Please Note: Hawaii Latino Film Festival for 2018 is without entry fees.
General Eligibility
1. All films must be in English or Spanish and you can add subtitles in the opposite language at the time submitted.
2. Films must be submitted as an online streaming video via a participating submission platform (Hawaii Latino Film Festival or FilmFreeway), a password-protected streaming URL, or on DVD with NTSC or PAL formatting (please test before sending).
3. IMPORTANT NOTE: The Hawaii Latino Film Festival (“HLFF” or the “Festival”) is not responsible for the streaming quality of online screeners. If you choose to submit an online screener and would like to guarantee the quality of your submission, HLFF strongly suggests you submit a DVD in addition to your online streaming submission.
4. In the event of a password change or link change after submitting, you must email the Festival immediately with that change so we may update your record. If the Festival is not notified of the change and the link is found to be inactive or the password to be incorrect the Festival will send an email to the submitter’s address on file to follow up. If a response with the correct information is not received within forty-eight (48) hours, the submission may be deemed ineligible.
5. HLFF screens films as digital files during the Festival and does NOT screen films on Blu-Ray, HD-CAM, or DCP. If you are unable or unwilling to provide us your film as a digital file for exhibition, DO NOT SUBMIT your film.
6. Films must have been completed after July 15 each year of the festival. Films must be available for screening during the Hawaii Latino Film Festival between Sep 17 - October 15.
7. Films that have been submitted to HLFF in previous years are eligible to be resubmitted, provided they are still eligible according to all of HFFL’s rules.
8. Films with US distribution (obtained prior to being selected for HLFF screening) or films produced, financed or initiated by a major film studio or television network are ineligible for competition, but may be considered for a special screening. Selection for screening will be determined no later than one month prior to the festival. Films that have screened on US network or cable television or distributed to theaters prior to the festival dates are also ineligible for competition.
9. Short Films that have played in Hawaii in a theatrical setting to a public audience prior to July 17 of each year are not eligible to compete at the HLFF. This includes Shorts nights, public cast and crew screenings, or other festivals. The ONLY exception is that a short may play as part of a class screening for an accredited university’s film program.
10. Short Films that are publicly available online prior to the Festival may be considered for exhibition during the Festival, but will be ineligible for Jury Awards. We prefer shorts not be publicly available online.
11. HLFF will not screen features in competition that have played at other Hawaii festivals or screened publicly in a theater in Hawaii (including a one night only screening in a rented space). We prefer World, North American and US Premieres and all things being equal, will often opt to program the film that has not yet had a release over one that has played several festivals.
12. Private invite-only screenings (for instance for cast and crew or donors) do not affect a film’s eligibility
13. HLFF reserves the right in its sole discretion to reject or disqualify any ineligible entries, without a with or without refund.
Originality and Permissions
1. Films must be the original work of the applicants. If a film is based upon another person’s life or upon a book or other underlying work, applicant(s) must secure any necessary rights to make such adaptations. However, it is not necessary to submit the adaptation rights agreements to the Festival.
2. Applicants are solely responsible for obtaining all necessary rights and permissions for third-party materials included in the film, including but not limited to music, trademarks, logos, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights. HLFF expressly disclaims all liability or responsibility for any violations of the foregoing.
BY SUBMITTING THE MATERIAL, THE APPLICANT HEREBY AGREES TO INDEMNIFY, HOLD HARMLESS, AND DEFEND THE FESTIVAL, ITS EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, REPRESENTATIVES, AND AFFILIATES FROM ANY LIABILITY, CLAIMS, AND DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SUBMISSION.
Additional Information
1. We strongly encourage filmmakers to submit their film only after it is fully finished and will judge each submission as a completed work, whether it is or not. Once a film is entered, we will not update the submission with a more recent cut.
2. Filmmakers who are unsure whether to enter their film to the Narrative Feature Category or one of the categories. HLLF reserves the right to switch the entry category to fit programming needs and interests and films will not be penalized for the original submission selection.
3. Once an entry payment has been received we cannot provide a refund. If a payment is disputed by an entrant for any reason, the entrant may be subject to any transaction fees or similar amounts incurred by HLFF in connection with the dispute.
4. You MUST include your physical address either in your entry or in your cover letter. Please do not submit a film without giving us your address, which we need for our records.
5. All payments will be made by using PayPal or credit cards.
Selected Films and Winners
1. HLFF has no obligation (other than as stated in these rules or on our website) to disclose any of the following information: i) identities of screeners or judges; ii) notes, feedback, or information relating to the submitted project; and/or iii) details regarding the submission review or selection process.
2. HLFF explicitly disclaims any liability or responsibility for any comments, notes, or opinions expressed about a submission, whether by HLFF or by its volunteers.
3. Winners will be announced on October 15, 2017. The judges’ decision is final.
4. Winners receiving award for the 2017 and more award will come for the upcoming year.
RETURNS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
All materials including DVDs and press materials will not be returned under any circumstances. Include a self-addressed, stamped postcard for each submission if you wish acknowledgment of the receipt of your entry.