2024 RULES & GUIDELINES
Submissions for 4th Annual Bridgeport Film Fest will open on Friday, December 15, 2023 on FilmFreeway. We are open to anyone who wishes to enter. We strongly encourage POC and Women Filmmakers to submit. We have a goal to screen at least 50% of projects by Black and Brown Filmmakers. We also hope to screen at least 50% Female Filmmakers.
We are accepting short films and original content with a running time of 25 minutes or under including:
Screenplay Competition!
We are excited to be holding our very own screenplay competition and are accepting both short film screenplays and web series pilots. Winners will receive a modest cash prize, plus a general meeting with a professional writer/producer who currently works in the industry.
We are accepting any genre but there is a max of twenty pages, not including the title page! PLEASE submit your screenplay in proper screenplay formatting or you will be disqualified.
Please read the following carefully before you submit:
Thank you for your time and for sharing your gifts with us!
We are accepting short films and original content with a running time of 25 minutes or under including:
- Narrative Short Films
- Documentary Short Films
- Webseries Episodes
- Experimental Short Films
- Student Short Films
- Music Videos
- Environmental Films
- Super Shorts (films 3 minutes and under)
- Connecticut Short Film (films shot in Connecticut)
Screenplay Competition!
We are excited to be holding our very own screenplay competition and are accepting both short film screenplays and web series pilots. Winners will receive a modest cash prize, plus a general meeting with a professional writer/producer who currently works in the industry.
We are accepting any genre but there is a max of twenty pages, not including the title page! PLEASE submit your screenplay in proper screenplay formatting or you will be disqualified.
Please read the following carefully before you submit:
- All projects must have been completed after January 1, 2017.
- There is no premiere status required, we want to share your work with our community!
- The Bridgeport Film Fest is an eco-friendly festival, so to reduce waste and environmental impact films must be submitted digitally thru FilmFreeway, Vimeo or YouTube with the best HD Playback.
- There will be no refunds issued once your project is submitted.
- All films must be in English or with English subtitles.
- The Bridgeport Film Fest is unable to offer fee waivers under any circumstance. Entry fees support the various event costs (venues, supplies, events, promotional material, etc.) Thank you for your understanding!
- The Bridgeport Film Fest does not consider films that require SCREENING/RENTAL FEES and DOES NOT PAY SCREENING or LICENSING FEES for submitted films. By submitting your film, you acknowledge that the festival will not pay you to present your work.
- Screenplay competitions: We are accepting any genre but there is a max of twenty pages, not including the title page! PLEASE submit your screenplay in proper screenplay formatting or you will be disqualified.
- Filmmakers accepted and attending the Festival are responsible for travel and all other expenses. If accepted, Filmmakers are expected to assist the Festival in film promotion.
- All films submitted must be free from any legal disputes and it is the sole responsibility of the filmmaker to have cleared all rights and releases for exhibition (including music, audio, images, graphics, trademarked images, etc.)
- Only the submitted version of the film may be considered, and swapping it out for alternate cuts is not possible, so please keep this in mind when deciding when to submit.
- If your film is selected, then you will be asked to provide digital stills from the film, press materials, head shots and filmographies and video trailer (if available).
- If your film is accepted, you will be solely responsible for delivering your promotional materials to and from the festival venue.
- Once accepted, all student films must provide a copy of the entrants current student ID or student ID from the year the film was made.
- By submitting your film, you grant The Bridgeport Film Fest the nonexclusive right to use footage, stills and/or titles and information from the film, as well as your name, photograph, and likeness in connection with any and all publicity and promotional activities regarding The Bridgeport Film Fest prior to, during, and/or after the festival.
- The Bridgeport Film Fest may use images, sounds and excerpts from the films for promotional purposes in all media including the website and may present accepted films at any The Bridgeport Film Fest event with notice.
- Please note that materials, drives, discs, etc. will not be accepted and cannot be returned under any circumstances. Please DO NOT send film prints, master tapes, primary hard drives, DVD Masters or other irreplaceable original media.
- The Bridgeport Film Fest is not responsible for any materials that are lost or damaged.
- The entrant shall release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless The Bridgeport Film Fest, and its agents, respective officers, directors, employees, representatives, contractors, partners, sponsors, and volunteers from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs and expenses (including, without limitations, attorneys' fees).
- The entrant warrants that he/she is the sole and exclusive owner(s) of all legal right and title thereto to have absolute authority to submit the enclosed material to The Bridgeport Film Fest.
- By entering, the applicant agrees that all information is true and correct and agrees to all festival rules and guidelines.
Thank you for your time and for sharing your gifts with us!