A: Sponsorship
The Vancouver International Film Festival is operated by the Greater Vancouver International Film Festival Society, a provincially registered, non-profit, educational and cultural organization incorporated under The Society Act of British Columbia, and a Federally registered charity under the Canadian Income Tax Act.
B: Purpose
The purpose of the Vancouver International Film Festival is to encourage understanding of other nations through the art of cinema, to foster the art of cinema, to facilitate the meeting in British Columbia of cinema professionals from around the world, and to stimulate the motion picture industry in British Columbia and Canada.
C: Dates
The 27th Vancouver International Film Festival will be held from September 25 to October 10, 2008.
D: Categories
The Festival will be divided into at least the following main sections: Canadian Images; Dragons & Tigers: The Cinemas of East Asia; Spotlight on France; Cinema of Our Time; Nonfiction Features.
E: Awards
The following awards are offered by the Festival:
Rogers People's Choice Award for Most Popular International Film
People's Choice Award for Most Popular Canadian Film
Dragons & Tigers Award for Young Cinema (Cash prizes)
Citytv Western Canada Feature Film Award (Cash prize)
National Film Board of Canada Award for Best Canadian Documentary Feature (Cash prize)
Climate for Change Award for Best Feature Film on the Environment (Cash prize)
Women in Film and Video Vancouver Artistic Merit Ward
F: Eligibility
Films entered in Canadian Images must be Canadian productions or co-productions which have not been broadcast (television or internet), distributed on DVD or screened commercially (ie: an advertised public screening for which admission is charged, excluding film school graduation screenings) in British Columbia. Films should have been completed after June 1, 2007.
G: Entry
Entry form should be completed and returned to the Festival by June 15, 2008, along with a preview film print or videocassette of the film which should be in 1/2" VHS or DVD.
If this is not possible, please contact the Festival office to arrange a preview screening. Preview copies should be subtitled in English or accompanied by an English language dialogue list.
· The Festival will not accept collect shipments, and accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to preview materials.
· The sender is responsible for prepayment of return materials if they are not picked up in person.
· You must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or advise our office regarding courier shipment if you want preview tapes or other materials returned to you.
· Entrants will be notified regarding the results of the Festival's selection process by September 6, 2008. (Please do not phone for results).
H: Entry Fee
An entry fee of $40 (films 30 min. or longer) or $20 (films less than 30 min.) is required of all unsolicited submissions from Canada. The fee is waived for (a) films invited to participate and (b) tapes submitted upon request. It is payable by Visa or cheque and must be submitted with the entry form.
I: Presentation
Accepted feature films for the Festival can be exhibited in 16mm, or 35mm formats with optical or magnetic soundtracks, or on most video formats (NTSC or PAL) including BetaSP, DigiBeta, DV Cam or HD Cam. Accepted short films can be exhibited in 16mm, or 35mm formats with optical or magnetic soundtracks, or on video formats (NTSC or PAL) including BetaSP, DigiBeta. Special provisions can be made for screening prints with separate soundtrack but the festival requires advance notice. The number, date(s), time(s), and location(s) of screenings of films is at the discretion of the Festival.
J: Shipping
1 . Once a film has been accepted for participation in the Festival, detailed shipping instructions will be sent to the print supplier.
2 . The official courier for the Vancouver International Film Festival is UPS, though other carriers may be utilized due to specific countries Customs regulations. The Festival agrees to cover transportation and insuring prints both ways directly to and from the actual print supplier, or to cover one-way transportation when the print is shipped to or from other festivals.
3 . Each print sent to the Festival from outside of Canada enters the country on a Canada Customs "Duty Free Temporary Admissions Permit" and must be returned after the Festival.
K: Liability
In case of loss or serious damage to a print, the obligation of the Festival is limited to compensating the producer or distributor only to the cost of making a new print.
L: Publicity
The Vancouver International Film Festival requests an information package for each confirmed film, ideally including the following:
a) a brief written description of the film, including credits
b) a selection of photographic stills or website
c) 3 to 5 posters
d) video clip (NTSC format only) for broadcast purposes
e) DVD or VHS preview tape (NTSC)
f) press kits including a complete credit list and director's filmmography.
M: Consent
Participation in the Vancouver International Film Festival implies understanding and acceptance of these regulations.
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