Submit Film to the Eko International Film Festival

 SUBMISSION DEADLINES AND ENTRY FEES

Standard Deadline: March 30, 2010 $50 (USD)

Late Deadline: April 20, 2010 $75 (USD)

Final Deadline: May 15, 2010 $100 (USD)

Fees are payable by check and online on fest21.com

 THE MAIN SECTIONS

Fiction
Comedy
Drama
Horror
Documentaries
Student Film
1 minute short films.

 ELIGIBILITY

Films must fit into one of the seven categories: Fiction, comedy, documentaries, drama, Horror, Student Film 1 minute

All music and other copyrighted materials used in the films must be original or filmmakers must have obtained permission in writing from the owner, such permissions to be submitted with the film.

All films must be submitted in English or subtitled in English.

 GENERAL RULES:

Films must be submitted on DVD NTSC or PAL (please test before sending) and be available for screening on 35mm composite condition, Beta SP or Digi-Beta Video (NTSC only for festival screening).

Films must have been completed after April 1, 2008. Films must be available for screening during the Eko International Film Festival, July 7-12, 2009.

Narrative and Documentary films with U.S. distribution (obtained prior to being selected for EKOIFF screening) or films produced, financed or initiated by a major film studio or television network are ineligible for competition, but may be considered for special screening. Selection for screening will be determined no later than one month prior to the festival. Films that have screened on major cinemas and cable network or distributed to theaters prior to the festival dates are also ineligible for competition.

Films that have played in Nigeria in a theatrical setting to a public audience are not eligible to be screened at the EKOIFF 2010.

Additional Narrative Feature Film Entry Requirements:

Feature-length Films must be 60 minutes or longer (recommended length 90 minutes).
Open to anyone (and all nationalities) who wishes to enter.

Additional Narrative Short Film Entry Requirements:

Films must be short narratives of 40 minutes or less (recommended length 10 minutes).
Open to anyone who wishes to enter.

Additional Narrative Student Short Film Entry Requirements:

Films must be short narratives of 40 minutes or less (recommended length 10 minutes)...
Open only to students (must include proof of enrollment from accredited university or college).

One Minute Short Film Entry Requirements:

Entries must be short films of 1 minute (recommended length).
Award will be given to the best 1 minute film.
Open to any form of animation.
Open to anyone who wishes to enter.

Additional Documentary Feature Films Requirements

Films must be Documentaries, 40 minutes or longer
Open to anyone who wishes to enter.
Additional Documentary Short Film Requirements
Films must be Short Documentaries, 40 minutes or less
Open to anyone who wishes to enter.

Please Note: Eko International Film Festival does not wave entry fees. EKOIFF believes waiving entry fees hurts the integrity of the competition. The same rules and entry fees should apply to all applicants so no one film is favored over another. In a similar respect the EKOIFF does not solicit films to be in competition, only films submitted will be considered for competition.
We understand the financial constraint of filmmaking and costs of submitting to Festivals and we still hope you can find it in your budget to submit your film.

Returns and Acknowledgments:
VHS tapes, DVDs, and press materials will not be returned under any circumstances. They will be destroyed after the festival selection process in front of ... Include a self-addressed, stamped postcard for each submission if you wish acknowledgment of the receipt of your entry.

Safety and piracy issue

The festival is concerned that filmmakers' rights should be protected against piracy. EKOIFF is establishing procedures that will guarantee these are up to profession's best practice. Those are inspired by the anti piracy actions taken in the USA.

FILM COMPETITION AWARDS:

All awards will be presented to the Directors of the winning films on July 12, 2010 during the Eko International Film Festival Awards Ceremony. Awards are based on overall merit of the entries. Jury members reserve the right not to grant an award.

Audience Award:

All films screening are also eligible for an Audience Award in their respected categories. Award winners are announced within one week following the Festival. The Audience Award is based solely on audience voting at the film's screening.

Prizes:

Each Competition Filmmaker receives two film screenings, July 7-12, 2010; five complimentary tickets to each of the film's screenings; one ticket to the Awards Ceremony; the film featured in the 2010 EKOIFF Programme Directory; and two complimentary, All-Access Producers Passes to the 2010 Eko International Film Festival, July 7-12, 2010.

Jury Awards:

Narrative Films
1st Place Winners receive a cash prize of $1,000 (Narrative Feature Category) or $500 (Narrative Short and Student Short Categories); reimbursement (up to $500) of one round-trip airfare to Lagos to attend the 2010 EKOIFF; hotel compensation at the Film Festival (up to $500); a special Winners screening during the Festival.

Documentary Films
1st Place Winners receive a cash prize of $500 (Documentary Feature Category only); reimbursement (up to $500) of one round-trip airfare to Austin to attend the 2010 EKOIFF, hotel compensation at the Film Festival (up to $500), a special Winners screening during the Festival.

1 Minute Short Film

1st Place Winners receive reimbursement (up to $500) of one round-trip airfare to Austin to attend the 2010 EKOIFF, hotel compensation at the Film Festival (up to $500), a special Winners screening during the Festival.
The Filmfestivals.com prize will grant a $1000 promotion campaign on filmfestivals.com and fest21.com websites to the best international 1 minute short.

 SUBMISSION PROCESS
All films must be submitted using the Eko International Film Festival Registration Form through FestivalExpress submission tool .
(see below)

Fill and join the Release Form to the DVDs of submitted film and send to:

Hope Obioma Opara
The President
Eko International Film Festival
Supple Co mm unications Limited
1, Bajulaiye Road,
Morocco Bus Stop
Shomolu, Lagos,Nigeria. 

Note the deadline dates and the submission fees that apply to them. No exceptions will be made to the submission deadlines or fee schedule. Fees are payable by check only . (And online on the website)

JUDGING PROCESS

Each submission will be screened by our jury, who will first determine which entries qualify for the competition, and then determine a winner and runner-up in each category.

EXHIBITION

The festival hopes to find a venue for public screening of winning submissions. If such a venue is located, filmmakers will be notified as soon as possible.

AWARDS AND PRIZES

Winners and runners up in each category and genre will receive certificates to that effect, suitable for framing.
Other awards are in development, updated information will be posted on the website very soon.

FILMMAKER RELEASE

On the application form, you (or a parent or guardian if you are under 18) will be required to sign a release form that:

• Grants permission to Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF) and Supple Communications Limited to use clips of your film for promotional use.
• Grants the non-exclusive right for EKOIFF and Supple Communications Limited to screen, exhibit and distribute your film in its entirety for any promotion or project under the festival or foundation's name for up to one year after the 2009 festival. EKOIFF and Supple Communications Limited may also actively pursue other distribution opportunities for your film.
• EKOIFF and Supple Communications Limited and other third parties at their discretion the right to film, videotape and/or photograph your appearance or voice for any and all marketing and promotional activities for the festival.
• Your submission of an entry into the Eko International Film Festival constitutes an agreement between you and EKOIFF and Supple Communications Limited, and that by submitting your film for consideration, you agree to all of these rules, terms and agreements.
  Download the RELEASE FORM

IS THE FESTIVAL SOMETHING I SHOULD ATTEND?

Eko International Film Festival is going to be held in the mega city of Lagos with screenings in all the cinemas in Lagos city and will attract filmmakers from Africa, Europe and America and other countries.

DO YOU ACCEPT HORROR FILMS?

Yes. We're looking for good stories, well-told, irrespective of subject matter.

For more information, please e-mail us:

Please print out a copy of these guidelines for reference.

 SUBMIT

Submissions to the festival are accepted online via FestivalExpress only, your preview copy must be sent directly to the festival with the reference to your film registration, film name, print out version of the form on fest21.com.
Filmmakers also have the choice to upload the festival screener via our secure ftp service instead of shipping via mail. Ask for our rates

To complete the submission you must follow three steps:

1. Create your free film account on Fest21.com.
Own your film promo blog on the leading fest circuit community (media, festivals and other film professionnals, 350 000 visitors per month).
Register the film in the fest21.com/ filmfestivals.com database if not previously listed.
Upload the press kit & trailer on your profile, you may want to feed the blog with more news, images, film stills to showcase and promote.
Promote for free : How To publish information
Need help in the process? email for help
Click to submit online on the Festival page

2. Download the EKO International Film Festival RELEASE FORM
Print, fill out and sign the Form.
Print your film entry from fest21.com
Send both forms with your film screener and fee to the festival.

3. You can also pay online with your credit card 

FestivalExpress has been created by the joint web sites, filmfestivals.com and fest21.com , the leading media covering movie events worldwide. This new online submission suite allows each filmmaker to promote his film and to directly submit his film to participating festivals from the world festival circuit