The Garden State Film Festival

2014 Call for Entries is OPEN NOW!!!

Film Entries
Screenplay Competition
Movie Music Competition

Film Entries

We have started accepting film entries for our next festival.

FINAL Deadline is December 1st, 2013
 

Screenplay Competition

We have started accepting screenplay entries for our next festival.

Announcing the GSFF Movie Music Competition

This is the first competition of this kind in Film Festival History. Submit any original movie music from an independent film and it will be judged by music professionals with awards in multiple categories. Please submit a CD of any original music track (one entry/one track per CD please!) from any of the film categories (please specify what category the film falls under -Documentary, Feature, Animation, etc. – but do NOT send us the actual film! We want the music to stand on its own merit!).

Please mark the outside of the package MUSIC COMPETITION with the WAB Tracking ID. If you have any questions please contact us DIRECTLY at info@gsff.org or 877-908-7050 – do NOT contact Withoutabox Customer Support about this particular category. We are happy to answer any and all of your questions!

MISSION & OBJECTIVE 
The Garden State Film Festival was founded to promote the art of film making on all levels by showcasing a wide variety of film, video and animated works, as well as to provide educational programs in the creative arts to the public by industry leaders. Our goal is to present films of the highest quality in both production value and content.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Founded to celebrate the independent film genre, The Garden State Film Festival, a not for profit organization, offers independent filmmakers the chance to exhibit their work and gives New Jersey audiences a chance to experience new, cultural, and artistic endeavors through the medium of film.

The Garden State Film Festival's professional jury will select winning films in the following categories: Feature, Documentary in both short and feature length, Animation in both short and feature length, Short film, Music Video,Commercial, and PSA and trailers. There are separate awards for student films in all of the above categories (please state on notes which kind of student you are if it applies - Graduate, College, High School or younger) as well as the "Home Grown Awards" for films in all categories where 75% of principle photography is shot in the State of New Jersey.

This event, formally in Asbury Park, NJ, in 2014 in Atlantic City, NJ, commencing with an opening ceremony and reception and ending with a Gala Awards Dinner where the "Best" in all categories of films, and the Lifetime Achievement Award for film are given by Celebrity Presenters.

In addition to the screenings, Professional Panel Discussions such as "How to Finance Your Film" and "How to Distribute Your Film" will be headed by industry professionals at posted times. The festival will hold these discussions to unite celebrity filmmakers with aspiring screenwriters, directors, and actors. Representatives from respected film distribution companies will be invited to attend, as the festival will provide access to new talent and product available for worldwide distribution.

Youth workshops for hands on sessions with industry professionals will take place throughout the festival at pre-scheduled times.

Please note that at this time GSFF does NOT pay a screening fee.

GSFF was also the first festival in the world to introduce the MOVIE MUSIC TRACK COMPETITION. For more information please go to: www.gsff.org
ORGANIZERS
Administration GSFF ; Diane Raver (Executive Director) ; Nick Falcone (Producer) 

GENERAL RULES
The Garden State Film Festival – General Rules

1. The Garden State Film Festival (“GSFF” or “the Festival”) Entry Fees are non-refundable.

2. Films produced on video or film for release on television, internet or theatrical are eligible for competition.

3. All films must be in English, subtitled in English, or dubbed in English.

4. All films must be submitted on DVD (NTSC) for judging. NO PAL VIDEOS ACCEPTED! All entries must be shipped prepaid. Do not declare a value on your submission, as this will hold it up in customs.
Do not send materials in fibre-filled envelopes or "jiffy packs," since fibres will damage both disc and playback equipment. Please use other types of envelopes or containers. The title of the work, WBA number and running time must be on all mailing containers. 

5. Preview DVDs should be clearly labeled with the title, running time and contact information (name, phone number, email) and WAB number. If you are submitting more than one entry, a separate submission is required for each film, although they may be mailed together. Submissions will not be returned unless a self-stamped addressed envelope is provided with the submission. 

6. If the DVD does not play in an industry standard US DVD player, the Festival will attempt, but is under no obligation, to contact the applicant from the contact information provided to obtain a replacement. If a replacement is not available, the Festival reserves the right to disqualify the film without refunding the submission fees. 

7. In order to be considered for the Festival, the Applicant must fill out the submission form located at http://www.gsff.org/callforentries.php or http://www.withoutabox.com. The Festival reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from the Applicant, any Film that is not submitted through one of these channels.

8. The Festival will attempt, but is under no obligation, to view a submission that arrives after the designated deadline without refund of the submission fee.

9. The Festival reserves the right to disqualify any film for non-payment of the submission fee. The Festival will attempt to contact the applicant with the information on the application form to resolve the non-payment status, but is under no obligation to do so.

10. The Festival is under no obligation to provide comments or feedback regarding the submitted Film to the Applicant or any other representative of the submitted Film. The Fesitval will not be held responsible or liable for the contents of any internal comments or feedback regarding any submitted Film obtained by the Applicant or any other representative of the submitted film or any third party.

11. It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to secure clearance from the copyright holders of any copyrighted materials included within the submitted Film. The GSFF will not be held responsible for the unauthorized inclusion of any copyrighted materials within or relating to the submitted Film. The GSFF reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from the Applicant, any Film with any unauthorized inclusion of copyrighted materials.

12. Successful applicants to the Festival will by notified through the contact information provided on the application form. The Festival will notify all applicants by the end of February 2013. The contact information on the application form must be kept valid from submission to the end of the festival, April 7, 2013. The Festival will not be held responsible for the failure to contact the Applicant using the contact information provided on the submission form.

13. GSFF reserves the right to adjust screening schedules of films at the discretion of GSFF without any notice.

14. GSFF will be held harmless for delays due to equipment failure, shipping delays, and or condition the prints delivered which may prevent screening. GSFF cannot be held liable for your exhibition materials which are lost or damaged.

15. GSFF does not pay screening fees at this time.

16. By making a submission to the GSFF, the submitter agrees that the GSFF has the right to screen their film if chosen and fully understands the film cannot be withdrawn for any reason.

17. Filmmakers or screenwriters accepted and attending the Festival are responsible for travel, lodging, and all other expenses.

18. All jury decisions are final and will be announced at the Festival Awards Dinner and will be posted on the GSFF website shortly thereafter.

19. Festival dates are subject to change. 

20. All stated information, eligibility and submission guidelines, terms and conditions of entry, and entry information are subject to change by the GSFF, without notice. 

21. By making the submission to the GSFF, the submitter warrants that it/they have the legal right to enter film work to GSFF 2013, own all rights to all elements of their film, or are authorized to use all elements in the film, and are authorized to submit for the film for exhibition and related uses by the GSFF. Furthermore to, jointly and severally, indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Garden State Film Festival (“GSFF”), its officers, directors, committee persons, agents, volunteers, and all other connected with or providing services to, whether paid, in-kind or volunteered (collectively “Indemnitee”), from liability, damages, costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, that such Indemnitee might incur relating to, arising out of or existing by, whether by act or omission, including negligence, by reason of (1) the decision or act to exhibit or not exhibit a Submission submitted to GSFF by the Submitter; (2) the advertisement, publicity, or exhibition of said Submission; or (3) the other use of said Submission by the GSFF.

22. By submitting a film, I freely and voluntarily give and express my full and complete acceptance of all of the terms and provisions set forth in these General Rules and the Terms and Conditions. I acknowledge that no oral representations, inducements, promises or assurances of any kind, and no representations, inducements, promises or assurances not set forth in these General Rules or the Terms and Conditions, below, have been made to me or the Film’s Owners by the GSFF or any Indemnitee