Chagrin Documentary Film Festival ()

Cash Prizes: 8,000$

The Chagrin Documentary Film Festival is extremely pleased to present significant cash prizes to CDFF award-winning documentary filmmakers as part of the 2020 Festival. The winners will be announced at the Festival Awards ceremony on Saturday, October 10, 2020 and funds totaling $15,000 will be presented.

ANNOUNCING: In recognition of CDFF's mission to honor the passion of the documentary filmmaker, Gravitas Ventures will guarantee distribution in the United States with a non-binding offer (from Filmmaker perspective) for distribution into over 100 million homes for winners of both The Best of Fest and Emerging Filmmaker Awards. Gravitas Ventures will further guarantee that they with release the films within 6 months of the festival dates.

** CDFF reserves the right to schedule additional screenings of award-winning films.

- The David Ponce Best of the Fest award will include a $5,000 prize.
- True to its mission to support and empower filmmakers to tell their stories, the Festival’s Emerging Filmmaker Award winner will be presented with a $1,500 prize.
- A $1,000 prize will be given as part of the award for these additional categories: Best Feature, Best Student, Social Awareness, Local Documentary, Human Spirit Award and Short Documentary.
- The Audience Choice award winner will receive $500.

The Chagrin Documentary Film Festival (CDFF) is a celebration of the spirit of the documentary filmmaker, video artists and those working with the moving image from around the world and around the corner.


GENERAL RULES


1. Dates and Venue


(CDFF) will take place in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA between October 6 and October 11, 2020.


2. Competition


The Festival reserves the right to place entries into alternative categories if they feel it is to the benefit of the title. Each submission must be entered separately. Entries will be assessed and successful submissions will be programmed for screening and enter the Festival competition.


3. Formats


For the selection process, we accept online screeners ONLY.

Please note: if accepted, we require a ProRes file 1080 either via upload or thumb drive.

ACCEPTED FILMS NOT IN THE REQUIRED FORMAT WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM COMPETITION AND SCHEDULE.

Please address your entry to:
Chagrin Documentary Film Festival
PO Box 239
Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022


4. The Festival committee reserves the right to invite films for the competition and program. The final award-winning entries will be selected by a Festival Jury. The winners in each category to be announced on Oct 6, 2020 in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA. CDFF reserves the right to schedule additional screenings of award-winning films.


5. Entry Returns


Submissions copies will not be returned unless requested. To ensure your submission copy is returned include a postage paid envelope.


6. Screenings


It is the responsibility of the entrant to ensure that films for screening are deposited with the Festival organizers at least 30 days before any scheduled screening. The Festival DOES NOT pay screening fees.


7. We reserve the right to use submissions for festival publicity and marketing purposes. Submitted films may be used for Festival and post-festival screenings for 12 months.


8. The administrator's decision is final.


Chagrin Documentary Film Festival (CDFF) is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes for a period of 12 months. The Festival does not pay screening fees for any film submitted to the festival.

The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.

By submitting, you indemnify and hold harmless the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.