Winners will be presented with an award, to be
determined, during the festival’s Awards Party. 
There may or may not be additional awards or giveaways. 

Submit entries prepaid including applicable customs fees via U.S. Post Office:

San Diego Black Film Festival
P.O. Box 122469
San Diego, CA 92112
Phone: (619) 865-7215

Package CDs properly and securely using bubble-wrap.
Selected filmmakers are responsible for delivery of exhibition prints or
videos to our offices by the date designated at time of selection notification. 

     Please email submission questions to: letter@sdbff.com

A completed application and entry fee must accompany each entry.  
There are no exceptions to the entry fee.  Entries must be postmarked
per the following deadlines:

• Early-Bird Entry/Fee and Deadline: Must be postmarked by August 31, 2010
  $50 (WAB $40)
   
   

• Regular Deadline:  Must be postmarked by October 31, 2010
  $75 (WAB $65) 
   

• Late Entry Deadline:  Must be postmarked by November 19, 2010
  $85 (WAB $75)
   

• Rush/Extended Entry (WAB only):  Must be submitted by December 10, 2010
  $100 (WAB only)
  
  Entry fees are not refundable.  Make payment by check or money order
  in US dollars (only) payable to:  San Diego Black Film Festival

The Festival accepts films/videos in the following genres: dramatic
feature, dramatic short, comedy, documentary feature, documentary
short, GLBT, animation, Christian, and music video.  Festival
programming staff may use their discretion to place
your film in the appropriate category.

Films/videos entered into competition must be directed, produced, or principally
acted by an artist of African descent in the USA or in any country, or by a person born
in any country in Africa, or whose subject matter relates to African American culture
or any cultures of Africa (including Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, etc.) regardless of race.  
Clarify questions of eligibility prior to submission of entry.  Entries must not have
been completed prior to January 2009.

Entrants shall obtain all licenses, royalties, and permits necessary to present
their work.  Entrants will assume all costs arising from the use of patented,
trademarked, franchised or copyrighted music, materials, devices, processes,
or dramatic rights used in production of work. Entries previously exhibited
on the Internet are eligible for entry so long as they meet the above requirements.

Legal Notice:  You are duly authorized to submit  your film
and commit it for screening at the 2011 San Diego Black Film Festival
and hereby do so in consideration of a submission fee and the festival's
promise to screen your film, if selected.  Accordingly, this shall
constitute a binding agreement between the San Diego Black Film Festival
and you as the applicant or filmmaker.  If your film is selected, you shall
submit a digi-beta screening copy within 20 days and adhere to all rules
and regulations of the festival. You agree to hold the San Diego Black Film
Festival and the San Diego Black Film Foundation, harmless from damage
to or loss of the screening/exhibition copy enroute or otherwise during
the course of the festival’s possession of the film. You understand
and agree that the San Diego Black Film Festival is not obligated to
return any film not personally retrieved at the close of screening. 
Should any liability or damage result or legal action commence,
stemming from the submission and/or exhibition of your film, you
agree to indemnify the San Diego Black Film Festival, San Diego
Black Film Foundation and its affiliates, and waive any claims. 
By submitting your film, you are confirming that you have read
and fully understand the above terms and conditions and
hereby agree that it constitutes your electronic
signature upon submission.        

A feature is any work with a running time of 60 minutes or longer. 
Less than Sixty minutes running time designates a short.

All entries must include the following: (a) DVD (NTSC-1) 
previewing copy labeled with title of project, director, contact telephone
number, and running time. Note: PAL and mini DVD are NOT acceptable. 
(b) Completed Festival Entry Form.  (c) Digital stills of film.  (d) Entry Fee. 

The Festival will not return screening copies (35mm/DigiBeta) unless entrant
includes a pre-paid mailer (FedX, UPS, etc.)  This pre-paid mailer should be
submitted at the time of submission of your screening copy (35mm/Digibeta). 
However, you can provide your pre-paid mailer after the festival ends. 
NOTE:  Please do not send your one and only copy of a film. 

How to Qualify

The 2011 San Diego Black Film Festival rules of entry define
qualifying work and filmmakers.  Entry to the Festival affirms
understanding and acceptance by the filmmaker of all rules of entry.

• A completed copy of the entry form for each entry

• Standard DVD or VHS Copy

• Entry Fee (postmark on or before deadlines)

• Checks or money orders should be payable to the San Diego Black Film Festival

Note:  If your film is accepted into the festival based on your DVD submission,
we will require a DigiBeta or or 35mm screening copy within 20 days of
acceptance (no exceptions).   If you are unable to provide a
DigiBeta or 35mm copy, PLEASE DO NOT APPLY. 

Notification

If your film is selected for screening at the 2011 San Diego Black Film Festival,
you will receive a call or email from us between December 17-21, 2010. 
If you do not receive a call or email, this does not automatically mean your film
was not accepted.  Sometimes the notification process is delayed for various reasons. 
Feel free to email us after December 21 to obtain the disposition of your submission.