March 6-10 2013
Please read all entry guidelines before completing the form below.
GUIDELINES The Chicago Underground Film Festival exists to showcase the defiantly independent filmmaker. Our mission is to promote films and videos that dissent radically in form, technique, or content from the “indie” mainstream and to present adventurous works that challenge and transcend commercial and audience expectations…if you suspect your film is “underground,” it probably is.
DEADLINES Early Deadline: October 1, 2012 – Entry Fee: Features $35 (Students $20); Shorts $30 (Students $15) Regular Deadline: November 15, 2012 – Entry Fee: Features $45 (Students $20); Shorts $35 (Student $15) Late Deadline: December 15, 2012 – Entry Fee: Features $55 (Students $25); Shorts $40 (Student $20) Extended Deadline: January 2, 2013 – Entry Fee: Features $55 (Students $25); Shorts $40 (Student $20)
Use this online form and pay with paypal or check or use the Withoutabox link below.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES A completed entry form and an entry fee must accompany each film or video submitted.
Preview copies must be NTSC DVD or region free Blu-Ray or a secure online screener (withoutabox, Vimeo etc). Foreign language work must be dubbed or subtitled in English. Please, do not send elaborate presentation materials, press kits, binders, etc. with your entry. All that is necessary to send is a clearly identified DVD and, if you like, a synopsis or contextual statement about your work. These are the only items that the programmers will see when they evaluate your submission. We don’t want you to pay for unnecessary materials, and they generate lots of waste. If your film is selected for the festival we will contact you about images and press kits. or better yet: put these materials online and type the URL into your entry form.
ENTRY FEES Entry fees must be in U.S. funds only. Pay through Withoutabox or with this form through Paypal, check or money order. Checks and money orders should be made out to IFP Chicago (DO NOT make checks out to Chicago Underground Film Festival ).
ENTRY FEE EXCEPTIONS Entry Fees are not required from filmmakers who have screened at CUFF in the past. If you are working in a part of the world where an entry fee would prohibit you from submitting your film, contact us at info@cuff.org to request a fee waiver. Please understand that we rely on entry fees for the operation of the festival and only request waivers when necessary.
SHIPPING Cost of shipping exhibition prints to the festival is the responsibility of the entrant. Exhibition copies must be sent to the festival prepaid. All film reels, cans, videotapes and cases must be labeled with the title of the entry. The festival will cover return shipping via FedEx or US Mail. The entrant or the recipient must pay additional charges for express shipping or transshipments to foreign film festivals. The festival cannot accept responsibility for damage or loss of materials while in transit. Please use only plastic or bubble pack envelopes when shipping entries.
-PLEASE DO NOT USE FIBER ENVELOPES. FIBER CAN DAMAGE TAPES AND EQUIPMENT!
MAIL ENTRIES TO: Chicago Underground Film Festival 2044 W. Chicago Ave PMB # 155 Chicago, IL 60622
NOTIFICATION The festival selection committee makes all programming decisions. If accepted we will notify filmmakers by email and phone. Films not selected will receive notification by email. If accepted, the print of your film or presentation video will need to be in our office by Feb 15th, 2013. Be sure to indicate aspect ratio of your film/video as well as any other special screening/presentation information we might need to know. CUFF prefers high quality digital files for exhibition of video work.
CATEGORIES Please select only ONE category for your entry when completing your entry form. For our purposes ‘feature’ refers to films 60 minutes and over. ‘Experimental’ refers exclusively for non-narrative, non-documentary works. We reserve the right to re-categorize submissions as we deem appropriate.
AWARDS Although the art of filmmaking is not competitive, The Chicago Underground Film Festival does give awards. The festival jury will present several awards to films and videos selected as best or most interesting in whatever categories they see fit. Additionally “Made in Chicago” and Audience Choice awards will also be presented.
RETURN OF SUBMISSIONS/SCREENERS Due to the large number of entries received submission materials and videos will not be returned.
HOW TO CONTACT US For more information email us at info "at" cuff "dot" org
Preview Copy:
Original Production Format:
Final Screening Format:
NOTE: This year, we plan on showing digital files if your movie is not finished on film. You will receive more information on codecs and file types upon acceptance.
sound silent color b&w 4:3 (FULL) 4:3 (LTRBX) 16:9 scope
For video: SD HD
Frame Rate:
Premiere Status:
Online Press Kit/Images URL (If you have one. This is not required.)
Previous public screenings, awards, festivals:
You do not need to submit anything other than this form, your preview copy and your submission fee. Additional press materials will be requested upon acceptance.
DEADLINES Early Deadline: Oct 1, 2012 - Entry Fee: Features $35 (Students $20); Shorts $30 (Students $15) Regular Deadline: Nov 15, 2012 - Entry Fee: Features $45 (Students $20); Shorts $35 (Student $15) Late Deadline: Dec 15, 2012 - Entry Fee: Features $55 (Students $25); Shorts $40 (Student $20) Extended Deadline: January 2, 2013 – Entry Fee: Features $55 (Students $25); Shorts $40 (Student $20)
PAYMENT OPTIONS:
- To pay with Paypal in a new window. Don't forget to finish and submit this form as well!
- Make check or money in US Funds payable to: IFP/Chicago NOT Chicago Underground Film Festival. Foreign submissions must pay fees by credit card or International Money Order drawn from US banks. Send to: Chicago Underground Film Festival, 2044 W. Chicago Ave, PMB # 155, Chicago, IL 60622
- Entry Fees are not required from filmmakers who have screened at CUFF in the past. Please indicate the name of your film and the year it was screened below:
I understand and agree to the terms described above:
(You must accept the terms by checking the check box in order to submit the form.)