Rules & Terms
Please do NOT send physical DVDS to us, unless we specifically request from you. Please use this platform to submit all needed materials we need to showcase and promote your film. Ensure the quality is at least HD 1080. You can also send the best quality link to scifi@undergroundfilmfest.tv (but only if you register first otherwise we won't able to process it. Films should be submitted via we-transfer or similar platform in high definition after we select your film and upon our request within the time period requested. All films must be in English or if not in English, with English subtitles. Our initial event is showcasing short films and this will be the priority selection. Those indicated as "selected" on this FilmFreeway platform means they have been selected for the edition dates announced. If for some reason due to the limited time space for the edition dates noted, if for some reason we cannot play your film but you have been accepted we will carry forward film to next (e.g. quarterly) Sci-Fi edition and/or to the general Underground FilmFest. The entrant submitting the film online here is the owner of the film and acknowledges he/she/they/it have obtained all rights and clearances for the music or other copyrighted material included in the film and agree to pay any fees (e.g. GEMA) required and that by submitting they accept all liability for ownership of rights and clearances and UndergroundFilmFest.tv and related parties assume NO liability. The entrant/owner gives UndergroundFilmFest.tv and related parties permission to show the film and related promotional material (photos, articles, trailers) in a public setting as well as the UndergroundFilmFest.tv website, Facebook Page, Instagram, Twitter, and mobile app. Any rights not provided by the entrant/owner should be clearly specified in a letter signed by both parties. Should the owner/entrant wish to withdraw their film from any of these platforms and venues at a later date past Dec. 31, 2017, a letter should be made in writing and acknowledged by email or signed response by us confirming this.
ENTRY FORMAT - Every filmmakers could choose more than one category with separate submission. - For judging/preview purposes, we accept online screener, vimeo, youtube and wetransfer of files needed. - Titles produced in languages other than English must have legible English subtitles or dubbed in English. - Films could be from any year since 2015, unless exception granted for special considerations by our curation team.
ENTRY REGULATIONS - We reserve the right that films selected may not be withdrawn from the Festival program after its registration. - All submission fees are non-refundable. We will not return your screening and exhibition copies. - The Festival may deny participation to any film unable to meet the technical requirements for a public screening of good quality. - The festival has the right to disqualify a winning film for any reasons, without having to explain the reasons to the submitter. - Not all winning films will be screened. The festival has the right to screen and not to screen the winning films. - The festival has the right to work with any institution and partner festivals for all kind of cooperation, including joint events or promotions. - The festival does not pay the filmmaker for screening rights, but also we are not abusive in trying to make unnecessary profit off their film either. Any fees we receive go into administrative and implementation costs and costs related to expanding the festival so person's film can be played more than once. Any demand by filmmaker for money can result in automatic disqualification even after film is accepted, due to misrepresentation by the filmmaker who agreed to these rules and terms upon submission. LIABILITY You agree to indemnify us and hold us and our employees, owners, affiliates, and partners harmless from all claims and liability associated with your participation or entry to the Underground FilmFest.
REPRODUCTION AGREEMENT - Submission of an entry gives the festival permission to have accepted work exhibited, photographed, locally telecast, and reproduced either in part or whole, for educational or Festival purposes. Filmmakers can request in writing that their material not be used for such purposes after the Festival. CHANGES AND ALTERATIONS The Festival Management reserves the right to make changes in the profile of the Festival, if it becomes necessary to do so due to circumstances beyond his/her control. LEGAL NOTICE The duration of this agreement shall commence as of the date of submission by Owner and terminate upon notification by the Festival.
Q. Where does my registration fee, or if none, the request for donation go?
Our intent is not to make profit on these events, but instead to receive donations by film making entrants and the viewer community to pay our hosting and venue expenses, as well as put the money back into the festival to help ensure future editions as well as special productions showcasing the filmmakers and supporting their efforts. If any venues sponsoring our festival requires to charge for tickets, it is to recoup the expenses of the venue we are using and whatever minimum ticket sales they must achieve for their operation.
Q. How do you distinguish short films from feature films?
Short films are works under 40 minutes (this is includes credits) and feature films are works 40 minutes or longer. If you have a mid-length and a feature-length version of your film, we prefer that you send us the feature-length version.
Q. Is there an age restriction?
There is no age restriction for filmmakers, but submitters must be at least 18 years of age.
Q. Can I submit to Underground Film Fest if I’ve already submitted to other festivals and am still waiting to hear back?
Yes, submitting to other festivals does not negatively impact your submission at all! If you are submitting to other festivals, we encourage you to submit to us at the same time, rather than waiting to submit until you hear back from the other festival.
Q. If I’ve been accepted to another festival but Underground Film Fest is my preferred festival premiere, can I check to see if my film is in the running?
Yes, here and on our website. Although we may not be able to offer you a definitive answer depending on the timeline, we will try to give you as much information as possible to inform your decision.
Q. Can I submit a trailer instead of a Work In Process (WIP) or a completed film?
No. We will not be able to consider your film if you send in a trailer instead of a WIP or a completed film.
Q. If I submitted this year, can I submit my film in future year festivals?
You may resubmit if you have made significant changes to your film or if you strongly feel it is so good that we overlooked it and should give you another chance.
With over 400 attendees, enjoy interacting with comic book artists, collectibles and horror/sci-fi/underground DVDS and watch great short films and feature films from international filmmakers in SCI-FI and ANIMATION. 5 euros at the door.
Your sci-fi short films will play on the big stage at the Tonhalle where comic book, sci-fi, anime and collectible fans come for their monthly fair.
More informationWe will select the best entries for our program. Any others selected but not played will be moved forward to our May Sci-Fi event.
Your one fee gets the unique opportunity to show your film in multiple Underground events across multiple countries not just one weekend but instead events throughout the whole year. Breaking borders and barriers with simultaneous showings and pop-up "mini fests" across the world in our evolving format, Underground FilmFest is a grass-roots festival for filmmakers by filmmakers.
Awards & Prizes Winners of the Sci-Fi Underground get special recognition as winners of the Sci-Fi Underground FilmFest quarterly edition and then go on to competition against all films in our global Underground FilmFest event series. For the one entry fee here, the winners then continue on without registration cost to show at a series of events worldwide in the overall Underground FilmFest with social media and other recognition as announced in the overall festival. Winners also receive prizes with value of over $75 USD and free promotion introduction to our film acquisition contacts network and private viewing panels. Voting made on best acting, best directing, best cinematography, best music/sound editing and best story.
NOTE: We do not accept films submitted by agencies UNLESS they use as contact information (phone, email, name) the contact information of the filmmaker and we are allowed to work directly with the filmmaker as we value their interaction in our social media and direct contact. By submitting your film into this festival, you are giving express permission to show the film at any of our physical events or venues worldwide, regardless of type of venue. You also understand that there is no payment for showing the film. We operate on a not for profit basis and proceeds are put back into the festival expansion and to pay off our significant expenses If you as an agency or filmmaker demand payment for the film, you will be automatically disqualified from the festival, even after acceptance. Special considerations can be discussed, but we as policy need to have this freedom as it is too difficult to manage exceptions given the fast pace of our planning and programming. For foreign locations such as Saigon and Cameroon, where expenses are high to ship your content, we extend our festival season to two years, due to significant additional shipping and admin expenses and ramp up time.
Funded by volunteers, we also spend significant number of hours and expenses promoting your films on social networks to well over 10,000 media executives and independent film community. We launched in Munich, Germany and expanded in 2015 to Beeston, UK and Birmingham, Alabama. In 2016, we played again in Munich, Birmingham, and Cameroon, West Africa. 2017 we plan to commence in Saigon, followed by planning for Reykjavik, Iceland; Dallas, Texas; possibly even Bangladesh, Taos, NM and a unique virtual reality event in France. While we explore the showing of all films submitted, the Underground Film aspect encourages the submission of thought provoking, visually stimulating, high quality content. We also are one of the first festivals with a showcase in virtual reality 360 films and welcome your VR films. The aim of the festival is to renew community interest in independent and alternative film in cities and positive interaction between cultures around the world.
