signed letter from faculty on official letterhead. Students can send proof of enrollment to info@nbiff.org.
Entry Requirements:
• Films should document a solid narrative structure and relay a fully-formed and impactful story.
• Open to anyone who wishes to enter.
Documentary Short
Entry Requirements:
• Films must be short documentaries, 40 minutes or less.
• Open to anyone who wishes to enter.
Comedy Vanguard Feature
Entry Requirements
• Must be original narrative films that encompass all forms of the comedy genre, where the only thing that outweighs the humor is the story.
• Films must be feature-length narratives, 41 minutes or longer.
• Open to anyone who wishes to enter.