IMPORTANT NOTE: ONCE SELECTED IN THE OFFICIAL COMPETITION SELECTION A FILM OR A SCRIPT MAY NOT PULL OUT OF THE FESTIVAL OR WITHDRAW ITS SUBMISSION FROM THE COMPETITION OR OTHER CATEGORIES.
GENERAL RULES
SR Socially Relevant (TM) Film Festival NY is a film festival that focuses on socially relevant human stories and raises awareness to social problems by offering positive solutions through the powerful medium of cinema. SR (TM) believes that through raised awareness, expanded knowledge about diverse cultures, and the human condition as a whole, it is possible to create a better world free of violence, hate and crime.
SR Socially Relevant (TM) Film Festival New York shines the spotlight on filmmakers who tell compelling, socially relevant narratives across a broad range of social issues without resorting to gratuitous violence and violent forms of movie making.
SR's human-interest stories and character driven films reflect good storytelling as shorts, documentaries, narrative features and scripts in competition.
SR films can be commercially viable and can become box office successes when distributed through the proper channels and platforms.
SR (TM) Films are enlightening, uplifting, entertaining, but most of all artistically appealing.
MISSION & OBJECTIVE
SR - Socially Relevant Film Festival New York is a festival that focuses on socially relevant film content and human-interest stories.
SR aims to showcase socially relevant films of high artistic value that educate, enlighten, entertain, and that can be commercially viable. Socially Relevant films can be funny, dramatic, romantic, adventurous, comical, suspenseful, intellectually challenging, historical, psychologically inclined, or tell a story that matters. In short, SR films can be anything BUT boring!
THE MISSION of the Festival is to spotlight filmmakers and their films that tackle the social and environmental issues of the day without relying on gratuitous violence, special effects, loud soundtracks and sensationalism to draw in an audience. The festival supports its filmmakers beyond the weeklong festival, as it showcases the selection films in other venues and at the Cannes Film Festival Doc Corner.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Founded by Artistic Director Nora Armani, SR is based in New York. SR launched in Manhattan, the entertainment capital of the world, where 55 films from 18 countries were screened over the course of one week from March 14-20, 2014. March 2014 marked the festival's inaugural year and screenings took place at the Quad Cinema in Greenwich Village in New York City.
An international slate of 53 films from 33 countries screened in the second edition of the festival in March 2015. The screenings expanded to Tribeca Cinemas in Tribeca, The Maysles Cinema in Harlem and the Quad Cinema in the Village in New York City. There were also four industry panels on Distribution, Storytelling, Diversity Casting and Film as a social change tool at the School of Visual Arts and at the Centre for Remembering and Sharing.
Filmmaker Q&A's follow the screenings in almost all the feature films and most short film screenings when possible. The festival is devoted solely to filmmakers of socially relevant content.
The launch of the Socially Relevant film festival coincides with the growing trends related to socially conscientious consumers who seek alternatives to the invasive films that rely on gratuitous violence and sensationalism to make a box office entry.
GRAND PRIZE:
In the inaugural year as well as the second edition, two lucky filmmakers of a feature length documentary and narrative films: Small Small Thing and The Challat of Tunis, won a FREE one-week run at the QUAD CINEMA in New York under its QUADflix SELECT Program. The award was generously donated by the Quad Cinema. Check the festival's website for past winners in the other categories.
This award cannot be exchanged for a monetary reward. May be replaced by a Distribution Deal in the future. At the Jury's discretion a First Runner Up prize is also awarded in this category.
SCREENWRITING:
The three best screenplays submitted to the festival selected by a special jury are offered a prize courtesy of ISA inclusive of a 6-month membership on the Network ISA website. Also for Screenwriters:
There are additional prizes such as:
The SR Social Justice Award,
The Justice and Peace Award
The Lifetime Inspiration and/ or Achievement Award
The Empowering Women and Girls Award in memory of Vanya Exerjian,
The Women Film Critics Circle Award
And other surprises.
Programming is done by the collective and professionals on the advisory committee.
The juries of the different categories comprise well-known and established international and US professionals from all disciplines and voting takes place confidentially.
Rules & Terms
ONCE SELECTED IN THE OFFICIAL COMPETITION SELECTION A FILM MAY NOT PULL OUT OF THE FESTIVAL OR WITHDRAW ITS SUBMISSION!!!
NO WAIVERS ARE GRANTED FOR SUBMISSION FEES. PLEASE KINDLY REFRAIN FROM ASKING!
GENERAL RULES
I. APPLICATION OF THESE TERMS & CONDITIONS
The following terms and conditions (the "Terms") govern the submission of a screenplay (the "Screenplay") to SR Film Festival New York ("SRFF"), for consideration for the 2016 SR Socially Relevant Film Festival (the "Festival").
II. SUBMISSION AGREEMENT
(1) By submitting a Film to SRFF for Festival consideration, the submitter (the "Applicant") represents that he or she has obtained consent from any and all owners, creators, writers producers and/or other authorized representatives whose consent is required to submit the Film to SRFF (the "Owners"), and has read, understood and agreed to the Terms.
(2) SRFF may disqualify or reject, but is not required to do so, any submission that it determines in its sole discretion, is not in compliance, in whole or in part, with these Terms, and may do so without refunding any or all submission fees paid by the Applicant or returning the Applicant's submission.
(3) As the author/rights owner I/we have submitted to SRFF I/we warrant as sole and exclusive owner/s of all legal rights and title thereto have absolute authority to submit the film to SRFF. I/we will indemnify and hold harmless SRFF its judges, sponsors, and partners, individually and collectively, from and against all claims, demands, losses, damages, costs, liabilities, and expenses including legal expenses arising out of or in connection with any and all third party claims based on submissions to SRFF. SRFF winners will permit SRFF to use their name and/or likeness in post-competition publicity. By signing this form I/we understand and agree to all the terms and conditions of film entry. I have read through and agree to the SR Socially Relevant Film Festival New York Entry Procedure, Rules, Guidelines, and all Terms and Conditions.
(4) As author/rights owner of the film I/we grant legal permission to include my/our film in the promotional distribution program. I/we own or control the copyright.
(5) In the case of any rights-related Errors and Omissions, I, the filmmaker and submitter, relieve the festival of any responsibility of libel resulting from copyright infringement. I take full responsibility for such.
IV. PROCESS FOR SUBMISSION
Submission Procedure
(1) All submissions under these Terms must be submitted in accordance with the procedure outlined herein. SRFF may disqualify or reject any that is not submitted in this way.
V. SCREENPLAYS:
Screenplays should be submitted as completed screenplays (PDF).
As the author of the screenplay I/we have submitted to SRFF, I/we warrant as sole and exclusive owner/s of all legal rights and titles thereto have absolute authority to submit the screenplay to SRFF. I/we will indemnify and hold harmless SRFF, its judges, sponsors, and partners, individually and collectively, from and against all claims, demands, losses, damages, costs, liabilities, and expenses including legal expenses arising out of or in connection with any and all third party claims based on scripts submitted to SRFF. SRFF winners will permit SRFF to use their name and/or likeness in post-competition publicity. By signing this form I/we understand and agree to all the terms and conditions of screenplay entry. I have read through and agree to the SR Socially Relevant Film Festival New York Entry Procedure, Rules, Guidelines, and all Terms and Conditions.
VI. SUBMISSION DEADLINES AND FEES
(1) In order to be eligible for consideration, submissions must be post-marked, ISA registration completed, and all fees paid, by the deadlines outlined in the categories.
(2) SRFF may accept late submissions at its discretion, but an additional submission fee may apply as specified in the different categories.
VII. SELECTION
SRFF will consider for inclusion in the Festival all eligible projects submitted by the above deadline and in accordance with these Terms. SRNY reserves the right to consider for inclusion in the Festival and includes in the Festival, submissions received at any time and through any means, channel, or process, including means, channels, or processes other than those outlined in these Terms. Nothing in these Terms or otherwise requires select for Festival inclusion of any of the Films submitted through the process outlined in these Terms.
(1) All selection decisions are at the sole and absolute discretion of SRFF and are final and non-reversible. SRFF is not required to provide any feedback, comments or reasons, or any other information, regarding the selection or non-selection of any submission or the process by which projects are or have been selected. SRFF is not responsible or liable for its selection decisions; for the contents of any internal comments or feedback regarding the submission that are or may be obtained from the Applicant or anyone else; for any communications by any representative of SRFF relating to the submission or the Festival selection process; for the manner in which the submission shall be, is or was considered and reviewed; or for any failure on the part of the Festival to provide the Applicant or anyone else with information concerning SRFFs consideration and/or review.
(2) SRFF will notify by January 10th, 2016 all Applicants who have been selected to participate in the Festival. All Applicants who are not selected to participate in the Festival will be contacted by email on or around January 31, 2016. SRFF will contact Applicants using the contact information provided in the ISA registration form. Applicants are responsible for providing correct and functional contact information. SRFF is not responsible for any failed attempts to contact Applicants using the contact information provided.
VIII. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, LEGAL CLAIMS AND INDEMNITIES
(1) By submitting the film to SRFF, the Applicant and Film Owners (the "Submitting Parties") hereby warrant and represent that: (i) the submission is wholly original and is not copied from and does not include any other work that is the subject of copyright or other protection, unless such work is in the public domain or the Submitting Parties have obtained any and all consents, releases, licenses, and other authorizations or waivers of any kind necessary for the inclusion or reproduction of any person, character, location, thing, trade-mark, or other work; (ii) the submission does not defame any person or violate the common law or statutory rights, including, without limitation, the rights of privacy and publicity or any other right of any person; (iii) the submission is not the subject of litigation; (iv) there are no agreements, nor will there be any agreements made subsequent to the date of this submission that would or could have the effect of impairing the Submitting Parties' ability to provide the submission as contemplated herein, or otherwise conflict with any provision of these Terms; and (iv) the Submitting Parties have the full right, power and authority to submit the project to SRFF for Festival consideration, and to grant all of the rights granted hereunder and in the ISA registration form, and there is no obligation or disability which would in any way impair, restrict or impede the Submitting Parties from fully performing all obligations pursuant to the submission and these Terms.
(2) The Submitting Parties agree to indemnify and hold harmless Rated SRFF, its licensees, successors, and assigns, and its and their members, officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, associates, and affiliates (each, a "Release"), from any claim, suit, action or other proceeding brought against a Release and from any losses, costs, or damages, including the Releases full legal costs, which it may have suffered or incurred or may suffer or incur, directly or indirectly based on, in connection with, or arising from the use and exhibition of the submission by the Applicant or the breach or alleged breach of any representation, warranty or other agreement made by the Applicant in these Terms, or in the Applicant's ISA registration form.
(3) SRFF takes all reasonable anti-piracy precautions. While in possession, all submissions are securely stored and regularly inventoried. Access to submissions is limited to SRFF staff who require access in order to screen and consider submissions. No duplication and loaning is permitted. By submitting to SRFF, the Submitting Parties hereby release SRFF from any and all liability in the event of theft, unauthorized access or copying, or any breach of copyright of the submission while it is in possession.
IX. OTHER
(1) SRFF reserves the right to rule, in its sole discretion, on cases and situations not foreseen by these Terms. Condition and unforeseen changes and circumstances may arise in which case SRFF will do its best to retain the status quo but may have in certain circumstances to make necessary changes to accommodate for such unforeseen circumstances. The person who has completed this entry form has READ and AGREES TO ABIDE BY all regulations and statements provided within this form.
(2) Some conditions may change without notice. It is the responsibility of each applicant to verify such changes and decide their position accordingly.
(3) Most awards are given by partner organizations and although SRFF makes sure to honor all awards as announced, in some unexpected cases substitutions may occur that are not in the control of SRFF and that are the sole discretion of the awarding parties. SRFF apologizes in advance for any inconveniences resulting from such unexpected and rare changes or substitutions.
