Entry Rules
ENTRY RULES & GUIDELINES 2007/2008
FILMMAKERS PLEASE NOTE
THERE IS NO NEED TO FedEx or COURIER YOUR ENTRY. A POSTMARK DATE IS FINE
Films in a language other than English must be subtitled. If your film is in French or Spanish you do not have to subtitle if you haven’t done so already for other markets
-IMPORTANT NOTE TO SUBMITTING FILMMAKERS-
The TOTAL running time of your film MUST INCLUDE the end credit role to the end. We do not program on time, we program on content. We need ACCURATE RUN TIMES, to keep our screenings on schedule at the theaters-
-TIME CHEAT-
Any filmmaker using the ‘time-cheat-strategy’ to enter his/her film, will be disqualified and the entry fee will NOT be reimbursed-
-WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER-
Any Filmmaker who does not enthusiastically promote his/her screening through at least one media (print, radio, TV, internet: including MySpace, FaceBook, Blogs, etc) is automatically subject to being pulled at the discretion of the festival-
-SENDING YOUR FILM-
2 copies please! We require all entrants to send 2 copies of their films at the same time, in the same package. Personal drop-offs will not be accepted. We need a postmark-
-SENDING YOUR SCREENPLAY-
NB Even though (as a committee agreed upon standard) we URGE you to send us a screenplays no longer than 120 Pages, we are not that stringent. We have an acceptable percentage that your screenplay can be over before they get marked down for “script being too long”.
As some of our previous entrants know, the ReelHeART submissions team works with you and will openly tell you if your script is too long and subject to losing marks off the top. They will email you and let you know this one-on-one. They will also wait (if you wish) to submit a shorter revised draft of your screenplay. They will not pass on the lengthy one so as to even the playing field for all screenplay entrants.
Please send us 2 hard copies please! We require all entrants to send 2 copies of their screenplays at the same time, in the same package. Personal drop-offs will not be accepted. We need a postmark-
1) Completion Date
Submitted films must have been completed after June, 2004
2) Foreign Films
All foreign language films must have English subtitles unless they are in 1 of the 3 official languages of the ReelHeART
3) Publicly Screened
If you are submitting a film that has already been publicly screened you must disclose this information including date, city, country, theater etc. along with your entry form
3a) Premiere Status
While we prefer all films to be a Premiere, it is not an absolute condition but your film will screen Out of Competition if we do not have a premiere of some kind (i.e. in the least a Toronto Premiere). In the past 3 seasons, we screened only 4 films in total that were not a premiere of some kind.ReelHeART must have a Premiere of Some Kind in order to keep your film In Competition.
As well, you must be able to assure us that only 5% or less of your film in its entirety exists on the Internet. Failure to do so will disqualify the film. This also applies to Music Videos.
Submissions may NOT be withdrawn from ReelHeART once they have been entered, except at the sole discretion of ReelHeART.
If a filmmaker has a conflict with premiere status and demands withdrawal, there will be a monetary fine payable to ReelHeART. This fine must be paid immediately upon receipt of notification from ReelHeART.
If you accepted screening in Toronto and have kept it quiet from us, your film will be pulled from the final program.
If it’s an honest mixup, we need to hear it from you via phone. Please email submissions for our number to discuss.
If you have screened previously in Toronto in another (not current) season please email us to discuss screening options.
4) Student Films
If you are submitting a student film or as a student, you must currently be enrolled in a recognized film program or a have graduated no earlier than January, 2006 and you must disclose this information including graduation date, city, country, school name & program enrolled in, school web site address etc. along with your entry form. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
5) Selection Process
The festival programmers/reviewers will determine which films will be selected for programming. Their picks along with their scorecards for each film will be turned over to the ReelHeART Master Programmer, who makes the final programming decisions on what films will ultimately screen during the ReelHeART International Film Festival (RHIFF).
5a) Selection Process Final Decision
In the event of a disagreement with a program choice or a substitution, the festival director will determine all final selections for screening.
6) Packing Your Film
Please send your film in (the preferred) BUBBLE WRAP package. Any other delivery package with stuffing other than bubble wrap, newspaper, cardboard, plain paper, cloth or “packing peanuts” will be discarded and disqualified. The grey stuffing and the pink stuffing kills our preview equipment. Entry Fee will NOT be returned.
7) Sending Your Film
2 Copies Please! WE REQUIRE ALL ENTRANTS TO SEND 2 COPIES OF THEIR FILMS AT THE SAME TIME, IN THE SAME PACKAGE. Personal drop offs will NOT be accepted.
7a) Sending Your Film Checkpoints
You must submit your Entry Fee in the form of a CERTIFIED CHECK or INTERNATIONAL MONEY ORDER or INTERNATIONAL BANK DRAFT along with your entry if you submit directly via the ReelHeART International Film Festival (RHIFF) web site within any of the deadlines. You MUST submit 2 copies of your film or hard copy screenplay. You must include your full contact information and tracking number or discount code-
Exhibition Media Submission Deadline
Deadline for receipt of Exhibition dubs is May 01, 2008. NO EXCEPTIONS
9) Selection: If Your Film Is Selected
You will be notified via HIGH PRIORITY EMAIL if your film has been selected approximately 8 weeks prior to the ReelHeART International Film Festival either by the ReelHeART Submissions Team, Admin Staff or Festival Director.
Selection includes the ReelHeART Main Program and ReelHeART Venue Program
10) If Your Film Is NOT Selected
You will NOT be notified via EMAIL if your film has been NOT been selected. We DO update all the buttons at WAB if you submit through that system.
ReelHeART does notify some but not all submitters. Please check your WAB account for any notes from the ReelHeART Submissions Team- If submitting directly at ReelHeART, check your spam folders and deleted folders for emails from us frequently from December-April-
10a) If Your Film Is Shortlisted but Not Immediately Selected
We may notify if your film was slightly edged out for screening and still is ON HOLD until we complete our Master Program. This happens to about 2-4 films in each season and it could happen to your film.
Depending on the score of your film and suitability, there is the possibility for a film to move up from shortlist to a Venue Screening or, from Venue to Main Program “A” or Main Program “B”-
You are certainly welcome to email us about the status of your film but not until April 25, 2008 and/or all notifications have gone out
11) Additional Support Materials
If your film has been selected, you must submit additional support materials [if requested], clean exhibition media and signed releases no later than 8 weeks prior to the ReelHeART International Film Festival (RHIFF).
11a) Additional Support Materials
Please supply VIA EMAIL, 2 Production Still TIFS [high resolution Tag Image File Format *tif] for the Official ReelHeART Print Program. In the alternative we will accept a high resolution JPEGPlease include the film title IN YOUR FILE NAME-
i.e. “My Film_Still_1.tif” or “My Film_Still_2.jpg”
Lower resolutions and other files types will NOT be ACCEPTED and your film will have a blank spot in the Official ReelHeART Program.
12) Copyright Materials Releases
If your film has been selected, you must submit additional signed releases regarding your use of 3rd party copyright material no later than 8 weeks prior to the ReelHeART International Film Festival (RHIFF).
12a) Copyright Materials Releases
In the alternative, you will be provided with our standard release voiding us of any responsibility with respect to the Exhibition of your project should it contain 3rd party copyright material unknown to any and all parties connected to the ReelHeART International Film Festival (RHIFF).
The ReelHeART Main Program for 2008 is at Innis Town Hall. We have the good fortune to ADD a second smaller screening theater to ReelHeART 2008.
- Main “A” will Be Innis Town Hall, Innis College, 2 Sussex Street
Main Floor Theater
Seating 300 approximately - Main “B” will be Theater 222, Innis College, 2 Sussex Street
2nd Floor
Seating 50-60 - Venue Program, Southern Accent Restaurant, 595 Markham Street
Seating 50-60 - Cabaret Style
PAL CAPABILITY
Our theater partner has PAL capability for DVD and VHS. ReelHeART has PAL DVD and VHS capability for Previews.
