General Rules
 
Only one title per entry form. Productions from 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 may be submitted. Do not submit works in progress. All films must be submitted on DVD or 1/2" VHS (NTSC system only) for consideration. All films submitted must be available on DVD or Beta SP for presentation. All entries must be postmarked by July 2, 2005. To ensure that your entry is properly processed, you must fill out the form completely and enclose proper payment. Please mark the tape with the title of your project, running time, your name, contact information and category. Along with the VHS tape or DVD (if DVD is burned, please send VHS), a black and white still from the production, a complete cast and crew list and a 50-100 word synopsis of the project must be included. We will notify you by email when your tape has been received.

Feature Length:
$55.00 if postmarked by January 1, 2005 (U.S. Currency only)
$65.00 if postmarked by March 5, 2005 (U.S. Currency only)
$75.00 if postmarked by May 7, 2005 (U.S. Currency only)
$85.00 if postmarked by July 2, 2005 (U.S. Currency only)

Shorts:
$45.00 if postmarked by January 1, 2005 (U.S. Currency only)
$55.00 if postmarked by March 5, 2005 (U.S. Currency only)
$65.00 if postmarked by May 7, 2005 (U.S. Currency only)
$75.00 if postmarked by July 2, 2005 (U.S. Currency only

 
No video cassette or DVDs will be returned. Participation in the Great Lakes Film Association’s Independent Film Festival implies understanding and acceptance of all terms included in this application. All fees must be paid in U.S. Currency.

Category Summary:

Narrative Feature = 70+ minutes
Narrative Short = 70 or less minutes
Animation Feature = 60+ minutes
Animation Short = 60 or less minutes
Documentary Feature = 50+ minutes
Documentary Short = 50 or less minutes
Experimental Feature = 70+ minutes
Experimental Short = 70 or less minutes
Horror Feature = 41+ minutes
Horror Short = 40 or less minutes
Comedy Feature = 70+ minutes
Comedy Short = 70 or less minutes
 
 
Not following the guidelines, rules, regulations, or eligibility may be cause for disqualification.

General. By entering this Contest, entrants agree to abide by the terms of these Official Rules, which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to this Contest. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. All taxes (including, without limitation, federal, state, and local taxes) on or connected with any prize (including, without limitation, prizes that are opportunities to make donations to a charitable organization), and the reporting consequences thereof, are the sole and exclusive responsibility of respective winners. Each Winner must, if so requested by Promoter, complete Promoter's winner verification process and/or execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and a Liability/Publicity Release within a period of time required by Promoter. All prizes awarded in connection with the Contest are nontransferable and non-endorsable. No substitution of prizes is permitted. The Promoter or Host's employees or agents or representatives may view all Concepts in the interest of providing technical assistance to Contestants. Technical questions may be referred to Host for assistance at Promoter's discretion. Dates of official announcements are subject to change.

Release, Waiver and Indemnification.
 
BY ENTERING THE CONTEST, ENTRANTS RELEASE AND HOLD THE PROMOTER AND HOST AND ALL OTHER CONTEST ENTITIES HARMLESS FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LOSSES, DAMAGES, RIGHTS, CLAIMS, AND ACTIONS OF ANY KIND ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FROM THE CONTEST OR PARTICIPATION IN ANY CONTEST-RELATED ACTIVITY (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE REMOVAL FROM THE SITE OF, OR DISCONTINUATION OF ACCESS TO, ANY SUBMISSION OR OTHER MATERIAL), OR RESULTING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE, OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE AWARDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONTEST, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH, AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, AS WELL AS CLAIMS BASED ON PUBLICITY RIGHTS, DEFAMATION, AND/OR INVASION OF PRIVACY. THE PROMOTER, THE HOST AND CONTEST ENTITIES DO NOT NOW AND SHALL NOT HAVE IN THE FUTURE ANY DUTY OR LIABILITY, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, VICARIOUS, CONTRIBUTORY, OR OTHERWISE, WITH RESPECT TO THE INFRINGEMENT OR PROTECTION OF AN ENTRANT'S INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, IF ANY, RESPECT TO ANY SUBMISSION OR CONCEPT, REVIEWS, MATERIAL, VIDEO AND/OR OTHER MATERIALS PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONTEST. BY ENTERING THE CONTEST, ENTRANTS RELEASE, WAIVE ANY CLAIMS WITH REGARD TO, AND HOLD HARMLESS THE PROMOTER, THE HOST AND THE CONTEST ENTITIES FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS OF ANY KIND THAT ARE OR COULD BE ASSERTED WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER RELATING TO THE CONTEST. ENTRANTS FURTHER AGREE TO INDEMNIFY, DEFEND AND HOLD THE PROMOTER, HOST AND ALL OTHER CONTEST ENTITIES HARMLESS FROM ANY AND ALL DAMAGES, LIABILITIES, FEES AND COST INCURRED IN DEFENDING AGAINST ANY THIRD PARTY CLAIMS OR THREATS OF CLAIMS ASSERTED AGAINST PROMOTER, HOST AND/OR OTHER CONTEST ENTITIES ARISING FROM ANY ENTRANT'S PARTICIPATION IN OR CONDUCT ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTEST.

Force Majeure. Nonperformance 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, or any other reason where failure to perform is beyond the reasonable control, and not caused by the negligence of, the nonperforming party. Governing Law and Waiver of Damages. The Contest and these Official 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. For any dispute not subject to arbitration according to Section 4(g) above, entrant agrees to personal jurisdiction by the federal and state courts located in Erie, 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, or any other damages, including attorneys' fees, other than participant's actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e., costs associated with participating in the Contest), and entrant further irrevocably waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.
Privacy. Information submitted in connection with the Contest will be treated in accordance with these Official Rules and the Site's Privacy Policy, provided that in the event of any conflict between these Official Rules and such Privacy Policy, the terms and conditions of these Official Rules shall prevail. All Contestants and Team Members hereby acknowledge and agree that Promoter will have access to some or all of their personally identifiable information, including but not limited to registration information collected by the Host.

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The International Film Festival Submission System