Rules & Terms
Preamble
IndieLisboa International Film Festival (Lisbon, Portugal) aims to contribute to the discovery in Portugal of new films and new directors – within the universe of independent film – both national and internationalforeign.
Article 1
(Objective)
IndieLisboa intends to stimulate a public exhibition of films that are neither distributed nor exhibited within traditional circuits o. The festival gives preference to national premieres.
Article 2
(Date)
The 19th IndieLisboa will be held from April 28th to May 8th, 2022.
Article 3
(Sections)
- The following official sections accept submissions:
International Competition – the International Competition for short and feature films is composed of films that have never been publicly exhibited in Portugal and which were completed in 2021 or 2022. First, second or third works, fiction, animation, documentaries and experimental films may apply to this section. The festival is particularly keen to promote the work of new directors;
National Competition – composed of Portuguese feature and short films finished in 2021 or 2022, preferably a world and/or national premiere;
Silvestre – showing works by young filmmakers and renowned authors, this section finds the norm in its singularity. Under the wing of Silvestre we have shown works that reject consecrated formulas, which awaken new languages and whose rebellion mirrors the spirit of the festival.
Brand New – this competitive section shows upcoming Portuguese talents;
IndieJunior – a competition programmed for younger audiences: shorts and features, comprising animations and live-action films (fictions and documentaries);
IndieMusic – a competitive section that comprises films – mainly documentaries – focusing on music and its protagonists;
Director’s Cut – a program of recently restored classics, rediscoveries and films which reflect on cinema itself, its artistic dimensions and history;
Mouth of Madness – composed of films that festively march along the cliff regardless any fear, this section presents works that defy traditional conventions;
Special Screenings – a survey of essential works in independent contemporary cinema by established filmmakers, thematic programs and film previews.
- IndieLisboa also presents a retrospective section dedicated to those who go beyond the mainstream in filmmaking and help to open new and unconventional paths for cinema.
Article 4
(How to apply)
- To apply to IndieLisboa’s International Competition, films must fulfill all the following criteria:
– Fiction, animation, documentary or experimental short (up to 59 minutes) or feature films (from 60 minutes);
– First, second or third works by their director(s);
– Completed in either 2021 or 2022;
– First public presentation in Portugal.
- Regarding other sections of the festival:
– Fiction, animation, documentary and experimental short and feature films;
– No limitations apply to the number of the previous works made by the director(s);
– Films produced in 2021 and 2022;
– Portuguese premieres are preferred.
- The festival may, in exceptional circumstances, decide to select films that do not fulfil one or more of these criteria. Such selection is at the discretion of the festival organizers.
Article 5
(Subtitling)
- Submitted films must have a screener subtitled in English (except for English spoken films).
- Selected films must have a screening copy subtitled in English (except for English spoken films), except films selected for IndieJunior – which will need an unsubtitled exhibition copy.
- The festival will take the responsibility to make a Portuguese translation and provide electronic subtitling.
- Portuguese films spoken in other languages must send a formatted dialogue list in Portuguese.
Article 6
(Juries and awards)
- IndieLisboa official juries are:
- a) Feature Film International Competition Jury, composed of renowned personalities from the world of cinema, at least one of whom will be Portuguese. The Jury is responsible for assigning the following award: Feature Film Grand Prize and Special Jury Award.
- b) Short Film International Competition Jury, composed of renowned personalities from the world of cinema, at least one of whom will be Portuguese. The Jury will be responsible for assigning the following awards: Short Film Grand Prize, Best Animation, Best Documentary and Best Fiction.
- c) National Competition Jury, composed of renowned personalities from the world of cinema, responsible for assigning the following awards: Best Portuguese Feature Film, Best Director in a Portuguese Feature Film, Best Portuguese Short Film and New Talent in Short Film.
- d) Brand New Jury, composed of renowned personalities from the world of cinema and responsible for assigning the Brand New award.
- e) Silvestre Jury, composed of renowned personalities from the world of cinema, responsible for assigning the following awards: Silvestre Award for Best Feature Film, Silvestre Award for Best Short Film.
- f) IndieMusic Jury, composed of renowned personalities from the world of cinema and music, responsible for assigning the IndieMusic Award to a film in the respective section.
- IndieLisboa non-official juries are: Amnesty International, Árvore da Vida, Schools, Universities, and Audience.
- Juries will be able to assign honorable mentions when deemed necessary.
- Individuals directly connected with the production, exhibition or distribution of films presented in the various competitive sections may not sit in the respective jury.
- The payment of the prizes will be made according to the bank details contained in the prize certificate, and IndieLisboa is not responsible for any information provided incorrectly. Any additional bank charges related to the operation are the responsibility of the winner.
- The payment of the prizes can be made up to 180 days after the end of the festival and after receiving it properly filled and signed.
Article 7
(Submissions)
- Submissions must be completed online via https://filmfreeway.com/IndieLisboa no later than January 14th 2022.
- The online screener and password (requested in the form) should be valid until March 31st 2022. If the film is selected, please note that we will need to download the file for press/internal use.
- If relevant, please indicate if the submission is a work in progress.
- In case the film is selected the following elements must be sent to program@indielisboa.com, immediately after the communication of the selection:
-dialogue list
-film stills
-credits/artistic info
-screening authorization
-trailer
-synopsis;
-bio and filmography
-EPK (electronic press kit);
Until March 31st 2022 the following elements must be sent to IndieLisboa International Film Festival, Casa do Cinema, Rua da Rosa, 2º– 1200-385 Lisboa, Portugal
-screening copy (of the requested format) with English subtitles with the exception for films selected for IndieJunior that need to deliver an exhibition copy without subtitles.
-technical info of the screening copy
-posters, postcards and other promotion materials.
Article 8
(Submission fee)
- In order to complete the submission, please make the payment according to the deadline:
early bird August 9th to October 1st, 2021
short films 8€
feature films 20€
regular October 2nd to December 23rd, 2021
short films 12€
feature films 30€
extended December 24th, 2021 to January 14th, 2022
short films 20€
feature films 40€
- Portuguese films (shorts and features) shall be exempt from payment. To this effect you should fill the specific form.
- Entry fees are per film.
Article 9
(Re-entry)
If your project was submitted and considered for previous editions of the IndieLisboa International Film Festival, you may re-enter it if you have made significant changes and if all applicable eligibility requirements are met at the time of entry.
Article 10
(Selection)
- The official selection will be announced one month prior to the festival. After the communication of the selection and until after its exhibition at the festival, the selected films must not be publicly exhibited in Portugal.
- After accepting the selection in any section of IndieLisboa, the film in case cannot be withdrawn.
- Unsuccessful submissions will be notified at least one month prior to the festival.
Article 11
(Retention of films)
All films screened during the festival must remain at the festival for its complete duration, and will be returned only after the festival is over, or in some cases, when authorized, within one month after the festival.
Article 12
(Transportation)
- The shipping costs of materials submitted to the festival for selection purposes must be paid by the person/organization submitting the film.
- Transportation costs (round-trip) for films which are selected for the programme – as well as the corresponding insurance relating to them – are the festival’s responsibility, except when the film is being shipped to another festival. In such cases, IndieLisboa will pay only for the incoming delivery of the film copy (in accordance with standard practice between the international film festivals).
Article 13
(Insurance)
Insurance for all films is at the full responsibility of the festival, in the period between the reception of a film copy by the festival until its return.
Article 14
(Publicity)
The producer (and/or the owner of the exhibition rights of the film in film festivals) of films that have won awards during the festival must mention IndieLisboa and use its logo in all publicity and press/promotion materials produced after the awarding of the prize to the film.
Article 15
(Extensions)
In case the film is awarded, it can be integrated into a festival extension within four months of the event. If you do not authorize the film to make part of a festival extension, you must send an email to: program@indielisboa.com until March 31st, 2022.
Article 16
(Acceptance)
Participation in the festival implies acceptance of all the aforementioned regulations.
Article 17
(General disclaimer)
Decisions of the festival’s direction are final. IndieLisboa’s directors will be responsible for any decisions regarding issues not covered by the above regulations, in accordance with the international rules of film festivals.