Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival (0)

Début du Festival: 22 septembre 2016      Fin du Festival: 29 septembre 2016

Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival is the second longest-running film festival of its kind, and prides itself on showcasing the best LGBTQ+ films and videos each year.

From award-winning international feature films to social documentaries to experimental shorts, Reeling has always presented a range of genres that demonstrate the rich diversity of work being produced. Not only has Reeling become one of the most important cultural events for Chicagoans, it also attracts LGBTQ+ people from throughout the Midwest who consider the festival to be the highlight of their cinematic year.

The first Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival took place in April 1981 in Chicago Filmmakers’ 90-seat folding-chair screening room on West Hubbard Street. The festival sold out nearly every screening, leaving audiences demanding more. The enthusiasm for the festival led to a commitment on the part of Chicago Filmmakers to continue the festival as an annual event, and it has been going strong ever since.

The mission of Reeling is to recognize the important artistic contributions that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender filmmakers have made to our culture; to educate the general population and sensitize them to lesbian, gay and transgender issues; to investigate the history of LGBTQ+ film, including the stereotyping that has been a major part of this history; and to counteract this stereotyping with valid, meaningful and diverse portrayals of those in the LGBTQ+ community.

The festival provides a unique opportunity for the celebration of these identities for a community too often misrepresented or ignored in mainstream film and television.

Entries are eligible for (non-cash) audience awards in the categories of Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, and Best Experimental or Animated Film; and (non-cash) juried awards in the categories of Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, and Best Animated or Experimental Film.

MISSION & OBJECTIVE


Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival is the second longest-running film festival of its kind in the U.S. and prides itself on showcasing the best lesbian and gay films and videos from around the world. From international feature films to social issue documentaries to experimental shorts, Reeling has always presented a range of genres that demonstrates the rich diversity of work being produced. The festival is not only one of the most important cultural events for Chicago audiences, it also attracts many people from throughout the Midwest who consider the festival to be the highlight of their cinematic year.


ABOUT THE FESTIVAL


Reeling 2016: The 34th Chicago LGBTQ International Film Festival will screen approximately 75-100 independent films and videos over 8 days, from September 22- 29, 2016.

We invite you to enter this year's festival and ask you to please take a moment to read through our Festival Regulations and Entry Procedures before you enter your work.

For information on last year's festival, visit us at www.reelingfilmfestival.org.

For more information or questions, call 773-293-1447 or email
reeling@chicagofilmmakers.org. We look forward to seeing your
work!

Send to: Chicago Filmmakers
Attn: Reeling Film Festival
5243 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60640.

ORGANIZERS
Brenda Webb (Executive Director)
Sarah Rubin (Marketing + Fundraising Manager)


GENERAL RULES:


SCREENING FEES


By entering Reeling, the entrant acknowledges that Reeling is not obligated nor expected to pay rental fees or screening fees for the exhibition of entered works.


FESTIVAL AWARDS

Official entries will be eligible for Jury Awards voted on by juries of film professionals and Audience Awards chosen by audience vote.


ENTRY SCREENERS


Entries are accepted on DVD, online via a secure password-protected Vimeo.com link, or as an uploaded online screener on Festhome. If you submit on DVD (Region 1 or 0), please submit 2 copies. Do NOT submit DVD+RW. Please avoid applying labels to DVDs; instead write the following information with permanent marker: title, running time, entrant's name, and email address or other contact information. Please test DVDs on as many different players as possible before submitting, since consumer-burned DVDs are often not reliable. Please place DVDs in protective cases to avoid breakage and do not use fiber filled shipping envelopes; fibers can damage DVD players.

Entrants submitting previews through Festhome's secure online screener system must supply a hardcopy DVD of the film for press review purposes immediately upon notification of acceptance into Reeling.


SYNOPSIS


In addition to your entry, please enclose a brief description or synopsis of your film.


PHOTOS


Please send digital images on a CD (minimum 300 dpi in TIFF or JPEG format). Be sure to write on the CD the title of your work and the word "PHOTOS." Or, you may email photos (up to 25MB) to reelingpr@gmail.com. Please type your film title in the subject line. If you send a CD of your electronic press kit, please write the title of the film and "EPK" on the CD.


WORKS-IN-PROGRESS


Rough cuts and works-in-progress are eligible for submission only if a completed final copy is available for preview by June 15, 2016. A brief explanation describing changes to be made for the final version and expected date of completion must be included with your entry. Make sure to write on the DVD "ROUGH CUT."


CONFIRMATION ENTRY WAS RECEIVED


Please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard if you wish to receive confirmation that your entry was received by mail.


PREMIERE STATUS


We generally do not program works that have screened in Chicago, have been broadcast on television, or are available on DVD or online prior to the festival. Exceptions are determined on a case-by-case basis. It is your responsibility to disclose this information on your entry form and to notify us immediately of any changes after your submission is made.


NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE


If your entry is accepted for exhibition you will be notified via email by mid July.


EXHIBITION COPIES


***Eligible Formats for Exhibition***

Preferred formats for exhibition of features include 35mm film, HD Cam, and DCP. Blu-ray is not a preferred exhibition format, except as a back-up copy, but will be accepted if DCP is not available. Shorts are required as digital files (.mov QuickTime files in ProRes 422 format preferred) sent via a hard drive or flash drive. Backup copies on Blu-Ray and/or DVD are also requested. Other formats are contingent on available equipment; please contact the festival to inquire. Foreign language work must be subtitled in English.

***Deadline for Receipt of Exhibition Copy: August 1, 2016***

If your entry is accepted for exhibition, your exhibition film or videotape should arrive in our office by August 1, 2016 for inspection and testing. Please inform our office if this will be a problem. Exhibition copies for feature films will be returned to the entrant by October 15, 2016 unless we are requested in writing otherwise. Shorts filmmakers should request in writing if they would like exhibition copies to be returned. Trans-shipments of exhibition copies to other festivals must be requested in writing, and is subject to approval.

***Shipping***

Exhibition copies must be sent to the festival prepaid. The festival cannot accept nor assume responsibility for damage or loss of materials while in transit. All film reels, cans, videotapes and cases must be labeled with the title of the entry. Please do not use fiber-filled shipping envelopes.

***International Shipping***

Foreign entries must be shipped prepaid. Exhibition copies must be sent directly to the festival office with all transportation charges, delivery fees, and any duties or taxes prepaid by the shipper. The entrant will have to bear financial responsibility in the event that the festival is charged any brokerage fees. Please be sure to include all proper customs documentation. We recommend that the following declaration be printed on the outside of the package and on customs forms: TEMPORARY IMPORTATION – FOR FILM FESTIVAL EXHIBITION ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL VALUE.

***Return Shipping***

Exhibition copies will be returned to the entrant at the festival’s expense, using a method and carrier of the festival's choosing. Express shipping or shipping to any other destination that incurs higher shipping charges (such as transshipments to foreign film festivals on behalf of the filmmaker) must be born by the entrant or the recipient.

***Change of Address***

It is the responsibility of the entrant to notify Reeling of a change of address by emailing reeling@chicagofilmmakers.org. The entrant must accept responsibility for the cost of reshipping exhibition copies returned to the festival due to a change of address, unless written notification was given to the festival prior to return shipping.


LOSS OR DAMAGE


The festival cannot accept nor assume responsibility for damage or loss of materials while in transit. In the event of loss or damage during the festival, the festival’s responsibility is limited to repair or replacement of the print. Please do not send master tapes. The festival will not accept responsibility for video masters.


MEDIA PROMOTION


Programmed works may be excerpted for TV, website, and other promotional purposes. Photos supplied by makers may be used for promotional purposes. Copies of your DVD may be burned for the purpose of review by film critics. If you prefer that Reeling not burn DVD copies for critical review purposes, please notify us in writing and supply at least 5 DVDs for press review. Reeling must be notified in writing at the time of submission of any press restrictions. If you submitted your film online via Festhome, you must send 2 hardcopy DVDs upon acceptance by the festival.


AUTHORIZATION


Entering your film or video automatically indicates your acceptance of all Reeling 2016 submission guidelines and regulations. By entering the festival, the entrant automatically authorizes Reeling to publicly screening of the work in the festival and agrees to provide an exhibition copy for the period of the festival (September 22-29, 2016) AT NO CHARGE. If the film is picked up for distribution after the film has been entered, it is still the responsibility of the entrant to provide an exhibition copy to the festival without charge. Once a film/tape is submitted for entry, it may not be withdrawn. The entrant assumes all financial responsibility and legal liability for the content of their work including, but not limited to, usage of all copyrighted material for story, voice, visual images, and music.