'This Is Not a Fiction' Film Festival at the American Cinematheque features a dynamic lineup of premieres of cutting-edge documentaries, repertory classics, television programs, shorts, experimental works, essay films, and more, the American Cinematheque’s ‘This Is Not a Fiction’ is an annual film festival that reflects the boundless possibilities of non-fiction storytelling. Each year’s edition is a celebration of non-fiction as a form of filmmaking and its profound impact on our lives, from its influence in art and entertainment to its power in education, political advocacy and social discourse.

Returning April 2025 for a second edition, the festival will feature a short film showcase.

The 2024 inaugural edition of the festival was a nine day showcase of 44 films across three venues (Egyptian Theatre, Los Feliz 3, Aero Theatre) with over 20 esteemed filmmakers in person, including Barbara Kopple, Joe Berlinger, Thom Andersen, Kirsten Johnson, Steve James, Martha Coolidge, Terry Zwigoff, Véréna Paravel, Lucien Castaing-Taylor, Jeff Tremaine, Christopher Guest, Gotham Chopra, Morgan Neville, Yance Ford, Sandi Tan, Brett Morgen, Bill Morrison, James Benning, and more.

The American Cinematheque is a member-supported 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization, programming cinema at the Aero Theatre, Egyptian Theatre and the Los Feliz 3. The American Cinematheque believes that cinema is a communal experience with the power to entertain, enlighten and inspire, building a diverse and engaged film community through immersive film curation, conversation, and presentation, bridging the filmmaker to the audience and film history to its future.

Rules & Terms

Please note This Is Not a Fiction 2024 dates are not finalized and are subject to change.
Received press and additional promotional materials are not required.

ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible to screen, short films have no premiere restrictions: if your short film is already viewable online, that is ok, however, if selected for the festival, you will be asked to make your film temporarily unviewable for the month surrounding the festival.

Films can be original or adapted works. However, ALL non-original portions of your film MUST be cleared and you must have permission to use someone else’s work. If you submit a film with copyrighted or trademarked materials included and you do not have written permission to use them, you will not be eligible to screen at This Is Not a Fiction. You must be legally authorized to represent the entire work, in writing.

SUBMISSION, EXHIBITION FORMATS
Films above 1 second and equal to/under 20 minutes are considered short length.
Films 60 minutes or more are considered feature length.

Submission format must be an online screener. Acceptable formats for submissions include Private Vimeo/YouTube links, and/or privately hosted video files. No DVDs or BluRays will be accepted. Submissions in a foreign language must be subtitled or dubbed in English. If submitting more than one film, a separate completed entry is required for each title.

Accepted films will be provided with technical specifications for exhibition copies upon acceptance and may need to provide a professionally authored DCP (not homebrewed).

DEADLINE, NOTIFICATION, AND SCHEDULING
Films are scheduled at the discretion of This Is Not a Fiction. This Is Not a Fiction retains the right to make changes to the published schedule at any time and for any reason. This Is Not a Fiction will notify all filmmakers of acceptance/rejection status via email by no later than February 28, 2025. The festival is dedicated to hosting a physical event; should the pandemic necessitate a virtual pivot, all submitters will be contacted.

RELEASE
Submitting your film to This Is Not a Fiction in no way implies any ownership rights by This Is Not a Fiction to the submitted film. You retain ownership of your film.

This Is Not a Fiction is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the festival for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.

The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless This Is Not a Fiction from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening elements received. The individual or company submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.

Neither party shall owe any liability to the other party arising under this agreement for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages, including, without limitation, loss of profit or business opportunities, except as expressly set forth herein. Neither party makes (and each party hereby specifically disclaims) any, representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the services contemplated by this agreement, including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, implied warranties arising from a course of dealing or course of performance or any warranties relating to title or non-infringement of intellectual property. Neither party makes any representation, warranty or assurance concerning any minimum or maximum number of viewers or screenings or celebrities or special guests or events.

All information by This Is Not a Fiction, whether publicly posted or not, is subject to change without prior notice. All festival and screening decisions will be made by This Is Not a Fiction; all decisions are final.