International Regulations
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A: Sponsorship
The Vancouver International Film Festival is operated by the Greater Vancouver International Film Festival Society, a provincially registered, non-profit, educational and cultural organization incorporated under The Society Act of British Columbia, and a Federally registered charity under the Canadian Income Tax Act
B: Purpose
The purpose of the Vancouver International Film Festival is to encourage understanding of other nations through the art of cinema, to foster the art of cinema, to facilitate the meeting in British Columbia of cinema professionals from around the world, and to stimulate the motion picture industry in British Columbia and Canada.
C: Dates
The 25th Vancouver International Film Festival will be held from September 28 to October 13, 2006.
D: Categories
The Festival will be divided into at least the following main sections: Canadian Images; Dragons & Tigers: The Cinemas of East Asia; Spotlight on France; Cinema of Our Time; Nonfiction Features; Archival Series. The program aims to include approximately 200 feature films representing over 50 countries.
E: Awards
The following awards are offered by the Festival:
• The AGF People's Choice Award for Most Popular Film
• The Federal Express Award for Most Popular Canadian Film
• The Dragons & Tigers Award for Young Cinema (Cash prizes)
• The Citytv Western Canada Feature Film Award (Cash prize)
• The Award for Best Young Western Canadian Director of a Short Film (Cash prize)
• The National Film Board of Canada Award for Best Documentary Feature (Cash prize)
• Women in Film and Video Vancouver Artistic Merit Award
F: Eligibility
The Vancouver International Film Festival only accepts entries of feature and medium length films (over 30 minutes). Films entered in the Festival must not have been screened commercially, or broadcast, in the Greater Vancouver area.
G: Entry
Entry form should be completed and returned to the Festival by July 3, 2006, along with a preview film print or videocassette of the film which should be in 1/2” VHS (NTSC, PAL, or SECAM) format, or DVD.
All non-English speaking films must have English subtitles.
Preview materials must be shipped prepaid, and can be cleared at our end easily if package indicates title of film and is marked: "For Festival purposes only. Will be cleared by addressee. Contents will be returned."
Videocassettes must be valued at less than $20.00 Canadian for customs clearance.
• The Festival is not responsible for returning tapes except upon request.
H: Entry Fee
An Entry fee of CAD$50 (or US$40) is required of all unsolicited international submissions from outside of Canada. The fee is waived for: (a) films invited to participate, and (b) tapes submitted upon request. It is payable by VISA, cheque or international money order (in either Canadian or US funds), and must be submitted with the entry form.
I: Presentation
Accepted films for the Festival can be exhibited in 16mm, 35mm, or 70mm formats with optical or magnetic soundtracks, or on most video formats (NTSC or PAL) including BetaSP, DigiBeta, DV Cam or HD Cam. Special provisions can be made for screening prints with separate soundtrack but the festival requires advance notice. The number, date(s), time(s), and location(s) of screenings of films is at the discretion of the Festival.
J: Shipping
1. Once a film has been accepted for participation in the Festival, detailed shipping instructions will be sent to the print supplier.
2. The official courier for the Vancouver International Film Festival is Federal Express, though other carriers may be utilized due to specific countries Customs regulations. The Festival agrees to cover transportation and insuring prints both ways directly to and from the actual print supplier, or to cover one-way transportation when the print is shipped to or from other festivals.
3. Each print sent to the Festival from outside of Canada enters the country on a Canada Customs "Duty Free Temporary Admissions Permit" and must be returned after the Festival.
K: Liability
In case of loss or serious damage to a print, the obligation of the Festival is limited to compensating the producer or distributor only to the cost of making a new print.
L: Publicity
The Vancouver International Film Festival requests an information package for each
confirmed film, ideally including the following:
a) a brief written description of the film, including credits
b) a selection of photographic stills or slides
c) 3 to 5 posters
d) video clip (NTSC format only) for broadcast purposes
e) DVD or VHS preview tape (NTSC, PAL or SECAM)
M: Consent
Participation in the Vancouver International Film Festival implies understanding and acceptance of these regulations.