USA Film Festival (47)

Inicio Festival: 26 abril 2017      Fin Festival: 30 abril 2017

MISSION & OBJECTIVE

One of the oldest and most respected festivals and film arts organizations in the U.S., the 47-year old USA Film Festival is a Dallas-based, 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to the encouragement and recognition of excellence in the film and video arts. Through its YEAR-ROUND "live cinema" programs and special events, the USA Film Festival provides an opportunity for the public to discover new films and sheds new light on familiar films by facilitating discussion and encounters with master, mid-career and emerging filmmakers. Programs include a major annual film festival, now in its 47th year; the International Short Film & Video Competition; the Annual KidFilm festival, the oldest and largest-attended children's film festival in the U.S.; tributes and retrospectives organized around important themes and filmmakers; and extensive educational community outreach activities. With the exception of special member screenings, all events are open to the public.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

47th Annual USA Film Festival

A curated event featuring only the best new features & shorts; U.S. and foreign films; Tributes to master artists; International Short Film & Video Competition with cash awards administered by national jury. Filmmakers present their works and discuss them with the audience; If your short film is also selected to play in the curated showcase, air travel (U.S. filmmakers) and lodging (all filmmakers) are provided to enable you to be with us to present your film. (Air vouchers and hotel are limited quantities; We distribute as films are booked until the resources are exhausted.)

Master Artist Tributes
Tributes & retrospectives honoring master artists including directors, actors, screenwriters, cinematographers, composers, art directors, editors and more.

Since its inception in 1971, the USA Film Festival has presented the world, national or regional premieres of thousands of studio and independent feature films and short experimental, animated, documentary and dramatic films. The eye-popping roster of filmmaker guests numbers in the thousands and is too long to list in total, but includes ACTORS Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey, Benjamin Bratt, Brian Cox, Thomas Haden Church, M. Emment Walsh, Chris Cooper, Peter Fonda, John Turturro, Andy Garcia, Dakota Fanning, Anthony Hopkins, Gary Oldman, Alfred Molina, Christopher Walken, Tommy Lee Jones, James Earl Jones, Jimmy Smits, Jodie Foster, Marcia Gay Harden, Richard Dreyfuss, Audrey Hepburn, Dennis Hopper, James Stewart, Robert Duvall, Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Gregory Peck, Jackie Chan, Derek Jacobi, Ian McKellen, Richard E. Grant, Josh Lucas, Wanda Sykes, Martin Short, Charles Durning, Stephen Tobolowsky, Harry Shearer, Dennis Quaid, Gregory Hines, Terry Jones, Ray Liotta; SCREENWRITERS/WRITERS George Axelrod, Robert Towne, Buck Henry; James V. Hart, Paul Rudnick; EFFECTS WIZARDS Dennis Muren; VOICE ARTISTS June Foray, Will Ryan; ANIMATORS Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Michael Sporn, John Dilworth, Don Bluth, Gary Goldman, Ray Harryhausen, Henry Selick; AUTHORS John Grisham, Kimberly Willis Holt, Cari Best, Rosemary Wells, Richard Condon, John Boyne, Dominick Dunne; PRODUCERS Bernie Brillstein, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Jerry Bruckheimer, Polly Platt, Christine Vachon; COMPOSERS Mark Mothersbaugh, Quincy Jones, Elmer Bernstein, Hans Zimmer, Paul Williams; EDITORS Dede Allen; Dennis Virkler; CINEMATOGRAPHERS Owen Roizman, Conrad Hall, Laszlo Kovacs; ART DIRECTORS Henry Bumstead, Richard Sylbert; CRITICS/FILM WRITERS Roger Ebert, Leonard Maltin, Mike Clarke, Stephen Rebello; DIRECTORS Milos Forman, Danny Boyle, Mark Herman, Neil LaBute, Ken Russell, Ismail Merchant & James Ivory, Albert Maysles, Peter Greenaway, Blake Edwards, Robert Benton, Michael Apted, Wim Wenders, Norman Jewison, Arthur Penn, Alan J. Pakula, Paul Mazursky, Sydney Pollack, Stanley Donen, Paul Schrader, Martha Coolidge, Mel Stuart, John Waters, Andy Warhol, Charles Burnett, Budd Boetticher, Robert Altman, Oliver Stone, Atom Egoyan, John Frankenheimer, Martin Ritt, Alan Rudolph, Michael Powell, Chuck Jones, Richard Brooks, Frederick Wiseman, John Cassavetes, Frank Perry, Peter Bogdanovich, Robert Wise, Rouben Mamoulian, Sidney Lumet, George Cukor, King Vidor, Mervyn LeRoy, William Wyler, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Raoul Walsh, Frank Capra, George Stevens, and many more.

INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM & VIDEO COMPETITION

Winning filmmakers will receive a complimentary DCP conversion of their film.

FICTION
(Free DCP conversion)
Includes narrative works, dramatized events and adaptations of literary or dramatic works. Winning filmmaker will receive a complimentary DCP conversion of their film (approximate value $1,000 - $5,000 depending on length of film).
Value of Goods/Services: approx. $1,000

NON-FICTION
(Free DCP conversion)
Includes documentaries or portraits of actual persons or events. Winning filmmaker will receive a complimentary DCP conversion of their film (approximate value $1,000 - $5,000 depending on length of film).
Value of Goods/Services: approx. $1,000

ANIMATION
(Free DCP conversion)
Includes animation of graphics or three-dimensional objects. Winning filmmaker will receive a complimentary DCP conversion of their film (approximate value $1,000 - $5,000 depending on length of film).
Value of Goods/Services: approx. $1,000

THE EXPERIMENTAL AWARD
(Free DCP Conversion)
Works that explore personal experience or film and video forms in innovative ways (can employ elements of animation, fiction or documentary). PSAs, music videos, industrials and educational films may also be submitted in this category. Winning filmmaker will receive a complimentary DCP conversion of their film (approximate value $1,000 - $5,000 depending on length of film).
Value of Goods/Services: approx. $1,000

THE TEXAS AWARD
(Free DCP conversion)
Works shot in Texas, or made by current residents of Texas and filmmakers with ties to Texas are eligible for this additional award. Winning filmmaker will receive a complimentary DCP conversion of their film (approximate value $1,000 - $5,000 depending on length of film).
Value of Goods/Services: approx. $1,000

THE STUDENT AWARD
(Free DCP conversion)
Student works may be entered in any of the main categories, but only student works qualify for this additional award. Winning filmmaker will receive a complimentary DCP conversion of their film (approximate value $1,000 - $5,000 depending on length of film).
Value of Goods/Services: approx. $1,000

SPECIAL JURY AWARDS
(Free DCP conversion)
The National Jury awards multiple prizes at will for special achievement in any category. Winning filmmakers will receive a complimentary DCP conversion of their film (approximate value $1,000 - $5,000 depending on length of film).
Value of Goods/Services: approx. $1,000 each award

INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM & VIDEO COMPETITION

All entries must be under 60 minutes in length. Running time is calculated by timing the head frame to the last frame on the end credits.

The appropriate entry fee must accompany each entry. This nonrefundable fee covers screening and handling costs, and will not be returned.

Specify only ONE MAIN CATEGORY (Fiction, Non-Fiction, Experimental, Animation) for your film to be in.

The film or video must have been completed between January 1, 2016 and February 15, 2017.

Films or videos using non-licensed, copyrighted musical or literary properties without legal permission are not eligible.

The film cannot have premiered in Dallas before the Festival.

The competition is open to professional and nonprofessional filmmakers.

Entries must be submitted in the completed form in which they will be judged.

The decisions of the Jury are final. The Jury reserves the right not to select a winner in any given category. The Jury reserves the right to change a category to the benefit of the film.

IF SUBMITTING A PHYSICAL SCREENER:
Eligible finished formats include 70mm, 16mm and 35mm film, DVD, Beta SP, DigiBeta, IMAX, HDCAM, DV/DVCAM, DCI, and Blu-Ray in the standard American NTSC format. (It is understood that there exists a multitude of shooting formats for video production.)

Screener DVDs must be technically fit for projection and should be placed in sturdy shipping cases. Each DVD must be clearly marked with the title and the entrant's name and email address.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All short films submitted into the Competition REMAIN IN COMPETITION until the National Jury makes its final decisions and announcement on the last day of the festival. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE FESTIVAL TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE STATUS OF YOUR FILM. All entering filmmakers will receive a list of winning films in May.

FEATURE SUBMISSIONS

USAFF accepts feature films in all genres; U.S. and foreign works accepted; any length feature works accepted.

For our purposes, feature films are generally not less than 60 minutes in run time.

Professional and nonprofessional film and video-makers may submit works.

All shooting formats accepted.

The film cannot have premiered in Dallas before the Festival.

Submissions must be made via DVD screener (NTSC format). Filmmakers should include synopsis and any press materials (photos, etc.). Screeners and press kits will not be returned (unless postage paid return envelope provided).

All screenings will take place in Dallas during the 47th Annual USA Film Festival.

Filmmakers receive air travel and local lodging during their stay. Filmmakers are honored during the festival with nightly receptions following all screenings and on-stage discussion of their work.

The USA Film Festival is a NONCOMPETITIVE event. Feature films accepted for inclusion are not prevented from being considered for subsequent competition in the Cannes Film Festival or other competitive events.