~::-CONSCIOUS CARTOONS International Animation Festival-::~ "Awakening insight, justice, and compassion through animation" (0)

Festival start: 14 September 2018      Festival end: 16 September 2018

Conscious Cartoons is a non-profit competitive international animation festival, and the first of its kind solely focused on short works (15 min. or less) addressing social issues. These issues can be personal, local, national, global or historical in scope but should reflect broader humanistic themes such as peace, justice, love, responsibility, consciousness, and the joy and pain of the human condition. The aim of this festival is to open eyes, hearts, and minds, through the uniquely transcendent medium of animation.
Please go to our website for further details consciouscartoons.org

Along with promoting greater awareness of social causes, the festival celebrates and supports independent animators by offering an unprecedented amount in cash prizes ($20,000) in multiple categories.

The festival is held September 14-16, 2018 on Vashon Island, WA, a jewel in the Puget Sound known for its vibrant art culture, progressive attitudes, and stunning natural beauty. Be warned: you may not want to leave.

GRANDE PRIZE $5,000
Judges choice for the overall best submission
AUDIENCE AWARD $4,000
The people’s choice for their favorite animation
STUDENT AWARD $3,000
Specifically to honor the work of upcoming young talent (high school or college students)
CHILDREN’S FILM AWARD $5000 Sponsored by Committee for Children
An award for films specifically aimed at children (approx. ages 6-14)
AWARDS OF MERIT $3,000
Judges will have the discretion to award these prizes to films of note at the time of the event.
*All awards are subject to change at the discretion of the festival

PLEASE READ BEFORE ENTERING:
Accepted submissions will display strong animation technique and design and feature compelling stories with appeal to kids and/or adults. Since storytelling is essential, no completely abstract films will be accepted. However, films may have a non-linear story arc and be humorous, dark, playful, or poignant. They may reflect innocence or ennui. They may speak to the triumph of the human spirit or to our worst impulses and vilest deeds. All is fair as long as your story fits in with our thematic flavor: “Social issues (personal, local, national, global or historical in scope) and the pain and joy of being Human. The aim of this festival is to open eyes, hearts, and minds, through the uniquely transcendent medium of animation”.

Films must have been completed after June, 2016

Please refer to the “Reference Films” at the bottom of our home page consciouscartoons.org and the list of themes/topics below.

You may choose a theme/topic not on this list if it still fits the festival’s overarching theme. Please explain your theme(s)/topic(s) as part of your submission OR email us if you’re unclear if your film fits in or not.

List of Themes/Topics: (in no particular order)
Peace and war, justice, racism, hunger, poverty, homelessness, immigrant rights, climate change, pollution, sustainability, education for all, policing, gun control, classism, gender issues, torture, women’s issues, abuse, child trafficking, 1%, the Citizen’s United ruling, big pharma, equality for all, refugees, immigration, children’s rights, alternative energy, water rights, Black Lives Matter, native rights, LGBTQ rights,corporate prisons, corporate welfare, seed sharing, GMOs, small farms vs. mega farms, free and fair elections, religious freedom, nuclear waste, nuclear arms proliferation/control, consumerism, animal rights, animal testing, extinction, healing/health, death, loss, bullying, jealousy, anger, genocide, the "rat race", mysticsim, modern society, happiness, kids issues, ennui, violence, social emotional learning, calming down, sharing, gratitude, giving, mental illness, divorce, adoption, hegemony, etc.

“Reference Films”:

The following films are good reference for the thematic flavor of Conscious Cartoons:

• Norman McLaren’s ,”Neighbors" https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=4YAYGi8rQag
• Theodore Ushev’s, "Blind Vaysha" https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=Tsa6jM5Hvy8
• Jiri Trnka’s, "The Hand” https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=-wCa5We-b9Y
• Janet Perlman's, "Bully Dance” https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=4K02OxmV3-0
• The Brothers Lauenstein's, “Balance" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VigrrTVw5jg
• Borge Ring's, "Anna and Bella” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuMm60nep6c
• Eugene Fedorenko and Derek Lamb's. "Every Child” https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=vUhbbP9X8LE
• Frederick Back’s, "The Man Who Planted Trees” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTvYh8ar3tc

Format of Submission:
- Video format: QuickTime .mov or.mp4
- Compression: H264
- Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)
- The original aspect ratio of the video format can be standard (4:3) or widescreen (16:9)
- When you enter the festival on Filmfreeway, please provide us with a direct downloadable link to your submission file.
- Your file must be named the same as the "Film Title" and the appropriate extension. If your short animation is not named properly, it will not be considered for Conscious Cartoons International Animation Festival, no exceptions.

Rules & Terms
By entering a film for consideration for the 2018 Conscious Cartoons International Animation Film Festival, you authorize its use, certify that your work is cleared for festival exhibition and that you have obtained and possess full legal responsibility for the intellectual property therein. You also agree to abide by the terms conditions and rules set forth herein and in other official publications of the 2018 Festival.
Submission of an entry into the 2018 Festival constitutes permission to the Conscious Cartoons International Film Festival to exhibit your work at the 2018 Conscious Cartoons International Animation Film Festival. Conscious Cartoons International Animation Film Festival is also granted the right to utilize any excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the 2018 Festival for promotional purposes.
If your film is accepted, you will receive an invitation letter with further details, technical requirements for downloadable files, and deadlines. Prior to the opening of the 2018 Festival, each accepted entrant must have obtained and, upon request, provide proof that they possess all the necessary rights (including music rights), consents, authorizations and licenses covering the film. There must not be pending or anticipated litigation regarding the film.

Frequently Asked Questions
How do I submit to the 2018 Festival? The 2018 Festival only accepts submissions through our FilmFreeway.com profile. It is difficult to keep track of films when there’s no electronic record of a submission. If you would like to send a high-quality version by mail you may do so after submitting through FilmFreeway, but please note that shipping will be at your own expense.

How will we be notified about my submission?
Accepted films will receive an invitation letter by email. Films not accepted will also be notified by email by the notification deadline specified on the 2018 Festival website. Notification dates are subject to change, please check the 2018 Festival website every few weeks for updates. We strive to notify all submitters via email when a change will be made. Entry status will also be reflected in FilmFreeway after the notification date.

Please make sure submission file size is less than 2 Gigabytes (without lowering video resolution). Submissions must be made through Filmfreeway with a Vimeo link for review.

Each entry shall specify the category in which it is entered and will only be considered for the category specified.
The permanent contact must be identified for each submission and used as the primary submitter. A phone number and email address always associated with the production should also be provided.
* The festival does not pay screening fees.

There is an entry fee required for each film submitted to 2018 Festival. Please see the 2018 Festival website for specific categories, entry fees and payment methods.

Judges
A panel that includes industry professionals, artists and social activists will judge each category. All winners are subject to verification at the sole discretion of Conscious Cartoons International Animation Film Festival.
Redeeming Awards
Winners will be announced Sunday, September 16, 2018 during the festival closing. Winning entrants that are not present during the festival closing, will be contacted via email within one week for distribution of their prizes.

OFFICIAL RULES OF PARTICIPATION
in addition to all the terms and conditions set forth herein, on the 2018 Festival’s website and in other materials which may be made available, by submitting an entry or participating in any other way in the 2018 Festival, entrants agree (i) to be bound by these Official Rules, including all eligibility requirements, and (ii) to be bound by the decisions of the Conscious Cartoons International Animation Film Festival, including the interpretations of these Official Rules, which are final and binding in all matters relating to the festival. 2018 Conscious Cartoons International Animation Film Festival, and/or its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, directors, officers and distributors and other prize suppliers is not responsible for (i) lost, late, misdirected, deceptive, damaged, garbled or illegible entries; (ii) error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of entry materials, or for technical, network, telephone equipment, electronic, computer, hardware or software malfunctions of any kind, or inaccurate transmission of or failure to receive entry information by 2018 Festival on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the internet or at any website or any combination thereof; or (iii) any injury or damage to entrant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participating in the festival. Conscious Cartoons International Animation Film Festival reserves the right to permanently disqualify from the 2018 Festival or any subsequent festival any person it believes has violated these Official Rules.
By accepting a prize, each winner irrevocably consents to the use by Conscious Cartoons International Animation Film Festival and the 2018 Festival of the winner's name, likeness and statements relating to the festival, without further compensation, in all worldwide marketing, promotion and publicity carried out in perpetuity by Conscious Cartoons International Animation Film Festival. Any information provided to the sponsor may be used to communicate with an entrant in relation to the festival or on a festival winner’s list.
RELEASES/DISCLAIMERS/INDEMNITY
Under no circumstances, including negligence, shall Conscious Cartoons International Animation Film Festival and its affiliates be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages, including without limitation, property damage, personal injury and/or death, resulting from participation in the 2018 Festival or acceptance, use or misuse of any prize.
Entrants hereby acknowledge that the Conscious Cartoons International Animation Film Festival and any related entities, including the 2018 Festival, have neither made nor are in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation or guarantee, express or implied (including, but not limited to warranties of any kind concerning the appearance, safety or performance of any prize), in fact or in law, relative to any prize. Each winner shall bear all risk of loss or damage to their prize after it has been delivered to such winner in the manner determined by the 2018 Festival. By entering and participating, entrant agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Conscious Cartoons International Animation Film Festival and any related entities, including the 2018 Festival, from and against any and all claims, demands, liability, damages or causes of action (however named or described) losses, costs or expenses, with respect to or arising out of or related to: (i) entrant’s participation in the 2018 Festival, and (ii) entrant's acceptance, use or misuse of a prize, including, without limitation, any property loss, damage, personal injury or death caused to any person(s). Winners assume all liability for any injury or damage caused or claimed to be caused, by participation in the 2018 Festival or use or redemption of a prize.
APPLICABLE LAW
The festival and these Official Rules shall be construed and governed in accordance with the substantive laws of the state of Washington, as distinguished from the choice of law rules. By participating, entrants agree that all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforce ability of these Official Rules, entrant's rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the 2018 Festival shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Washington, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules. By participating, entrants consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal, state and local courts located in Seattle, Washington.