SIP Film Festival ()

Festival start: 22 September 2020      Festival end: 25 September 2020

SIP Film Festival is an independent film festival in the UK. Launching for the first time in 2020, standing as a platform for independent filmmaking, creative expression and immersive entertainment. SIP supports emerging and established voices, discovers award-winning filmmakers, curates innovative and interactive experiences, and introduces new ideas through panels, premieres, and exhibitions.

Festival Sections:
- Workshops with special guests
- Industry Forum – talks and panels
- Networking events
- Screenings
- Awards

The First Annual SIP Film Festival will take place April 7 - 10, 2020 in central London.

SIP Audience Award
SIP Micro Audience Award
SIP Student Audience Award

Best Film
Best Micro Film
Best Student Film

Best Performance

Best Short Screenplay
- A development deal with Shot Of Tea
- Guaranteed Screening at SIP Film Festival

Best Documentary Treatment
- A development deal with Beyond The Wall Film Festival
- Guaranteed Screening at SIP Film Festival

1. Submission deadlines
Submissions will be accepted from 29 October 2019. The early deadline is Tuesday 14 January 2020; the regular deadline is Friday 14 February 2020; the late deadline is Saturday 14 March 2020. Early entry is encouraged but in no way guarantees acceptance.

2. Submission Format
Films must be submitted via online screener ONLY. We do not accept films sent over by DVD. We do not accept subsequent cuts or incomplete versions of submitted films, therefore changing or updating the originally submitted link is not accepted. Only one version of the film will be reviewed by programmers.

3. Submission Eligibility
- All submissions must have been completed after 1 January 2019.
- There is no premiere policy.
- Films with distribution are accepted.
- Non-english films must be subtitled in english.

4. Submission Fee
All submissions for SIP are to be paid through Festhome platform. The submission fee is non-refundable.

5. Selection of Films
Submissions are reviewed and selected under the following criteria:
- Quality of narrative and production values.
- Independent nature of the production.

6. Notification
SIP endeavours to complete all selection procedures by Monday 9 March 2020 and inform all submitting parties, in writing, if their film has been successful or not after that time. Successful submissions will receive a Filmmaker Festival Pack that will include important information on press and publicity, guest accreditation, contact information and how to make the most of participating in the Festival.

7. Scheduling - for selected films ONLY
Screenings are scheduled at the discretion of SIP. Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the published schedule, SIP reserves the right to make changes at any time for any reason. SIP will not be liable for any costs claimed as a result of a change in schedule. No film may be withdrawn from the festival programme after its selection.

8. Promotion - for selected films ONLY
Selected films must acknowledge that SIP reserves the right to promote the films on SIP website and social media using both images and video that you provide.

9. Screenplay and Treatment Submissions ONLY.
A. Entrants must be eighteen (18) years of age or older.
B. Submissions must be written in english.
C. Submissions must be in PDF format.
D. Submissions must be the original work of the writer(s), and all rights must be wholly
owned by the writer(s).
E. Submissions under a pen name will be immediately disqualified.
F. Submissions are only accepted electronically through our website or partner
websites. We do not accept hardcopy submissions by mail.
G. The script cover page should include title, name, email, and phone number.
H. Submissions can be in any genre.
I. There is no limit to the number of projects you may submit.
J. Submissions must be no longer than 15 pages in length. No exceptions.
K. Submissions must be received on or before the deadline(s) and payment must be
made in full at the time of submission.
L. Once a script has been submitted, we will not accept substitutions or revised drafts. If you wish to submit a revised draft, you must enter it as a new submission.
M. Submissions will not be returned, so please ensure that you retain a copy.
N. Entry fees are non-refundable.
O. Scripts submitted to other competitions or contests are eligible.
P. Professional writers and previous contest winners are eligible.
Q. Submissions that have been previously optioned, purchased, or produced are not eligible. If a submission becomes optioned, purchased, or goes into production between the time of submission and the end of the competition, the script will no longer be eligible.
R. Entrants are prohibited from contacting judges during the competition. All judging decisions are final.
S. WINNER
I. For Screenwriting - Writer will be provided guidance and feedback from Shot Of Tea to prep the script for the shooting of the short film. The writer will be provided on-screen credit, IMDB credit, and a copy of the completed project. No writer fee will be provided. The film will then be screened at the next Annual SIP Film Festival.
II. For Documentary - Writer will be provided guidance and feedback from Beyond the Wall Fest to prep the script or treatment for the shooting of the short film. The creator will be provided on-screen credit, IMDB credit, and a copy of the completed project. No creator fee will be provided. The film will then be screened at the next Annual SIP Film Festival.

10. By submitting the material, the applicant hereby agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the festival & its employees from any liability, claims, and damages in connection with the submission and from any fees and expenses, including but not limited to reasonable attorneys' fees, that any of them may incur in connection therewith.

I/We understand that failure to adhere to the competition rules and regulations will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee.

I/We agree to hold the SIP Film Festival harmless from and defend them against all claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses (including attorney’s fees) arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, whether or not groundless, based on any film submitted to the Festival.