Richmond International Screenwriting & Film Festival ()

Festival start: 16 November 2024      Festival end: 16 November 2024

RISF is a screenwriting and short film festival where we celebrate storytelling and the people who create the stories. The festival is run by multi award-winning screenwriters and filmmakers who are constantly writing, producing and shooting. Their own films have screened and won awards at international film festivals such as Rhode Island and Newport Beach. They live, breathe and eat scripts and films.

A physical festival, it will be hosted within the 1960s architecture of Duke Street Church, with its recently renovated auditorium space, in the heart of the beautiful London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames. The venue is just a five minute walk from the station and close neighbours to the stunning and iconic Richmond Theatre.

Run in association with multi award-winning production company Nine Yards Films.

The festival will take place on SATURDAY 16th NOVEMBER 2024, including curated SCREENINGS of our short film Official Selections. There will be plenty of networking, opportunities for photos and an Industry Q&A panel session with experienced professionals working in the world of screenwriting and filmmaking. (Panel guests will be announced nearer the time).
The festival will culminate in our AWARDS CEREMONY. We'll announce the Winners and Runners-Up in each category and present the RISF trophies and certificates for each category. The bar will be open and you can grab a drink and chat to fellow screenwriters, filmmakers and our industry guests.

Whether your work is bijou, epic, bittersweet, dark, horrific, hilarious, bizarre, uplifting or heart-stopping - whatever the vibe, whatever the genre, we can't wait to immerse ourselves in your stories.

We accept SHORT AND FEATURE LENGTH SCREENPLAYS

We accept SHORT FILMS, ANIMATIONS, MUSIC VIDEOS and DANCE FILMS (please check run times in the submissions details)

Awards will be given for each category listed below.

A trophy will be awarded to the winner of each category and a certificate to the Runner-Up.

Official Selection, Award Nominee and Award Winner laurels will be given.

SHORT & FEATURE SCREENPLAYS

Every screenplay that is officially selected for the festival will automatically be considered for the relevant award category.

Our custom OFFICIAL SELECTION laurel will be available to all successful submissions for download.

We will notify all submissions by the Notification date but we will also notify earlier than this in many cases.

Award Nominees will be curated from our Official Selections and each nominee will be notified after submissions have closed.

AWARDS:

BEST SCREENPLAY OF THE FESTIVAL - overall best script across every category
Winner Trophy, Runner-up certificate

BEST FEATURE HORROR/THRILLER SCREENPLAY - minimum 60 pages
Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate

BEST FEATURE COMEDY/ROM COM SCREENPLAY - minimum 60 pages
Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate

BEST FEATURE DRAMA SCREENPLAY - minimum 60 pages
Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate

BEST UK SHORT SCREENPLAY - maximum 15 pages
Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT SCREENPLAY - maximum 15 pages
Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate

BEST SHORT SHORT SCREENPLAY - maximum 3 pages
Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate

BEST SHORT HORROR SCREENPLAY - maximum 15 pages
Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate

BEST SHORT COMEDY SCREENPLAY - maximum 15 pages
Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate

BEST SHORT DRAMA SCREENPLAY - maximum 15 pages
Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate

NARRATIVE SHORT FILMS, ANIMATIONS & DANCE/MUSIC FILMS

Every film that is officially selected for the festival will automatically be considered for the relevant award category. Our custom OFFICIAL SELECTION laurel will be available to all successful submissions for download.

We will notify all submissions by the Notification date but we will also notify earlier than this in many cases.

Award Nominees will be curated from our Official Selections and each nominee will be notified after submissions have closed.

AWARDS:

BEST SHORT FILM - Winner Trophy, Runner-up certificate

BEST ANIMATION - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate

BEST DANCE or MUSIC FILM - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate

BEST DIRECTOR - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate

BEST WRITER - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate

BEST ACTOR - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate

BEST ACTRESS - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate

BEST EDITING - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up certificate

BEST MAKEUP - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up Certificate

BEST COSTUME - Winner Trophy, Runner-Up Certificat

SCREENPLAYS:

Please submit all scripts in the proper format.

Scripts should be UNPRODUCED at the time of submission.

Scripts should be submitted as a PDF.

Please adhere to any relevant PAGE COUNT LIMITATIONS.

We cannot be held responsible for any copyright or intellectual property infringements, so please ensure that you have all necessary rights to the material you are submitting and full permission to submit it.

Once your script is submitted we cannot accept further drafts. The submitted draft is the one that will be considered for selection.

Officially selected scripts will be notified by email before or on OCTOBER 1st 2024. We reserve the right to adjust the notification date if circumstances dictate it and we will advise all submissions accordingly.

We reserve the right to change the date of the festival or its venue in the case of circumstances beyond our control.

NARRATIVE SHORT FILMS, ANIMATIONS, DANCE & MUSIC FILMS:

Films should not be available to publicly view online.

All selected films must be submitted in the format required by the venue.

RISF is granted the right to utilise an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes.

Officially selected films will be notified by email before or on OCTOBER 1st 2024. We reserve the right to adjust the notification date if circumstances dictate it and we will advise all submissions accordingly.

The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorised to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. You must have full permission for the use of all elements of this film and we cannot accept responsibility for any lack of permissions.

All entries should be in English or with English subtitles. We cannot show films without subtitles.

All scripts used for short films must be original screenplays, for which the applicant(s) hold the copyright. Where the screenplay is based on another piece of work it is the responsibility of the screenwriter to obtain written permission/copyright clearances from the original author or publisher.

We cannot enter into correspondence regarding our festival Winners.

The Applicant shall hold harmless Richmond International Screenwriting and Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses which may be incurred in such circumstances.

We cannot post out trophies and certificates, they must be accepted in person at the festival.

The applicant shall indemnify and hold harmless Richmond International Screenwriting and 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.

We reserve the right to change the date of the festival or its venue in the case of circumstances beyond our control.

WE CANNOT OFFER WAIVER FEES