DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION: October 1, 2024
I. GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF A FILM TO SINE NEGRENSE: NEGROS ISLAND FILM FESTIVAL:
1. The total running time of each film, including the opening and closing credits must be:
Intercollegiate Category: Minimum 8 mins.– 15 mins. Maximum
Open Category: Minimum 15 mins.– 20 mins. Maximum
Exhibition / Non-competition: 15 mins.– 20 mins. Maximum
2. Films previously submitted and won at other film festivals shall be accepted but limited to 1 local film competition within Negros Island only. Entries submitted to regional and national film festivals/competition shall be accepted under the Exhibition Section.
3. Films has not been published online in its entirety.
4. Films must be made within 12 months prior to the festival.
5. It is the sole responsibility of the Proponent to secure authorization and permission from the copyright owner(s) of any and all copyrighted content or materials included within the submitted film.
6. It is the sole responsibility of the Proponent to clear all content of the film from any and all actual or potential legal claims and issues, including, without limitation, claims based upon theories of libel, defamation, invasion of privacy, violation of rights of publicity, theft of trade secrets, breach of confidence, breach of confidential relationship, and breach of express or implied contract (“Third Party Claim(s)”).
7. Films must be in the official dialect of Negros Island which includes Hiligaynon and Bisaya. Should Tagalog, English or other languages be required of the story/character, it should not constitute the whole film. Films that contain significant non-English spoken dialogue must provide on-screen English subtitles.
8. Video files for all Films submitted to Sine Negrense for Festival competition must be through a Google Drive link.
9. It is the sole responsibility of the Proponent to ensure that any film submitted for Festival consideration is viewable in its entirety.
10. In the event that the Proponent changes an updated version of the film after the submission deadline, Sine Negrense is under no obligation to accept any or all of the updated version of the film.
11. Upon completion of the Festival selection process, Sine Negrense will attempt to contact the Proponent using the contact information provided on the submission form to notify the Proponent of the film's acceptance status.
12. Sine Negrense is under no obligation to provide to the Proponent or any other representative of the film any comments or feedback regarding the submitted film, any information relating to the manner in which the film is, will be, or was reviewed; or any other information relating to the Festival’s review, consideration and/or selection process regarding the Film specifically or submissions generally beyond the information set forth in these Rules and Regulations.
13. All Films accepted into the Festival are subject to our Festival programming guidelines. Proponents agree that any films may be included in both our in-person and online Festival programs. The selection and scheduling of Film exhibition is at the sole discretion of Sine Negrense. Proponents will be notified if there are additional screenings beyond the festival duration.
II. SUBMISSION CATEGORIES & ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
School Category
Any narrative work of fiction or any nonfiction film by currently enrolled students of any Public or Private Educational Institution within Negros Island. Should be a Negrosanon who is born and currently residing in Negros Island. Film entries must be endorsed by their respective schools. There is no limit to the number of film entries an institution can submit but only One (1) film per Filmmaker / Director is allowed.
Open Category
Any narrative work of fiction or any non-fiction film by a Negrosanon who is born and currently residing in Negros Island. Open to all amateur and professional filmmakers. One (1) film per filmmaker /proponent is allowed.
III. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
All requirements must be compiled in one Google Drive folder.
General Requirements:
Entry Film’s complete and Final Cut (Must be submitted in 1080p, mp4 File Format)
Film’s Trailer with a maximum of 1 minute duration. (In 1080p, mp4 File Format)
Digital Poster (Recommended size: 1600 x 2400 pixels)
Photo of director
Director's bionote (PDF/Word)
Behind-the-scenes photos
Promotional video
"The Making of" video
Additional requirements for open category entries:
Digital Copy of Proponent's Government Issued ID
MP3 file of original song
Additional requirements for school category entries:
Current school ID of key production crew
School endorsement (PDF)
IV. GENERAL CRITERIA
We value works that: CREATIVELY weaves together, using the elements of cinema, Narrative, Character, Technical aspects: Cinematography, Production Design, etc. into a coherent whole.
Visually represent or reflect Negrosanon Heritage and what is current in the regional scene on aspects of culture (stories, beliefs, folktales, legends, etc.), issues, and reality in his own perspectives.
Explore new ways to excite and enrich the audiences’ film experience.
V. WINNER, AWARDS AND DECISIONS OF THE BOARD OF JUDGES
For the COMPETITION Section, there will be ten (10) Best Film Finalists narrowed down from all submissions for each Category. An appointed set of juries in the preliminary judging will be composed of filmmakers, film experts and professionals, and which shall judge the films based on set criteria. A Final board of Jury shall select the winning entries of the competition.
Awards for each category shall be given for:
-Best Director
-Best Actor and Actress
-Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress
-Best Screenplay
-Best Editing
-Best Production Design
-Best Cinematography
-Best Musical Score
-Best Sound Design
-Best Original Hiligaynon Song
-Best Picture
-Jury’s Choice
-People’s Choice
-Special Citation for Emerging Negrense Filmmaker *Jury's discretion
-Special Citation for University/Institution with best film entries *Organizers’ discretion
-Other Special Award(s)
Should the Jury deem that no film is worthy of any of the Awards Categories, the festival organizers will respect the collective decision and not declare any winners.
The DECISION of the Board of Jury is FINAL, irrevocable and not subject to question. Like in all professional film festival, jury decisions are determined by way of jury deliberations moderated by the Jury Chair.
The organizers will not entertain protests of any kind nor will they be required to justify the winning films which were selected, judged, and deliberated upon by appointed Film Experts and Professionals.
VI. FILM RIGHTS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RULES AND REGULATIONS
Proponents of films entered in our festival give the festival and its organizer;
1. The right to screen their films at all our festival venues and partner festivals as well as to print all the film related photos for festival promotions or promotion of the films.
2. By submitting the entry form, the filmmakers certify that they possess all rights pertaining to their film/s and exempt the festival organizer from third party claims.
3. For group works, a single representative must be appointed for the purpose of correspondences.
4. Film rights of the submitted Competition films belong to the filmmaker. The festival, however, requires that winning films be screened in official satellite screening of Sine Negrense around the country and/ or international festivals.
5. FDCP Rating will be used for all films both in competition and exhibition sections.
6. By submitting the entry form, you hereby acknowledge abiding by the rules and regulations.