The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival has become the largest cinema event in Montana and the premiere venue for non-fiction film in the American West. In 2012, the festival drew an audience of 20,000 and received nearly 1000 film entries from every corner of the globe. The BSDFF offers a unique setting for filmmakers to premiere new work and for audiences to see innovative new films, as well as classics in the genre. The festival hosts over seventy-five visiting artists, and presents an average of 125 non-fiction films annually at the historic Wilma Theater, The Top Hat, and Crystal Theater in downtown Missoula. In 2013, BSDFF became a Academy Award qualifying festival in the SHORTS and MINI DOC categories.
BEST FEATURE - Best film over 50 mins.
BIG SKY AWARD - Best film about the American West.
BEST SHORT - Best film between 15-49 mins. (Academy Award qualifying)
BEST MINI - Best film under 15 mins. (Academy Award qualifying)
GENERAL RULES & REGULATIONS:
COMPLETION DATE: Films of any completion date are eligible for submission. Big Sky does not have any premiere requirements. However, the festival does take previous screenings and broadcasts into consideration when making its official selections, particularly when films have already screened in Montana.
LANGUAGE: DVD preview screeners and exhibition prints must either be in English or have English subtitles.
ROUGH CUTS: Rough cuts are accepted for entry. If you submit a rough cut, we cannot guarantee that the programmers will be able to review an updated cut at a later date. If you are submitting a rough cut, make sure it is indicated as such on your submission copy. Include intended final running time and work remaining to be completed with your entry. Big Sky does not exhibit works-in-progress at the festival. Films must be completed by January 15, 2015 in order to be screened.
EXHIBITION FORMATS: You must have one of the following formats available by January 15, 2015, if accepted, for screening at the festival.
HIGH DEFINITION - 35mm, Blu-Ray, or Quicktime (.mov) file.
STANDARD DEFINITION - DVD or Quicktime (.mov) file.
FESTIVAL NOTIFICATION: Notification will be sent by email or phone to the contact listed on the entry form by mid-December 2014. You are responsible for updating Big Sky directly regarding any change to your contact information and ensuring that emails from programming@bigskyfilmfest.org are not blocked by spam filters.
SUBMISSION FORMAT: Big Sky requires ONE (1) DVD or Blu-Ray NTSC (Region 1 or 0) or PAL format disc. Include the film title, running time, and format (NTSC or PAL) on your disc. Quicktime (.mov) files are also acceptable for entry on a USB device or data disc (DVD, CD, or Blu-Ray). Submission materials will NOT be returned.
Online screeners must include a link to the film and the password in this form.
APPLICATION DETAILS:
Preview materials will NOT be returned. Include the film title, running time, and format (NTSC or PAL) on your disc. All entry deadlines are postmark deadlines. Entries postmarked after the final deadline may not be considered. Submission fees are non-refundable.
ADDITIONAL TERMS OF ENTRY:
By submitting this documentary, I understand that I am agreeing to the following: I own or control the copyright in and to, and am duly authorized to submit this documentary film to the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (Big Sky) and to the best of my knowledge, all statements on this document are true; This documentary contains no material which could result in tort claims, royalty claims, claims for breach of contract, or claims of any sort whatsoever; If this documentary is selected for screening at Big Sky, I grant Big Sky the right to screen this film in Missoula, Montana, February 6-16, 2015; I understand and agree that this film entry, if selected for the Festival, may be used for promotional purposes for the Festival, Big Sky and/or its partners and I grant Big Sky and its partners the rights to use up to two minutes of footage, photographic stills and/or titles and information from the film for promotional purposes; I fully indemnify and hold Big Sky and its partners harmless from: a) damage to or loss of the film print or videotapes en route to or from Big Sky or during the course of festival possession of the entry; and b) from an claims which may arise in connection with this documentary film. If a claim arises in connection with this film, I will bear all the costs of defense incurred by Big Sky and pay any award of damages which may ensue. I also agree to reimburse Big Sky for any attorney fees incurred in connection with the defense of such a claim. I understand that Big Sky reserves the right to place my film in the appropriate competition category. By submitting my film, I am indicating that I understand, comply with and agree to the Terms of Entry and the eligibility requirements.
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