Heroes Film Fest ()

Festival start: 02 April 2020      Festival end: 05 April 2020

"Heroes" is the first Italian festival focusing on genre movies and series for theatres, TV and online broadcasting.

From Vladimir Propp’s to John Campbell’s studies, from New Hollywood screenplay’s paradigms to indie productions and international cinematic universes: the role of the hero and the global declinations of genre tales cross the borders of nowaday’s collective imagery and represent two of the most important ways of interpreting the contemporary through Arts and Entertainment.

"Heroes" is an international festival focused on sci-fi, fantasy, horror, thriller, action-adventure, cinecomics and cross-over films, short movies and series.

"Heroes" pays particular attention to new forms of storytelling and visual identity, digital and special effects, transmedia projects and sound design solutions. "Heroes" is a special "antenna" for young talents and original declinations of genre stories in features and series.

The heart of the festival consists of three main categories.

Universes, a panorama selection of genre movies from all over the world, with premieres and special events.

Stories, two competitions divided in: International Short films Competition - an unmissable overview of short films realized by indie productions, new authors and great artists - and International Graduation Films Competition, with the diploma shorts of international cinema, filmmaking and visual arts schools and universities.

Storyworld, a selection of great classics of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, thriller, action, adventure, cinecomics and cross-over features, series, works and original products from global theatrical and home entertainment distribution.

The first edition of "Heroes" will be in an extraordinary union with Romics - Comics, Movies, Animation and Games Fair in Rome, Italy. Premieres and screenings will take place in the "Heroes" Theatre. Special encounters and public events in the "Heroes" Concert Hall. Exhibit and installations will be held in the "Heroes" Village. International masterclasses and workshops will be scheduled in the "Heroes" Film School.

- BEST “GENRE” SHORT FILM AWARD FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILMS COMPETITION CATEGORY

- BEST “GENRE” SHORT FILM AWARD FOR THE INTERNATIONAL GRADUATION FILMS COMPETITION CATEGORY

- THE JURY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALLOCATE HONORARY MENTIONS

- THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR HAS THE RIGHT TO AWARD A “HEROES SPECIAL PRIZE”

HEROES IFF IS AN INDEPENDENT FESTIVAL DEDICATED TO SCIENCE-FICTION AND FANTASY, HORROR AND THRILLER, ACTION AND ADVENTURE, AS WELL AS CROSS-OVER FEATURES, NAMELY LITERARY, VISUAL, OR VIDEOGAME PIECES. EACH PART OF THE FESTIVAL INVOLVES GREAT MASTERS OF THE CINEMATOGRAPHIC AND VISUAL ARTS, YOUNG AUTHORS AND INDEPENDENT PRODUCTIONS, UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND STUDENTS FROM INTERNATIONAL CINEMA AND VISUAL ARTS INSTITUTIONS, ALL FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUPPORTING AND PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF GENRE FILMS THROUGH COMPETITION RELATED ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS OTHER CULTURAL OR PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES.

ORGANIZING BODY
HEROES IFF IS AN INDEPENDENT FESTIVAL ORGANIZED BY THE ASSOCIATION "LA CITTA’ DELL’ANIMAZIONE E DEI CONTENUTI DIGITALI" (THE CITY OF ANIMATION AND DIGITAL CONTENT).

DATES AND VENUE
HEROES IFF WILL BE HELD FROM APRIL 2 TO APRIL 5 WITHIN THE ROMICS, INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF COMICS, ANIMATION, CINEMA, AND GAMES AT THE FIERA DI ROMA IN VIA PORTUENSE 1645/47.

PROGRAM
THE OFFICIAL HEROES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL PROGRAM PRESENTS A STORIES SECTION (A COMPETITION FOR SHORT FILMS IN SCIENCE-FICTION, FANTASY, HORROR, THRILLER, ACTION, ADVENTURE, OR CROSS-OVER, NAMELY LITERARY, VISUAL, OR VIDEO GAME PIECES, DIVIDED INTO TWO CATEGORIES: THE INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILMS COMPETITION, MADE OF INDEPENDENT PRODUCTIONS AND AUTHORS OF CINEMA AND VISUAL ARTS, AND THE INTERNATIONAL GRADUATION FILMS COMPETITION, MADE OF STUDENTS AND GRADUATES OF UNIVERSITIES AND INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS). THERE IS ALSO A UNIVERSES SECTION FOR NON-COMPETING INTERNATIONAL "GENRE" PIECES (SCIENCE-FICTION, FANTASY, HORROR, THRILLER, ACTION, ADVENTURE, OR CROSS-OVER FEATURE FILMS). FINALLY, THE STORYWORLDS SECTION PRESENTS REVIEWS AND SCREENINGS OF THE GREAT "GENRE" CLASSICS, INCLUDING CINEMATIC PRODUCTIONS AS WELL AS TELEVISION AND ONLINE BROADCASTING. THANKS TO THE INITIATIVE OF THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, THERE WILL ALSO BE A HEROES FILM SCHOOL (MASTERCLASS, INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTES, AS WELL AS MEETINGS FOR THE PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONALS), EXHIBITIONS (WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE HEROES EXHIBIT HALL) AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES (CONCERTS, EXHIBITS, PERFORMANCES) IN THE FORM OF SPECIAL EVENTS.

COMPETITION ELIGIBILITY
FOR THE FESTIVAL’S STORIES COMPETITION, ONLY PIECES CREATED SINCE 1 JANUARY 2018 WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR THE OFFICIAL SELECTION. PIECES SUBMITTED MUST NEVER HAVE BEEN PROJECTED BY TELEVISION NETWORKS OR ONLINE BROADCASTERS AND MUST HAVE A MAXIMUM DURATION OF 30 MINUTES.
SELECTION OF PIECES FOR THE COMPETITION (WHICH MUST FALL UNDER SCIENCE-FICTION, FANTASY, HORROR, THRILLER, ACTION, ADVENTURE, OR CROSS-OVER) WILL BE CARRIED OUT ACCORDING TO THE UNDISPUTABLE JUDGMENT OF THE FESTIVAL ORGANIZATION, WHICH WILL ALSO DETERMINE THE ORDER OF PRESENTATION AS WELL AS THE PROGRAM WITHIN THE EVENT SCHEDULE.

REGISTRATION OF COMPETITION PIECES
PIECES THAT WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SELECTION MUST BE REGISTERED BY 29 FEBRUARY 2020, AND NO LATER, VIA THE SPECIFIC ONLINE FORM THAT CAN BE FOUND AT THE SITE WWW.HEROESFILMFEST.COM.
THE REGISTRATION OF EACH PIECE MUST REMAIN ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL THE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES THE PROGRAM, UPON PENALTY OF EXCLUSION FROM THE SELECTION, AND CONSTITUTES A COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE THE FILM FOR TWO FREE PUBLIC SCREENINGS AND NOT TO WITHDRAW THE FILM FROM THE COMPETITION ONCE THE INVITATION HAS BEEN ACCEPTED.
EVERY PARTICIPANT CAN ENROLL A MAXIMUM OF 4 PIECES.
EVERY PIECE SUBMITTED FOR SELECTION SHOULD BE PRESENTED IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES (EXCEPT FOR PIECES IN ITALIAN, WHICH DO NOT REQUIRE SUBTITLES).
TO REGISTER, IT IS MANDATORY TO UPLOAD THE SHORT FILMS ACCORDING TO THE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS LISTED IN THESE REGULATIONS, INDICATING THE CATEGORY FOR WHICH IT IS COMPETING (THE INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILMS COMPETITION OR THE INTERNATIONAL GRADUATION FILMS COMPETITION), THE GENRE (SCIENCE-FICTION, FANTASY, ACTION, ADVENTURE, OR CROSS-OVER), THE ORIGINAL TITLE AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE TITLE FOR THE PIECE, DURATION, COUNTRY AND DATE OF PRODUCTION, LANGUAGE, SUBTITLES, A SHORT SYNOPSIS IN ENGLISH (EXCEPT FOR PIECES IN ITALIAN, FOR WHICH BOTH ENGLISH AND ITALIAN ARE REQUESTED), PRODUCER(S), PRODUCTION HOUSE, DIRECTOR, AND AUTHOR(S).
FINALISTS WILL BE SUBSEQUENTLY CONTACTED FOR ADDITIONAL MATERIAL AS REQUIRED FOR THE HEROES INFORMATION MATERIAL AND THE PROMOTION OF THE FILM (ARTISTIC AND TECHNICAL CAST, BIOGRAPHY AND FILMOGRAPHY OF THE DIRECTOR, B/W AND COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DIRECTOR, ACTORS, AND FILM SCENES, COMMENTS FROM THE FILM DIRECTOR), ALL OF WHICH MUST BE PROVIDED VIA THE ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM NO LATER THAN 12 MARCH 2020.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
THE SHORTS SENT MUST COMPLY WITH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
- H264 CODEC MP4 CONTAINER, 1080P RESOLUTION BITRATE BETWEEN 5 AND 8 MBPS;
- H264 CODEC MP4 CONTAINER, 720P RESOLUTION BITRATE BETWEEN 4 AND 6 MPBS.
THE CHARACTERISTICS INDICATED ABOVE MUST BE VERIFIED BEFORE SENDING THE MATERIALS. IN THE EVENT THAT THE MATERIALS, FOR WHATEVER REASON, DO NOT CONFORM TO THE SPECIFICATIONS INDICATED ABOVE, OR ARE INCOMPLETE, DAMAGED, OR UNREADABLE, THE WORK WILL NOT BE REGISTERED AND THEREFORE NOT SUBMITTED IN THE COMPETITION.
JURY, SELECTION, AND AWARDS
THE JURY WILL DETERMINE, AMONG THE PARTICIPANTS, THE WINNING PIECES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILMS COMPETITION AND THE INTERNATIONAL GRADUATION FILMS COMPETITION CATEGORIES.
THE JURY WILL BE COMPOSED OF 5 JUDGES SELECTED FROM AMONG NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONALS OF "GENRE" CINEMA (SCIENCE-FICTION, FANTASY, HORROR, THRILLER, ACTION, ADVENTURE, AND CROSS-OVER, NAMELY LITERARY, VISUAL, OR VIDEO GAME PIECES), CRITICS, AND JOURNALISTS, WHO WILL ASSIGN:
- THE BEST “GENRE” SHORT FILM AWARD FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILMS COMPETITION CATEGORY;
- THE BEST “GENRE” SHORT FILM AWARD FOR THE INTERNATIONAL GRADUATION FILMS COMPETITION CATEGORY.

THE TOP THREE WINNERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL GRADUATION FILMS COMPETITION CATEGORY WILL WIN A PRIZE MADE AVAILABLE BY THE TECHNICAL SPONSOR WACOM.
FURTHERMORE, THE JURY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALLOCATE HONORARY MENTIONS. THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR HAS THE RIGHT TO AWARD “HEROES SPECIAL PRIZES” IN EVERY EDITION TO A SIGNIFICANT NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF “GENRE” NARRATION, EITHER CINEMATOGRAPHIC OR SERIAL.

THE SELECTED FINALISTS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY 5 MARCH 2020 VIA EMAIL TO THE REGISTERED PARTIES.
THE FINAL AWARDS CEREMONY FOR HEROES IFF WILL BE HELD AT THE ROMICS, INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF COMICS, ANIMATION, CINEMA, AND GAMES, ON SUNDAY 5 APRIL.

CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION AND DISCLAIMER
AT THE TIME OF ONLINE REGISTRATION, THE REGISTERING PARTICIPANT DECLARES THAT THE ASSOCIATION "LA CITTA’ DELL’ANIMAZIONE E DEI CONTENUTI DIGITALI" IS EXEMPT FROM VERIFYING THE LEGITIMACY OF THE FILM ENTRY AND IS EXEMPT FROM ANY RESPONSIBILITY. ONLINE REGISTRATION REQUIRES THE FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF THIS REGULATION AND THE REGISTERING PARTICIPANT’S FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S DECISIONS REGARDING THE SELECTION OF THE PIECE ITSELF, ITS SCREENING, AND ITS INSERTION IN THE EVENT PROGRAM. IF, AFTER SELECTION, THE CONDITIONS FOR THE ADMISSION OF THE FILM PROVIDED FOR IN THIS REGULATION ARE NO LONGER MET, FOR ANY REASON, THE ASSOCIATION "LA CITTA’ DELL’ANIMAZIONE E DEI CONTENUTI DIGITALI" RESERVES THE RIGHT TO EXCLUDE THE FILM FROM THE EVENT PROGRAM AND, IF ALREADY INSERTED, TO NOT PROCEED WITH ITS PROJECTION. EACH PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT ACCREDITED TELEVISION AND OTHER MEDIA PARTNERS WILL BE PRESENT AT THE FESTIVAL FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECORDING TELEVISION AND RADIO BROADCASTS. BY AGREEING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FESTIVAL AND BY SUBSCRIBING TO THIS REGULATION, EACH PARTICIPANT RECOGNIZES THE RIGHT OF THESE MEDIA PARTNERS TO PERFORM ANY KIND OF RECORDING, EVEN IN THE PRESENCE OF SPONSOR BRANDS, AND FREELY GIVES THEM BROADCASTING RIGHTS FOR ANY RECORDINGS MADE, ALLOWING SAID MEDIA PARTNERS TO USE THEM AS NEEDED AND POTENTIALLY PASS THEM ON TO THIRD PARTIES. THE WINNING PARTICIPANT WILL ALSO UNDERTAKE TO INCLUDE THE OFFICIAL LOGO, PREPARED AND PROVIDED BY THE ORGANIZATION, ON ALL PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL THAT ACCOMPANIES THE DIFFUSION OF THE WINNING PIECE (POSTERS, PRESS BOOKS, TRAILERS, OPENING CREDITS, OFFICIAL WEBSITES, OFFICIAL PRESS) AS WELL AS ON COPIES PRESENTED AND CIRCULATED AT THE FESTIVAL. THE WINNING FILMS MUST ALSO RECOGNIZE THE OBTAINED AWARD IN ALL SUPPORTING PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS THAT ACCOMPANY THE FILM’S RELEASE, ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL GRAPHICS PREPARED AND SUPPLIED BY THE ORGANIZATION. THE DEFINITIVE AND COMPLETE GRAPHICS FOR THESE SUPPORTING MATERIALS MUST BE SENT FOR VERIFICATION AND APPROVAL BY THE ORGANIZATION.

DISPUTES
THE ITALIAN TEXT OF THIS REGULATION WILL HAVE FINAL AUTHORITY IN THE EVENT OF DISPUTES.
THE PRESENT REGULATION AND THE RELEVANT ONLINE REGISTRATION ARE EXCLUSIVE TO THE SELECTION FOR THE HEROES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL.