Deadline: 4 March 2011
RULES AND GUIDELINES
Thank you for your interest in submitting your film to the 2011 NICOCUSA Film Festival. Please review the following questions and answers to guide you through the application/submission process. You may forward additional inquiries to info@nicocusafilmfestival.com.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR FESTIVAL PROGRAMS AND YOUR SUBMISSION CATEGORIES?
We select 25-30 Feature Films and 25-40 Short films to play in our Festival. However, you may not submit your film directly to any one specific program. Instead, you must select from one of six submission categories, listed below. If your film is accepted, our Programming staff will decide which of our Festival programs it will play.
NIGERIAN NARRATIVE FEATURE FILMS
Any narrative work of fiction with a running time of at least 50 minutes, including films that are shot in a "mockumentary" style. In order to qualify as an Nigerian Narrative Feature Film, the submitted project must be either scripted or improvisational fiction, and at least one fourth (1/4) of the project's financing and/or cast must originate from within Nigeria.
NIGERIAN DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILMS
Any non-fiction film with a running time of at least 50 minutes, NOT including entirely scripted or improvised fictionalizations of actual events. If your documentary contains some dramatization of actual events, you may submit in this category, but we will ultimately decide which program is best suited for your project, if accepted. In order to qualify as an Nigerian Documentary Feature Film, at least one fourth (1/4) of the submitted project's financing and/or cast must originate from within Nigeria.
NIGERIAN SHORT FILMS
Any narrative or documentary film of Nigerian origin with a running time of less than 50 minutes. In order to qualify as an Nigerian Short Film, at least one fourth (1/4) of the submitted project's financing and/or cast must originate from within Nigeria. Short Films have no premiere requirements-- they may have had any number of public theatrical exhibitions, been released on DVD, and may have been broadcast on television or the internet and still retain eligibility.
HOW OLD CAN MY FILM BE AND STILL QUALIFY FOR SUBMISSION?
Any film submitted for 2011 Festival consideration must have been completed in either 2009 or 2010. If your film was completed before 2009, it is no longer eligible for submission. If your film's production took place before 2009 but your final cut was not completed until 2009 or 2010, your film is still eligible.
WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED FORMAT FOR SUBMISSION?
Due to an overwhelming number of submission contestants are asked to submit their films via you tube or. If your film is selected please forward a DVD, or Blue-Ray Copy.
WHAT SHOULD I INCLUDE WITH MY SUBMISSION?
After you have completed the online application, all we will need from you is your film, along with a copy of the confirmation page that was sent to you upon completion of the application. In an effort to cut down on waste, we ask that you do not send printed press or promotional materials to us-- we will not keep anything in your package except for your DVD.
Please do not use a paper label on your disc! There are many different variables with stickers and paper labels that could render your disc unplayable-- a permanent marker (such as a Sharpie) will work just fine. Discs with text or graphics printed directly on the surface are also acceptable. Please write or print your film's title and tracking number directly on the face of the disc AND on the outside of the envelope that you send it in!
HOW MANY FILMS CAN I SUBMIT?
You may submit as many films as you'd like, but you only need to create one account. Upon doing so, you may fill out individual applications for multiple films. We do not offer reduced rates in fees for multiple submissions. If you submit three films, you must pay the submission fees for all three of them. Please do not submit multiple projects on the same DVD. If we receive a submission with multiple films on one disc, we will only consider the first film included.
WHEN WILL I FIND OUT IF MY FILM WAS SELECTED?
We will contact you via e-mail during the first week of April. Please make sure that the e-mail address you provided on your application will be operational at that time. If your e-mail address changes, you may log into your account and update it at any time.
WHEN DOES THE NICOCUSA FILM FESTIVAL TAKE PLACE?
The Festival will take place in Hollywood, California from June 12th to the 19th 2011. We hope to see you there!