THE 15TH ANNUAL CHICAGO UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL The Alternative for Underground, Independent and Experimental Film and Video

DEADLINES Earlybird Deadline May 15, 2008 ($30 Entry Fee) Regular Deadline June 15 2008 ($35 Entry Fee) Late Deadline July 15 2008 ($40 Entry Fee)

FESTIVAL DATES: October 29 – November 2 2008

Please read these guidelines before filling out the attached entry form. Thanks.

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.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES A completed entry form and an entry fee must accompany each film or video submitted. Entries must be submitted on 1/2″ (standard VHS in either NTSC or PAL/SEACAM formats) videocassette or NTSC DVD. Foreign language work must be dubbed or subtitled in English. In addition to your entry, please enclose a written description or synopsis, press kits, reviews, or publicity materials will be requested upon acceptance.

ENTRY FEES
$30 per entry postmarked by May 15, $35 per entry postmarked by June 15, $40 per entry postmarked by July 15. Entry fees must be in U.S. funds only. Checks or money orders should be made out to IFP/Chicago. Entry Fees are not required from filmmakers who have screened at CUFF in the past.

ONLINE CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS
To pay by credit card please submit through our online submission partner Withoutabox http://www.withoutabox.com/login/1095.

May 15 2008 Earlybird Deadline

June 15 2008 Regular Deadline

July 15 2008 Late Deadline

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 cases when shipping entries.

¯ PLEASE DO NOT USE FIBER ENVELOPES. FIBER ENVELOPES SUCK AND WILL DAMAGE TAPES AND EQUIPMENT!

MAIL ENTRIES TO: Chicago Underground Film Festival C/o IFP/Chicago 1104 S. Wabash Suite 403 Chicago, IL 60605

SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION
The festival selection committee makes programming decisions. We will notify filmmakers by email. If accepted, the print of your film, or presentation video (DVCam or Mini-DV), will need to be in our office by October 1, 2008. Be sure to indicate aspect ratio of your film/video as well as any other special screening/presentation information we might need to know.

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 awards to films and videos selected as best in these categories: Narrative Feature, Narrative Short, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, Experimental, Animation,Children’s Film, Music Video and “Made in Chicago”. An Audience Choice award will also be presented.

RETURN OF SUBMISSION TAPES
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.org or call 312.235.0162

DOWNLOAD THE 2008 ENTRY FORM »

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