7.1 Conditions for the submission of a film [ARTICLE REVISED on 15/05/2020]
All films submitted must be recently produced, completed not prior to 7 September 2019, and must not have been presented earlier in any other format or length, not even as a work-in-progress, for any selection in previous editions of the Venice International Film Festival. The directors of first or second films (feature length or short length) are invited to provide information on their curriculum vitae as requested in the online submission form, for the purposes of research and documentation. Under no circumstances may films to be presented at the Venice International Film Festival have been shown in prior public screenings. Works previously presented in competing or non-competing sections at other international festivals are also excluded, as are those already available on the web. Immersive Projects in competition may have been screened in public in their country of origin. Possible exceptions to these conditions may be decided at the discretion of the Festival Director.
7.2 Accepted formats [ARTICLE REVISED on 15/05/2020]
For films invited officially to the Venice International Film Festival, only the following screening formats will be accepted:
• Digital Cinema Package – DCP; 35mm (upon agreement with the Direction of the Festival).
• Immersive Projects can be 360 videos, 3 DOF and 6 DOF interactive works.
Films invited to the Sconfini section may be accepted in formats other than the ones listed above, on condition that the Director of the Venice Film Festival has given his approval.
7.3 Selection procedure
Regarding the selection of the films submitted, the Festival Director will be assisted by his staff of experts, as well as by a group of correspondents and international consultants, each responsible for different geographical areas. The Cinema Department will put each decision on the record.
7.4 Registration fees
For each film submitted to the selection of the Venice Film Festival, a registration fee is requested to cover administrative costs. The fee is 120 Euro for feature length films and VR Immersive Stories/Experiences, 60 Euro for short films. For films submitted from 1 June 2020 the fee will be 140 Euro for feature length films and 80 Euro for short films. The registration fee for VR Immersive Stories/Experiences will be 140 Euro if they are submitted from 1 May 2020. This fee will not be reimbursed under any circumstance. The costs of screenings organised outside the main venue (Venice) must be met by the participants.
7.5 Materials to submit for the selection
In order to be eligible for selection, the films presenters must, no later than 12 June 2020 (31 May for VR immersive projects):
· fill out the PRE-SELECTION ENTRY FORM, exclusively online;
· fill out the PRE-SELECTION ENTRY FORM for Venice VR (Virtual Reality projects);
· pay the registration fee;
· upload the film file to our streaming service, exclusively through the link that will be indicated at the moment of registration, or send a copy of the film to the Venice Film Festival (formats allowed for feature length films: DCP, DVD, Blu-ray disc; formats allowed for short films: file upload only). In case of Interactive VR, indicate a link to download the film file (the link must be valid at least until 31 July 2020);
· send an information sheet on the director and on the film, with an information kit including a synopsis, director’s notes and the film production context;
· for all non-Italian films, we request the submission of a copy sub-titled in Italian or in English (including films for which the original language version is in English). VR Immersive Stories/Experiences must be in English or in original language with English subtitles.
Any other information regarding the film submitted for selection must be sent exclusively in electronic format to the following address: selection@labiennale.org. The Venice Film Festival is under no obligation to return the films submitted for selection, unless they arrive with prepaid return packaging via express carrier (courier or diplomatic bag). Any returns must be requested no later than 30 September 2020. The work-in-progress materials and films for which no return has been requested may be transferred to the Biennale Archives for exclusive purposes of documentation and research. They will not be used for commercial purposes, in order to protect the interests of the filmmakers and the producers.