Film Competition Rules for Submissions

1. All films must be submitted on DVD (Region 1 or multi-platform — must be compatible with all DVD players). DVD-R or DVD+R, non-rewritable media should be used. Applicants must submit six DVD copies of each submission to be considered for the Jubilee Awards.
2. Films must have been completed no earlier than June 1, 2007.
3. Films must be available for screening during the festival, January 8-10, 2009.
4. Each film should have a simple DVD menu with an icon to play the movie. After selecting “play,” screen should go black for one second and film should then immediately start without any further delay (no trailers or special introductions, please).
5. Audio can be mastered in either Dolby 5.1 surround sound or stereo sound.
6. Films produced, financed, or initiated by a major 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 January 8-10, 2009 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 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 January 10,2009 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 12, 2008 if their film will be screened at the 2009 SAICFF and considered with the other finalists for a Jubilee Award.
16. All Jubilee Award semi-finalists will have their films screened at the 2009 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.

Dramatic Short Films

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

* Film shorts which in good faith were formally begun prior to the announcement of the 2009 rules (March 10, 2008), and where the filmmakers sign an affiddavit indicating that they were formally in production of the project prior to the announcement of the 2009 rules, are eligible under this "grandfather's clause" to submit their film short for consideration for semi-finalist status, even where the film is as long as 55 minutes in length. To apply under the “grandfather’s clause”, an affidavit signed by all producers and director(s) for the film must be received by the SAICFF office prior to submission of the film online. Please contact the SAICFF staff for more information.

Commercial Advertisements

20. 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.).
21. Commercial Advertisements must accurately represent an existing product or service — no spoofs.
22. 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

23. Documentaries must be between five and fifty-nine minutes in length.

Promotional Media

24. Promotional Media submissions must be between five and twenty-four minutes in length.
25. Promotional Media entries may be an excerpt or the entire product.

Feature Film

26. Feature Films must be a minimum of 90 minutes in length. There is no maximum length requirement.
27. Feature films must contain a single primary story. No anthology collections.

Three-Page Treatment

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

Original Score

29. 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.
30. Both digital and real instruments are permitted, but soundtracks created using prerecorded loops are not considered original.
31. 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

32. SAICFF Trailers must be between 30 seconds and 2 minutes in length.
33. 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 questions@saicff.org.

Click here to submit an entry.