Submission Rules

SUBMISSION RULES

CALL FOR MASTERCLASS SUBMISSIONS AND REGISTRATION OF INTEREST FOR 2022 MASTERCLASSES Melbourne Documentary Film Festival is now calling for expression of interest from Documentary practitioners and general interest from documentary filmmakers in being a part of our online Masterclass series commencing July 2022. Please email [email protected] by 30th June 2024for more information and to register.

MELBOURNE DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL SUBMISSION RULES Please note The Melbourne Documentary Film Festival supports MIFF but is independent and not part of this organization.

The 2024 event will be a hybrid event in-cinema and online

These rules (the “Rules”) apply to all submissions to The Melbourne Documentary Film Festival Inc (“MDFF”). By submitting your film (the “Film”) for consideration for inclusion in the festival operated by MDFF (the “Festival”), you (the “Applicant” or “You”) hereby agree to be bound by these Rules. THE RULES

  1. Submission 1.1 MDFF will consider each submission received (a “Submission”) against the Eligibility Criteria (defined below). 1.2 A Film which does not meet the Eligibility Criteria as of the date of screening will not be screened. 1.3 MDFF may, at its absolute discretion, decide to accept a submission which meets the Eligibility Criteria, but is not obliged to screen any particular Film at the Festival even if the Film meets the Eligibility Criteria. MDFF reserves the right to change a decision to screen a Film at its discretion. 1.4 A decision made by MDFF to accept or refuse to screen a Film is final. Under no circumstances will MDFF refund any submission fees paid. Please ensure you check all dates, currency conversions and associated costs before submitting your documentary there will be no refund. Due to the amount of submission received individual feedback is not possible, but we can suggest registering for our next Documentary Open Mic by emailing [email protected] 1.5 Successful applicants will be contacted in late May or early June 2024. 1.6 Successful applicants will be forwarded a copy of the MDFF Screening Agreement. Submissions from successful applicants who do not agree to the MDFF Screening Agreement will not be screened. 1.8 You acknowledge that MDFF does not pay screening fees to applicants.
  2. Eligibility 2.1 A Submission is eligible if all of the following conditions are met: a. The Submission is received before the due date of 31st May 2022 b. Documentaries that commenced production from no earlier than 1st January 2013; c. The Film has never been, and will not be before 12 July 2020, released on DVD, freely available online or theatrically released other than on Fanforce (however, the Festival may at its discretion accept Films which have been theatrically released or previously screened at other festivals) exceptions to this are Video Essays, Documentary Web Series and some Short documentaries, ABC, SBS, NITV feature documentaries which must contain new material; d. The Film is in English or contains English subtitles; and e. The Submission accompanied by the applicable submission fee (the “Eligibility Criteria”). f. We reserve the right to put all or some of the festival online if it is not safe to screen in Cinema as stipulated by organizations like Covid Safe Events, City of Melbourne or Vic Health 2.2 MDFF prefers that Films be submitted for assessment for our competition via FilmFreeway or secure YouTube or Vimeo screeners
  3. Return of Materials 3.1 Materials submitted will not be returned. We strongly recommend that you do not submit original materials.
  4. Warranty 4.1 By submitting your Film, you warrant that: a. You are free to submit the Film to the Festival; b. The Film meets the Eligibility Criteria; and c. You have obtained all necessary clearances in respect of the Film and the Film does not infringe the rights (including without limitation copyright) of any third party. 5: Specs: Feature, Short, Video Essay, will be played in DCP at 24FPS (not 25 FPS) 360 / VR Docs Video -360 microscopic .mp4 -4k resolution, 2 by 1 aspect. -30fps

Audio -Stereo-Attached to the .mp4 video -Spatial- Separate file Audio.tbe (41khz only) Video in this case to have no audio attached.

Good luck filmmakers!