Rules and Terms
CATEGORIES
Short documentaries and narratives short films are preferably programmed if under 22 min and no longer than 45 min.
Feature films are 45 min and up.
International films compete against other narrative international films.
Nordic films are films shot in the Nordic countries or if the majority of the spoken language in the film is from any Nordic or Scandinavian country. You can also qualify for the Nordic submissions if the Director or Producer is from a Nordic or Scandinavian country, please e-mail us for more details. If you are unsure, please submit in the Nordic category and our programmers will make the judgement of moving it to a different category if needed and notify the submitter.
All categories in the official selection are in competition and consideration for awards.
QUALIFICATIONS AND PREMIER STATUS
NIFF does not demand a world or national premiere requirement.
We accept any films completed after January 1, 2021.
Films that have debuted online or been officially released outside of a festival are ineligible. For Nordic Feature Films, a limited release in the nordic country of origin will be considered on a case to case basis.
Please submit subtitles on all work except English narratives.
WORK IN PROGRESS OR ROUGH CUTS
Rough cuts of films will be considered as long as the completed version will be ready by August 15, 2021. If your film is a rough cut, please label it as such and list what needs to be completed.
REVIEW POLICY
All film submissions require an accompanying Filmmaker Form, which is only available in digital form and appears as a prompt during the submission process via FilmFreeway.
All films are viewed by the festival programmers and/or the jury. Each film is viewed and rated by an industry professional and will move on to the next stage based on those ratings. Our programmers and jury will make final decisions and notify filmmakers accordingly.
All decisions are final and feedback for individual films is not available.
DCP AND BLU-RAY SCREENINGS
We will nominate according to categories listed above and select the winning film in each category in the official selection. The festival approaches a non-gendered awards system, meaning all awards will be based on merit only, and not assigned by gender. The winner is entitled to use to laurels on the poster and all marketing material. DCP's, Blu-Rays and awards can be picked up our shipped towards postage up to no later than one month after the festival.
NIFF reserves the right to make any necessary changes in regulations or scheduling.
- Films selected may not be withdrawn from the festival program after its announcement.
- All submission fees are non-refundable. We will not return your screening and exhibition copies.
- The festival Directorate may deny participation to any film unable to meet the technical requirements for a public screening of good quality.
- NIFF reserves the right to screen or not screen the films selected in the Official Selection.
- Regardless of their winning status, winning filmmakers who can't attend the Awards Ceremony in New York will only receive laurels. We reserve the right to decide which nominated films that will be a part of the screening program based on the quality of their showcase Blu-Ray or DCP as well as program scheduling. Winners will be announced online and in press. The festival has the right to work with any institution and partner festivals for all kinds of cooperation, including joint events or promotions.
LIABILITY
You agree to indemnify us and hold us and our employees, owners, affiliates, and partners harmless from all claims and liability associated with your participation or entry to the NIFF.
REPRODUCTION AGREEMENT
Submission of an entry gives the festival permission to have accepted work exhibited, photographed, locally telecast, and reproduced either in part or whole, for educational or festival purposes. NIFF reserves the right to use FilmFreeway stills and trailers for the purposes of promotion. Filmmakers can request in writing that their material not be used for such purposes after the festival.
CHANGES AND ALTERATIONS
The festival Management reserves the right to make changes in the profile of the festival if it becomes necessary to do so due to circumstances beyond his/her control.
LEGAL NOTICE
The duration of this agreement shall commence as of the date of submission by the Owner.
