WHEN IS THE NEXT SUBMISSION DEADLINE?
Early Deadline: Postmarked by April 16, 2012 (save $5 in entry fees- enter early!)
Final Deadline: Postmarked by June 8, 2012
Extended Deadline (WAB ONLY): Postmarked by June 22, 2012
Postmark: Submissions can be mailed until the day of the deadline.
WHEN IS THE NEXT FESTIVAL?
The 13th Annual Woodstock Film Festival Dates: October 10-14, 2012
HOW DO I SUBMIT AN ENTRY FORM?
Click ENTRY FORM (linked above), and follow the instructions. The entire process takes about 10 minutes. At the end of the online submission process your application is saved in our database and it can be later retrieved, edited and printed from any computer.
WHAT FILM CATEGORIES DO YOU ACCEPT SUBMISSIONS?
Categories:
-Feature Narrative - must be at least 45 minutes
-Feature Documentary - must be at least 45 minutes
-Short Narrative - must be less than 45 minutes
-Short Documentary - must be less than 45 minutes
-Short Student Film (College level) - must be less than 45 minutes
-Short Animation - must be less than 15 minutes for consideration in Animated Shorts program*
-Music Video - must be less than 10 minutes
-Youth/Teen (ages 12-18 only) - must be less than 12 minutes
* Animated films exceeding 15 minutes should be entered into shorts category. Any animated film over 45 minutes should be entered in feature category.
IS THE WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL COMPETITIVE?
While the atmosphere at Woodstock is anything but competitive, we do have awards in several categories. Prizes for competition include a $5,000 cash prize from Gigantic Picture for the Best Narrative Feature and a $2000 cash prize from Blue Sky Studios for the Best Animated Short Film. Best student short receives a $500 cash prize from WFF Sponsor Lowell Light. One of WFF's most prestigious awards is The Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography. The winner of the Haskell Wexler Award is personally chosen by Academy Award winning Cinematographer Haskell Wexler. Previous winners have been presented with $15,000 in goods and services from Panavision. Cash prizes do change from year to year so please check back for any updates on prize information.
HOW CAN I PAY THE ENTRY FEE?
WFF Entry Form will help you determine the cost of your submission. Fees range from $10 to $55.
Option 1) Pay ONLINE (Credit Card) after completing your entry form
Option 2) SEND PAYMENT with your submission package: we accept Checks, Bank checks, or Money Orders. All checks must be in US dollars, be drawn on a bank in the U.S. and made payable to Woodstock Film Festival, Inc.
WHY WE CAN NOT GRANT WAIVERS?
Imagine you are producing a low budget feature length movie every year. The Woodstock Film Festival is like an indie production that relies on passion, limited funding, fiscal responsibility, volunteers and community support. We regretfully cannot waive fees.
HOW MANY FILMS CAN I SUBMIT?
As many as you like. However, each film must have its own screening copy, signed submission form, and entry fee. DO NOT submit multiple projects on the same DVD. Additionally, we recommend that you use the same main email address for all your submissions.
SHOULD I ENTER MY FILM EARLY OR NEAR THE DEADLINE?
The earlier the better! We receive thousands of films and they all tend to come in near the end. If your film comes in early, chances are good that it will not be screened on the same day as ten other films.
HOW MANY FILMS DO YOU ACCEPT IN THE FESTIVAL?
We estimate that the next festival line-up will include about 135 films.
I SUBMITTED THE ONLINE ENTRY FORM, WHAT DO I DO NOW?
Your submission will be processed only when we receive your complete submission package:
- Signed Entry Form
- Entry Fee
- DVD copy of the movie (NTSC or PAL)*
*IF SUBMITTING A FEATURE LENGTH NARRATIVE OR DOCUMENTARY YOU MUST SEND 2 DVDS!!
CAN I UPDATE MY SUBMISSION DETAILS?
YES! We are able to make changes to the details to your submission. BUT, please note that if your film is accepted, we will be emailing you to update all details regardless.
DID YOU RECEIVE MY SUBMISSION?
It is always a good rule-of-thumb to send your package with delivery confirmation. If you have not done so, we are happy to check on your submission. Just email us at entries@woodstockflmfestival.com.
If you sent your package close to a submission deadline, it may take several days before we open all the packages and perform internal status updates.
WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED IF MY FILM HAS BEEN ACCEPTED?
The 13th Annual Woodstock Film Festival will take place October 10-14, 2021. All Filmmakers will be notified via email by Sept 1, 2012.
CAN I RELEASE MY FILM THEATRICALLY OR ON BROADCAST TELEVISION BEFORE THE FESTIVAL?
In general, WFF has a policy against screening films that have been distributed theatrically or aired on television. Exceptions include retrospective and archival screenings (Bound for Glory, Ride with the Devil, Point Blank).
CAN I SUBMIT MY FILM IF PREVIOUSLY SCREENED AT OTHER FESTIVALS?
Premiere status is appreciated, but not mandatory. We just want to show the best films possible!
WHAT PREVIEW COPY FORMATS DO YOU ACCEPT?
Entries must be submitted on DVD. WFF accepts both PAL and NTSC formats. Region 1 (US&Canada) and region 0 (no region) are preferred. We recommend that you TEST your disk on a stand-alone DVD player BEFORE sending it to our offices.
WHAT SCREENING FORMATS DO YOU ACCEPT FOR SELECTED FILMS:
WFF screens feature films on 35mm and HDCam only. Shorts are screened on HDCAm only. We accept both NTSC and PAL. FILMS MUST EITHER BE NATIVE 16:9 OR PILLARBOXED 4:3 to project 16:9. WE CANNOT PROJECT 4:3 and we cannot screen on HDCAM SR. Due to technical constraints, WFF no longer accepts Digibeta, Beta SP or miniDV.
HOW ARE FILMS SELECTED
All entries are viewed by several WFF screeners. We are looking for great films that are made with soul and love. We are thrilled to discover new emerging talent and delighted to receive work from filmmakers who have been here before. Woodstock presents a program that interweaves emerging and established filmmakers in a friendly, casual environment, that is conducive to creativity, networking and a good time, surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.
WFF screeners are not provided with press kits or information about the filmmakers in order to make the process about the content rather than pr. Each film receives a comment and is graded from 1 to 5.
During the selection process, which generally includes many wonderful films, the average grade is calculated and considered along with comments. In general, selected films have an average grade 4 to 5. There are instances where screeners disagree considerably and where the average score is superceded by discussion. Subject matter, style, production value, creativity and singular vision all go into consideration and are discussed when evaluating and considering each film.
Local films: To avoid conflicts of interest or favoritism, local films are generally screened by viewers who do not live in the region or who do not have a personal relationship with the organizers.
WILL I RECEIVE FEEDBACK OR COMMENTS ON MY FILM?
You can email and request feedback or comments but we don't generally have the time to answer due to the high volume of submissions received every year.
WHERE ARE THE SELECTED FILMS SHOWN?
We screen at several venues through the Hudson Valley. Select venues include:
Woodstock: Woodstock Playhouse, Upstate Films Woodstock, Bearsville Theater
Rhinebeck: Upstate Films
Rosendale: Rosendale Theater
Boiceville: Harry Simons Auditorium *Teen shorts only
I SUBMITTED MY FILM LAST YEAR BUT IT WAS NOT SELECTED. CAN I SUBMIT MY FILM AGAIN?
We allow it, but we don't encourage it. To resubmit a film, the film must be significantly re-edited since you last submitted it.
CAN I SUBMIT A WORK-IN-PROGRESS OR "ROUGH CUT"?
Filmmakers might submit a Work-in-progress only if the film is scheduled to be completed at least 4 weeks before the beginning of the festival (Oct 10). Please list directly on the disk/box what elements of your film are missing.
PLEASE BE AWARE that this is how we will consider your film, you cannot send another copy of the finished version. If your film is accepted, it will be accepted on the merit of the "rough cut" you submit.
Of course, WFF will need the final version of any accepted "Rough Cut" by the first week in September.
CAN I ONLY COMPLETE THE ENTRY FORM ONLINE, OR MAY I MAIL A PRINTED VERSION?
The festival strongly encourages filmmakers to submit using the online entry form. If for some reason, it is absolutely necessary to submit a hand-written form, please print the entry form and write in CLEARLY in the space provided and mail with your film. Again, this is NOT encouraged.
WHAT IS THE SHIPPING ADDRESS FOR PACKAGES?
Mail your complete submission packages to:
Woodstock Film Festival
13 Rock City Rd. (if by courier)
PO BOX 1406 (if by us postal service)
Woodstock, New York, 12498 - USA
GO TO ENTRY FORM
