Festival

Festival presentation: 

New York's Beneath the Earth Film Festival is a year-long search for independent films that serves as a catalyst for outstanding projects to reach a global audience.
Four seasonal competitions are held throughout the year during which work of high production quality, clever writing and strong performances are offered the chance to be reviewed by authorities in the film world. The winners of each season then go on to compete for the culminating grand prize. All winners will receive recognition and exposure as well as a monetary prize.

Festival Logo: 

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Theme: 

Animation

Art-house films

Comedy

Documentary

Independent

Student films

Category/Format: 

Animated Films

Documentaries

Independant

Short films

Student film

Video / TV

Mission

Beneath the Earth is an online film festival that's using the Web to get deserving filmmakers noticed.

• WHY SUBMIT

  • We know that film relies heavily on word-of-mouth. No matter how big a film's advertising budget, if people aren't talking about a movie, tickets won't sell. So unlike other festivals, we've comprised our Grand Jury of film reviewers (who collectively reach over 1.1 Million people each month) with the goal of getting the Web talking about the winning films.
  • We collate the Grand Jury reviews for our winners to include in their press kits.
  • Being online means your film is viewed by a global audience. Our site visitors come from 90 different countries.
  • If selected as a finalist, your film will only be showcased online for a limited time, 31 days to be exact, a window small enough to still allow for distribution.

• CATEGORIES

  • Feature Film (over 60 minutes, all genres)
  • Narrative Short (under 60 minutes, all genres)
  • Documentary Short (under 60 minutes, all genres)
  • Animated Short (under 60 minutes, all genres)
  • Music Video (music video under 15 minutes, all genres)
  • Experimental Short (under 60 minutes, all genres)

• AWARDS

  A Best Film and Audience Award is given out in each category. The Best Film is determined by Grand Jury vote while the Audience Award is determined by public vote

  .

  A $500 cash award will be given to the winners of Best Film in the shorts and music video categories. While the winning Feature Film will win a cash award of $1,000.

  All winners, both Best Film and Audience Award winners will receive the opportunity to have their film reviewed by our Grand Jury.

• DEADLINES

  All entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Standard Time) on the defined deadline day. The mailed portion of an entry must be postmarked by the deadline day.

  • Early Bird Deadline: June 1, 2011
  • Regular Deadline: July 31, 2011
  • Late Deadline: August 15, 2011
  • Without a Box Extended Deadline: August 31, 2011

• FEES

  Each entry must be accompanied by the appropriate entry fee. Entry fees are not refundable. Fees cover submission, notification that your entry has been received and notification of the result. These fees may be paid by credit card through Without a Box (WAB) (VISA, MasterCard, or American Express) or Money Order. Make money orders payable to Beneath the Earth Films.

  • Early Bird Deadline: $35.00 (WAB discount applied)
  • Regular Deadline: $40.00 (WAB discount applied)
  • Late Deadline: $45.00 (WAB discount applied)
  • Without a Box Extended Deadline: $50.00 (WAB discount applied)

  International Entries

  For all entries outside the U.S., Money Orders are accepted provided that the money order is drawn on a U.S. correspondent bank and is in U.S. dollars.

  Without a Box Discount

  A $5.00 discount is applied to the entry fee for entrants who submit via Without A Box before the Without A Box Extended Deadline. A $15 discount is applied to the Without A Box Extended Deadline for those entrants who submit via Without A Box after the late deadline but before the extended deadline.

  Student Discount

  An additional $5 discount can be applied to the entry fee for student entrants. Students must submit proof of their student status (i.e., copy of student ID, transcript, etc.) with their submission to qualify. The film will only qualify for student status if the director of the film is a matriculated student at a college or university. A student need not be enrolled in a film and television program to receive the discount, they must simply be enrolled in a college or university.

• GUIDELINES

  • All films can be entered, regardless of previous screenings and awards.
  • Films may not be widely commercially available on video/DVD in the U.S. before being submitted to the festival.
  • Contestants can submit (1) one film to multiple categories, (2) multiple films to the same category (3) or multiple films to multiple categories. Each category submission, however, requires a separate entry form and fee.
  • Films must be submitted on DVD (NTSC or PAL). Please do not send film prints, master tapes, or other originals.
  • The production's title must be on each case and DVD.
  • All entries must be either in English or contain English subtitles.
  • The Festival also requests press materials if available.
  • All entrants must agree to the Festival Terms before submitting their entries.
  • Please submit a copy of the online form receipt along with the submission.
  • If you want your screener returned, you must include a self-addressed, stamped and padded envelope.
  • Only complete entries (including entry form, payment, and preview DVD screener) will be processed.
  • It is advised that you keep a photocopy of the completed application for your own reference.
  • Beneath the Earth is not responsible for items that are lost in USPS or other delivery services. You are encouraged to secure delivery confirmation to ensure receipt of your submission.

  Shipping

  The cost of shipping an entry to the Festival must be paid by the entrant. Collect or COD shipments will not be accepted. All international entries must be sent "free domicile" with all transportation charges, duties, and taxes prepaid by the shipper.

  Shipping Address:PO Box 1005New York, New York 10274

  Announcement of the Winners

  In mid-September you will be notified via email that we have received your submission and whether or not you've been selected as a finalist.

  IMDB Qualifying

  Beneath the Earth Film Festival is an IMDB qualifying festival. All Eligible films entered are granted a NO Hassle title page on IMDB.com.