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Call For Entries: Chicago International Film Festival

A) Guidelines

1. Films that have previously screened publicly in Chicago, aired on US television prior to the Festival, are available for purchase on DVD in North America, or are available for continuous online viewing in their entirety are NOT eligible.
2. Films must be completed on or after July 1, 2010.
3. Films previously submitted to The Chicago International Film Festival are NOT eligible.
4. Films must be submitted on DVD. Do not send film prints, master tapes, or other originals.
5. Entrant confirms and warrants required legal authority to submit the entry into the Festival and to use all music, images, and content in the entry.
6. Entrant will allow usage of clips from the film for promotional use on television, radio, in print, and at live Festival events.
7. All entries must be either in English or contain English subtitles. Non-English entries submitted without subtitles are not eligible.
8. Only complete entries (including entry form, payment, and preview DVD screener) will be processed.
9. Please submit a typed or clearly printed entry form or a copy of the online form receipt along with the submission. The Chicago International Film Festival is not responsible for incorrect wording in publications or on awards if the entry form is incorrect or illegible.
10. Students must include proof of student status at the time of production (i.e., copy of student ID, transcript, etc.).
11. Productions in the following exhibition formats are eligible for Festival screening: 35mm, HDCAM, DigiBeta, DCP, and Blu-ray Disc.

B) Deadlines

Entries eligible for early bird rates must be postmarked by April 1st, 2011. Regular entries must be postmarked by June 24, 2011. Late entries will be accepted until July 11, 2011, provided that the entry is accompanied by the late entry fee (see entry fee section).

C) Shipping

The cost of shipping an entry to the Festival must be paid by the entrant. Collect or COD shipments will not be accepted.

All international entries must be sent “free domicile” to the Festival office with all transportation charges, duties, and taxes prepaid by the shipper. Fees charged to the Chicago International Film Festival will be refused. Be sure to include the proper customs documentation required by your shipping service. For films accepted for screening at the 2011 Chicago International Film Festival, the Festival will only cover one-way shipping costs for the public screening video or film print.

D) Judging & Selection

Feature, Documentary, Short Subject, and Student Films are selected for Festival presentation by the Chicago International Film Festival Programming Committee. If a film is selected for screening, the Festival office will contact the entrant by phone or email.

Films selected for the International Feature, DOCUFEST and New Directors Competitions are judged during the Festival. All other competitive film categories, including the Chicago Award, Short Film Competition, and After Dark Competition are judged before the Festival.

All entrants will be notified on or before September 16, 2011.

For publication purposes, entries selected will be required to supply 3 (three) high resolution stills from the film and at least 1 (one) photograph of the film’s director. The Festival also requests publicity materials and a video trailer (if available). Publicity and press materials will not be returned.

E) Entry Fees

Each entry must be accompanied by the appropriate entry fee. Entry fees are not refundable. Fees cover registration, notification that your entry has been received, and notification of results. These fees may be paid by check or money order, made payable to Cinema/Chicago, or by credit card (VISA, MasterCard, or American Express).

For all entries outside the U.S., international checks or money orders are accepted provided the entry fee is at least $100.00. The check or money order must be drawn on U.S. correspondent banks only and be in U.S. dollars. If the entry fee is less than $100.00 for an international entry, you must pay by credit card.

Early Bird Rates (Postmarked by April 1, 2011)
Feature Film (category 1) $90.00
Feature Length Documentary (category 2) $70.00
Short Subject - under 60 minutes (category 3) $40.00
Student Productions:
Feature Length (categories 1-2) $40.00
Short Film (category 3) $20.00