Blockreel Film Festival (1)

Festival start: 04 June 2027      Festival end: 06 June 2027

BLOCKREEL FILM FESTIVAL · 2026–2027 EDITION

Where independent film premieres.

The BlockReel Film Festival is an online festival for independent features, shorts and screenplays from anywhere in the world. We program for craft, voice and ambition, not budgets or names.

The festival is part of BlockReel, a platform where independent filmmakers fund, crew, finish and release their work.

HOW THE PRIZE POOL WORKS
80% of net entry fees goes directly to the prize pool. Net means after submission platform fees and payment processing. The remaining 20% covers judging and operations. We publish the full breakdown after entries close.

We're also working with partners to grow the prize pool. New prizes are announced only once they're confirmed.

CASH AWARDS
Grand Jury Prize: 35% of the pool
Best Feature: 25%
Best Short: 20%
Best Screenplay: 20%

EVERY CATEGORY WINNER RECEIVES
- Official BlockReel Film Festival laurels
- An invitation to premiere on BlockReel Watch, where filmmakers keep 80% of revenue
- Mentorship sessions with working professionals, as confirmed
- Partner prizes, as confirmed

JUDGING
All entries are judged by a jury of working filmmakers and industry professionals.

YOUR RIGHTS
Submission is non-exclusive. You keep full ownership of your work.

Winners announced online, June 2027.

blockreeldao.com/festival

CASH AWARDS
The prize pool is 80% of net entry fees, plus any confirmed partner prizes.

Grand Jury Prize: 35% of the pool
Best film in the festival, chosen from all film entries.

Best Feature: 25% of the pool
Narrative, documentary or animated feature.

Best Short: 20% of the pool
Narrative, documentary or animated short.

Best Screenplay: 20% of the pool
Feature, short or episodic screenplay.

The Grand Jury Prize winner is not also eligible for a category cash prize.

CATEGORY AWARDS
Each category winner receives official laurels, an invitation to premiere on BlockReel Watch (80% of revenue to the filmmaker), and mentorship sessions and partner prizes as confirmed.

Best Narrative Feature Film
Best Documentary Feature Film
Best Animated Feature Film
Best Narrative Short Film
Best Documentary Short Film
Best Animated Short Film
Best Feature Screenplay
Best Short Screenplay
Best Episodic TV/Streaming Series
Best Episodic Screenplay
Best First-Time Director
Best Music Video

All selected films receive Official Selection laurels.

BLOCKREEL FILM FESTIVAL · OFFICIAL RULES

1. ORGANIZER
The BlockReel Film Festival is organized by BlockReel DAO LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company, operating as BlockReel.

2. ELIGIBILITY
- Films and screenplays must be completed after January 1, 2023.
- Open to filmmakers from any country.
- Entrants must be 18 or older.
- Works-in-progress are not accepted.
- Submissions must be original work by the submitting filmmaker(s).
- Multiple submissions are allowed.

3. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- An online screener link (Vimeo, YouTube or a direct link). Password-protected screeners are accepted; include the password.
- Minimum resolution 1080p.
- English subtitles are required for non-English dialogue.
- Entrants must own or have secured all rights, licenses and clearances, including music and third-party footage.

4. JUDGING
All entries are judged by a jury of working filmmakers and industry professionals. Screeners are viewed only by festival staff and jurors and are never shown publicly without the filmmaker's consent. Jury decisions are final.

5. PRIZES
- The prize pool is 80% of net entry fees (after submission platform fees and payment processing), plus any confirmed partner prizes.
- The prize pool is not a fixed amount; it depends on the number of entries. We publish a full breakdown within 30 days after the final deadline.
- Cash prizes are paid in US dollars by bank transfer or PayPal within 60 days of the winners announcement.
- Winners provide a W-9 (US) or W-8BEN (non-US) form before payout and are responsible for any taxes on their winnings.
- If the jury finds no entry worthy of a cash award in a category, that share is redistributed proportionally among the other cash awards. The full 80% is always paid out.
- Ties split the prize equally.

6. RIGHTS
- All submissions are non-exclusive. Filmmakers keep full ownership of their work.
- BlockReel may use stills, posters, trailers and short excerpts (up to 60 seconds) to promote the festival.
- Selected films may be invited to premiere on BlockReel Watch under a separate agreement, with 80% of revenue to the filmmaker. Filmmakers are not obligated to accept.
- BlockReel acquires no distribution rights through submission.

7. CONTENT
Submissions must not contain illegal content or infringe copyright. BlockReel may decline any submission that violates these rules. Plagiarism or misrepresented authorship results in disqualification.

8. DISQUALIFICATION
A submission may be disqualified if it contains unlicensed material, includes false information, or is missing required materials.

9. WITHDRAWALS AND REFUNDS
- You may withdraw a submission at any time before judging closes.
- Entry fees are non-refundable once processed, except as stated below.
- Entrants who submitted before September 27th 2026 may request a full refund until November 30th 2026 by contacting us or on Festhome.

10. PRIVACY
Personal information is used only to run the festival. We do not sell or share it with third parties.

11. CHANGES
Festival dates may change with notice. The prize formula (80% of net entry fees) will not be reduced for this edition. Material rule changes are emailed to entrants and posted at blockreeldao.com/festival.

12. LIABILITY
BlockReel is not responsible for technical issues that prevent submission or viewing. Filmmakers are solely responsible for rights and clearances in their work.

13. AGREEMENT
By submitting, you confirm you have read and agree to these rules and that you have the right to submit the work.

BlockReel · blockreeldao.com/festival · festival@blockreeldao.com