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MISSION & OBJECTIVE

The Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema is a non-profit organization established to support the development of Independent Filmmakers and help expand the audiences of independent cinema from around the globe.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema was founded by four local independent filmmakers with a passion to get movies made and to have those artistic voices heard. Understanding the struggle in todays film environment in showcasing independent cinema, their goal is to establish a presence and awareness of cinematic creativity throughout Kew Gardens Queens and the neighboring communities.

For its inaugural year The Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema aims to become influential in bringing the community together over a ten day period consisting of film screenings and other activities. With encouraging Q&A's and industry panels we expect to broaden the appeal of Independent film and promote audience participation.

As a competitive festival, our program will consist of over 100 remarkable short and feature length films from all genres around the globe, including often overlooked categories such as Documentary, Horror, Comedy, Animation and Experimental. Each film will then be judged, in their respected categories, by our specially selected panel of industry professionals. Winners in each category will receive a statuette at our Grand Awards Gala on the final night of the festival.

Playing exclusively at the historic Kew Gardens Cinemas in NY, Queens only Art House theater. We expect to draw not only artists and filmmakers from around NYC but from all over the world. We are giving the residents of Kew Gardens and its neighboring communities Forest Hills, Rego Park, Glendale and Woodhaven the opportunity to experience Hollywood in their own backyard.

ORGANIZERS

Caroline Lim (Festival Treasurer); Jayson Simba (Festival Founder/ Director); John Fallon (Festival Director); Mauricio Zapata (Festival Director)

GENERAL RULES

Entry Rules and Regulations
1. Objectives: Our Mission is to celebrate the art of filmmaking and the contribution of filmmakers by hosting an international film festival to support the development and expand the audience reach of independent cinema from around the globe

2. Dates: The Inaugural Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema will take place from August 4, 2017 to August 13, 2017

Programs: Films will be considered for inclusion in the following programmatic categories

Narrative Short (40 min or under)
Documentary Short (40 min or under)
Documentary Feature
Narrative Feature
Animation
Experimental
Foreign Feature
Student


4. Competitions:

Audience Award

Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature
Audience Award for Best Short

Jury Prizes

Independent Visionary for Best Narrative Competition
Best Narrative Short Competition
Best Documentary Feature Competition
Best Documentary Short Competition
Best Animated/Experimental Competition
Best Director Feature Competition
Best Director Short Competition
Best Actor/Actress in a Feature Competition
Best Supporting Actor/Actress in a Feature Competition
Best Actor/Actress in a Short Competition
Best Supporting Actor/Actress in a Short Competition
Best Editing Competition
Best Sound Competition
Best Screenplay Competition
Best Cinematography Competition


5. Submission Guidelines

A. Submission Formats: For programming consideration, the festival accepts DVD (NTSC only), WAB Online screeners, or Vimeo links for the complete film. The Festival will not consider trailers or rough edits for selection purposes.

Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible for consideration, all films must meet the following requirements:

i. be available to screen by August 4, 2017. Filmmakers must provide the Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema with a clean, clear print for projection. Filmmakers must provide the film for presentation in DCP or other acceptable HD digital formats (MUST be professionally authored) at the Festival’s sole discretion. PLEASE NOTE: Due to the digital transition of our screening location, we are unable to show film, HDCAM, or BetaCam formats.

ii. not have been commercially screened in the US, or available for video or internet distribution prior to August 4, 2017.

iii. be in their original language with English subtitles when applicable.

iv. have been completed production within 2014-2017.

v. films previously submitted to the Festival and not programmed will only be considered for the 2017 Festival if they meet all the other eligibility requirements as outlined here, and only if it has changed significantly from the previous version submitted.

vi. Entries must be received at our New York office address (NOT postmarked), by May 7, 2017.

Deadlines: Early submission is strongly encouraged with reduced entry fees until January 8, 2017. Final submission deadline is April 23, 2017. The Festival is not obliged to view late entries.

D. Entry Fee Schedule:
All entry fees must accompany your submission for consideration in the Festival.

FEATURE FILMS (70 minutes and above, fiction or non-fiction)
Early Deadline for all Entries By January 8, 2017
$30.00

Regular Deadline for all Entries From January 9, 2017 - February 19, 2017
$45.00

Late Deadline for all Entries From February 20, 2017 - March 26, 2017
$60.00

Final Deadline for all Entries By April 23, 2017
$75

SHORT FILMS (40 minutes or less)
Early Deadline for all Entries By January 8, 2017
$20.00

Regular Deadline for all Entries From January 9, 2017 - February 19, 2017
$35.00

Late Deadline for all Entries From February 20, 2017 - March 26, 2017
$50.00

Final Deadline for all Entries By April 23, 2017
$65

STUDENT FEATURE FILMS (with photocopy of current student ID)
Early Deadline for all Entries By January 8, 2017
$25.00

Regular Deadline for all Entries From January 9, 2017 - February 19, 2017
$40.00

Late Deadline for all Entries From February 20, 2017 - March 26, 2017
$55.00

Final Deadline for all Entries By April 23, 2017
$70.00

STUDENT SHORT FILMS (with photocopy of current student ID)
Early Deadline for all Entries By January 8, 2017
$15.00

Regular Deadline for all Entries From January 9, 2017 - February 19, 2017
$30.00

Late Deadline for all Entries From February 20, 2017 - March 26, 2017
$45.00

Final Deadline for all Entries By April 23, 2017
$60.00


Submission Materials:

Mail all submissions to:
Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema
ATTN: Submissions
60 1 avenue 12C
New York, NY 10009

Send a printed copy of your completed Entry Form.

ii. A clearly marked DVD (NTSC) or Blu Ray Region (0 or 1) of your completed film, labeled with title, tracking number, running time and screening format. We also accept Withoutabox online screeners and Vimeo links, but we require ALL submissions to be registered with one of our submission platforms. We cannot return submitted copies of films.

iii. Applicable entry fee submitted

Electronic Press Kits only. Hard copy materials submitted with the films will be discarded.

Selections: Films will be selected and entrants will be notified prior to June 15, 2017.

H. Requirements for Selected Films:
Once an entry has been reviewed and selected for the festival, a preliminary notification letter will be issued by email. All selected applicants will be notified by June 15, 2017. Upon notification, the Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema may request additional press kits and press screeners for each film, sent to the Festival via priority mail, complete with any additional promotional and marketing items needed.

Any unused press materials may be picked up at the press office at the conclusion of the Festival. Posters must remain displayed through the end of the day Sunday August 13, 2017. All unclaimed materials will be disposed of immediately upon conclusion of the Festival.

Promotional Usage: Participants agree that all materials related to their film may be published in the Festival Guide, website, ticketing system, and other promotional materials or property and in all media. Posters and images of the film may be used independently as well as in combination with images from other films to promote the film and the Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema

J. Clearances: If selected for screening, all commercial/private property including trademark and/or copyrighted materials shown and recorded in the project must come with authorized permission for screening. The filmmaker remains entirely liable for any claims that may occur in result of screening the film.

K Print Liability: The Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema holds no responsibility for prints damaged upon arrival and may reject or replace the film in the Festival if this requirement is not met. The Festival will insure the safety of film prints only from the time of delivery to the Festival through the time the print is delivered to a shipping agent for return. In case of loss or damage to a print, the Festival must receive notification and independent verification immediately. The Festival’s obligation is limited to compensating the producer only for the cost of replacing the drive(s).

Print Shipping:

Selected film prints must be received by PREPAID courier no later than 10 days prior to first screening date unless pre-approved by the Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema

Prints must be clearly marked with the film’s title and the sender’s return address exactly as listed below.

Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema
ATTN: Projection
90-60 union tpke 8A
Glendale, NY 11385

Prints will be returned to the Submission Contact within 10 days after the close of the Festival unless pre-arranged with the Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema prior to August 1, 2017.

Please clearly indicate on all waybills that transportation and customs charges will be billed to the sender. For custom’s purposes please indicate under declaration “Goods on loan for cultural and educational purposes only. No Commercial Value.” And indicate fair market value not to exceed U.S. $50 for drives.

Please request/obtain confirmation of delivery through the courier tracking service.

For more information please refer to the Festival website at www.kewgardensfestivalofcinema.com or contact the Programmer at:

Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema
60 1 ave 12C
New York, NY 10009
Phone: (929) 278-5432
Fax (718) 849-3457
info@kewgardensfestivalofcinema.com

TERMS AND CONDITIONS