SUBMISSIONS FOR THE BLACK STAR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ARE OPEN
Submit Now www.filmfreeway.com/bsiff
BSIFF accepts submissions from Africa and all over the world annually, from December till March, via Filmfreeway. 2022
Submission categories include:
– Documentary Film: A non-fiction film about real events and people, often avoiding traditional narrative structures. Documentary [is] the creative treatment of actuality.
– Feature Film: Should be 60 mins or more long.
– Short Film: The film should be less than 60 min. It’s considered short once it’s less than 60 mins
– Student Film (The Inspire Award): This category is set to award student filmmakers thus, the film must be made entirely by students and without financial or technical support from broadcasters. Evidence of a student card and an email confirmation from the Head of the department is a must.
– Women in Film: Film must have a predominantly female crew. Any three of the Producer, directors, cinematographers, and/or Writers must be women.
– Animated Film: An animated film from any part of the world.
– African Films (The Black Star Award): Film that connects to the special story of Africa and stories that highlight special issues peculiar to the continent of Africa. Films must have a predominantly African crew. Any three of the Producer, directors, cinematographers, and/or Writers must be Africans.
– Music Video: To award music videos worldwide that have strong story-telling, conceptualization, and film production. We accept music video submissions from all over the world. Music Videos must be under 10 minutes and from any year regardless of budget, popularity, or language.
Rules & Eligibility
- SUBMISSION FEES
This year, BSIFF is giving priority to student films and African stories hence, submission to the Student category is free whilst the African film category is $5. Submission fees for all other categories are $20. Gold Members on FilmFreeway get further discounts.
- SUBTITLES
Non-English language works must have English subtitles at the time submitted. Dialogue lists will not be accepted.
- PRODUCTION YEAR
All films submitted must have been completed after January 1, 2020. Priority will be given to films made in 2021 & 2022.
Submissions may be work-in-progress form; however, films that are not final cuts must be clearly marked Work in Progress (“WIP”) or Rough Cut’ with an indication of what will change or what is missing (e.g., temp sound, Avid output, missing animation, etc.) either indicated in the film cut itself or within the copy display in the streaming link. As long as the streaming link remains the same and password does not change you may update the link with newer cuts as they are available up until the last applicable entry deadline noted above.
- MULTIPLE ENTRIES
Each film must be individually submitted and accompanied by its own completed online entry form; please do not send links to multiple film entries in your online entry form, as any or all of them may be disqualified.
- AWARDS
Unless otherwise agreed by the Festival in writing, awards will be given to the winning film Director (as identified in the Film Information Form) on behalf of the film. Award eligibility is subject to any restrictions or conditions imposed by applicable laws and regulations (international, federal, state, or otherwise), and the award recipient is responsible for all applicable taxes, customs, tariffs, insurance, and similar charges or costs (if any).