The Times BFI London Film Festival - submission guidelines and regulations

The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival
14 - 29 October 2009

The Deadline for all submissions has now passed.

Submissions

If you wish to have your film considered for The London Film Festival, please send us a DVD copy of the film, plus a synopsis and/or press kit as soon as possible. We also require some other details. The easiest way to supply these is to fill in our online submissions form. On completion of this form you will be sent a reference number by email. Please include this with your DVD and on any correspondence.

If you are unable to fill in our online form please remember to include the following important information with your submission:

Director's name, Country of Production, Running Time.
Plus full contact details including postal address, telephone number and email address.

For viewing purposes we accept any region DVD. Viewing material should be insured by the sender and sent via airmail or courier (at the sender’s expense) to:

London Film Festival
Festivals Office
BFI Southbank
Belvedere Road
South Bank
London SE1 8XT
UK
Att: Sarah Lutton
Tel: +44 (0)20 7815 1322/1323

If you do not have a DVD and would like to submit your film in another format please contact us. Under certain circumstances and by prior arrangement we can also view Beta SP and DigiBeta (Pal or NTSC) and work on print.

If your film will be shown at any other film festivals before August (outside the UK) please let us know, as it's possible that one of our programme advisors could view it there.

The programme is finalised between July and August. You will hear from us by the end of September at the latest, normally by email. If your contact details change during this period please let us know so that we may update our records.

Regulations

1. The London Film Festival is presented by the British Film Institute.

2. The London Film Festival has as its objective the promotion of cinematographic art by presenting films of quality. The London Film Festival is an annual event based at the BFI Southbank and other central London venues. It runs for 16 days and wherever possible each film is presented twice.

3. The London Film Festival is recognised by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) and is subject to its regulations.

4. (a) Feature films, documentaries and short subjects of any genre on 16mm, 35mm, 70mm and video are selected by invitation, according to quality, from among those shown at festivals outside of the UK, during the preceding year.

    (b) The organisers also welcome unsolicited submissions made in accordance with these regulations.

5. The London Film Festival is non-competitive. All films screened in the festival must be UK Premieres. Prior theatrical, UK Festivals, television screenings, internet transmission or video releases in the UK disqualify films from entry. Entries must have been produced within the last two years.

6. All feature films in a language other than English must be subtitled in English. Short subjects carry the same requirement for English subtitling, unless dialogue or commentary is unnecessary for comprehension and appreciation. Electronic Subtitles will be made available only if absolutely necessary. In the exceptional event that an unsubtitled print is accepted, English dialogue lists are required.

7. Prints and videos of invited films will be insured according to the regulations of the FIAPF and shipping costs will be incurred by the London Film Festival.

8. No cuts or changes in any film will be made by the festival management for any reason.

9. Excerpts from films will only be shown on television for promotional purposes if permission is obtained from the producer.

10. The London Film Festival is open to the public. A substantial number of accredited national and international press, TV and film buyers and distributors also participate.

11. Official or professional national organisations and individuals may submit feature and short films to the festival. Short films submitted for pre-selection should arrive no later than 26 June 2009, feature films no later than 10 July 2009, and must be shipped as per instructions on the accompanying sheet. There is no entry fee, but all shipping costs of unsolicited films to and from London must be borne by the sender. We request the sender fills in the online submissions form. Please note: it is not possible for us to return any unsolicited DVDs.

12. Submission of a film represents agreement with the regulations set forth here.

13. It is London Film Festival policy not to offer comments or reasons for films not selected for the programme.