Open Call For Film Entries: VAFF 2008
Friday February 29, 2008 by administrator
Festival Submission Guidelines
The Vancouver Asian Film Festival (VAFF) is Canada’s oldest festival dedicated to exhibiting films and videos by North American artists of Asian heritage. Incorporated in spring 1997, VAFF is committed to supporting both emerging talent and established filmmakers. Visiting artists have included Ham Tran, Dean Ishida, Loni Ding, Justin Lin, Wes Kim, and Michael Kang, as well as BC filmmakers, Mina Shum, Desiree Lim, Nilesh Patel, Jeff Chiba Stearns and Romeo Candido.
Awards include a juried award for Best Canadian Short. Programming includes Q & A sessions, panel discussions, a Filmmakers’ Luncheon, and special gala events.
12th Annual Vancouver Asian Film Festival
- November 6-9, 2008
- Vancouver, BC, Canada
All screenings take place at Cinemark Tinseltown, a multiplex theatre within the city’s Chinatown and Downtown districts.
Entry Form
Fill out the convenient online entry form.
Eligibility
- VAFF accepts independently produced films and videos by Asian Canadian or Asian American artists; at least one of the creative team (Director, Writer, Producer) must be of Asian heritage.
- Films and videos must have been completed no earlier than January 31, 2007. Submissions completed prior to this date will not be considered.
- Acceptable formats for exhibition are: 35mm, Betacam SP (NTSC only) and DigiBetacam (NTSC only). Submissions in other formats, e.g. 16mm, DVD, VHS cannot be considered.
Submission Deadlines
VAFF invites submissions for our 12th annual festival, November 6-9, 2008.
- Earlybird deadline: April 30, 2008 (postmarked)
- Final deadline: May 31, 2008 (postmarked)
Submissions received after May 31st will not be considered for the 2008 Festival. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Entry Fees
- Earlybird deadline entry fee: $10 (CDN or US)
- Final deadline entry fee: $20 (CDN or US)
Payment must be made by cheque or money order. Please make cheques payable to: Vancouver Asian Film Festival.
Each film/video submitted must be accompanied by its own separate entry form and entry fee.
Film Categories
Acceptable film categories must be:
- Narrative (drama, comedy, romance, etc.)
- Documentary
- Animation
- Experimental
Submissions outside of these categories (e.g. music videos, etc.) will not be considered.
Submission Materials
Acceptable formats for preview screeners are: VHS (NTSC) or DVD (NTSC).
Tapes or DVDs must be labeled with film title, total running time, contact name, address, phone, and email address.
Please include a press kit with your entry, including:
- Film synopsis (100 words) and logline
- Film stills (photos or hi-rez electronic images: min. 1200×1800 pixels @ 300 dpi on CD)
- Cast and crew list
- Director biography (80 words) and photo (see above for technical specs)
- Producer biography (80 words)
- Press/publicity clippings & list of awards & screenings (photocopy, Word format or .PDF)
Please label all files, images and documents appropriately and descriptively.
SORRY, PRESS MATERIALS & SCREENERS WILL BE NOT BE RETURNED
Qualifications for Best Canadian Short Award
Canadian films may be eligible for the Best Canadian Short Award, which may include a $500 cash prize if funding is available.
To qualify, filmmakers must meet the following criteria:
- The director or writer must be a Canadian citizen or Canadian resident
- One of the key members must be of Asian heritage
- The film must be live action
- The film must be under 30 minutes in length
- The film must be independently produced without majority funding from institutions (NFB, film schools, broadcasters, etc.)
- The film must not have been or will be broadcasted on television prior to the Festival screening
- The director must have final creative control of the work
The award winner will be announced during the Festival at the Filmmakers’ Luncheon event.
Selection Notification
You will be notified of Festival selections by October 1, 2008. If selected, a Notice of Acceptance will be sent which must be completed, signed and returned by the deadline date listed or your position in Festival will be offered to another film.
Important Shipping Policy
If selected, exhibition prints or tapes must be shipped to VAFF pre-paid to arrive no later than October 15, 2008.
It is the policy of the Festival to pay for one-way return shipping within North American only. Requests for international shipping will not be considered.
If screening prints/tapes are coming from other festivals, VAFF must be provided with the print traffic contact information of the prior festival 2 weeks prior to VAFF start date. If VAFF is to send the screening print to another film festival, this outbound address must be given to VAFF one week prior to the start of VAFF or it will be sent back to the print source.
Shipping Address
Please mail or courier your submission materials and entry fee cheques to:
Vancouver Asian Film Festival Offices
110 Keefer Street
Vancouver, BC, Canada
V6A 1X4
Questions?
For more info: programming@vaff.org
Entry Form
Fill out the convenient online entry form.
About VAFF
VAFF is a not-for-profit organization that provides a forum for independent North American Asian filmmakers to showcase their work to both Asian and non-Asian audiences. The society endeavours to represent the often ignored North American Asians caught between two cultures. It provides a cultural bridge between the Asian and non-Asian communities as well as the Asian communities themselves.