The Williamsburg International Film Festival
(WILLiFEST) spotlights independent filmmakers from around the world. We
encourage you to submit your work and join us in New York City for a
professional, fun-filled festival of screenings, panels, networking
opportunities and after-parties.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The Williamsburg International Film Festival, voted top 20
coolest film festival by MovieMaker Magazine, is the film component of
WILLiFEST. WILLiFEST was established to provide a platform for the
creative visions of today's emerging artists of all disciplines. The
film and music festivals are opportunities for artists to enhance their
careers by exposing their films and music to a powerful audience,
gaining crucial media exposure and strengthening industry relationships.
In the LiVE it UP! Pavilion, Donna Drake, a nationally syndicated TV
talk show host, interviews filmmakers and local celebrities. The
Filmmakers' Lounge provides filmmakers a space to promote their films
and network with each other in between their screenings.
In addition to red carpet premieres, the festival features several film
competitions. A Screenplay competition rounds out the offerings. The
closing night award ceremony will honor award winners in each category.
At WILLiFEST, we pride ourselves on elevating the filmmaker's
experience. This festival was created for the artist, by artists, and we
look forward to taking you, your film or your screenplay to the next
level.
The categories of entries we are accepting for the 2012 Williamsburg International Film Festival are as follows:
U.S. Narrative Feature Films
Any narrative work of fiction with a running time of at least 50 minutes. In order to qualify as a U.S. Narrative Feature Film, the submitted project must be either scripted or improvisational fiction. No premiere status is required. Films must have been completed after January 2010.
U.S. Documentary Feature Films
Any non-fiction film with a running time of at least 50 minutes, NOT including entirely scripted or improvised fictionalizations of actual events. If your documentary contains limited dramatization of actual events, you may submit in this category, but we will ultimately decide which program is best suited for your project, if accepted. No premiere status is required. Films must have been completed after January 2010.
International Narrative Feature Films
Any narrative work of fiction with a running time of at least 50 minutes. In order to qualify as an International Narrative Feature Film, the submitted project must be either scripted or improvisational fiction, and production must have occurred outside of the United States. No premiere status is required. Films must have been completed after January 2010.
International Documentary Feature Films
Any non-fiction film with a running time of at least 50 minutes, NOT including entirely scripted or improvised fictionalizations of actual events. If your documentary contains limited dramatization of actual events, you may submit in this category, but we will ultimately decide which program is best suited for your project, if accepted. In order to qualify as an International Documentary Feature Film, the film must be unscripted and production must have occurred outside of the United States. No premiere status is required. Films must have been completed after January 2010.
U.S. Short Films
Any narrative or documentary film of U.S. origin with a running time of 49 minutes or less. No premiere status is required. Films must have been completed after January 2010.
International Short Films
Any narrative or documentary film of international origin with a running time of 49 minutes or less. In order to qualify as an International Short Film, production must have occurred outside of the United States. No premiere status is required. Films must have been completed after January 2010.
Animated Films
Any animated film in any style of animation from any country of origin with a running time of any length. No premiere status is required. Films must have been completed after January 2010.
Family Fare
Any live action or animation of any length from any country that celebrates the whole family coming together to enjoy and share the movie-going experience. Any subject matter considered. All films should be appropriate for general audiences. No premiere status is required. Films must have been completed after January 2010.
Student Films
Any U.S. or International narrative or documentary film of any length. Proof of school enrollment is required. No premiere status is required. Films must have been completed after January 2010.
Music Videos
Any film or video in sync to music from any country of origin with a running time of less than 10 minutes. No premiere status is required. Music Videos do not have a completion requirement.
Midnight Treats
A treat for true cinephiles and casual filmgoers alike, this non-competition section presents an eclectic mix of horror, sci-fi, over-the-top comedies, explicit animation and bizarre stories that defy categorization. Midnight Treats have no premiere or completion requirements.
Screenplays
Any feature-length, English-language, narrative screenplay of any genre. Scripts must have a minimum page
count of 60 pages and a maximum page count of 240, all pages numbered
and in standard industry format. Title page or email should include author name(s), title, street address, phone number, email address and WAB ID#. We only accept electronic submissions. Digital formats accepted are Final Draft or Adobe PDF documents. After completing the on-line application process and paying appropriate fee, digital screenplay submissions should be emailed to screenplays@willifest.com or uploaded to Withoutabox.com. Title page must include author name(s), title, home address, phone number, email address and WAB #.
Awards are presented for all categories except Midnight Treats, which is a mix of all genres of films.
GENERAL RULES
Each submitted film must be accompanied by the appropriate fee.
Please write the title of the film on all checks or money orders.
Entries must be submitted on DVD (NTSC Region 0 or 1). International
films can be submitted on NTSC or PAL Region 0 (Region-free) DVDs.
Screeners should be straight-play DVDs with only your film and no menus.
We accept works-in-progress. Screener DVD must be labeled with title,
running time, entrant's name, category, phone number and WAB ID# on the
disc face with permanent marker. Screeners should be viewed for playback
quality before mailing in. Please DO NOT use paper labels.
Foreign language work must be subtitled in English (or dubbed where
permitted). Only films completed after January 2010 will be accepted
except for Music Videos and Midnight Treats which do not have a
completion requirement. Student Films are projects completed by
filmmakers when they were enrolled in school. Students must include a
copy of school ID.
WILLiFEST is an HD projection festival utilizing file-based server
technology. We do not project from videotape and request exhibition
copies of films be submitted as a file or alternatively, a DVD or Bluray
Disc. We also project 35mm film on a limited-basis and these situations
will be discussed with filmmakers upon acceptance and decided by our
Programming Department.
For information on additional WILLiFEST news and events, visit us at www.willifest.com.
Best of Luck!
the WILLiFEST team
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