13th Annual Arab Film Festival...a call for filmmaker entries!

The Arab Film Festival is now accepting submissions for the 13th Annual Arab Film Festival to be held in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Los Angeles in October 2009.

The AFF is the oldest and largest annual showcase of works by independent Arab filmmakers that provide insightful and innovative perspectives on Arab culture, art, history and politics.

Founded in 1996, the AFF has grown into an important bridge between the Arab world, Arab-American communities, and the broader American public.

Festival organizers note that they accept submissions of all genres; features, documentaries, experimental works, short films, animations and beyond.

While there is no submission fee, officials strongly encourage filmmakers to submit their entries early.

The deadline for submitting is April 15th, 2009.

Noor Awards (2009)

The Noor Awards, derived from the Arabic word for "light," will celebrate filmmakers whose enlightening and original works distinguish themselves in their category.

A pre-screening committee will select four finalists in each category after viewing all the films participating in (selected to be part of) the festival's competition.

A five-member jury made up of distinguished members of the film and academic communities will select the outstanding film and award a cash prize to a director in the following categories:

Best Narrative Feature: 2000 USD
Best Documentary Feature: 2000 USD
Best Narrative Short: 500 USD
Best Documentary Short: 500 USD

Filmmakers will not be automatically entered into this competition.

Interested artists should note in their submission that they would like the Noor Awards judging panel to consider their project for the prize.

Please note that to be eligible for the 2009 Noor Awards, the film must have been completed after January 1st 2007, and never screened in San Francisco or Los Angeles.

To be considered as a Short, a film cannot be longer than 45 minutes.

Entry Requirements

Each submission requires the following:

1. A preview copy of the film in either DVD or VHS format.
2. Completed entry form.
3. 2 stills & 1 photo of the director (if digital, 300 dpi minimum)
4. Press and marketing materials if available.

A submission does not guarantee exhibition of the film in the 2009 Arab Film Festival.

The Festival does not pay screening fees for submitted films either.

Submission Address

Arab Film Festival
Submissions Department
300 Brannan Street, Suite 508
San Francisco CA 94107

Preview Format

Entries must be submitted on DVD (region 0 or 1).
Artists are asked to test their consumer-burned DVD on several makes and models of players before sending it as a precaution.
A VHS NTSC tape may be included in the submission packet as backup.

Subtitled Entries

All non-English language entries must have English subtitles for preview and for Festival presentation.
Exceptions may be made for entries with no dialogue.

Exhibition

Official Selections will be shown during the Festival in their origin or video format whenever possible.
AFF only screens works available on 35mm, Beta SP, DVCAM, miniDV.
The Festival does not accept films in DigiBeta format.

Shipping Information

Ship your cassette or DVD in a bubble-pack envelope.
A fiber pack envelope can cause damage to tapes and decks.

Costs

All shipping costs to and from Festival must be borne by the sender.
All tapes & DVDs require a title, a shipper's name & return shipping address.

International Entries

The Festival committee recommends that all entries from outside the U.S. be sent by Air Mail Registered or by a parcel or express service.
Entries shipped via air freight can not be accepted if customs and delivery fees have not been prepaid by the filmmakers.

Return of Entries

Preview copies submitted become property of the Festival committee and will not be returned.
Filmmakers retain all rights to their submitted films, however.

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