Entry Rules

Film Competition Rules for Submissions

1. All films must be submitted both on DVD and in digital format.
• Applicants must submit six (6) copies of each submission on DVD to be considered for the Jubilee Awards. DVDs (used for review purposes) must be encoded for play back in Region 1. DVD−R or DVD+R (non-rewritable) media should be used.
• Additionally, applicants must submit one (1) copy of their submission in digital format (used for screening at the SAICFF) as an H.264 MPEG-4 file on a flash memory device or hard disk drive. The digital file should have a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels.
2. Films must have been completed no earlier than June 1, 2011.
3. Films must be available for screening during the festival, February 7–9, 2013.
4. Each film submitted should begin with a black screen (for one second) and then the film should immediately start without any further delay. Please, do not include any trailers or special introductions. Films submitted on DVD should have a simple menu with an icon to play the movie.
5. Audio can be mastered in either Dolby 5.1 surround sound or stereo sound.
6. Films produced, primarily financed, or initiated by a major Hollywood film studio are ineligible for competition.
7. Open to anyone who wishes to enter.
8. By submitting a film to the SAICFF, the filmmaker agrees to allow the film to be screened at the festival February 7–9, 2013 and to allow short portions of the film to be used by Vision Forum Ministries and the SAICFF for promotional purposes.
9. Individual filmmakers are free to offer multiple submissions. Each submission must be accompanied by its own entrance fee and submission form.
10. Finalists will be selected based on excellence in their conformity to the criteria, categories, guidelines, and festival objectives.
11. Finalists who have produced their film using 35mm composite condition, 16mm composite condition, Beta, or Digi-Beta may request the screening of their film at the festival using these formats, but the final decision on the format for screening is at the discretion of SAICFF.
12. DVDs, flash memory devices, hard disk drives, or other storage devices, will not be returned under any circumstances. Receipt of films will be sent by e-mail correspondence.
13. Application fee is non-refundable.
14. Jubilee Awards will be presented to the individuals or teams responsible for the winning films on February 7–9, 2013 during the SAICFF Jubilee Awards presentation ceremonies. In addition to the grand prize of $101,000 for the best overall submission, our jurors will be presenting category awards. All awards are based on the overall merit of the entries. Judges reserve the right not to grant a category award.
15. Semi-finalists will be notified via e-mail by December 31, 2012 if their film will be screened at the 2013 SAICFF and considered with the other finalists for a Jubilee Award.
16. All Jubilee Award semi-finalists will have their films screened at the 2013 SAICFF and will be featured in the program brochure.
17. All entry lengths are calculated from black to black, and must include all opening and closing credits, logos, etc.
18. In order for a semi-finalist to be considered for a Jubilee Award, at least one of the following people must be in attendance at the SAICFF Jubilee Awards Ceremony on Saturday, February 9 to receive any potential awards: The film’s Producer, Director or Lead Actor. Films not represented at the festival may still be screened but will not be considered for a Jubilee Award. This rule applies to all Jubilee Award categories. (Note: Special consideration may be given upon request for international film submissions.) The attendance rule also applies to semi-finalists who are eligible for the Best Young Filmmaker Award.

Dramatic Short Films

1. Short films must be between four and fifteen minutes in length.
2. Short films must be a complete story, not a preclude to or excerpt of a longer work.

Commercial Advertisements

1. Commercial Advertisements must be exactly 15, 30, or 60 seconds (For example, a commercial filmed at 30 frames per second would need to be exactly 450, 900, or 1800 frames respectively). Commercials may be produced in any standard format (NTSC, PAL, etc.).
2. Commercial Advertisements must accurately represent an existing product or service — no spoofs.
3. Filmmakers must either own the rights to the advertised product or service, or have permission from the copyright holder. Filmmakers must be willing and able to produce evidence of ownership or permission upon request.

Documentary

1. Documentaries must be between ten and one hundred-twenty minutes in length.

Promotional Media

1. REVISED Promotional Media submissions must be between three and sixty minutes in length.
2. Promotional Media entries may be an excerpt or the entire product.

Feature Film

1. Feature Films must be a minimum of 80 minutes in length. There is no maximum length requirement.
2. Feature films must contain a single primary story. No anthology collections.

Three-Page Treatment

1. Treatments must be original concepts, not adaptations of existing works, unless all necessary rights are fully owned by the writer.

Original Score

1. Original Score submissions are only accepted in the context of a formal qualifying film submission. No original scores will be accepted separate from a film submission.
2. Both digital and real instruments are permitted, but soundtracks created using prerecorded loops are not considered original.
3. If your film includes an original score and you would like for it to be eligible to compete for the “Best Original Score” award, a complete copy of the score on an audio CD must be submitted for judging purposes.

SAICFF Trailer

1. SAICFF Trailers must be 30, 60, or 90 seconds in length.
2. The purpose of the SAICFF Trailer competition is to advertise the festival. No trailers promoting individual films will be accepted for the competition.

Questions? Check the Frequently Asked Questions page first. If you still need help, e-mail us.

Click here to submit an entry.