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A program of

Call for Entries

Every Fall, the VAFF showcases celebrated new narrative and documentary features, independent and international projects, fresh perspectives on timeless classics, and local filmmakers from throughout Virginia. Each year, VAFF brings in a fascinating selection of guests, from internationally acclaimed directors and actors to professors and leading cultural experts who lead discussions that stimulate, educate, and engage. Today, the VAFF stands as one of Virginia’s most important cultural landmarks and one of the most respected regional destination film festivals in the United States.

We are looking forward to celebrating 32 years of the Virginia Film Festival this October 23-27 in Charlottesville!

How to Submit Your Film

The 2019 Call for Entries is now closed. Please see the VAFF’s record from the 2019 submission process below. Check back in February for submission guidelines for the 2020 VAFF.

While the VAFF is primarily a non-competitive Festival, we do offer category-specific awards, including our Programmer’s Awards, our Audience Awards for which moviegoers vote via ballots, and our Commonwealth Award for Best Virginia Feature Film and Best Virginia Short Film.

If a film is accepted, press materials for the film will be required in a timely manner, which can include but may not be limited to: high-resolution publicity stills, filmmaker bio, or online trailer. The Virginia Film Festival does not offer “notes” or specific critique of any films not accepted for exhibition, and reserves the right to not accept a submission for any reason.

If you have any questions about submitting your film, please email vaffsubmissions@virginia.edu

Deadlines & Submission Fees

Dates
Regular Deadline – June 10, 2019
Extended Deadline – July 15, 2019
Notification Date – September 23, 2019

Features (50 min. and above)
$35 – Regular Deadline
$50 – Extended Deadline
FREE for Virginia residents and students at VA schools

Shorts (under 50 min.)
$15 – Regular Deadline
$25 – Extended Deadline
FREE for Virginia residents and students at VA schools

Discounts for Students & VA Residents

Students outside Virginia are able to submit projects in all categories for a discounted rate of $10. In order to qualify, you must upload a scanned valid student ID with your project, and enter the discount code 19VAFF32studentcv19 when you complete your submission on FilmFreeway.

Virginia residents (including students at VA schools) are eligible to have their entry fee waived. In order to receive the VA resident fee waiver, the address you list in your submission must be in Virginia, and you must enter the code 2019VA32VAFFresident when you complete your submission on FilmFreeway.

Current UVA Students: to have your film considered for the UVA short films package, please enter the waiver code 2019UVAstudentVAFF when you complete your submission on FilmFreeway and upload a copy of your scanned student ID to qualify.

Virtual Reality

VAFF will be including virtual reality and 360-degree short films in the Call for Entries. Narrative, non-fiction, experimental, and animated virtual reality projects will all be considered. Accepted films will be showcased in our Virtual Reality Lab located on the Downtown Mall.

Submission Guidelines:
VAFF 2019 is seeking short films that experiment with the language of storytelling in virtual reality and 360-degree.

Length: Maximum length of 15 minutes may be submitted.

Platforms: The content should run in one of the following headsets: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, or Google Cardboard. Make sure your submission easily works on a VR ready PC.

File Submission: Please provide a link to a 360° video file (.mp4) or a PC installation package (provide instructions on how we can download the PC installation packages). For VR projects, please also submit a video documentation or demonstration (.mp4) via FilmFreeway.

Language: All submissions must be in English. For submission in a non-English language, subtitles are required.