Westfield International Film Festival ()

Festival start: 03 October 2019      Festival end: 06 October 2019

Big Dreams & Silver Screens presents the 7th Annual Westfield International Film Festival, (formerly Rahway International Film Festival)!

We offer a four day weekend with feature films, short films, seminars, Q&A's, parties and more! All of this in a gorgeous MANSION in Westfield, NJ. We look forward to treating you at the James Ward Mansion this year.

OUR MISSION:

Our mission is to provide an opportunity for artists worldwide to showcase works that educate, and inspire equality, empathy and awareness through film.

We believe that film can reach the mind and soul in ways nothing else can. For this reason, we present films that strive to promote equality, champion the oppressed and promote open-mindedness. We also offer seminars and workshops intended to engage and educate aspiring filmmakers and on-camera talent.

Our intent is to call attention to and encourage the artistic endeavors of women and minorities, whose work is often overlooked, and in so doing, fully advocate for equality.

We are committed to enhancing the creative community in the Tri-State area and providing a platform for both local and international storytellers to not only share their work but enjoy a place to forge new relationships for collaboration.

OUR STORY:

Westfield International Film Festival (a Big Dreams and Silver Screens production) is a non-profit international film festival first established in Rahway, New Jersey, U.S.A, only 40 minutes away from New York City. It was first held in June of 2013 in an effort to create a warm and welcoming home for independent filmmakers and fans of film in the Tri-State Area. We annually showcase short films, feature films and music videos while offering networking and workshop opportunities to those interested in the film industry.

As a women-led film festival in a primarily male-dominated film industry and in keeping with our mission of equality, we seek to present an equal ratio of films created by male and female filmmakers (Director/Writer/Producer/DP) from around the world. We also present the annual “Woman in Film Award” to honor and celebrate women in the film industry who exemplify our definition of success.

We are glad to be a part of the bustling downtown district of Westfield, NJ - one of the "happiest cities in New Jersey" - where we call The James Ward Mansion home. It is a unique, beautiful, and glamorous space in which we are happy to honor our hard-working filmmakers whom we feel deserve the full red-carpet treatment.

Big Dreams and Silver Screens is currently awaiting its 501c3 Non-Profit Status from the State of NJ. WIFF is a Big Dreams and Silver Screens production.

To learn more about Westfield International Film Festival, visit us here: www.westfieldfilmfest.com.

Best Short Film
Best Short Narrative (Comedy)
Best Short Narrative (Drama)
Best Short Documentary
Best Short Animation
Best Short Screenplay
Best Cinematography (of a Short)
Best Editing (of a Short)
*Best Female Filmmaker (of a Short)
**Best Local Short Film
Audience Choice Winner (Short)

Best Feature Film
Best Feature Narrative (Comedy)
Best Feature Narrative (Drama)
Best Feature Documentary
Best Feature Animation
Best Feature Screenplay
Best Cinematography (of a Feature)
Best Editing (of a Feature)
*Best Female Filmmaker (of a Feature)
**Best Local Feature Film
Audience Choice Winner (Feature)

ENTRY REGULATIONS:​

Westfield International Film Festival (a Big Dreams and Silver Screens production) is open to U.S. and international entries. Submissions for WIFF 2019 will be accepted until the extended deadline of July 11, 2019. Entrants will be notified via Festhome and/or e-mail by early August 2019 if their work has been officially selected for festival screening. All submission material must be clearly marked with the title of the film, Festhome tracking number and contact information. Only complete applications will be considered. A complete application includes the screener, submission fee and other materials.

Officially Selected Works: If officially selected for festival screening, filmmakers will be contacted via Festhome and/or email for next steps. Filmmakers must send a high quality digital screener via Festhome and/or e-mail to team@bigdreamsandsilverscreens.org using a file transfer website (such as- DropBox, WeTransfer, etc).

Filmmaker MUST assist Festival in film promotion. Filmmaker attendance is strongly encouraged.

Category, screening time, date, venue and format determination is at sole discretion of Westfield International Film Festival [Big Dreams and Silver Screens.] Once accepted, a film may not be pulled from the Festival by the filmmaker for any reason whatsoever. Filmmaker agrees to comply with all requirements. Filmmaker agrees to abide by Festival code of conduct. If accepted, filmmaker will be available to help promote the film. 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.

Whenever possible, programs with non-English soundtracks should be submitted with subtitles. All selected films will be screened in public venues.

To be eligible for consideration:

1. Entrants must comply with all of these Entry Rules & Regulations, including deadline(s) and entry material requirements, and selected film requirements.
2. Non-English language works must have English subtitles but should retain the original language audio.
3. Student films must be produced by a student enrolled in an accredited school (high school, college, or graduate school). Proof will be requested.
4. Entry materials will not be returned.
5. Multiple entries will be accepted provided they are submitted individually. You may resubmit films submitted in the past that were not accepted as long as the film has been completed in the past 5 years.
6. If we select your film, you will need to provide:
-An exhibition copy of the invited work in one of the specified formats.
-Digital Press Kit- including film stills, a synopsis, production credits, and director and writer bios. Note that if materials are not submitted by the applicable deadline, WIFF reserves the right to secure substitute materials from other sources.
-We prefer the highest possible quality media. If invited, you must be able to provide one of the aforementioned formats.

​REPRODUCTION AGREEMENT:

Submission of an entry gives Westfield International Film Festival [Big Dreams and Silver Screens] full rights to have accepted work exhibited, photographed, locally telecast, and reproduced in part, for promotional purposes.

LIABILITY:

Filmmaker shall indemnify and hold Westfield International Film Festival [Big Dreams and Silver Screens] harmless 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/or loss of or damage to the screening videos submitted. In particular, filmmaker expressly warrants it has obtained all necessary copyright clearances for original works of authorship used in the film.

Questions?

If you have questions regarding the entry process, please send an email with subject “Submission Inquiry” to: team@bigdreamsandsilverscreens.org