DC Shorts Film Festival

The 2009 DC Shorts Film Festival

September 10 – 17, 2009

DC Shorts turns the spotlight on truly independent short films, created by new and established filmmakers in an era when the art of filmmaking is opening to all. We select films from every genre for our competition screenings — with a special focus on films created by metropolitan Washington, DC-based directors and writers. After each screening, filmmakers have the opportunity to speak to the audience as part of a moderated panel.

We review films under 20 minutes in ALL genres, and program screenings so audiences see as many different types of films as possible.

Awards

(as of February 20, 2009)

Entry Deadline

The final registration deadline is May 10, 2009. Each submission requires a separate entry form and fee. We can only preview films on DVD (NTSC or PAL)—all other formats will be discarded and the entry not accepted. For complete details and requirements, check out the Rules and Licenses page before submitting your entry.

Notification Date

June 30, 2009. All filmmakers will receive notice of acceptance or rejection VIA EMAIL, as well as a complete report with judges scores and comments. If you do not receive this email by the notification date, please contact the office at info@dcshorts.com.

“This is one of the best organized, best run film festivals I've been to. The festival really was about the filmmaker. All the party events were geared toward meeting other filmmakers, which I really enjoyed — I can’t say that about other festivals. I would highly recommend it to other filmmakers.”

– 2008 Attending Filmmaker

“Thank you for the results in this competition on my script short, Mom’s New Toy. Even though it didn’t pass, it was one of the nicest rejection letters of gotten so far. I wish my relationship breakups went that well.”

– 2008 Rejected Filmmaker

Waivers

The DC Shorts fee waiver program is now closed. This year, 24 waivers were funded by a generous supporter. We are unable to extend additional waivers until 2010.

You may want to read a frank statement about fee waivers from the Festival Director.

Deadline

Film Submissions for DC Shorts 2009 is closed. Over 700 films have been submitted are being judged and scored. We will announce our program lineup by June 30, 2009.

How Films Are Judged

DC Shorts is proud to be one of a small number of festivals to provide feedback to ALL entrants. In addition, we pride ourselves on our open judging process — we explain how it works before you enter, provide feedback after decisions have been made, and allow you the opportunity to call us for additional feedback and comments.

For the 2009 festival, we expect to review more than 800 short films.

Films are removed from all packaging and placed into blank envelopes with a code number for identification. Team of judges, comprised of local filmmakers, industry professionals, film enthusiasts and film critics, watch each film in its entirety. Films are scored by each judge for strength of plot, originality, technical proficiency, acting, editing, sound and other values. In addition, judges may leave a comment if they wish. At the end of the preliminary judging cycle, scores are generated, and the top 150 films, plus any selections the festival director has added to the list, are sent to a second team of judges. This group watches each film in its entirety and makes programming notes (but no additional scores.) At the end of the second round, volunteers from the preliminary judges, the secondary judges and the festival director choose a final lineup based on scores, the time constraints of showcases (each showcase runs for approximately two hours, with an average of eight short films featured in each showcase), and how films will play in a show with each other. We will also select no less than 10% of films from filmmakers from the greater DC region.

Again, we encourage filmmakers to become an active part of the process. If you have questions, comments or need more clarification of the judging process, please feel free to contact the office at judge@dcshorts.com.

Want to read the thoughts from a previous judge? Here it is in the Washington City Paper. The account is not overly flattering, but we are proud of our system — and the fact that you know as much about it as we do. No secrecy, no bullshit.

Want to read the thoughts of some other judges? Check out our hints and tips on why some films are not accepted. This article has been published in various magazines, and is used by some film schools as a tip sheet for creating new works.

The Rules & Screening License Agreement

Please read this agreement carefully before you submit your film. By submitting your film, you expressly acknowledge and agree that you shall be bound by the terms of this agreement.

DC SHORTS GENERAL FILM COMPETITION

  1. GUIDELINES FOR ALL FILMS. Films must have been completed after January 1, 2006. Films must not exceed 20 minutes in length, including credits. All non-English language films must have English subtitles. A separate entry form and additional entry fee must be submitted for each film.
  2. ENTRY FORM AND PREVIEW MATERIALS FOR ALL FILMS. All films must be submitted and paid for through withoutabox.com. Illegible or incomplete entry forms will not be accepted. Entry forms that do not include full payment of entry fees by May 15, 2009 will not be accepted. Preview copies must arrive to the Festival offices by May 15, 2009. We can only preview films DVD (NTSC or PAL) — all other formats will be discarded and the entry not accepted. Preview media will NOT be returned. Preview media must be labeled with the title, running time and contact information. Do not send film prints, master media or other originals. DC Shorts, its members, directors, employees, and volunteers are not responsible for lost, misplaced, and undelivered film and media. Films must be sent to DC Shorts, 1317 F Street, NW, Suite 920, Washington, DC 20004 USA. Label the outside of your package FOR FESTIVAL PREVIEW ONLY-NO COMMERCIAL VALUE. Do not value the package any higher than $10 USD. Do not send media in fiber-filled envelopes as the dust can damage media and viewing equipment. Submissions may not be withdrawn from the Festival once they have been entered, except at the sole discretion of the Festival directors. There are no refunds for entries with incomplete entry forms, or incorrectly formatted preview materials.
  3. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS. To be considered for the DC Shorts Competition, you must register for the specific category in your entry form. Entry into the DC Shorts Competition will preclude your film for being considered in any other category. DC Shorts will review films in their entirety. Films will be watched and judged by members of the Selection Committee, a volunteer group of DC-area filmmakers, film enthusiasts and critics. Films are scored, and filmmakers will receive a short critique and feedback. After the final submission deadline, the Selection Committee will review the total scores of all the films in competition, and select final films from a group of the top scorers. In addition to the top scoring films, final screening decisions will be influenced by the time constraints of showcases (each showcase runs for approximately two hours, with an average of eight short films featured in each showcase). We will also select no less than 10% of films from filmmakers from the greater DC region. Award information is explained below. All prizes are subject to change, and updates to the prize package will be posted online at dcshorts.com
  4. AWARD INFORMATION. Cash Awards will be presented in four categories: Best First-Time Director which consists of a custom-made trophy and $250 cash award; Filmmakers’ Choice (chosen by filmmakers in attendance) which consists of a custom-made trophy and $250 cash award; Festival Director’s Choice (chosen by the Festival Director) which consists of a custom-made trophy and $250 cash award; and Best Local Film (chosen by the Selection Committee) which consists of a custom-made trophy and $250 cash award. In addition, audience members in each screening will vote on Audience Favorite (one for each screening) which consists of a framed certificate and no cash award. All awards will be announced at the final Filmmaker Brunch on Sunday, September 13, 2009. All prizes are subject to change, and updates to the prize package will be posted online at dcshorts.com
  5. NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE Letters of inclusion or non-inclusion, with a link to a breakdown of their scores and judges’ comments, will be sent to the email address provided on the entry form. DC Shorts does not send physical mail — please make sure your email address is accurate in your application.
  6. SCREENING FORMATS. Films, acceptance contracts and other materials instructed about with the letter of inclusion must arrive at the Festival office no later than 11:59pm, July 1, 2009 on DVD (NTSC or PAL, no region coding); MiniDV (NTSC or PAL, DV or DVCAM); or a data disc containing a .DV file. Films with incomplete materials by the deadline will forfeit their ability to screen in the festival. DC Shorts, its members, directors, employees, and volunteers are not responsible for lost, misplaced, and undelivered film and media.
  7. FILMMAKER AND WRITER ATTENDANCE. DC Shorts encourages filmmakers to attend the festival. To this end, we will assist every filmmaker (and one guest) who wishes to attend by providing a meal pass to be used at local restaurants, housing in a volunteer’s private home, passes for public transportation, invitations to all parties, tours and events, and passes for all film screenings. DC Shorts is proud to provide a filmmaker lounge in the theater which shows every film simultaneously with the public screenings, so filmmakers in attendance may watch films with other filmmakers in a relaxed atmosphere. DC Shorts is unable to provide financial compensation for travel expenses or additional expenses incurred during the Festival week.
  8. COMMUNICATIONS. DC Shorts does not send physical mail — please make sure the email address in your entry form is accurate. Changes of email address can be sent to info@dcshorts.com DC Shorts staff can be reached by email at info@dcshorts.com, or by mailing DC Shorts, 1317 F Street, NW, Suite 920, Washington, DC 20004 USA. The office phone number is 202-393-4266
  9. PUBLICITY AND MARKETING. All selected films and scripts may be excerpted for publicity purposes. DC Shorts reserves the right to promote any film or script to print, broadcast or internet media as required to market the Festival or our parent organization, the DC Film Alliance.
  10. THEATRICAL SCREENINGS. By accepting inclusion in DC Shorts, the filmmaker grants non-exclusive rights to showcase their film during the festival week (September 10-17, 2009) in as many screenings as required. This includes the competition screenings and the “Best Of” showcase which will play after competition ends. In addition, DC Shorts has non-exclusive rights to repeat the showcases throughout the year for fundraising purposes. All ticket sales are property of DC Shorts.
  11. INTERNET BROADCAST. DC Shorts may make films screened at DC Shorts available for commercial internet broadcast and download. Filmmakers participating in this venture will receive 50% of the profits (total revenues collected minus total expenses to produce and distribute the content) from the licensing for internet broadcast and download. Filmmakers will have the ability to opt out of this program upon acceptance into the festival. This is an optional program in which the filmmaker has the ability to opt-in on acceptance of the Participation Agreement, sent on inclusion into the festival
  12. TELEVISION BROADCASTS. DC Shorts reserves the non-exclusive right to repeat the various showcases on local (DC metropolitan area) cable access channels without any further compensation to the filmmaker. This is an optional program in which the filmmaker has the ability to opt-in on acceptance of the Participation Agreement, sent on inclusion into the festival
  13. CONTROLLING LAW, VENUE AND SEVERABILITY. This License shall be governed by the laws of the United States and the District of Columbia without consideration of conflicts of laws provisions and principles.. All claims between the parties, regardless of legal theory and whenever brought, shall be resolved in the state or federal courts of the District of Columbia, USA, and you stipulate that you expressly submit to the personal jurisdiction of such state and federal courts, and you further agree that any judgment may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. If for any reason a court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision, or portion thereof, of this Agreement to be unenforceable, the remainder of this License shall continue in full force and effect.
  14. COMPLETE AGREEMENT. This License constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the use of films and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings regarding such subject matter. No amendment to or modification of this License will be binding unless in writing and signed by an authorized representative of DC Shorts Film Festival. Nothing in this Agreement constitutes a waiver of DC Shorts’ rights under the United States of America patent and copyright laws or any other Federal or State law, nor of any of DC Shorts’ rights under the rules or laws of any country, territory, republic, and/or province.

©2009 DC Film Alliance. “ReelJudge” is a trademark of the DC Film Alliance. The ReelJudge online scoring system is pending patent approval.