Entry Rules and Regulations
1. Objectives: Our Mission is to celebrate the art of filmmaking and the contribution of filmmakers by hosting an international film festival to support the development and expand the audience reach of independent cinema from around the globe
2. Dates: Festival of Cinema NYC will take place from August 1, 2025 to August 10, 2025
3. Programs: Films, national and international, will be considered for inclusion in the following programmatic categories
Narrative Feature
Documentary Feature
Narrative Short (40 min or under)
Documentary Short (40 min or under)
Animation
Experimental
Web-Series
Music Video
Screenwriting – Feature (70 – 130 pages)
Screenwriting – Short (5 – 40 pages)
Screenwriting – Pilot (10 – 70 pages)
4. Competitions:
Audience Award
Audience Award for Best Feature Film
Audience Award for Best Short Film
Jury Prizes
Best Narrative Feature Competition
Best Narrative Short Competition
Best Documentary Feature Competition
Best Animated/Experimental/Music video Competition
Best Web-Series Competition
Best Director Competition
Breakthrough Actor/Actress Competition
Best Ensemble Competition
Best Editing Competition
Best Sound Competition
Best Screenplay Competition
Best Cinematography Competition
Best Make-up & FX Competition
Best Un-produced Screenplay (film or episodic)
5. Submission Guidelines
Submission Formats: For programming consideration, the festival accepts DVD (NTSC only), FilmFreeway Online screeners, or Vimeo links of the complete film. The Festival will not consider trailers or rough edits for selection purposes. [we also accept films shot in RealD 3D]
Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible for consideration, all films must meet the following requirements:
i. Be available to screen by August 1, 2025. Filmmakers must provide Festival of Cinema NYC with a clean, clear print for projection.
ii. All selected films will screen at the Regal UA Midway. Exhibition prints provided must be in DCP format Filmmakers will also be required to submit a high definition back up copy. – PLEASE NOTE: Due to the digital transition of our screening location, we are unable to show film, HDCAM, or BetaCam formats.
iii. Not have been commercially screened in the US, or available for VOD, streaming or internet distribution prior to August 10, 2025. (films may have screened at in-person or virtual festivals)
iv. Accepted submissions that gain distribution with a commercial release before the current festival season conclusion may be subject to disqualification and removal from the festival line up.
v. Be in their original language with English subtitles when applicable.
vi. Have been completed production within 2022-2025.
vii. Multiple web or tv episodes will be considered as a whole. Exhibition copy shall not differ from originally submitted materials. Incomplete exhibition copies may be disqualified.
viii. Films previously submitted to the festival and not programmed will only be considered for the 2024 Festival if they meet all the other eligibility requirements as outlined here, and only if it has changed significantly from the previous version submitted.
ix. DCP Exhibition copies must be received (NOT postmarked), on specified date as per welcoming package instructions (upon festival acceptance)
x. All submitted DCPs require to be tested by our DCP team for QC issues and compatibility with Regal Sony Projectors. *please note that Regal projectors may not be compatible with non-professionally created DCPs, in which case the festival will require you to have your DCP created by our DCP team at an additional cost.
xi. Hard copy BACK UP files must be received at our New York office address (NOT postmarked), on specified date as per welcoming package instructions (upon festival acceptance)
xii. Filmmakers whose exhibition materials are not received by the deadline will be subject to any and all expenses that may arise due to expedited processing and/or express shipping costs, and risk being disqualified from the festival.
5A. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR SCREENWRITING COMPETITION
The Festival of Cinema NYC Screenplay Competition is open to any writer from anywhere in the world. However, Festival of Cinema NYC prides itself on highlighting the work of independent and emerging writers and filmmakers. Therefore, it is preferred but not required that applicants have not had previous screenplays produced by non-independent companies or groups such as major studios.
To be eligible for consideration, submitted screenplays should not be optioned, purchased, or otherwise produced. If your screenplay is optioned, purchased and/or produced during the course of the competition, please contact us immediately.
Copyright & Ownership
We suggest you register with the WGA or copyright your submission. Screenwriters maintain full legal rights and ownership of their screenplays.
UPDATED DRAFTS & DUPLICATE SUBMISSIONS
After a submission is received and processed, updated or revised drafts of that submission or associated screenplays cannot be accepted.
Applicants can submit as many UNIQUE screenplays as they’d like to the competition. Each submission requires an application, payment, and PDF.
Duplicate submissions are not allowed. Any duplicate submissions of the same screenplay, with or without revisions, will be disqualified without refund. Please be sure to carefully review and edit your screenplay before submitting.
SUBMISSIONS WITH MULTIPLE WRITERS
Screenplays with more than one author or contributor are eligible, as long as all are included during the application process. Please make note of each author’s name in your submission. Should a screenplay with two or more writers be named a winner, the award will be divided equally among the authors. A work without adequate attributions may be disqualified.
FORMATTING
Screenplays should be formatted according to general industry standards. Pages should be numbered and must be typed in 12 point Courier font with customary screenplay margins. Entries must be in English. Dialogue in another language is acceptable, so long as an English translation is provided.
While the competition has no specific rules regarding title pages, it is recommended that the title page includes the title, author(s), and any relevant registration or copyright information.
Screenplays must be submitted as a PDF. Any other format will not be accepted and can result in automatic disqualification and a forfeiture of the submission fee.
CATEGORIES
Screenplays must be submitted to the correct category. Feature film submissions can be 70-130 pages, pilots can be 10-70 pages, and shorts can be from 5-40 pages in length. Any screenplay submitted outside of these page limits or submitted to the wrong category is subject to disqualification without refund.
FEEDBACK
All screenplays will be reviewed by the reading committee and festival staff, but due to the high volume of submissions, feedback, notes, and coverage are not included with entry.
6. Entry Fee Schedule:
All entry fees must accompany your submission for consideration into the Festival. No script hardcopies, physical DVDs or BluRays, nor files emailed to our organization will be accepted. All submissions must be made through the FilmFreeway Platform.
Deadlines: Early submission is strongly encouraged with reduced entry fees until October 16, 2024. Final submission deadline is May 7, 2024. The Festival is not obligated to view late entries.
FEATURE FILMS (40 minutes and above, fiction or non-fiction)
Early Deadline for all Entries From September 1, 2024 – October 16, 2024
$47.00
Regular Deadline for all Entries From October 17 – February 5, 2025
$60.00
Late Deadline for all Entries From February 6, 2025 – March 26, 2025
$75.00
Final Deadline for all Entries By May 7, 2025
$90.00
SHORT FILMS (40 minutes or less)
Early Deadline for all Entries From September 1, 2024 – October 16, 2024
$37.00
Regular Deadline for all Entries From October 17 – February 5, 2025
$50.00
Late Deadline for all Entries From February 6, 2025 – March 26, 2025
$65.00
Final Deadline for all Entries By May 7, 2025
$80.00
WEB SERIES (40 minutes or less)
Early Deadline for all Entries From September 1, 2024 – October 16, 2024
$37.00
Regular Deadline for all Entries From October 17 – February 5, 2025
$50.00
Late Deadline for all Entries From February 6, 2025 – March 26, 2025
$65.00
Final Deadline for all Entries By May 7, 2025
$80.00
MUSIC VIDEOS (10 minutes or less)
Early Deadline for all Entries From September 1, 2024 – October 16, 2024
$32.00
Regular Deadline for all Entries From October 17 – February 5, 2025
$45.00
Late Deadline for all Entries From February 6, 2025 – March 26, 2025
$60.00
Final Deadline for all Entries By May 7, 2025
$75.00
STUDENT FEATURE FILMS (must provide photocopy of current student ID)
Early Deadline for all Entries From September 1, 2024 – October 16, 2024
$42.00
Regular Deadline for all Entries From October 17 – February 5, 2025
$55.00
Late Deadline for all Entries From February 6, 2025 – March 26, 2025
$70.00
Final Deadline for all Entries By May 7, 2025
$85.00
STUDENT SHORT FILMS & WEB SERIES (must provide photocopy of current student ID)
Early Deadline for all Entries From September 1, 2024 – October 16, 2024
$32.00
Regular Deadline for all Entries From October 17 – February 5, 2025
$45.00
Late Deadline for all Entries From February 6, 2025 – March 26, 2025
$60.00
Final Deadline for all Entries By May 7, 2025
$75.00
STUDENT MUSIC VIDEOS (must provide photocopy of current student ID)
Early Deadline for all Entries From September 1, 2024 – October 16, 2024
$27.00
Regular Deadline for all Entries From October 17 – February 5, 2025
$40.00
Late Deadline for all Entries From February 6, 2025 – March 26, 2025
$55.00
Final Deadline for all Entries By May 7, 2025
$70.00
Feature Screenplays (between 70-130 pages in length.)
Early Deadline for all Entries From September 1, 2024 – October 16, 2024
$45.00/ Student $35 / FilmFreeway Gold Member $35
Regular Deadline for all Entries From October 17 – February 5, 2025
$60.00/ Student $50 / FilmFreeway Gold Member $50
Late Deadline for all Entries From February 6, 2025 – March 26, 2025
$80.00/ Student $70 / FilmFreeway Gold Member $70
Final Deadline for all Entries By May 7, 2025
$100.00/ Student $80 / FilmFreeway Gold Member $80
Pilot Screenplays (between 10-70 pages in length.) *Upon submission, the writer must indicate the nature of the television screenplay: webisode, half-hour, hour, mini-series, comedy, drama, or any combination of the above.
Early Deadline for all Entries From September 1, 2024 – October 16, 2024
$40.00/ Student $35 / FilmFreeway Gold Member $35
Regular Deadline for all Entries From October 17 – February 5, 2025
$50.00/ Student $40 / FilmFreeway Gold Member $40
Late Deadline for all Entries From February 6, 2025 – March 26, 2025
$70.00/ Student $60 / FilmFreeway Gold Member $60
Final Deadline for all Entries By May 7, 2025
$85.00/ Student $75 / FilmFreeway Gold Member $75
Short Film Screenplays (between 70-130 pages in length.)
Early Deadline for all Entries From September 1, 2024 – October 16, 2024
$35.00/ Student $30 / FilmFreeway Gold Member $30
Regular Deadline for all Entries From October 17 – February 5, 2025
$45.00/ Student $40 / FilmFreeway Gold Member $40
Late Deadline for all Entries From February 6, 2025 – March 26, 2025
$65.00/ Student $60 / FilmFreeway Gold Member $60
Final Deadline for all Entries By May 7, 2025
$75.00/ Student $70 / FilmFreeway Gold Member $70
Selections and entrants will be notified on or approximately by May 30, 2025.
H. Requirements for Selected Films:
Once an entry has been reviewed and selected for the festival, a preliminary notification letter will be issued by email. All selected applicants will be notified by approximately May 30, 2025 and will be required to fill out a filmmaker questionnaire. By submitting the questionnaire you agree to have your film screened at Festival of Cinema NYC. Upon notification, Festival of Cinema NYC may request additional press kits and press screeners for each film, sent to the Festival via priority mail, complete with any additional promotional and marketing items needed.
Any physical materials, including unused press materials, may be picked up at the press office at the conclusion of the festival. Posters must remain displayed through the end of the day Sunday August 10, 2025. All unclaimed materials will be disposed of 30 days upon conclusion of the Festival.
Promotional Usage: Participants agree that all materials related to their film may be published in the Festival Guide, website, ticketing system, and other promotional materials or property and in all media. Posters and images of the film may be used independently as well as in combination with images from other films to promote the film and Festival of Cinema NYC in perpetuity.
J. Clearances: If selected for screening, all commercial/private property including trademark and/or copyrighted materials shown and recorded in the project must come with authorized permission for screening. The filmmaker remains entirely liable for any claims that may occur in result of screening the film.
K Print Liability: Festival of Cinema NYC holds no responsibility for prints damaged upon arrival and may reject or replace the film in the festival if this requirement is not met. The festival will insure the safety of film prints only from the time of delivery to the festival through the time the print is delivered to a shipping agent for return. In case of loss or damage to a print, the festival must receive notification and independent verification immediately. The festival’s obligation is limited to compensating the producer only for the cost of replacing the drive(s).
L. Exhibition copies of Non-English language films MUST contain embedded subtitles. Filmmakers will be subjected to compensating the festival organization for the cost of ticket refunds to any screening cancellations as a result of missing subtitles.
M. Filmmakers who pull their film out of the festival or block their screening for any reason, subsequent to ticket sales going live, will be subject to monetary compensation to the festival organization for any marketing and ticket sales directly related to their screening.
Print Shipping:
Selected film prints must be received by PREPAID courier no later than 10 days prior to first screening date unless pre-approved by Festival of Cinema NYC
Prints must be clearly marked with the film’s title and the sender’s return address exactly as listed below.
Festival of Cinema NYC
ATTN: Programming Team
90-60 union tpke 8A
Glendale, NY 11385
Festival of Cinema NYC does not cover any shipping and handling costs. Please clearly indicate on all waybills that transportation and customs charges will be billed to the sender. For custom’s purposes please indicate under declaration “Goods on loan for cultural and educational purposes only. No Commercial Value.” And indicate fair market value not to exceed U.S. $50 for drives.
All materials to be returned must include a self addressed stamped envelope.
Prints will be returned to the Submission Contact within 30 days after the close of the Festival unless pre-arranged with Festival of Cinema NYC prior to August 11, 2024.
Please request/obtain confirmation of delivery through the courier tracking service.
Filmmakers must cover all shipping and handling cost associated with any award statuettes they may have won, unclaimed, at the closing night awards gala.
Festival of Cinema NYC will not be held responsible for any damage to all materials shipped.
For more information please refer to the Festival website at http://www.festivalofcinemanyc.com or contact the team at:
Festival of Cinema NYC
9060 Union Tpke STE 8A
Glendale NY 11385
Phone: (929) 278-5432
Fax (718) 849-3457
[email protected]
TERMS & CONDITIONS
I agree to the following terms and conditions;
– Submission Guidelines –
– Submission Formats: For programming consideration, the festival accepts DVD (NTSC only), FilmFreeway Online screeners, or Vimeo links for the complete film.
– Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible for consideration, all films must meet the following requirements:
i. be available to screen by August 2, 2024. Filmmakers must provide Festival of Cinema NYC with a clean, clear print for projection. Filmmakers must provide the film for presentation in DCP or other acceptable HD digital formats (MUST be professionally authored) at the festival’s sole discretion. PLEASE NOTE: Due to the digital transition of our screening location, we are unable to show film, HDCAM, or BetaCam formats.
ii. not have been commercially screened in the US, or available through VOD, streaming, or internet distribution prior to August 10, 2025.
iii. be in their original language with English subtitles when applicable.
iv. have been completed production within the 2022-2025.
– Requirements for Selected Films –
Upon notification, Festival of Cinema NYC may request additional press kits and press screeners for each film, sent to the Festival via priority mail, complete with any additional promotional and marketing items needed.
– in order to qualify for any awards, filmmakers must provide a back-up copy of their completed film (to be used as a back up in case any errors occur during exhibition)
– Filmmaker understands that they may be liable to compensate the festival for the full monetary amount of any tickets sold to their screening if for any reason they decide to pull their film, or block their film from being screened, PRIOR to ticket sales going live.
Any unused press materials may be picked up at the press office at the conclusion of the festival. Posters must remain displayed through the end of the day Sunday, August 10, 2025. All unclaimed materials will be disposed of 30 days upon conclusion of the festival unless otherwise arranged for pickup.
Promotional Usage: Participants agree that all materials related to their film may be published in the Festival Guide, website, ticketing system, and other promotional materials or property and in all media. Posters and images of the film may be used independently as well as in combination with images from other films to promote the film and Festival of Cinema NYC.
Clearances: If selected for screening, all commercial/private property including trademark and/or copyrighted materials shown and recorded in the project must come with authorized permission for screening. The filmmaker remains entirely liable for any claims that may occur in result of screening the film.
Print Liability: Festival of Cinema NYC holds no responsibility for prints damaged upon arrival and may reject or replace the film in the Festival if this requirement is not met. The Festival will insure the safety of film prints only from the time of delivery to the Festival through the time the print is delivered to a shipping agent for return. In case of loss or damage to a print, the festival must receive notification and independent verification immediately. The Festival’s obligation is limited to compensating the producer only for the cost of replacing the drive(s).
Print Shipping:
Festival of Cinema NYC does not cover any shipping and handling costs. Selected film prints must be received by PREPAID courier no later than 14 days prior to first screening date unless pre-approved by Festival of Cinema NYC.
Prints will be returned to the Submission Contact within 30 days after the close of the festival unless pre-arranged with Festival of Cinema NYC prior to August 11, 2024.
Please clearly indicate on all waybills that transportation and customs charges will be billed to the sender. For custom’s purposes please indicate under declaration “Goods on loan for cultural and educational purposes only. No Commercial Value.” And indicate fair market value not to exceed U.S. $50 for drives.
All materials to be returned must include a self addressed stamped envelope.
Please request/obtain confirmation of delivery through the courier tracking service.
Submission Perks:
i. All submitting filmmakers will receive a one-year Videomaker digital subscription approximately 30 days after the festival’s conclusion.
