The Ooty Short Film Festival Rules and Guidelines
This short film contest is open to everyone around the world.
1. Eligibility and Entry Details
The call for entries is open to short films of all production techniques, including animation, drama, experimental or artist film, and hybrid work, from low to high budgets.
Each applicant is allowed only one submission. Multiple applications from the same director will not be considered.
Films must have a running time of less than 30 minutes, including credits.
Films must have been completed after October 1st, 2021.
The festival does accept works-in-progress.
The participant is responsible for the cost of sending the screening copy to the festival.
The festival covers the cost of returning or forwarding screening copies.
Students must submit a photocopy of their current student ID to receive discounts.
2. Eligible Countries
The Ooty Short Film Festival is open to filmmakers from all over the world.
3. Submission and Selection Process
The arrival of submissions and preview copies cannot be confirmed.
An independent selection committee is appointed by the festival to view all submissions for programming consideration.
All entries are first considered for the competition program but will also be considered for other programs where appropriate. Decisions made by the selection committee are final. The final selection will be announced on our website on November 15, 2023.
Only the submitters of the selected films will be contacted personally.
Participants are not entitled to claim rental or other fees for the screenings of their films at the festival.
4. General Rules
Max. running time: 30 minutes [including credits].
The last date for submissions will be October 31st, 2023.
Final exhibition copies of the film MUST be received by Wednesday, November 25th, 2023.
If selected for exhibition, please send high-quality files in formats such as Mov/avi/mpg/h264/pro res or DVD’s, Blu-ray / DVD, DCP.
Films must have been completed after October 1st, 2020.
ENGLISH SUBTITLES PREFERRED FOR ANY FILM NOT IN ENGLISH.
'Ooty Short Film Festival' occasionally provides short film programs for other film festivals. By submitting your film, the entrant agrees to the inclusion of their film in any such future program.
Excerpts from selected films, trailers, and stills may also be screened or published online to assist in promoting the festival.
The submitter must have the legal authority to submit the film and to have the work screened publicly, including any necessary permissions. By submitting, the submitter confirms they have all the necessary rights for the screening of the film submitted to be exhibited at the festival.
By submitting their film, all entrants are deemed to have read and agreed to the rules and regulations governing the festival. In the event of any disagreement, the interpretation of the festival will take precedence.
These rules and regulations are subject to change without prior notice. The festival reserves the right to withdraw or include selected shorts from the program as necessary.
It is the responsibility of the submitter to ensure the correct contact email address is supplied to the festival.
5. Liability
The sender of the submitted film is responsible for all copyrights. He or she is legally authorized to enter his or her short film into the festival and, if selected for the festival, is authorized to give screening permission.
The applicant has secured all necessary rights for both pictures and sound, and the exhibition will not violate or infringe upon any rights, including but not limited to music, images, and content.
If selected for the festival, the applicant acknowledges and agrees that an exhibition quality digital screening file must be made available for screening by November 25th, 2023.
The film, including all copyrights, remains the property of the author. The films will be handled with the utmost care. However, the contest management will assume no liability for damages or losses.
The applicant has to read and accept the regulations and guidelines for participation.
Failure to comply with these terms and conditions may result in the submission's being disqualified.
In the event of disagreement concerning the interpretation of the terms and conditions, the interpretation of the contest will take precedence.
Ooty Short Film Festival is obliged not to use or dispose of any films for commercial purposes. Any further use of a film will be inquired about if relevant.
The non-profit nature of the Ooty Short Film Festival activities guarantees that the works submitted will be used only to advance the cultural objectives of the Ooty Short Film Festival.
These regulations are subject to change without prior notice.
