Our Distribution Partner screens all the films from the festival and offers distribution deals annually to those selected to screen. In the last several over 10 films were awarded a full distribution deal, other received limited distribution. We hope to see more in the future through our additional distribution partnerships.
In addition, each winner receives a crystal award, gifts and prizes valued up to $3,000.
ATTENTION FILMMAKERS: If you are submitting a film we accept online screeners for the purposes of reviewing the film for consideration. If you are selected to screen in the festival you will need to get a DCP copy sent to us of your exhibition film. This will be sent to : Simple DCP in Culver City, CA who is our exhibition collection company. That information will be send to those who are accepted into the festival.
MOST IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE SELECTED TO SCREEN you must accept the invitation within 24 hours of receipt of our acceptance email sent to your email.
DO NOT SUBMIT UNLESS YOU READY TO SCREEN YOUR FILM AT THIS FESTIVAL OR ANY FESTIVAL YOUR HAVE SUBMITTED TO OR KNOW YOUR FILM WILL BE READY BY FESTIVAL SCREENING DATE.
Also note you will be disqualified if you are screening in another woman's festival in LOS ANGELES during the same weekend as our festival. We want to ensure that our festival attendees are able to participate and network with our industry professionals and if your attention is split then you may not make the most of the events.
FESTIVAL FAQ:
IF SELECTED DO I NEED TO SEND A PHYSICAL COPY?
Yes!!! We DO NOT download your films , nor do we actually make copies to screen for you. This is your job as a filmmaker to have the elements prepared and sent to the festival or our representative that collects exhibition copies. It is also your job once invited to screen to get us those elements and send them to our office. Do not submit unless you are a professional and understand your obligations in exhibition copies.
DO I HAVE TO SELECT THE CATEGORY I AM SUBMITTING TO?
Yes do your best to determine where it may fit. If your film is selected for the Festival, our Programming Staff will determine which program best suits the project. Make sure your application is complete. You will need to select and submit under shorts, features, screenplay, TV Pilot, commercial or music video. It is the mid length films that most filmmakers have questions regarding.
DO YOU HAVE TO BE A WOMAN TO SUBMIT A FILM?
" NO this film festival is to support and nurture the development of women in leading film positions. But you will need to follow the below guidelines.
" A woman needs to be involved in one of the three film positions: Director, Producer, Writer".
"Writers of Screenplays and TV Pilots must have at least one woman writer on the writing team".
" Closing Night Gala and Awards Show is by invitation only".
" We accept films from all countries world wide".
" We accept web series, music videos and commercials".
"We accept animation".
HOW DO YOU DISTINGUISH "SHORTS" FROM "FEATURES"?
The requirements are different for narrative Feature Films , shorts or documentaries.
NARRATIVE FEATURE FILMS
" 1 to 40 minutes running length is considered a SHORT
" 60 to 120 minutes running length is considered a FEATURE
"40 to 59 minutes running length is considered a MID LENGTH FEATURE
" 50 minutes or more running length is considered a FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
"1 to 40 minutes running length is considered a SHORT DOCUMENTARY
" 30 seconds to 5 minutes running length is considered a Commercial/Music Video
" 15 minutes or less running length is considered a Mobisode
" 30 minutes or less running length is considered a Webisode
" any length is considered for a Game
Any film falling between the times will be accepted ( as a MID LENGTH FILM) but decided upon by the festival staff what competition category it will be entered into.
ANYTHING THAT FALLS BETWEEN WE WILL DECIDE WHAT CATEGORY OF FEATURE, DOCUMENTARY OR SHORT.
WHEN DOES THE LA FEMME INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL TAKE PLACE?
The Festival will take place in OCTOBER in Los Angeles, CA
CAN I SUBMIT MY FILM AS A "ROUGH CUT"?
"Rough Cuts," "Avid Cuts," or "Temp Prints" will be accepted for screening. You should always list directly on the tape box which elements of your film are missing. This will assist us in the judging process.
CAN I SUBMIT MY FILM WITH A "TEMP TRACK" OR "SCRATCH MUSIC"?
"Temp Tracks," "Scratch Music," or "Temp Sound" will be accepted for screening and showing. Again, you should always list directly on the tape box which elements are missing.
CAN I ARRANGE A SCREENING FOR YOU OF MY FILM PRINT?
No. We now screen everything online."
DO YOU ACCEPT DVDs IN PAL OR NTSC FORMAT?
We accept NTSC formats or PAL formats ONLY
We ONLY accept DCPs if formatted correctly by a professional post production house.These are to be UNENCRIPTED ONLY and not contain any menus . You will get the exact technical specs for this DCP !
DOES LA FEMME PROJECT DIGITAL AT THE FESTIVAL?
Yes we do project on digital projection in DCP. However, the digital projection options are given at time of film selection in the festival.
HOW MANY FILMS CAN I SUBMIT?
As many as you like. Or you can re-submit your film if it was not selected last year. However, each submitted film must have its own completed Submission Form, Entry Fee, and Supplemental Materials. DO NOT put multiple projects on the same form. Even if you are submitting a commercial or music video.
DOES IT MATTER HOW BIG MY BUDGET WAS, OR IF I HAVE AN AGENT OR CELEBRITIES, OR IF IT'S BLACK & WHITE, OR VIDEO, OR GENRE?
Not at all. Just send in the work. We will be selecting a wide variety of projects so no worries. We want to see what the indie feature filmmaker is producing.
SO WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? WHAT KIND OF FILMS STAND OUT?
Good story telling with a female in one of three key positions, Director, Writer, Producer. We look for well crafted films of all kinds with diverse voices that push the limits.
IF MY FILM IS NOT CHOSEN, MAY I SPEAK WITH A PROGRAMMER FOR NOTES OR FEEDBACK?
Unfortunately, no. With thousands of films to go through, we don't have enough time to speak or correspond with you individually about your film. Please forgive us. But what we will do is offer you one ticket to attend the festival and parties so that you can network if you film is NOT selected to screen.
WHEN WILL I FIND OUT IF MY FILM WAS SELECTED?
We will contact you via email the first week of September for those selected. If you are not selected because of the volume of submissions we will not be able to notify you of your rejection. We are working to resolve this notification process but please be understanding we are a very small staff. Please make sure that the email address and telephone you provide will be operational at that time of festival selection which is in September. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
DO YOU ACCEPT SUBMISSIONS ON DCP OR DVD?
We accept in DCP in NTSC or PAL all region or region 1 or 0.
All DCPs must start at FIRST FRAME of picture and NOT contain start up menus. NO MENUS AT THE START OF DVD OR DCP
WHAT DOES LA FEMME STAND FOR?
The LA in LA Femme uses a double "entendre" meaning two things: "The Woman" and "Los Angeles Woman"
