ELIGIBILITY
The Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival accepts films and other media that have at least one person of Asian & Pacific Islander descent in a key creative role (director, DP, producer, writer, actor, etc...) and/or are about the Asian & Pacific Islander experience both in the United States and internationally. PAAFF has historically featured works with themes involving, but NOT limited to, Asian and Pacific Islander cultures, histories, and experiences.
PAAFF requires all films in its program to include closed captions.
PAAFF does not and will not accept films which have received funding from the State of Israel or financial institutions incorporated therein.
PAAFF does not and will not accept films for which human labor has been supplanted with generative AI.
SUBMISSION CATEGORIES
--Feature Film (Narrative, Documentary)
Fiction or non-fiction film of any genre, principally created by and/or about Asian & Pacific Islander storytellers. Films eligible for this category MUST have a running time of at least 40 minutes and are expected to present at the festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise discussed.
--Short Film (Narrative, Documentary)
Fiction or non-fiction film (including music videos, episodic, etc…) principally created by and/or about Asian & Pacific Islander storytellers. Films eligible for this category MUST have a running time under 40 minutes and are expected to present at the festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise discussed.
Please submit your film to the most appropriate category. If our programming team believes your film is better suited in another category, our team will communicate with you directly about further considerations.
If your film is submitted to the wrong category, you are responsible for any changes in submission fees. We do not offer refunds.
FILM COMPLETION DATE
All submitted works should have been completed in the last 2 years, with some exceptions made if discussed with the programming team.
If you wish to submit a work in progress, please email our team PRIOR TO SUBMITTING to ensure your eligibility.
SUBTITLES
All non-English language films (with dialogue) MUST have English subtitles.
If selected, all English language films (with dialogue) MUST have an English caption file by the asset collection date set by the festival in acceptance emails. The preferred file type for closed captions is a .SRT.
SUBMISSION MATERIALS
--Synopsis
--Director’s Statement *optional, but encouraged
--Director’s biography
--Cast & Crew list
If your film is selected for exhibition, you are responsible for delivering the exhibition copy and other materials (trailer, press screener, press stills, etc…) by deadline. PAAFF will use these materials for print and online promotion. If you wish to provide other items, such as posters or postcards, this must be communicated to and discussed with the festival staff at least 2 weeks prior to the festival opening.
DEADLINES & FEES
Signed entry form, screener, and entry fee must be received via FilmFreeway.com by one of these dates:
--EARLY DEADLINE - April 15 | $20 USD for Features, $15 USD for Shorts
--REGULAR DEADLINE - June 1 | $30 USD entry fee (Features) | $20 USD entry fee (Shorts)
--LATE DEADLINE - July 5 | $40 USD entry fee (Features) | $25 USD entry fee (Shorts)
The Festival will provide fee waivers or discounts on a case-by-case basis. We understand the financial restrictions of many artists and are willing to accommodate creators who are in need of some financial relief. As an arts non-profit we also operate with limited resources and the entry fees sustain our team’s ability to produce the best possible festival to showcase Asian & Pacific Islander stories. We encourage all artists to evaluate their level of need prior to emailing the Festival and to submit as early as possible for the lowest fees. Filmmakers in need of financial assistance will be asked to fill out a waiver request form.
GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS
--PAAFF accepts films of all premiere statuses, including films that have distribution.
--If selected for the Festival, filmmakers are responsible for their own print shipping -costs. PAAFF will pay for return shipping. DVD/Blu-ray screeners will not be returned.
--All final works must be completed and shipped 4 weeks before the festival opening or by the date communicated with the festival staff.
--It is the responsibility of the submission contact to ensure that all requirements are met. The Festival retains the right to disqualify an entry, with no refunded fee, if rules and regulations are not followed.
--The Festival retains the right to disqualify an entry with no refunded fee if the film contact for a selected film fails to respond to email correspondence from the Festival by deadline.
All selections will be notified by the notification date. Please do not call. If you have questions, please contact the Festival Co-Director Arzhang Zafar.
CERTIFICATION OF ENTRANT: I, the contact person for the film submitted with this application, agree to the following:
I, the undersigned have read, understood, and completed all eligibility requirements for which I would like this film to be considered. To the best of my knowledge, all of the statements in this application are true.
I have all the rights necessary and am authorized to submit this film to the Festival. Submitted films hereby grant PAAFF the right to screen such film, if selected, as part of the festival without compensation.
This film is not subject to any claims or litigation and is not threatened by any claims or litigation. I release and discharge Philadelphia Asian American Film & Filmmakers, its employees, agents, contractors, volunteers, licensees, successors, and assigns from any and all claims, demands, or causes of actions related to misappropriation or infringement of copyright or violation of any other right arising out of or relating to my film submission. I agree to indemnify and hold harmless Philadelphia Asian American Film & Filmmakers from any and all claims that arise as a result of this submission or screening of this film, should it be selected, as well as from damage to or loss of any submitted materials en route to the festival.
