Up Next Film Festival

About the festival

NOTE: The impacts of COVID-19 on our filmmaking community and fellow filmmakers has been vast. Our thoughts are with all of you and we hope you're safe and healthy. We are reminded of just how critical it is to support one another during these challenging times. As the situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19), continues to develop, nothing is more important than your health and safety, and the need to protect those most vulnerable to the coronavirus. Due to the (COVID-19) pandemic, This event has been postponed and rescheduled.

Up Next Film Festival (UNFF), will host its first annual film festival May 6-9, 2021 in Atlanta, GA. The festival was created out of the need to showcase experienced professionals and emerging filmmakers from around the world and give them an even platform where they can strike up conversation and perhaps take something away from one another.

OUR MISSION

We are looking to award those who consider themselves the NEXT BEST actor, writer, director, cinematographer and editor. We are looking for films that are pushing the boundaries of filmmaking and we will only accept high quality film content.

OUR GOAL

We will only accept high quality content. Our goal is to bring quality films, web-series and television content of all genres, to a large audience and offer emerging artist a place to showcase their work. UNFF is committed to playing a constituent part in discovering, celebrating and helping independent filmmakers by bringing them to the attention of the film industry.

Jury awards are given in the following categories:

Best Feature Film Award (Trophy)
Best Short Film Award (Trophy)
Best Web-Series Award (Trophy)
Best Foreign Feature Award (Trophy)
Best Foreign Short Award (Trophy)
Best Female Filmmaker Award (Trophy)
Best LGBT Feature Award (Trophy)
Best LGBT Short Award (Trophy)
Best Male Performance Award (Trophy)
Best Female Performance Award (Trophy)
Best Writer (Film) Award (Trophy)
Best Director Award (Trophy)
Best Cinematographer Award (Trophy)
Best Editor Award (Trophy)
Georgia Spotlight Award (Georgia Filmmakers Only) (Trophy)
*** Up Next Emerging Talent Award *** (Trophy)

About

OUR MISSION

OUR GOAL

Jury awards are given in the following categories:

Terms and rules

TERMS AND CONDITIONS (Please read thoroughly before submitting)

Any failure to comply with one or more of Up Next Film Festival’s Rules and Terms will result in disqualification.

CLEARANCE

- Filmmaker MUST HAVE clearance or rights for film submission.
- Films must have been created after January 1, 2018. - -
- Films MUST HAVE an online screener.
- ALL Foreign films MUST HAVE English language subtitles.
- COMPLETED FILMS ONLY.

ENTRY FEES

- Fee Waivers are not available.
- Entry fee is non-refundable.
- Entry does not guarantee acceptance into the festival.
- All selection decisions and award decisions are final and at the discretion of the
festival.
- Entry fee is per category.
- More than one entry may be submitted. Each entry must be accompanied by a
separate entry form and entry fee.

PREMIERE STATUS

- PREMIERE STATUS IS NOT REQUIRED.
- NO WORK IN PROGRESS. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. - Submissions MUST NOT be available for viewing online (Youtube, Vimeo, Netflix,
Amazon and VOD) or any other consumer site.
- Online distribution of the film prior to screening at the festival is PROHIBITED.

PRESS MATERIALS

- Please do not send press kits unless requested. If your film is selected, you will be
asked to provide a digital press kit which includes: headshot and filmography of
director, color and/or B&W still from the film, screeners for press, and a video trailer.

ALL FILMMAKERS,

By submitting your film, please take note that:

I hereby enter the above named film/video in the 2020 Up Next Film Festival (UNFF) competition and hold all necessary rights for said production. I understand that UNFF will not be responsible for accidental damage to, or loss of, my entry or any other materials submitted, nor will they be liable for any legal actions, which may arise in connection to this production. I understand that, unless otherwise specified, UNFF provides no financial compensation for any exhibition of my work.

UNFF is here by granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the festival including: (trailers/teasers/film poster) for promotional purposes. Submitter agrees to the terms outlined in the general festival rules for the UNFF. Payment of submission fee does not guarantee inclusion in UNFF. If your film is chosen as an official selection. UNFF does not compensate for travel, accommodations, or appearance fees unless otherwise offered. I understand and am authorized to accept all of the terms listed under the submission guidelines, and I agree to abide by all guidelines.

Ratings & Reviews

Categories and fees

FEATURE FILMS

Entry fees

Early Bird (27th January, 2020) $25

Regular (2nd March, 2020) $35

Late (18th May, 2020) $45

Description

Must have a minimum running time of 60 minutes. Films in this category qualify for the following awards: Best Feature Film, Best Male Performance, Best Female Performance, Best Female Filmmaker, Best Writer (Film), Best Director, Best Cinematographer, Best Editor and Up Next Emerging Talent Award .

SHORT FILMS

Entry fees

Early Bird (27th January, 2020) $15

Regular (2nd March, 2020) $25

Late (18th May, 2020) $35

Description

Must have a running time of 30 minutes or less, including all credits. Films in this category qualify for the following awards: Best Short Film, Best Male Performance, Best Female Performance, Best Female Filmmaker, Best Writer (Film), Best Director, Best Cinematographer, Best Editor and Up Next Emerging Talent Award .

FOREIGN FEATURE FILMS

Entry fees

Early Bird (27th January, 2020) $30

Regular (2nd March, 2020) $40

Late (18th May, 2020) $50

Description

Must have a minimum running time of 60 minutes. Must be made outside the United States: Production and/or Post Production. Films in this category qualify for the following awards: Best Foreign Feature Film, Best Male Performance, Best Female Performance, Best Female Filmmaker, Best Writer (Film), Best Director, Best Cinematographer, Best Editor and Up Next Emerging Talent Award.

FOREIGN SHORT FILMS

Entry fees

Early Bird (27th January, 2020) $25

Regular (2nd March, 2020) $35

Late (18th May, 2020) $45

Description

Must have a running time of 30 minutes or less, including all credits. Must be made outside the United States: Production and/or Post Production. Films in this category qualify for the following awards: Best Foreign Short Film, Best Male Performance, Best Female Performance, Best Female Filmmaker, Best Writer (Film), Best Director, Best Cinematographer, Best Editor and Up Next Emerging Talent Award.

WEBSERIES

Entry fees

Early Bird (27th January, 2020) $15

Regular (2nd March, 2020) $25

Late (18th May, 2020) $35

Description

A web series is a series of scripted or non-scripted videos, generally in episodic form, released on the Internet and part of the web television medium. Must submit up to 3 episodes with a combined running time of 30 minutes, including credits and completed after January 1, 2018. Films in this category qualify for the following awards: Best Web-Series. (News Programs, Talk Shows, and Reality Shows are not accepted).

WOMEN FEATURE FILMS

Entry fees

Early Bird (27th January, 2020) $25

Regular (2nd March, 2020) $35

Late (18th May, 2020) $45

Description

Feature films written, directed and/or produced by women, focusing on women's subject matter. Must have a minimum running time of 60 minutes. Films in this category qualify for the following awards: Best Women Feature Film, Best Female Performance, Best Female Filmmaker, Best Writer (Film), Best Director, Best Cinematographer, Best Editor and Up Next Emerging Talent Award.

WOMEN SHORT FILMS & TV WEB SERIES

Entry fees

Early Bird (27th January, 2020) $15

Regular (2nd March, 2020) $25

Late (18th May, 2020) $35

Description

Short films and/or TV/web series episodes written, directed and/or produced by women, focusing on women's subject matter 30 minutes or less. TV/Webseries must submit up to 3 episodes with a combined running time of 30 minutes, including all credits. Films in this category qualify for the following awards: Best Women Short Film, Best Web-Series Best Female Performance, Best Female Filmmaker, Best Writer (Film), Best Director, Best Cinematographer, Best Editor and Up Next Emerging Talent Award.

LGBT FEATURE FILMS

Entry fees

Early Bird (27th January, 2020) $25

Regular (2nd March, 2020) $35

Late (18th May, 2020) $45

Description

Feature films focusing on LGBT subject matter. Must have a minimum running time of 60 minutes. Films in this category qualify for the following awards: Best LGBT Feature.

LGBT SHORT FILMS & TV WEBSERIES

Entry fees

Early Bird (27th January, 2020) $15

Regular (2nd March, 2020) $25

Late (18th May, 2020) $35

Description

Short films focusing on LGBT subject matter 30 minutes or less, including all credits. Films in this category qualify for the following awards:Best LGBT Short.

GEORGIA FEATURE FILMS

Entry fees

Early Bird (27th January, 2020) $15

Regular (2nd March, 2020) $20

Late (18th May, 2020) $30

Description

Features films shot in or about Georgia. Films submitted in the Georgia category must be made in the State of Georgia: Production and/or post production. Films submitted in Georgia category must have a minimum running time of 60 minutes. Films in this category qualify for the following awards: Best Feature Film, Best Male Performance, Best Female Performance, Best Female Filmmaker, Best Writer (Film), Best Director, Best Cinematographer, Best Editor and Up Next Emerging Talent Award.