Submissions deadline
11 Jan 25
4.8$
Films From 40 minutes to 130 minutes
04 Apr 2024
Call for entries
08 Jun 2024
Early deadline
12 Oct 2024
Standard deadline
14 Dec 2024
Late deadline
11 Jan 2025
Extended deadline
17
days
08 Feb 2025
Notification date
27 Mar 2025
31 Mar 2025
Festival start: 27 March 2025 Festival end: 31 March 2025
AmDocs is one of the largest Documentary and Animation only festivals in the United States. We are located in beautiful Palm Springs, not far from the media capital of Hollywood. We take pride in sharing the best viewing environment for both our audience and filmmakers.
AmDocs is very progressive in education outreach, market sharing and doing all we can to help our filmmakers realize their goals.
Cash Prizes: 50,000$
Cash prizes for Film Fund up to $50,000 for American filmmakers and trophies for all the winning filmmakers within the various categories.
The festival is open to all categories within the documentary and animation film genres. The film should not be more than 3 years old, though in certain circumstances, a retrospective may be screened and/or a "hidden gem" never seen before by public.
Festival shall screen films digitally and, therefore, you must submit film as a media file in order to be transferred to a Digital Cinema Projection file for screening purposes if you do not already have a DCP file for exhibition. Filmmaker is RESPONSIBLE for the Digital Cinema Projection file. Festival shall do all it can to negotiate discounted rates for filmmaker if they do not have their own DCP file. Filmmaker shall also be required to provide a rendered disc of their film as a blu-ray back-up.
If you are sending a "work-in-progress" please note how long you are from completion and approximately when you are sending completed version. (Please note on completed copy your original reference number provided by Festhome.)
Filmmakers are encouraged to attend festival if their film is invited. They shall receive an "all festival" pass, including films and events. Moreover, housing shall be provided either in resident homes or hotels near theaters.
Any payment by check must be made out to:
AmDocs
Please make certain that when submitting you note your tracking number on all relevant materials, i.e., shipping envelope and disc(s). Also, each disc must have the contact information of the submitter. The festival is not responsible for returning submitted materials. We do not dispose of submitted material, it will remain in our festival archives unless instructed otherwise.
Film submissions must not have played at any other festivals within a 70 mile radius of Palm Springs, California.
FILM FUND SUBMISSIONS:
Filmmakers should provide for their works-in-progress for aid in completion funding or works to be begun :
1. Outline of the story/film; 2. Three (3) minute excerpt or promo of said film, even if not started, we require this promo; 3. A budget of said film, what has been paid, what is required for the completion funds, i.e., $2,500 for coloring; 4. A previous completed work of submitting filmmaker where applicable;
5. If invited, filmmakers must attend the Film Fund's pitch competition and take part in said pitch to jury as well as potentially, the live audience in attendance at film festival.
American Documentary Film Fund is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes.
The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.
The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless American Documentary Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.
American Documentary Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.
The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless American Documentary Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered. FILM FUND SUBMISSIONS: American Documentary Film Fund is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless American Documentary Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.
Submissions deadline
11 Jan 25
Films From 40 minutes to 130 minutes
Submissions deadline
11 Jan 25
Shorts: From 5 minutes to 40 minutes
Submissions deadline
11 Jan 25
Any animated film 40 minutes or less.
Submissions deadline
11 Jan 25
The American Documentary Film Fund is an adjunct event related to the American Documentary Film Festival.
The Film Fund submitters are not in any way required to submit a film to the festival- this is a separate event within the confines of the festival. We encourage first-time and established filmmakers to submit to the Film Fund competition where upwards of $50,000 may be distributed each year to winning project(s).
The Fund's participants are able to compete for financing for new projects as well as works in progress.
A panel of film industry professionals will review a select group of documentary filmmaker projects for funding consideration. Filmmakers shall provide detailed story outlines and budgets for their works in progress or new projects. Filmmakers will screen a three (3) minute preview (exact time requied) of their film projects before the industry panel and take part in an up to 10 minute Q&A.
The filmmakers will screen their preview to a public audience prior to a regular festival screening, possibly perform a quick Q & A with the audience, and then at end of the closing awards ceremony, and if the panel decides on awards, the fund winner(s) will be announced. Winning filmmakers will be required to share their finished film at the American Documentary Film Festival within the first year of completion as well as add a single page film credit at end or beginning of film acknowledging The American Documentary Film Fund. All filmmakers submitting for this fund must be U.S. citizens or legal residents in order to participate and they must attend festival for pitches and awards ceremony. The festival shall provide accommodation through our popular Home Stay Host program.
If you believe you have what it takes to make your pitch, please provide a package including your story outline, budget and a three (3) minute preview disc of work in progress or work to be shot, as well as a previous completed work as example (if already experienced) and submission fee paid by check or money order (made out to American Doc Film Fund)
Submissions deadline
11 Jan 25
Any form of music video, be it directly for a short form film or for a musical individual's or group's song promotion, not limited to rock and roll or any musical genre. All genres accepted.
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.