2012 GLUNAFF Call for Entries

Submissions

The winner in each category will receive a Golden Lion Award Medallion and $500 in cash or products equal to the value of cash award.

Presskit Requirements - A press kit is required, but only after acceptance.
Clyde "Sappo" Black Sweet Home Alabama Award - Given for the best film made at least partially in Alabama.
Sponsor: Clyde “Sappo” Black Family. Cash Award Value: 2,000 U.S. Dollar. This prize is shared with other categories.
Best of Fest Award - Cash Award Value: 500 U.S. Dollar. This prize is shared with other categories.
Special Jury Award Honors include - Best of Fest; Best Story; Best Directing; Best Cinematography; Best Actress; Best Actor; Best Editing; Best Sound Design; Best Score. This prize is shared with other categories.
Audience Choice Award - This prize is shared with other categories.

Deadlines

Early Deadline: entry postmarked no later than July 15, 2011
Shorts & Screenplays $20
Student Shorts & Screenplays $10
Features $30
Student Features $20

Regular Deadline: entry postmarked no later than August 15, 2011
Shorts & Screenplays $25
Student Shorts & Screenplays $15
Features $35
Student Features $25

Late Deadline: entry postmarked no later than September 15, 2011
Shorts & Screenplays $30
Student Shorts & Screenplays $20
Features $40
Student Features $30

WAB Extended Deadline: entry postmarked no later than October 15, 2011
Shorts & Screenplays $45
Student Shorts & Screenplays $35
Features $55
Student Features $45

Qualification Rules

The Sweet Home Alabama Award, (sponsored by the family of Clyde “Sappo” Black) carries a $2,000 cash award. To be eligible, entries must have been shot, at least partially, in Alabama. To be considered for this award (in addition to qualifications in area of entry) a brief explanation of qualification must be provided at the time of submission. If explanation is not provided at the time of submission, the entry may still be judged within the category of entry, but will not qualify for the Sweet Home Alabama Award.
A feature film runtime must exceed 60 minutes.
A short film runtime must not exceed 60 minutes.
Student short film entries are accepted from students enrolled in a degree-granting program during the time of production. A copy of their student ID or transcript is required upon submission for confirmation. If confirmation is not provided at the time of submission, the entrant may be given the option to pay the difference in a full price entry and be judged in the most applicable non-student category. Otherwise the original fee will be kept for processing purposes and the entry may not receive full consideration.
The Young Filmmaker award is for short productions completed by students before entering college or university studies. A copy of their student ID or transcript is required upon submission for confirmation. If confirmation is not provided at the time of submission, the entrant may be given the option to pay the difference in a full price entry and be judged in the most applicable non-student category. Otherwise the original fee will be kept for processing purposes and the entry may not receive full consideration.
The Vanguard award is for short films of alternative expression, innovative aesthetic, or original exploration of abstract technique. Examples include: Animation, Music Video, Avant-garde, etc.
A Feature Screenplay must exceed 90 pages. For screenplay entry, upload via WAB in in any two of the following format extensions: “.pdf”; “.fdr”, or “.doc”.
A Short Screenplay must not exceed 90 pages. For screenplay entry, upload via WAB in in any two of the following format extensions: “.pdf”; “.fdr”, or “.doc”.
Initial entry is accepted only through Withoutabox with all supporting materials to be sent accordingly.
All entries must have been completed after January 1, 2010.
No previously screened material of the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival may be submitted for competition again.
Two copies of each film entry must be submitted. One in a playable, standard definition NTSC DVD format (Region “0” or “1” only). The second, in Quicktime data/media file format on DVD or Bluray. It is the submitter’s responsibility to ensure that the packaging of materials is durable enough to withstand shipping rigors. FYI: All material selected for screening must be digitized for optimal play during the festival. If a film is selected for screening, you will contacted with the option to upgrade the version of your data/media file to be played, if your original data/media file was highly compressed to meet format restrictions. Coordination of this process will he handled after screening selections have been made.
The identifying Withoutabox tracking number should be clearly coordinated on all materials.
Multiple entries are accepted, but a complete submission form and fee will need to be completed for each individual project.
Entry fees must be paid through Withoutabox. We make every effort to keep our fees at a minimum and do not offer submission fee waivers.
No original submission items will be returned.
Entry materials must be postmarked by the deadline date that corresponds with the appropriate submission time and fee. If the submission is postmarked after the appropriate date and/or incorrect fee amount the entry will have to pay the difference in fees or choose to have the entry removed from contention. The final deadline and fees are absolute.
Packaging of materials submitted for judging will not influence the process, so be as cost and environmentally conscience as possible.
The earliest arriving promotional materials stand a more reasonable chance of receiving press screenings or highlight within promotions for the festival. This is due simply to our access to these items and does not reflect preference by the festival or judges.
Submission of materials for consideration does not guarantee inclusion in festival screenings.
The festival reserves the right to disqualify from competition any entry in which categorical qualifications of contributors have been misrepresented. If the eligibility of an entry is questioned the festival is authorized to make determinations.
Noncompliance with any rules, terms and conditions may affect entry qualifications.
A press kit is required after acceptance, but requested at the time of submission. It should include:
- Film Press Kit Requirements
- Synopsis of plot and premise (not to exceed 150 words)
- Bio and filmography information for contributors
- Complete list of film credits
- Digital high resolution images: on set production stills, film screen captures, promotional art (such as postcards, fliers, and posters), press clippings, etc. – 300+ dpi resolution is requested
- Clip (not to exceed one minute in length) to be used for publicity and/or at the awards show ceremony (acceptable extensions: “.avi”; “.mpg”; “.mov”)
- OPTIONAL: Trailer (not to exceed two minutes in length) to be used for publicity and/or at the awards show ceremony
- Screenplay Press Kit Requirements
- Synopsis of plot and premise (not to exceed 150 words)
- Bio and filmography information for contributor(s)
- Digital high resolution image of writer(s) – 300+ dpi resolution is requested
- OPTIONAL: Copy of the defining scene that captures the essence of screenplay

Terms and Conditions

The George Lindsey UNA Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize in full or an excerpt from any materials submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for educational or promotional purposes to include: telecasts and online resources.

The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening materials entered. Originals are not to be submitted and it is the entrant’s responsibility to cover all shipping costs, to include shipper prepayment of transportation charges, duties, and applicable taxes.

In the unlikely occurrence that less than three (3) entries are received in a category, the category may no longer be considered a competition. The two submitted films may be screened and only an honorable mention may be awarded to each, which carries a value of 50 U.S. Dollars. Screenings are scheduled at the discretion of the festival and the festival retains the right to make changes to the published schedule at any time. Work may be screened more than once. All winning entries will have award designated in the name of the submitter. It is the entering parties obligation to assign any necessary divisions of awards received from the festival. Credit discrepancies or controversies involving production creators are not the responsibility of the festival.

The festival reserves the right to complete unsupplied information from any available sources and under this scenario is not responsible for misrepresented information. In the event of unforeseen circumstances and after careful consideration, policies may be amended as necessary for the successful and proper execution of the festival may be approved and adopted by the festival steering committee.

The George Lindsey UNA Film Festival reserves the right to substitute products equal to the value of cash award values. Entry acknowledges acceptance of copy potentially being publicly displayed and placed into UNA library archives. All materials should be checked before submitting. If media is unreadable or incomplete the project will be removed from competition. Materials are judged based on the condition in which they are received. Submissions of updates to works in progress are not accepted, but we look forward to receiving completed materials for the following year’s competition if it is not accepted in a previously submitted condition.

The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the materials for competition, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. Once materials have been entered for consideration you authorize that all clearances for exhibition have been met and that you accept all legal responsibility for all intellectual property therein. By submitting work to the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival you are truthfully agreeing to all terms and conditions listed.

Winners of cash awards must complete required paperwork to claim their awards by April 15. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of cash award.

Judging & Screening

Projects submitted to the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival are previewed and evaluated with strict criteria by a wide-ranging, specially selected subcommittee. Ultimately, each member of this committee votes in one of three ways on each film: “pass”, “screen”, or “nominate”. For screenplays, a separate committee votes in one of three ways: “pass”, “consider”, “recommend”. Since this process is spread over a number of months, committee members are given time to review their notes and projects before submitting a final vote. After individual votes have been tallied, the committee decides on any split decisions to solidify lists of films to be screened and finalist screenplays. Projects on these lists will then go into the final judging stage for category award consideration. At this time, submitters will be notified of the projects status so they may plan accordingly.

The selected films for award nomination are then distributed to a set of judges with the charge of identifying the winner for each category. This process involves the same strict criteria, but judges rank each category entry in order of preference. These final judges vote independently and their scores are averaged together to determine the winner in each category. Winners are determined at least two weeks before the beginning of the festival, but not publicly announced until the festival awards show.

Subcommittee members and judges are comprised of filmmakers, educators, celebrities, film industry professionals, and specialists from the field of film criticism, history, and studies. Selections are made without regard to production budget or subject matter.

If a member of the committee submits a film for judging or was a major creative contributor to the project, they are automatically excused from previewing, evaluating, and judging films in the category of submission – the weight of all remaining judges’ recommendations will be evenly redistributed for the process of selection on this project.