Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires Ministerio de Cultura

Rules

Film Submission and Participation Rules

  1. General

    1.1 - The 13th Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival (BAFICI), organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires, will be held from April 6 to April 17, 2011.

    1.2 - Submissions are open to Argentine and foreign fiction, documentary, and experimental full-length films, and to Argentine short films. All the productions must have been completed no sooner than March 1, 2010.

    1.3 - Film and video formats for screening at the Festival are: 35mm, 16mm, Betacam SP (PAL), Digital Betacam (PAL), HD. Submissions in other formats or video systems require the Festival's authorization

    If the work is completed in film format, this shall be the screening format at the Festival.

    1.4 - The Festival gives priority to local and foreign premieres. Films that have already been screened in Argentina will not be given priority.

    1.5 - Selected films will be screened in their original version.

    Foreign films:

    • A Spanish-subtitled version of the screening print is preferred if available. If this should not be the case, a print with English subtitles will be required (unless the latter is in fact the language of the film). If no English-subtitled print should be available, a list of the script lines in the original language and English shall be made available (with time codes), as well as a VHS cassette or DVD for electronic subtitling.

    Argentine films:

    • An English-subtitled version of the screening print is preferred if available.
    • If no English-subtitled print should be available, a list of the script lines in the original language and English shall be made available (with time codes), as well as a VHS cassette or DVD for electronic subtitling.

    1.6 - The producer who holds the rights of the film shall communicate to the Festival, prior to January 28, 2011, his/her wish to participate by sending the entry form duly completed. Once signed, the entry form will be legally considered as a sworn statement and as a testimony of the producer's knowledge and acceptance of the present Rules.

    1.7 - Once submitted and selected, a film cannot be removed from the Festival lineup.

  2. Competitions

    2.1 - The program includes three Official Competing Sections created to promote new filmmakers:

    • Foreign Film Official Competition: international (fiction or documentary) full-length films, provided that they are the directors' first or second work.
    • Argentine Feature Film Official Competition: local (fiction or documentary) full-length films.
    • Argentine Short Film Official Competition: local (fiction or documentary) short films.

    The Festival's screening committee coordinates the different competition sections. The Argentine films in competition shall have their world premier at the Festival.

    2.2 - To qualify for the Foreign Film Competition, a film shall be:

    • A full-length fiction or documentary film completed in 35mm, 16 mm or HD.
    • Produced within the 12-month period prior to the Festival.

    To qualify for the Argentine Feature Film Competition, a film shall be:

    • An Argentine-produced fiction or documentary full-length film. If the work is completed in film format, this shall be the screening format at the Festival
    • Produced within the 12-month period prior to the Festival.

    To qualify for the Argentine Short Film Competition, a film shall be:

    • Produced within the 12-month period prior to the Festival.
    • If the work is completed in film format, this shall be the screening format at the Festival.

    2.3 - The Festival's screening committee shall appoint the members of the Jury. The conditions for Jury members are the following:

    • Foreign Film Official Competition: the Jury will comprise a minimum of five members, with no less than 2/3 being foreign personalities.
    • Argentine Film Official Competition: the Jury will comprise a minimum of five members, with no less than 2/3 being foreign personalities.
    • Argentine Short Film Competition: the Jury will comprise a minimum of three members, with no less than 2/3 being foreign personalities.

    Any person who has an interest in the production and/or exploitation of any film screened for competition cannot be a member of the Jury.

    The Jury's votes shall be secret, and the final decision shall be made by simple majority. A representative from the Festival may attend the Jury's deliberations, with no right to vote.

    The members of the Jury vow to refrain from expressing publicly their opinions on any of the films subject to consideration prior to the official award announcement. Any (organizational or operational) conflict that has not been contemplated in the present rules shall be duly resolved by the Festival management.

    2.4 - Awards conferred by the Jury

    The Foreign Film Official Competition Jury will grant the following awards:

    • Best Feature Film
    • Best Feature Film Director
    • Best Actress
    • Best Actor
    • Best Script

    The Jury may propose up to three special mentions. No film may receive more than two awards..

    The Argentine Feature Film Official Competition Jury will grant the following awards:

    • Best Film
    • Best Director

    The Jury may propose up to three special mentions. No film may receive more than two awards.

    The Argentine Short Film Official Competition Jury will grant the following awards:

    • Best Short Film
    • Best Short Film Director

    The Jury may propose up to three special mentions. No film may receive more than two awards.

    2.5 - The producers of award-winning films shall mention such award(s) in all their film advertising and press materials, using the BAFICI logo (available on the Festival website).

    2.6 - Upon acceptance to participate in any of the BAFICI competing categories, a film cannot be removed from the Festival lineup, nor can it be screened anywhere else in Argentina prior to its official BAFICI premiere. Films that have not been screened outside their country of origin will be given priority.

  3. Submission requirements and materials

    3.1 - Producers of submitted films shall send the following

    Full-length films deadline: January 28, 2011 (for selection)

    Short-films deadline: February 4, 2011

    • The entry form duly completed and signed.
    • A VHS (PAL or NTSC) or DVD (PAL or NTSC, any zone) copy of the film, in English or Spanish or else subtitled in one of those languages. The VHS or DVD copy must be correctly labeled with the following details: name of the film, director's name, length of film, format, subtitles language (if any). Please indicate if the work is a final cut, a rough cut or a work in progress.
    • Film synopsis in Spanish and/or English.

    If your film is selected, we will require:

    • A statement (letter of intent) from the film director in Spanish and/or English.
    • The film director's filmography and biography.
    • Complete cast and credits.
    • One or more film stills.
    • A poster and/or press material (if available).

    If your film is selected, you shall send, prior to March 10, 2011:

    • A print of the selected film.
    • A subtitle list and a script line list.
    • Technical details.

    3.2 - Shipmen

    All costs for shipping videos or copies as well as their insurance are the responsibility of the sender up to the moment of arrival at BAFICI. The Festival will, on the other hand, cover the cost of insurance from the moment the copy arrives at BAFICI until it is returned by the courier to the recipient.

    3.3 - Should there be any restriction regarding the print checking or screening, this shall be informed by the film producer to the Festival by means of a written note.

    3.4 - In case of print damage, claims shall be submitted to the Festival within a month after the reception of the copy. No claims will be accepted after this period.

    3.5 - Entries

    All entries, materials and video or DVD copies of films from any origin other than Buenos Aires and Greater Buenos Aires shall be sent (and paid in advance by the sender) to:

    By ordinary (air) mail:

    Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente Oficina de programación Av. Roque S Peña 832  6º of 5.  C1035AAQ Bs As. Argentina.

    By courier:

    Please declare "no commercial value, solely for cultural purposes" Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente Oficina de Programación Av. Roque S Peña 832 6to of 5 (C1035AAQ) Bs. As. Argentina.

    Applicants from Buenos Aires or Greater Buenos Aires can personally bring their entries, materials, and video or DVD copies to The Festival Offices (Tuesdays to Fridays from 11am to 8pm.):

    Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente Oficina de programación Av. Roque S Peña 832  6º of 5.  C1035AAQ Bs As. Argentina- Buenos Aires, Argentina. Teléfono: Tel (54 11) 4328 3454.

    3.6 - The Festival Screening Committee will not necessarily watch films submitted after deadlines.

    3.7 - None of the materials submitted for film selection will be returned.

  4. Selected Films

    4.1 - Catalogue

    With the purpose of issuing an accurate catalogue, the Festival requires, for each selected film, a duly completed entry form and the requested materials (VHS or DVD copy, film synopsis, director's biography and filmography, one or more film stills and a the full artistic and technical credits). The required materials shall be submitted as soon as possible upon acceptance of the invitation to participate in the Festival.

    4.2 - Choices on catalogue editorials are entirely at the discretion of the Festival.

    4.3 - In principle, the festival catalogue will include the following details about a film: original name, international name (or Argentina-premiere name), country(ies) of production, year of production, format, length, director(s), production company, producer, sales agent, print source, screenplay, photography, editing, art direction, sound, music and lead actors.

  5. Press and publicity

    5.1 - The producers of the films participating in the Festival are requested to submit separately an adequate number of press materials and photos to be used by the Festival Press Office for distribution to the media and guests.

    5.2 - After the official selection of a film, be that local or foreign, the Festival may use excerpts -with a maximum length of 3 minutes- for promotional purposes (excerpts of short films used promotionally will not exceed 10% of their total running time). Producers shall submit to the Festival the required footage on a BETACAM PAL SP videotape.

    Should a producer fail to submit the required film excerpts, the Festival may copy one or more fragments from a movie for promotional use during the Festival.

    5.3 - For promotion of the festival lineup and each of the selected films, the Festival may upload digital photos of films and film clips (of a maximum of 3 minutes) onto the Festival's website.

    5.4 - Industry Office / Video Library

    The producers of films in the festival lineup shall submit a total of three extra video copies of their film for our Video Library and Industry Office.

    The video library is only accessible to festival accredited guests.

    Demos and trailers will be received and distributed through the Industry Office.

  6. Shipment and return of screening prints

    6.1 - Details about shipment of film copies and videos for screening will be duly explained upon acceptance of a film.

    6.2 - Unless otherwise indicated by the Festival, the print/video shall remain available throughout the entire duration of the Festival. The print/video shall arrive in Buenos Aires before March 19, 2011.

    The sender shall provide to the Festival the following details: courier's name, date of shipment, and airway bill number.

    6.3 - All film shipment costs are the responsibility of the sender. No collect shipments will be accepted unless previously authorized by the Festival.

    The Festival will cover the return shipment charges, excluding additional costs for customs taxes or any other type of taxes at the destination country.

    6.4 - A pro forma delivery note shall be attached to the print/video stating the name of the sender as well as the following details about the film: name, format, length and number of reels.

    6.5 - The copy insurance comes into effect from the arrival of the film at the Festival offices or else from its acceptance by a Festival agent at the local Customs.

    The insurance remains in effect until the film is reshipped by the Festival.

    6.6 - The insurance does not cover damages produced due to wear and tear during screening.

  7. Participation in the Festival entails the acceptance of the present Rules. In case of conflict, the Festival preserves its sovereignty, abiding by the FIAF regulations as far as international cinema events are concerned.
email info@festivales.gob.ar   phone 0800-333-7848 / M to F / 10:00am to 08:00pm
Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires