Manifest Dance Film Festival (3)

Festival start: 01 August 2024      Festival end: 04 August 2024

Dance-films are liquid. They flow between the categories of ‘dance’ and ‘film’. The camera reveals new aspects of the body, rhythm and movement to dancers. On the other hand, dance expands the meaning of ‘performance’ in film. The tensions in the hyphenation of the two have resulted in a new language capable of complex articulations.

'Manifest’ is the first dance-film festival in India that is onsite and is publishing an open call for submissions. Created by AuroApaar-an artist-run, non-profit arts centre in rural South India, this pioneering event aims to catalyse the explosion of the dance-film genre in India and intensify trans-national artistic dialogue.

Structure : 4 day offline event. Screenings will be followed by audience Q&A and interactions with artists.

The entries will be curated and viewing restricted to those who have registered for the event.

Where: Alliance Francaise de Pondicherry, India

What : fiction dance films excluding documentaries and recordings of performance.

We, as artists, believe that artwork cannot be ‘ranked’ or assigned ‘points’. They should not be pitted against each other.

There are no awards. But films that standout will be given a special citation.

1. The festival has 5 Sections – Feature Length Dance-Films (41 min and above); Mid Length Dance-Films (21 - 40 min) Short Length Dance-Films (below 20 mins); Student Dance-Films (up to 20 mins); and AR/VR dance-films (upto 20 min)

2. The films must exhibit the use of cinematic language in telling their stories through the medium of dance.

3. Recordings of dance performances unless used as a cinematic narrative device will not be considered for screening.

4. Films may be of any genre as long as they are largely based on the relationship between body, sound, space, movement and the tools of cinema as a medium for story-telling.

5. All submitting films have to be downloadable and sent as password protected link on Vimeo or sent as a private link on YouTube or Google Drive or any other such medium. No hard copies of screeners are accepted.

6. Student applicants should apply with proof of current enrolment along with a valid student ID.

7. Work must have been produced after October 1, 2019.

8. Submission fee must be made at time of submission. Submission fees are non-refundable

9. Applicants must have all rights and permissions to present the work. Auro Apaar Dance-Film Festival and Vision Vivekananda and individuals associated with these organizations are not responsible for any copyright infringement in the works submitted.

10. Submission to the festival does not confirm selection in any of the categories or screening of the film.

11. The Festival does not pay any screening fees.

12. High Resolution Digitally Signed oft copies of Certificates of Participation will be awarded to all selected films. Any Awards and/or Cash Prizes will be given to both Producer and Director of the film.

13. The pandemic might compel shifts in the final date. It is also possible that the festival could be completely online or a hybrid model.

14. Technical Requirements:
File Extension: .mov or .mp4
Codec: H.264 or Prores
Resolution: 1920x1080 (HD)
Note: the Data Rate at time of conversion should be a minimum of 5 mbps

15. If the film has spoken word or text in song or any other form that may be crucial to understanding the work, filmmakers are requested to kindly upload versions with English subtitles.

16. Please do not send hard copies of films (DVD or other media) or hard copies of other documents.

17. Submitters authorize the organizers of Auro Apaar Dance-Film Festival, Anahata Performance and Arts Research Trust and Vision Vivekananda by APAAR to keep a copy of their film(s) in their archives, for festival and event screenings on educational, artistic and cultural exchange purposes and use photography/stills for promotional purposes. Auro Apaar Dance-Film Festival and Vision Vivekananda by APAAR are given the right to use excerpts from my work in all promotional materials. The filmmakers will be notified and asked for permission in advance for any potential screenings other than this initial event.

18. Auro Apaar Dance-Film Festival and Vision Vivekananda by APAAR and individuals associated with these organizations are not responsible for any loss or theft resulting in piracy in the process of transfer. Auro Apaar Dance-Film Festival and Vivekananda by APAAR solemnly affirm that once in the possession of submitted works the same will remain safe in their archives and will not be privy to any third party access.

19. Material to be sent by email to contactapaar@gmail.com: Photo of Director; Photo of Choreographer; 4 Production Stills; 4 Film Stills; Poster; Director’s Biography/Filmography; Choreographer’s Biography/Filmography. Any additional written or visual material that may aid the understanding of the work or the artistic process is welcome.