The festival is open to all categories within the documentary film genre. The film should not be more than 3 years old, though in certain circumstances, a retrospective may be screened and/or a "hidden gem" never seen before by public.

Festival shall screen films digitally and, therefore, you must submit film as a media file in order to be transferred to a Digital Cinema Projection file for screening purposes if you do not already have a DCP file for exhibition. Filmmaker is RESPONSIBLE for the Digital Cinema Projection file. Festival shall do all it can to negotiate discounted rates for filmmaker if they do not have their own DCP file. Filmmaker shall also be required to provide a rendered disc of their film as a blu-ray back-up.

If you are sending a "work-in-progress" please note how long you are from completion and approximately when you are sending completed version. (Please note on completed copy your original reference number provided by FilmFreeway.)

Filmmakers are encouraged to attend festival if their film is invited. They shall receive an "all festival" pass, including films and events. Moreover, housing shall be provided either in resident homes or hotel discounts near theaters.

Any payment by check must be made out to:

Palm Springs Cultural Center

Please make certain that when submitting you note your tracking number on all relevant materials, i.e., shipping envelope and disc(s). Also, each disc must have the contact information of the submitter. The festival is not responsible for returning submitted materials. We do not dispose of submitted material, it will remain in our festival archives unless instructed otherwise.

Film submissions must not have played at any other festivals within a 70 mile radius of Palm Springs, California.

FILM FUND SUBMISSIONS: 
Filmmakers should provide for their works-in-progress for aid in completion funding or works to be begun : 
1. Outline of the story/film; 2. An exact Three (3) minute excerpt or promo of said film, even if not started, we require this trailer-teaser; 3. A budget of said film, what has been paid, what is required for the completion funds, i.e., $2,500 for coloring; 4. (for FilmFreeway submission, we only need the three (3) minute trailer teaser via upload- if invited to finals, Budget and Outline as well as disc(s) will have to be sent to AmDocs via hard-copy); 
5. If invited, filmmakers must attend the Film Fund's pitch competition in person and take part in said pitch to jury as well as potentially, the live audience in attendance at film festival.

American Documentary Film Fund is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. 
The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. 
The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless American Documentary Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

American Documentary Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless American Documentary Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered. FILM FUND SUBMISSIONS: American Documentary Film Fund is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless American Documentary Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.