The Garden State Film Festival

*** Please note we prefer DVD entries NTSC DVD ( region 0 or 1). If accepted, filmmakers must supply two discs, DVD (NTSC, Region 1 or 0) or Blu Ray (NTSC, Region A), withing two weeks of notification. Notification is made approximately by mid to late January 2017.

1. The Garden State Film Festival (“GSFF” or “the Festival”) Entry Fees are non-refundable.

2. All Feature submissions must be a New Jersey Premier, except student works, which may have been screened on campus of the school to which the student attends, only. All films other than features must be a Southern New Jersey Premier. GSFF reserves the right to grant exceptions to the Premier requirement.

3. All films must be in English or subtitled in English.

4. Web Series compilations may be submitted as short or feature films as long as the compilation meets the short or feature requirements.

5. Filmmaker may upload a screener or send a discs, DVD (NTSC, Region 1 or 0) or Blu Ray (NTSC, Region A), which is preferred.

6. Sending your disc(s) to: GSFF, 1 Page Avenue, Allenhurst, New Jersey 07711. DO NOT require a signature. If you would like acknowledgement of receipt of your disc (in addition to FilmFreeway acknowledgment), please enclosed a self-addressed stamped postcard that will serve as acknowledgment of receipt.

7. Discs must be labeled with the following: 
 Title 
 Format and Region 
 Length in Minutes 
 FilmFreeway Tracking Number 
Please test your disc thoroughly before sending. Must play on standard US commercial player.

8. If you are submitting more than one entry, a separate submission is required for each film, although they may be mailed together. Submissions will not be returned unless a self-stamped addressed envelope is provided with the submission.

9. Once a Project has been submitted for consideration it cannot be withdrawn.

10. All entries must be shipped prepaid. Do not declare a value on your submission, as this will hold it up in customs. Do not send materials in fiber-filled envelopes or "jiffy packs," since fibers will damage both disc and playback equipment. Please use other types of envelopes or containers. The title of the work, FilmFreeway number and running time must be on all mailing containers.

11. The Festival disavows any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible for, any failure to contact the Applicant using the contact information provided in FilmFreeway. It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to ensure that the contact information provided in FilmFreeway is correct through the end of the Festival period.

12. If the disc does not play in an commercial player, the Festival will attempt, but is under no obligation, to contact the applicant from the contact information provided to obtain a replacement. If a replacement is not available, the Festival reserves the right to disqualify the film without refunding the submission fees.

13. In order to be considered for the Festival, the Applicant must fill out the submission form located at http://www.gsff.org/callforentries.php or www.filmfreeway.com. The Festival reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from the Applicant, any Film that is not submitted through one of these channels.

14. The Festival will attempt, but is under no obligation, to view a submission that arrives after the designated deadline without refund of the submission fee.

15. The Festival reserves the right to disqualify any film for non-payment of the submission fee. The Festival will attempt to contact the applicant with the information on the application form to resolve the non-payment status, but is under no obligation to do so.

16. The Festival is under no obligation to, and does not, provide comments or feedback regarding the submitted Film to the Applicant or any other representative of the submitted Film. The Festival will not be held responsible or liable for the contents of any internal comments or feedback regarding any submitted Film obtained by the Applicant or any other representative of the submitted film or any third party.

17. It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to secure clearance from the copyright holders of any copyrighted materials included within the submitted Film. The GSFF will not be held responsible for the unauthorized inclusion of any copyrighted materials within or relating to the submitted Film. The GSFF reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees previously collected from the Applicant, any Film with any unauthorized inclusion of copyrighted materials.

18. Successful applicants to the Festival will be notified through the contact information provided in FilmFreeway. The Festival will notify all applicants by the beginning of February, and will be required to submit screening copies within two (2) weeks of the date of the notice. The contact information on the application form must be kept valid from submission to the end of the festival. The Festival will not be held responsible for the failure to contact the Applicant using the contact information provided on the submission form.

19. GSFF reserves the right to adjust screening schedules of films at the discretion of GSFF without any notice.

20. The Filmmaker agrees that GSFF will be held harmless for delays due to equipment failure, shipping delays, and or condition the prints delivered which may prevent screening. GSFF cannot be held liable for your exhibition materials which are lost or damaged.

21. GSFF does not pay screening fees.

22. Filmmakers or screenwriters accepted and attending the Festival are responsible for travel, lodging, and all other expenses.

23. All jury decisions are final and will be announced at the Festival Awards Dinner and will be posted on the GSFF website shortly thereafter.

24. All stated information, eligibility and submission guidelines, terms and conditions of entry, and entry information are subject to change by the GSFF, without notice.

25. By making the submission to the GSFF, the submitter warrants that it/they have the legal right to enter film work to GSFF own all rights to all elements of their film, or are authorized to use all elements in the film, and are authorized to submit for the film for exhibition and related uses by the GSFF. Furthermore to, jointly and severally, indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Garden State Film Festival (“GSFF”), its officers, directors, committee persons, agents, volunteers, and all other connected with or providing services to, whether paid, in-kind or volunteered (collectively “Indemnitee”), from liability, damages, costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, that such Indemnitee might incur relating to, arising out of or existing by, whether by act or omission, including negligence, by reason of (1) the decision or act to exhibit or not exhibit a Submission submitted to GSFF by the Submitter; (2) the advertisement, publicity, or exhibition of said Submission; or (3) the other use of said Submission by the GSFF.

26. By submitting a film, I freely and voluntarily give and express my full and complete acceptance of all of the terms and provisions set forth in these General Rules and the Terms and Conditions. I acknowledge that no oral representations, inducements, promises or assurances of any kind, and no representations, inducements, promises or assurances not set forth in these General Rules or the Terms and Conditions, below, have been made to me or the Film’s Owners by the GSFF or any Indemnitee.

For more information about the MOVIE MUSIC TRACK COMPETITION, please go to: www.gsff.org

SUBMIT