Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
12.6$
Unproduced and produced feature-length screenplays between 70 and 130 pages in length
15 Jul 2024
Call for entries
31 Jul 2024
Early deadline
31 Aug 2024
Standard deadline
30 Sep 2024
Late deadline
31 Dec 2024
Extended deadline
4
days
12 Jan 2025
Notification date
15 Jul 2024
31 Dec 2024
Festival start: 15 July 2024 Festival end: 31 December 2024
The Bollywood USA International Film Festival is a prestigious event that celebrates the vibrant and diverse world of Indian cinema in the United States. It serves as a platform for filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals to showcase their work and connect with audiences from around the globe. The festival showcases a wide range of films, including feature films, documentaries, short films, and music videos, all highlighting the rich cultural heritage of Bollywood. Through this festival, it promotes cross-cultural understanding and appreciation for Indian cinema on an international scale.
From the creators of the Depth of Field International Film Festival, Docs Without Borders Film Festival, and the WRPN.tv Women’s International Film Festival (among a few other successful festivals) and, under the umbrella of the WRPN.tv Network, we bring you the Bollywood USA International Film Festival (BUIFF)
Don’t forget feedback, the one element most festivals ignore.
We don't just charge you a fee and ignore you if you're rejected.
With us, rejected films have access to feedback, the one element most festivals ignore.
Instead of paying submission fees and getting nothing in return,
EVERYONE who submits to BUIFF will receive EITHER OF TWO benefits:
Either 1) your film is already competition caliber and becomes an Official Selection,
OR 2): You’ll receive a letter outlining exactly what prevents it from being accepted.
If you can make corrections, you can resubmit for FREE.
First-time filmmakers: when have you ever received a letter and had the festival explain WHY your film was rejected?
Much less let you resubmit for FREE, even the following season (In case you did not have enough time to fix it)
Top-winning films at our other successful festivals have already received distribution through our exclusive distributor relationships:
- Guaranteed distributor review by Worldwide Motion Pictures for features, Adler & Associates for features and shorts, “Cardinal XD Distribution and CCS Releasing among others that visit our online network, WRPN.tv, every so often.
All for selected: Best of Festival.
- Other festivals claim to invite distributors to a venue: We Deliver Them To You Directly, Guaranteed.
- BUIFF is a live screening festival and virtual competition: We invest in getting distributor recognition for quality films to give them a life beyond a one-time festival showing.
We live-screen only the Best of Festival winners.
Our screening event is to collect audience reactions to be used by our distributors. We don't conduct after-screening networking parties or seminars.
Video interviews of the viewing audience may be conducted and shown on WRPN.tv
- BUIFF, with WRPN.TV Entertainment Network, also offers a unique opportunity to show your film to a worldwide community of video fans from dozens of countries that filmmakers would not normally have access to as an optional online video exposure opportunity. This feature is available for "Best Of festival," “Best Of Show,” “Outstanding Excellence,” “Excellence,” and even some “Exceptional Merit” winners.
Distribution
BUIFF, in cooperation with our distribution colleagues, is proud to offer guaranteed
distributor review to the top winners in Best of Festival Category*:
"Best of Festival Award: Selected by genre, category, and country. Presented to outstanding entries from among the Best of Show Winners."
"Best of Show" is selected by genre, category, and country, so there will be over one BOS, i.e., BOS Documentary (Domestic), BOS Documentary (Foreign), and so on.
* (Please note: If there is insufficient competition within any category, BUIFF reserves the right to withdraw a "Best of" presentation in that category.)
Other award levels include:
“Outstanding Excellence,”
" Excellence,"
" Exceptional Merit,"
"Jury's Choice Award,"
" Merit,"
"Kudos Endeavor,"
REQUIREMENTS TO SUBMIT
Only ONE of the following is needed to submit:
• Produced or directed by a person of Indian Origin.
• Film has an Indian Lead and/or supporting actor.
• Film Contains a subject related to Indian issues.
Films produced in another country can be submitted, provided that one rule described above applies.
Screenplays and Novels MUST be written in English by an Indian writer or have an Indian theme or main character.
Get your winning scripts submitted to Polaris Pictures, a film finance company.
Polaris does not accept unsolicited submissions.
If your screenplay is rejected, we will tell you the reason (s), and you’ll have a chance to re-submit up to 30 days before the last deadline or the following season for free.
The Bollywood USA International Film Festival accepts unproduced and produced feature-length screenplays 70 to 130 pages, short scripts under 40 pages, Teleplays 45 to 70 pages, and Webisode pilots 10 to 20 pages.
What makes us different?......
To ensure that each screenplay or film is read, studied, and rated individually,
BUIFF has instituted a system where entries do not compete against each other, but are recognized for their own individual merits.
For all intents and purposes, they compete against themselves: each entry is judged on individual merits and scored on an inherent value system.
The judge's focus is on your screenplay or film when it is your turn to be evaluated, not on all the other screenplays or films that are in cue: this ensures that they will not have comparisons going on in their minds when they should focus entirely on YOU.
Top-winning films at our other successful festivals have already received distribution through our exclusive distributor relationships.
- Guaranteed distributor review by Worldwide Motion Pictures for features, Adler & Associates for features and shorts, “Cardinal XD Distribution, and CCS Releasing, among others that visit our online network, WRPN.tv, often.
All for selected: Best of Festival.
-- Other festivals claim to invite distributors to a venue: We Deliver Them To You Directly, Guaranteed.
- A festival that runs as a web-based competition PLUS, Best of Festival Award winners will screen at WRPN.tv sponsored Event Rehoboth Beach, DE 2024
-BUIFF, with WRPN.TV Entertainment Network also offers a unique opportunity to show your film to a worldwide community of video fans from dozens of countries that filmmakers would not normally have access to, in the form of an optional online video exposure opportunity. This feature is available for "Best Of Festival," “Best Of Show,” “Outstanding Excellence,” “Excellence,” and even some “Exceptional Merit” winners.
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Unproduced and produced feature-length screenplays between 70 and 130 pages in length
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Novels in all genres and lengths. Must include a description, between 150 and 250 words and only three paragraphs. Novels can be up to 120,000 word range. NO VIDEOS PLEASE Action and Adventure Genre. ... Comedy Genre. ... Fantasy Genre. ... Horror Genre. ... Mystery Genre. ... Drama Genre. ... Science Fiction Genre. ..
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Narrative feature FILM, 60-115 minutes: NO SCREENPLAYS
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Narrative feature FILM, 60-115 minutes: NO SCREENPLAYS
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Narrative feature FILM, 60-115 minutes: NO SCREENPLAYS
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Narrative feature FILM, 60-115 minutes: NO SCREENPLAYS
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Narrative films produced up until, and including, 2008; any length, any genre. NO SCREENPLAYS
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Any production that doesn't fit any of the others and is considered innovative/groundbreaking. Any length
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Narrative feature FILM (NO SCREENPLAYS), 60-115 minutes, any genre. Actors and crew must be UNPAID. No fee-paid original music scores---music must be from pre-recorded software or associates who do it for free. Any entrants who are found not to meet these requirements will be disqualified.
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Any FILM, any length, produced strictly in a documentary style format ("based on a true story," "inspired by a true story," and "docudramas" do NOT qualify). NO SCREENPLAYS
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Films with religious/faith topics.
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Stage Play. Written form only. No video.
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Any FILM, any length, with inspirational, religious, or moral themes relating to the triumph of the human spirit, taking on the challenge to 'do what's right,' making the world a better place somehow, etc. NO SCREENPLAYS
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Any FILM with a running time of 15-59 minutes. ANY GENRE! NO SCREENPLAYS
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Music Video, any length.
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Super short FILMS with a running time under 15 minutes. ANY GENRE! NO SCREENPLAYS
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Feature or short FILMS produced by students. Must have proof of student enrollment. Student fees are always $40.00, regardless of deadline status. NO SCREENPLAYS
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Episodic TV shows, 60 minutes or less. ANY GENRE! NO SCREENPLAYS
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Any TV Commercial 1 minute or less
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Any Public Service Announcement, any length.
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Any animated feature or short, any length (may include live-action segments).
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Films relating to various sports. NO SCREENPLAYS
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Any FILM series produced in a webisode format, length, or genre. NO SCREENPLAYS
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Any FILM produced using alternate filming methods (i.e., cell phone), length, or genre. (Please: no ‘home movie’ type submissions. This is for scripted plots only) NO SCREENPLAYS
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
Any genre of FILM (drama, comedy, documentary, inspirational, etc.), and length (short or feature), related to the LGBT community/lifestyle. NO SCREENPLAYS
Submissions deadline
31 Dec 24
FILM genre encompasses films where the content and style – often artistic or experimental – adhere with as little compromise as possible to the filmmakers’ artistic vision. The narrative is often in the social realism style with a focus on the characters’ contemplation of their existence or immediate concerns. Great for any film with an artistic flair that does not adhere to a 'typical' category. It can be short or feature-length. NO SCREENPLAYS
Festhome holds accountable fees festivals by holding the payment of the fees of most newer festivals until they have viewed the submissions, held their festivals and other methods.