Terms & Conditions

1. Agreement to Terms

Welcome to Film Festivals ("Platform", "Site", "we", "us", or "our"). By accessing or using our website and services, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our Platform.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User", "you", or "your") and Film Festivals. Please read them carefully before using our services.

2. Eligibility and Account Registration

2.1 Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age or the age of majority in your jurisdiction to use this Platform. By registering for an account, you represent and warrant that you meet these eligibility requirements.

2.2 Account Types

Our Platform offers registration for the following user roles:

User: General users interested in film festival content
Press/Media: Journalists, bloggers, and media professionals
Festival: Festival organizers and representatives
Professional: Industry professionals working in the film sector

2.3 Account Creation

When you create an account, you agree to:

Provide accurate, current, and complete information
Maintain and promptly update your account information
Maintain the security and confidentiality of your password
Immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your account
Accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account

2.4 Account Security

You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to protect your account information.

3. Subscription Plans and Payments

3.1 Subscription Types

Our Platform offers various subscription plans with different features, including:

Access to premium content
Content publishing capabilities
Private messaging functionality
Varying content publishing limits

3.2 Payment Terms

All subscription fees are payable in advance according to the billing cycle selected (daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly)
Payment processing is handled through secure third-party payment gateways (Stripe)
Prices are subject to change with notice provided to existing subscribers
All fees are non-refundable except as required by law or expressly stated in these Terms

3.3 Automatic Renewal

Subscriptions automatically renew at the end of each billing period unless cancelled before the renewal date. You authorize us to charge your payment method for the renewal fees.

3.4 Cancellation

You may cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings. Cancellation will take effect at the end of your current billing period. No refunds will be provided for partial subscription periods.

3.5 Free Trial (if applicable)

If we offer a free trial period, payment information may be required at signup. You will be charged at the end of the trial period unless you cancel before it expires.

4. Content and Intellectual Property

4.1 Your Content

When you create and publish content on our Platform (articles, films, festivals), you:

Retain ownership of your intellectual property rights
Grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, reproduce, and distribute your content on the Platform
Represent and warrant that you own or have the necessary rights to the content you submit
Are solely responsible for your content and the consequences of posting it

4.2 Content Standards

All content submitted to the Platform must:

Comply with applicable laws and regulations
Not infringe on any third-party intellectual property rights
Not contain malicious code, viruses, or harmful components
Not be defamatory, obscene, pornographic, or offensive
Not promote violence, discrimination, or illegal activities
Be accurate and not misleading

4.3 Platform Content

All content provided by Film Festivals, including text, graphics, logos, images, software, and design elements, is owned by or licensed to us and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

4.4 Prohibited Use

You may not:

Copy, modify, or distribute Platform content without permission
Use automated systems (bots, scrapers) to access the Platform
Reverse engineer or attempt to extract source code
Remove or alter any copyright, trademark, or proprietary notices

5. Content Publishing Limits

Depending on your subscription plan, you may be subject to limits on:

The number of articles you can publish
The number of films you can list
The number of festivals you can create

Exceeding these limits may require upgrading to a higher-tier subscription plan.

6. Private Messaging

6.1 Availability

Private messaging functionality is available only to users with subscription plans that include this feature.

6.2 Acceptable Use

When using the private messaging system, you agree to:

Use messages for legitimate communication purposes only
Not send spam, advertisements, or unsolicited commercial messages
Not harass, threaten, or abuse other users
Not share inappropriate or illegal content

6.3 Monitoring

We reserve the right to monitor messages to ensure compliance with these Terms and to prevent abuse, though we do not routinely monitor private communications.

7. User Conduct

You agree not to:

Violate any applicable laws or regulations
Impersonate any person or entity
Interfere with or disrupt the Platform's operation
Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Platform
Upload viruses or malicious code
Engage in any activity that could harm the Platform or its users
Create multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions
Sell, trade, or transfer your account to another party

8. Content Moderation and Removal

8.1 Our Rights

We reserve the right, but have no obligation, to:

Monitor, review, and moderate content posted on the Platform
Remove or refuse to publish any content that violates these Terms
Suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms
Take legal action against users who violate these Terms

8.2 User Reporting

Users may report content they believe violates these Terms. We will review reported content and take appropriate action.

8.3 No Liability for User Content

We are not responsible for user-generated content. The views expressed by users do not represent our views or values.

9. Termination

9.1 Termination by You

You may terminate your account at any time by contacting us or using the account deletion feature.

9.2 Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your account immediately, without prior notice, if:

You violate these Terms
You engage in fraudulent or illegal activity
Your account poses a security risk
Required by law

9.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

Your access to the Platform will be revoked
Your content may be removed from the Platform
Outstanding fees remain due and payable
Provisions that should survive termination will remain in effect

10. Privacy and Data Protection

Your use of the Platform is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which describes how we collect, use, and protect your personal information. By using the Platform, you consent to our data practices as described in the Privacy Policy.

11. Third-Party Services

Our Platform may integrate with or link to third-party services (payment processors, analytics tools). We are not responsible for the content, policies, or practices of third-party services. Your use of third-party services is at your own risk and subject to their terms and conditions.

12. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

12.1 "AS IS" Basis

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.

12.2 No Guarantee

We do not guarantee that:

The Platform will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free
The results obtained from using the Platform will be accurate or reliable
Any errors in the Platform will be corrected
Content posted by users is accurate, reliable, or legal

12.3 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES RESULTING FROM:

Your use or inability to use the Platform
Any unauthorized access to or use of your account
Any content obtained from the Platform
Any conduct or content of third parties on the Platform

12.4 Maximum Liability

Our total liability to you for all claims arising from or related to the Platform shall not exceed the amount you paid to us in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim, or one hundred dollars ($100), whichever is greater.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Film Festivals, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

Your use of the Platform
Your violation of these Terms
Your violation of any rights of another party
Content you submit to the Platform

14. Dispute Resolution

14.1 Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of [Your Jurisdiction], without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

14.2 Informal Resolution

Before filing a claim, you agree to contact us and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for at least 30 days.

14.3 Arbitration (Optional - modify based on jurisdiction)

Any disputes that cannot be resolved informally shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with [Arbitration Rules]. The arbitration shall take place in [Location].

14.4 Class Action Waiver

You agree to bring claims only on an individual basis and not as part of any class, consolidated, or representative action.

15. Changes to Terms

15.1 Modifications

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting to the Platform unless otherwise stated.

15.2 Notification

We will notify users of material changes through:

Email notification to registered users
A notice on the Platform homepage
An in-app notification

15.3 Continued Use

Your continued use of the Platform after changes to these Terms constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms. If you do not agree to the changes, you must stop using the Platform.

16. General Provisions

16.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Film Festivals regarding the Platform.

16.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

16.3 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not be deemed a waiver of such right or provision.

16.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your account without our prior written consent. We may assign these Terms without restriction.

16.5 Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including acts of God, natural disasters, war, terrorism, labor disputes, or internet service failures.

16.6 Language

These Terms may be translated into other languages. In the event of any conflict between the English version and a translated version, the English version shall prevail.

17. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints regarding these Terms, please contact us at:

Film Festivals Platform

Email: support@filmfestivals.com

18. Acknowledgment

BY CLICKING "I AGREE," CREATING AN ACCOUNT, OR USING THE PLATFORM, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

19. Legal Compliance

FilmFestivals.com is intended to operate in compliance with applicable international laws and regulations, including but not limited to:
• The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR);
• International copyright and intellectual property laws;
• Consumer protection laws;
• Electronic communications regulations;
• Applicable online marketplace and digital services regulations.

Users are responsible for complying with laws applicable in their own jurisdictions.

20. Privacy, GDPR, and Data Protection

FilmFestivals.com processes personal data in accordance with applicable privacy laws and its Privacy Policy.

Where applicable under GDPR and similar regulations:
• Users may request access, correction, portability, or deletion of personal data;
• Users may object to or restrict certain processing activities;
• Users may withdraw consent where consent is the legal basis for processing;
• Users may contact FilmFestivals.com regarding privacy rights or complaints.

FilmFestivals.com implements commercially reasonable technical and organizational security measures to protect personal data.

21. California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)

California residents may have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act and California Privacy Rights Act, including:
• The right to know what personal information is collected;
• The right to request deletion of personal information;
• The right to correct inaccurate information;
• The right to limit certain uses of sensitive personal information;
• The right to opt out of certain data-sharing practices where applicable;
• The right not to be discriminated against for exercising privacy rights.

Requests may be submitted through the platform’s privacy contact channels.