October in Philadelphia

FESTIVAL RULES

  

1. GENERAL FESTIVAL RULES
2. TERMS OF SERVICE

1. General Festival Rules

First and foremost, with You/Your below being the submitting filmmaker or screenwriter, submitting Your film and/or screenplay to Terror Film Festival (TFF) in no way implies any ownership rights by TFF to the submitted film and/or screenplay. You own Your project. If You have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. Our door is always open to our filmmakers and screenwriters.

To be eligible to screen, Your film does not have to be a World Premiere or a USA Premiere, however, to ensure the integrity of Your film and TFF, it does have to be a Philadelphia Premiere. But also, to be fair to the filmmakers, our limit only covers 180 days from the last day of the festival. This means that Your film cannot be publicly screened in Philadelphia PA within 180 days BEFORE the first day of Terror Film Festival in the current year, or it will lose its eligibility to be screened at Terror Film Festival for that year. Television broadcasts, DVD releases, podcasts, and mobile device releases are not considered a Philadelphia Premiere. Also, it is very difficult to take a film seriously that is already available for free publicly, so we ask that the completed film not be available on the internet before Your screening at TFF. Film trailers are not included in this request.

If You are approached by anyone to option Your film/screenplay as a result of being listed on our website or being screened at TFF, we do not take a cut of the deal. It is Your film/screenplay and all rights and monies remain Yours. Also, TFF is available for consultation if You need, and whether or not Your film has already been distributed or not, or Your screenplay has already been produced or not, has no bearing on our selection process. But You must be legally authorized to represent the work.

FILMS: TFF does not accept any form of internet versions of Your film. We only accept standard NTSC Region 0 or 1 DVD copies of Your film. Please submit Your film under whatever genre category You feel is appropriate to best highlight Your film. For Your convenience, TFF does not change Your film submission category. TFF leaves Your film submission in the category You have chosen (example: if You submit Your film as a horror film, rest assured that it will be considered as a horror film). Also, if You submit online through withoutabox.com (WAB), please print out Your WAB application and include it in Your submission mailing. Short films must be 01 to 59 minutes including credits, and feature films must be 60–180 minutes (including credits). All films can be original or adapted works and Your film must be in English, or subtitled and/or dubbed in English. If You submit a DVD, MAKE SURE IT WORKS. TEST IT ON AN ACTUAL DVD PLAYER to make sure it works. Sometimes, home-burned DVDs do not work, and YOU are SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for TFF being able to play Your DVD. Make sure Your DVD works! If Your film is selected to screen, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to submit a working DVD exhibition copy to TFF by September 15th. Also, in the pre-screening stage, it is okay to send in a DVD that is hand written. No need to spend a lot of money unless You get selected. We do not select our films based on the packaging. Whether or not Your film has been produced or not will also have no bearing on our selection decisions. But You must be legally authorized to represent the work. Terror Film Festival DOES consider films that are Works-In-Progress.

SCREENPLAYS: We do not accept any form of electronic or internet versions of Your script. We only accept paper copies of Your script. All short length screenplays must be 01 to 59 pages not including cover pages and feature length screenplays must be 60 pages or more (no maximum) not including cover pages. All screenplays can be original or adapted works, and must be in English. Your screenplay(s) can be any genre to compete. We reward great writing for the sake of great writing and do not obligate our screenwriters to any specific genre. All pages must be bound together (no loose pages) with Your contact info on the first INSIDE page (after the outside front cover). All screenplay front covers must contain ONLY the title of the script. If submitting through Withoutabox, please include a print out of Your WAB application with Your submission mailing. Whether or not Your screenplay has been produced or not will have no bearing on our selection decisions, but You must be legally authorized to represent the work. Terror Film Festival DOES consider scripts that are Works-In-Progress, however, the script MUST be copyrighted with the Library of Congress or registered with the Writers Guild of America.

TFF accepts company checks, money orders, international money orders, online payments, and certified checks, in US Dollars only. TFF does not accept cash. Also, TFF cannot grant waivers for fees or deadlines. Please do not ask us to. Film and screenplay selections, and award nominees, will be posted on the TFF website approximately six weeks before the festival, and any further needed materials will be requested at that time.

Only one movie per DVD, and only one film or one screenplay per application. If entering more than one movie or screenplay, You must submit each separately. Each project is judged solely on its merits. TFF accepts original and/or adapted films in the horror, fantasy, science fiction, thriller, or drama genres. Screenplays can be any genre.

Please clearly label ALL submitted materials with AT LEAST the title of the work. TFF does not return submitted materials, so please do not send us Your master copies.

We are all filmmakers here at TFF, and we understand the trials and tribulations of both low-budget and major studio shoots. And in our opinion, we feel what makes a great film is not spectacular SFX, great lighting, budget, or a truckload of celebrities. It is talent, vision, tenacity and grace. In our humble opinion. Therefore, we place no limitations on Your experience level as a filmmaker or screenwriter, nor any limitations on Your status in the entertainment industry. All projects submitted to TFF are selected based solely on their entertainment value and execution. So make a GREAT film and write a GREAT screenplay. Because at TFF, we reward talent.

2. Terms of Service

ALL of Your submission entry items (entry fee, TWO copies of Your Film or Screenplay, application form) must be POSTMARKED by the deadline date that You are trying to submit by, in order to qualify for that deadline date. TFF DOES accept films and screenplays that are Works-In-Progress, however, all screenplays MUST be copyrighted with the Library of Congress or registered with the Writers Guild of America. TFF does not screen anything that we feel promotes hardcore pornography, real-life cruelty to humans or animals, or hate. TFF does not return submitted materials, so please do not send us Your master copies.

Please clearly label ALL materials submitted with at least the PROJECT TITLE and Your TFF NUMBER (if submitted through Withoutabox). Film selections, screenplay selections, and award nominees, are posted on the TFF website approximately six weeks before the festival, and any further needed materials will be requested at that time. Claw Award Winners are posted the week following the festival run. Films and screenplays are reviewed by TFF with the intent of selecting content for the festival, and for promoting the filmmakers, screenwriters, and TFF.

By submitting Your film to TFF You hereby authorize TFF to use the submitted film for exhibition at the Festival and for promotional purposes to promote TFF, in perpetuity. The individual or company submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. By submitting Your film and/or screenplay to this competition You agree that, You grant to TFF a non-exclusive license to use, display, exploit and exhibit Your name, trade names, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, still images, moving images, audio sounds, portions of Your submitted film and/or screenplay, material, information, and/or any other things received by TFF pertaining to Your submitted film and/or screenplay, whether delivered by physical or electronic delivery (including material(s) referenced here, and above and below herein), publicly, at TFF sole discretion, in TFF promotional efforts and materials, to promote, market and advertise the festival. You also authorize that TFF may use portions from any movie trailers of Your submitted film(s) for promotion, and that TFF may place Your images, film and screenplay information and synopsis on our website.

The individual or company submitting the film shall indemnify and hold harmless the 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 videos entered. The individual or company submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.

Non-performance of any party shall be excused to the extent that performance is rendered impossible by strike, fire, flood, earthquakes, war, governmental acts or orders or restrictions, acts of God, physically defective product/equipment, or any other reason where failure to perform is beyond reasonable control of, and not caused by the negligence of, the non-performing party.

Neither party shall owe any liability to the other party arising under this agreement for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages, including, without limitation, loss of profit or business opportunities, except as expressly set forth herein. Neither party makes (and each party hereby specifically disclaims) any, representations or warrantees, express or implied, regarding the services contemplated by this agreement, including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, implied warranties arising from a course of dealing or course of performance or any warranties relating to title or non-infringement of intellectual property. Neither party makes any representation, warranty or assurance concerning any minimum or maximum number of viewers or attendees or screenings or celebrities or special guests or events or seminars. Except for payments due collected by TFF as stated herein or on TFF website(s), TFF liability for any damages caused to You as a result of performance or non-performance or damage under, or not under, this agreement shall be limited in all circumstances to an amount no greater than one U.S. dollar ($1.00).

TFF attempts to remain servicing 24/7. However, acts of God do happen. In any situation, if anything negative or unwanted happens involving TFF, TFF will not be expected by You to be liable or responsible for the damage in anyway whatsoever, regardless of how severe the damage. Further, TFF will not be expected by You to be liable or responsible in anyway whatsoever should TFF or the TFF website not be accessible to You. Furthermore, TFF will not be expected by You to be liable or responsible in anyway whatsoever for any person(s), or personal or professional items, that are stolen or damaged while either in, or not in, the possession of TFF, in perpetuity. However, TFF promises to treat every unfortunate incident with concern, and a commercially reasonable effort will be made to remedy the situation at TFF sole discretion.

By entering TFF, all entrants agree to the complete contents of the TFF Terms and Conditions and the TFF General Rules. All entrants release and agree to hold TFF and/or all other TFF related entities harmless from and against any and all injuries, rights, damages, losses, claims and actions of any kind arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from TFF or participation in TFF and any TFF related activity, in perpetuity. All entrants release and waive any claims with regard to TFF and agree to hold harmless TFF and/or all TFF related entities from and against any and all claims of any kind that are or could be asserted with respect to any matter whatsoever, in perpetuity. All entrants further agree to indemnify, defend against and agree to hold harmless TFF and/or all other TFF related entities from any and all liabilities, damage, costs and/or fees incurred in defending against any third party claim(s) or threat(s) of claim(s) asserted against TFF and/or all other TFF related entities arising from any entrant(s) participation in or conduct associated with TFF, in perpetuity.

TFF, the TFF Terms and Conditions, the TFF Privacy Policy, and the TFF General Rules are governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States of America, without regards to its principles of conflicts of law, in perpetuity. For any dispute not subject to arbitration, entrant agrees to personal jurisdiction by the federal and state courts located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, and waives any jurisdictional, venue, or inconvenient forum objections to such courts. Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby irrevocably waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, and/or any other damages, including attorney fees, other than participant(s) actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e.- costs associated with participating in the festival competition), and entrant further irrevocably waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased, in perpetuity. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. All taxes on or connected with any prize and the reporting consequences thereof, are the sole and exclusive responsibility of respective winners.

All information by TFF, whether publicly posted or not, is subject to change without prior notice. All festival and screening decisions will be made by Terror Film Festival. All Terror Film Festival decisions are final.

Thank You and Good Luck from Terror Film Festival.