General Information for all Festival Submissions

Film Lengths (running time):

• Feature Length Narrative (60+ minutes)
• Documentary Feature (60+ minutes)
• Featurette (21-59 minutes)
• Documentary Short (under 60 minutes)
• Short film (5 to 20 minutes)
• "Super Short" (under 5 minutes)

Formats: 2009 preview copies - for jury review

• DVD only in NTSC format

Festival Screenings

• Digi-Beta, BetaSP, DVCam, Mini-DV, DVD
• NTSC format preferred (PAL or foreign-region DVDs must get prior approval from SSFF officials before screening in these formats).
• Director must submit a DVD backup copy of submission if not previously submitted as the Preview Copy. Make sure that whatever DVD we have is the best available for screening.

Incentives: what you get upon selection into the SSFF

• Professional Screening Equipment displaying your film
• Media Exposure (provided you give us the proper press kit material)
• SSFF Program - printing of photo, bio and film description
• Web Site listing and link to film's web site
• Two (2) All-access SSFF passes
• Audience feedback session opportunities post-screenings
• FREE HOUSING at the "Filmmaker Village" during the fest
• Parties, Food and more
• Wares - we encourage our filmmakers to sell their films (past and present), merchandise, etc. to make a little money at the Festival. You keep 100% of what you sell before and after each screening, BUT you are in charge of all transactions. The SSFF cannot provide change or manage transactions.
• Entry Fee Waiver for any future SouthSide Film Festival! This could be the last time you pay an entry fee to our festival. One waiver per director, per year.

Notifications:

• SASE - if you provide us the Self-Adresses Stamped Envelope, we'll send you immediate notice of receipt for your submission package. Postcards work best!
• Email - if time permits, we will email you to inform you that the submission package arrived at our office. There is no guarantee that we will be able to do so.
• Jury Selection - an official letter will be sent out to notify filmmakers of selection into the SouthSide Film Festival

Official Selections:
The SSFF Jury focuses only on the filmmakers ability to tell a compelling cinematic story. We want our Festival to be a springboard for flimmakers with this talent to move on to bigger and possibly bolder projects. Selected films need not be polished pieces, just demonstrations of great efforts and successes for telling a good story. Official Selections constitute about 25% of the overall number of submitted films to our Festival. It is a difficult selection process for us to limit the field as such.

Return of Submission copies:
preview and festival copies
We will send back any copies of your submitted films as long as you provide us with a Self-Adresses Stamped Envelope (SASE) that correctly fits all of the films to be returned PLUS the correct postage included on the parcel.

Submission Package:
ENTRY FORM - Download or submit via Withoutabox. Details here.

• fill out all sections
• check all boxes
• sign and date
• send entry form in its entirety (all pages)
• send payment for correct amount (don't forget your discount if you are eligible! We do return money in cases of overpayment)

FILM(s)

• send two (2) copies of the film on DVD
• NTSC format only
• PAL formatted films must get prior approval and are subject to paying fees to cover conversion rates. Email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

FEES

• Check or money order (credit cards will be accepted in 2009)
• Make checks payable to "SouthSide Film Institute"

PRESS KIT

send a CD-R with a requirement of the following basics:

• JPEG of Director (3inch x 5inch at 150dpi or greater)
• Director's Bio - 100 word limit, or agree to the SSFF's discretion of editing the bio.
• Film Synopsis - 100 word limit, or agree to the SSFF's discretion of editing the synopsis.
• JPEG of poster for film (3inch x 5inch at 150dpi or greater). If no digital poster is available, please send a photo still.
• optional - Photo Stills from the film (3inch x 5inch at 150dpi or greater)

Photo formats: JPEG, TIFF, PSD (minimum of 3inch x 5inch at 150dpi or greater) so we may use the file both for web site posting as well as in our printed material

Printed Press Kits are accepted but digital files greatly save time in our efforts to promote your film in print and on the web site.

Submission Process:

• Send us the submission package
• Film is reviewed by the SSFF Jury
• After full viewing of all submitted films, the SSFF Jury makes the tough selections for the limited screening times available.
• Official Selection notifications into the SSFF 2009 are sent out by mail approximately April 15, 2009. We will also notify as to what format of the film we will require.
• Director must deliver or mail final screening format copy of the film no later than May 1st for Short Films, and June 1st for all other films. This will allow us time to fully spec out and optimize screening quality.
• We require a DVD backup of the film for emergency purposes or if the audience requests additional screenings of the film (with your prior approval). If not submitted as a preview copy, please send an acceptable DVD version of the film along with the accepted Festival Format.
• Sign up for a limited space in the "Filmmaker Village" if you are planning to attend the SSFF.
• Come to the Festival for a great extended weekend