SR - Socially Relevant Film Festival New York (0)

Festival start: 14 March 2016      Festival end: 20 March 2016

SR films are of socially relevant content and concentrate on character-driven situations and good storytelling instead of relying on gratuitous violence, crime, and so-called selling points for box office success.

SR Film Festival New York and its Industry Panels focus on Socially Relevant film content and nurture filmmakers who develop human interest stories with Socially Relevant themes.​

SR is a festival and film development lab that aims to satisfy a market need concentrating on everyday positive human stories while offering a financially viable alternative to the proliferation of violence & crime in today’s movie industry.

The festival and industry panels event provides filmmakers & festival attendees with the best of both worlds: finished films and projects/scripts in development.

1. Grand Prize: Winning feature film.

2. Documentary Prize: DVD-VOD Distribution deal with Cinema Libre Studio of Los Angeles, a leader in the field.

3. Short films 5-6 selected films are streamed on IndiePix.com under the SR Film Festival heading. Other digital platform partners are now coming on board and to be announced soon.

4. Screenwriting contest: Best screenplay gets a certificate from Final Draft to download the latest software. Also awards from InkTip and other listings.

Plus other 'Empowering Women and Girls' award in memory of Vanya Exerjian and other smaller awards.

And many more... follow our Facebook page and our tweets for constant updates, new awards, and industry networking opportunities and panels.

GENERAL RULES


SR Socially Relevant (TM) Film Festival NY is a film festival that focuses on socially relevant human stories and raises awareness to social problems by offering positive solutions through the powerful medium of cinema. SR (TM) believes that through raised awareness, expanded knowledge about diverse cultures, and the human condition as a whole, it is possible to create a better world free of violence, hate and crime.


SR Socially Relevant (TM) Film Festival New York shines the spotlight on filmmakers who tell compelling, socially relevant narratives across a broad range of social issues without resorting to gratuitous violence and violent forms of movie making.

SR's human interest stories and character driven films reflect good storytelling as shorts, documentaries, narrative features and scripts in competition.


SR films can be commercially viable and can become box office successes when distributed through the proper channels and platforms.

SR (TM) Films are enlightening, uplifting, entertaining, but most of all artistically appealing.


MISSION & OBJECTIVE

SR - Socially Relevant FIlm Festival New York is a festival that focuses on socially relevant film content and human interest stories.

SR aims to showcase socially relevant films of high artistic value that educate, enlighten, entertain, and that can be commercially viable. Socially Relevant films can be funny, dramatic, romantic, adventurous, comical, suspenseful, intellectually challenging, historical, psychologically inclined, or tell a story that matters. In short, SR films can be anything BUT boring!


THE MISSION of the Festival is to spotlight filmmakers and their films that tackle the social and environmental issues of the day without relying on gratuitous violence, special effects, loud soundtracks and sensationalism to draw in an audience. The festival supports its filmmakers beyond the weeklong festival, as it showcases the selection films in other venues and at the Cannes Film Festival Doc Corner.


ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Founded by Artistic Director Nora Armani, SR is based in New York. SR launched in Manhattan, the entertainment capital of the world, where 55 films from 18 countries were screened over the course of one week from March 14-20, 2014. March 2014 marked the festival's inaugural year and screenings took place at the Quad Cinema in Greenwich Village in New York City.

An international slate of 53 films from 33 countries screened in the second edition of the festival in March 2015. The screenings expanded to Tribeca Cinemas in Tribeca, The Maysles Cinema in Harlem and the Quad Cinema in the Village in New York City. There were also four industry panels on Distribution, Storytelling, Diversity Casting and Film as a social change tool a the School of Visual Arts and at the Centre for Remembering and Sharing.

Filmmaker Q&A's follow the screenings in almost all the feature films and most short film screenings when possible. The festival is devoted solely to filmmakers of socially relevant content. The film selections are made following the submission process on Festhome and also directly through the festival's website: www.ratedsrfilms.org.

The launch of the Socially Relevant film festival coincides with the growing trends related to socially conscientious consumers who seek alternatives to the invasive films that rely on gratuitous violence and sensationalism to make a box office entry.

More information can be found at: https://www.ratedsrfilms.org


GRAND PRIZE:

In the inaugural year as well as the second edition, two lucky filmmakers of a feature length documentary and narrative films: Small Small Thing and The Challat of Tunis, won a FREE one-week run at the QUAD CINEMA in New York under its QUADflix SELECT Program. The award was generously donated by the Quad Cinema. Check the festival's website for past winners in the other categories.


This award cannot be exchanged for a monetary reward. May be replaced by a Distribution Deal in the future. At the Jury's discretion a First Runner Up prize is also awarded in this category.


DOCUMENTARY FILM PRIZE:

Donated by festival partner Cinema Libre Studio of Los Angeles, a leader in the field of distribution and production, the award included a DVD VOD release deal for the winning documentaries in the first two years. This award may not be exchanged for a monetary reward and is solely about the distribution of the work in question. Check the festival website for past winners. The winning filmmaker will be offered a proper distribution agreement.

At the Jury's discretion a First Runner Up prize is also presented in this category.


SHORT FILM PRIZE:

Donated by festival partner digital distribution platform IndiePix, 5-6 titles curated by the festival from the slate of short films in the narrative and documentary categories will be released under the heading SR Socially Relevant Film Festival Collection. These will be promoted and streamed for pay per view or DVD release on the IndiePix Site. Filmmakers selected will be offered a proper distribution agreement.


SCREENWRITING:

One of two best screenplays submitted to the festival selected by a special jury are offered a prize courtesy of Final Draft in the form of a download certificate of the latest scriptwriting software. And in addition, InkTip offers a prize listing free of charge on their website for up to two winning screenplays, to be searched and discovered by producers looking for new works.

Also for Screenwriters:

InkTip Script Listing: A listing of the winning script on InkTip so that producers and reps can find it. InkTip Magazine: Publication of the log line in InkTip's magazine sent to nearly 15000 producers and reps.

InkTip helps writers sell their scripts and get representation. Producers have made more than 200 films from scripts and writers they found through InkTip.

There are additional prizes such as:
The Rated SR Social Justice Award,
The Justice and Peace Award
The Lifetime Inspiration and/ or Achievement Award
The Empowering Women and Girls Award in memory of Vanya Exerjian,
The Women Film Critics Circle Award
And other surprises..

Programming is done by the collective and professionals on the advisory committee.

The juries of the different categories comprise well-known and establish international and US professionals from all disciplines and voting takes place confidentially.

Awards & Prizes

1. Grand Prize: Winning feature film. 1/2 day consultation with Candy Factory for deliverables, packaging, and promotion. Michael Aram designed - gold plated trophy... And a week-long run of the winner in the first two years. New awards are being negotiated and will be announced soon.

2. Documentary Prize: DVD-VOD Distribution deal with Cinema Libre and leaders in the field. New wards are now being negotiated and will be announced soon.

3. Short films 5-6 selected films from the documentary and narrative shorts are streamed on IndiePix.com under the SR Socially Relevant Film Festival Catalog heading. More films listed under curated festival programs on other platforms coming soon.

4. Screenwriting contest: Best screenplay is featured on InkTip website for free to be discovered by producers looking for scripts and is awarded a certificate from Final Draft to download the latest software.

Other Awards include:

The SR Social Justice Award, The Justice and Peace Award, the Lifetime of Inspiration Award, Career Recognition Award, Empowering Women and Girls award in memory of Vanya Exerjian, and the Women Film Critics' Circle Award in addition to cash prizes and other smaller in-kind awards.

Rules & Terms

ONCE SELECTED IN THE OFFICIAL COMPETITION SELECTION A FILM MAY NOT PULL OUT OF THE FESTIVAL OR WITHDRAW ITS SUBMISSION!!!

NO WAIVERS GRANTED FOR SUBMISSION FEES. PLEASE KINDLY REFRAIN FROM ASKING!


GENERAL RULES

I. APPLICATION OF THESE TERMS & CONDITIONS

The following terms and conditions (the "Terms") govern the submission of a film (the "Film") or screenplay (the "Screenplay") to SR Film Festival New York ("SRFFNY"), through Festhome.com (Festhome) for consideration for the 2016 SR Socially Relevant Film Festival (the "Festival").


II. SUBMISSION AGREEMENT

(1) By submitting a Film to SRFFNY for Festival consideration, the submitter (the "Applicant") represents that he or she has obtained consent from any and all owners, creators, writers producers and/or other authorized representatives of the Film whose consent is required to submit the Film to SRFFNY (the "Film Owners"), and has read, understood and agreed to the Terms.


(2) SRFFNY may disqualify or reject, but is not required to do so, any submission that it determines in its sole discretion, is not in compliance, in whole or in part, with these Terms, and may do so without refunding any or all submission fees paid by the Applicant or returning the Applicant's DVD submission.


(3) As the author/rights owner of the film I/we have submitted to SRFFNY, I/we warrant as sole and exclusive owner/s of all legal right and title thereto have absolute authority to submit the film to SRFFNY. I/we will indemnify and hold harmless SRFFNY, its judges, sponsors and partners, individually and collectively, from and against all claims, demands, losses, damages, costs, liabilities and expenses including legal expenses arising out of or in connection with any and all third party claims based on films submitted to SRFFNY. RatedSRNY winners will permit SRFFNY to use their name and/or likeness in post-competition publicity. By signing this form I/we understand and agree to all the terms and conditions of film entry. I have read through and agree to the SR Socially Relevant Film Festival New York Entry Procedure, Rules, Guidelines, and all Terms and Conditions.


(4) As author/rights owner of the film I/we grant legal permission to include my/our film in promotional distribution program. I/we own or control the copyright for the motion picture and have secured all the rights for the locations, music, actors, scripts, likenesses, products, etc.


(5) In the case of any rights related Errors and Omissions, I, the filmmaker and submitter, relieve the festival of any responsibility of libel resulting form copyright infringement. I take full responsibility of such.


III. SUBMISSION CATEGORIES AND ELIGIBILITY

(1) Films submitted to for Festival consideration under these Terms must be submitted in one of the categories set out below.


(2) Films that do not meet the eligibility requirements for any of the below categories should not be submitted and will not be considered by SRFFNY.

(3) The Festival is organized into a series of programs, which are subject to change from year to year, but might include, for example: Gala, Closing Night, panel discussions, screenings, spotlight events, Q&A's, etc. SRFFNY may slot selected films into programs at its sole and absolute discretion.

(4) SRFFNY expects all Films that it presents at the Festival to be, at minimum, North American or New York premieres, but reserves the right to present films that are not.

(5) A Film previously submitted to SRFFNY for Festival consideration can re-apply for the festival in the following years.

(6) Films submitted on-line via FilmFreeway's online screeners could receive preference over those submitted on a DVD screeners. Films selected for the festival slate will be screened on DVD, BluRay or 35mm and in some cases on DCP. Additional details regarding these screening formats will be provided to selected Films upon invitation on pre-selection. SRFFNY does not screen work in any other format in the current year.

(7) Festival organizers and persons associated with the festival can submit films for screening and screenplays for consideration (out of competition).

(8) Winning films are to present, at their own production's expense, the screening or distribution deliverables as requested by the festival venues, the distributor or exhibitor as the case might be.


IV. PROCESS FOR SUBMISSION

Submission Procedure

(1) All Films submitted under these Terms must be submitted in accordance with the procedure outlined herein. SRFFNY may disqualify or reject any Film that is not submitted in this way.

(2) To submit a film for Festival consideration, an Applicant must: (a) complete the registration process at Festhome and pay the required fee as outlined in the different categories and (b) provide to SRFFNY a Festhome online screener for review by SRFFNY programming staff. SRNY does not accept submissions in any other manner or format, including: content burned to Read/Write (RW) discs, blu-ray discs or trailers.

(3) Submitted DVDs must:
a. contain one version only of the Film, in the original language of production, with English subtitles if the original language is not English;
b. be formatted in MPEG-2 video for Region 1/North America or Region 0/no region (i.e. the DVD is authored as a video DVD and not burned as a data disc containing Quicktime or other similar file formats);
c. be labeled with the following: (i) title, (ii) production company name, phone number and address, (iii) director's name, (iv) length in minutes;
d. be shipped in accordance with the shipping instructions set out below in sections 8 through 11.

(4) Applicants should test their DVDs thoroughly before submitting them. It is the Applicant's sole responsibility to ensure that the submitted DVD/ BluRay screener plays in its entirety on an industry-standard DVD player. If SRFFNY is unable to view the DVD or BluRay, SRFFNY will attempt, but is under no obligation, to contact the Applicant in order to obtain a replacement DVD, or to burn one for screening purposes

(5) SRFFNY will not review multiple versions of a submitted Film. Only one version of the Film may be submitted. If multiple versions are submitted, SRFFNY will view only the version that was received first.

(6) DVD screeners will not be returned.
DVD's and BluRay screeners that are sent as deliverables after selection of the film may be returned after the festival ONLY if a self addressed, postage paid, return envelope is included when sending in the deliverables.

(7) All Films must be sent by way of prepaid shipping. SRFFNY will not accept collect shipments.

(8) The Festival is not responsible for and will not accept shipments incurring expenses for terminal charges, duties, taxes or customs brokerage. Applicants should clearly indicate on all waybills that transportation and customs charges are to be billed to the sender. Any shipping charges incurred by SRFFNY will be billed back to the Applicant.

(9) Films should not be shipped in excessive packaging or with any materials other than those requested by SRFFNY. There is no programming value for DVD submissions arriving in unusual or unorthodox containers. However, please make sure to pack DVD's properly as many boxes and actual DVD's arrive totally damaged in transit.

(10) SRFFNY is not responsible and bears no liability with respect to clearance of shipments through US customs. However, SRFFNY recommends that Applicants sending submissions from outside of the USA take the following steps to increase the chance of successful review by US customs:
a. Include three copies of a commercial invoice (declaration of contents) containing the following information: i. Sender's name, address and telephone number ii. Recipient's address iii. Title of film and format iv. Length of film v. Fair market value (standard is US $20) vi. Country of manufacture vii. Declaration "Goods on loan for Festival purposes only. No commercial value." viii. Sender's signature
b. The commercial invoice should be included with the courier waybill. Applicants shipping via international post should affix a customs declaration label to the outside of the package.
c. SRFFNY prefers FedEX, UPS or DHL where available.

(11) SRFFNY does not confirm receipt of shipment, and is not responsible for lost or misdirected packages. It is the Applicant's responsibility to ensure that the submission procedure is complete, and that the DVD screener has been received by SRFFNY.


V. SCREENPLAYS:

Screenplays should be submitted as completed screenplays (PDF).

As the author of the screenplay I/we have submitted to SRFFNY, I/we warrant as sole and exclusive owner/s of all legal right and title thereto have absolute authority to submit the screenplay to SRFFNY. I/we will indemnify and hold harmless SRFFNY, its judges, sponsors and partners, individually and collectively, from and against all claims, demands, losses, damages, costs, liabilities and expenses including legal expenses arising out of or in connection with any and all third party claims based on scripts submitted to SRFFNY. SRFFNY winners will permit SRFFNY to use their name and/or likeness in post-competition publicity. By signing this form I/we understand and agree to all the terms and conditions of screenplay entry. I have read through and agree to the SR Socially Relevant Film Festival New York Entry Procedure, Rules, Guidelines, and all Terms and Conditions.


VI. SUBMISSION DEADLINES AND FEES

(1) In order to be eligible for consideration, DVD submissions must be post-marked, Festhome registration completed, and all fees paid, by the deadlines outlined in the categories.

(2) SRFFNY may accept late submissions in its discretion, but an additional submission fee may apply as specified in the different categories.


VII. SELECTION

SRFFNY will consider for inclusion in the Festival all eligible films that have been submitted by the above deadline and in accordance with these Terms. SRNY reserves the right to consider for inclusion in the Festival, and includes in the Festival, films received at any time and through any means, channel or process, including means, channels or processes other than those outlined in these Terms. Nothing in these Terms or otherwise requires SRFFNY to select for Festival inclusion any of the Films submitted through the process outlined in these Terms.

(1) All selection decisions are at the sole and absolute discretion of SRFFNY, and are final and non reviewable. SRFFNY is not required to provide any feedback, comments or reasons, or any other information, regarding the selection or non-selection of any submitted Film or the process by which Films are or have been selected. SRFFNY is not responsible or liable for its selection decisions; for the contents of any internal comments or feedback regarding the Film that are or may be obtained from the Applicant or anyone else; for any communications by any representative of SRFFNY relating to the Film or the Festival selection process; for the manner in which the Film shall be, is or was considered and reviewed; or for any failure on the part of the Festival to provide the Applicant or anyone else with information concerning SRFFNY's consideration and/or review of the Film.

(2) SRFFNY will notify by January 10th, 2016 all Applicants who have been selected to participate in the Festival. All Applicants who are not selected to participate in the Festival will be contacted by email on or around January 31, 2016. SRNY will contact Applicants using the contact information provided in the Festhome registration form. Applicants are responsible to provide correct and functional contact information. SRFFNY is not responsible for any failed attempts to contact Applicants using the contact information provided.


VIII. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, LEGAL CLAIMS AND INDEMNITIES

(1) By submitting the film to SRFFNY, the Applicant and Film Owners (the "Submitting Parties") hereby warrant and represent that: (i) the film is wholly original and is not copied from and does not include any other work that is the subject of copyright or other protection, unless such work is in the public domain or the Submitting Parties have obtained any and all consents, releases, licenses, and other authorizations or waivers of any kind necessary for the inclusion or reproduction of any person, character, location, thing, trade-mark, sound recording, musical composition or other work in the film; (ii) the film does not defame any person or violate the common law or statutory rights, including, without limitation, the rights of privacy and publicity or any other right of any person; (iii) the film is not the subject of litigation; (iv) there are no agreements, nor will there be any agreements made subsequent to the date of this Film submission that would or could have the effect of impairing the Submitting Parties' ability to provide the film as contemplated herein, or otherwise conflict with any provision of these Terms; and (iv) the Submitting Parties have the full right, power and authority to submit the film to SRFFNY for Festival consideration, and to grant all of the rights granted hereunder and in the Festhome registration form, and there is no obligation or disability which would in any way impair, restrict or impede the Submitting Parties from fully performing all obligations pursuant to the submission and these Terms.

(2) The Submitting Parties agree to indemnify and hold harmless Rated SRFFNY, its licensees, successors and assigns, and its and their members, officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, associates and affiliates (each, a "Releasee"), from any claim, suit, action or other proceeding brought against a Releasee and from any losses, costs, or damages, including the Releasee's full legal costs, which it may have suffered or incurred or may suffer or incur, directly or indirectly based on, in connection with, or arising from the use and exhibition of the Film submitted by the Applicant or the breach or alleged breach of any representation, warranty or other agreement made by the Applicant in these Terms, or in the Applicant's Festhome registration form.

(3) SRFFNY takes all reasonable anti-piracy precautions. While in SRFFNY's possession, all Films are securely stored and regularly inventoried. Access to Films is limited to SRFFNY staff who require access in order to screen and consider submissions. No duplication and loaning of Films is permitted. By submitting a Film to SRFFNY, the Submitting Parties hereby release SRFFNY from any and all liability in the event of theft, unauthorized access or copying, or any breach of copyright of the submitted Film while it is in SRFFNY's possession.


IX. OTHER

(1) SRFFNY reserves the right to rule, in its sole discretion, on cases and situations not foreseen by these Terms. Condition and unforeseen changes and circumstances may arise in which case SRFFNY will do its best to retain the status quo, but may have in certain circumstances to make necessary changes to accommodate for such unforeseen circumstances. The person who has completed this entry form has READ and AGREES TO ABIDE BY all regulations and statements provided within this form.

(2) Some conditions may change without notice. It is the responsibility of each applicant to verify such changes and decide their position accordingly.

(3) Most awards are given by partner organisations and although SRFFNY makes sure to honor all awards as announced, in some unexpected cases substitutions may occur that are not in the control of SRFFNY and that are the sole discretion of the awarding parties. SRFFNY apologizes in advance for any inconveniences resulting from such unexpected and rare changes or substitutions.