GUIDELINES 2012

1. General Rules

  1. The Morelia International Film Festival is a forum to promote the new talents of Mexican cinema, while contributing to the cultural and tourist activities of the state of Michoacan.
  2. Films both in and out of competition shall be chosen by a selection committee, whose decisions cannot be appealed.

2. Competition

  1. The Morelia International Film Festival consists of four competitive sections: Mexican Short Film, Mexican Documentary, Michoacan Section, and Mexican Feature.
  2. Films in competition must be directed and/or produced by Mexican citizens (by birth and/or residency), or be financed at least in part by Mexican investment.
  3. Only works produced in 2011-2012 which have not previously been submitted to the Morelia International Film Festival are eligible for submission.
  4. Screening formats are 35mm, Digital Cinema and HD. Technical specifications for screenings will be provided to participating filmmakers.
  5. Without exception, all works in competition must be subtitled in English.
  6. The festival will provide the deadline for turning in selected works. No extensions will be given..
  7. Works that do not meet the above criteria will be excluded from competition.

2.1 Sección Michoacana

  1. A film may compete in this section if it is directed and/or produced by a Michoacan citizen (by birth and/or residence), or financed at least in part by Michoacan investment.
  2. All Michoacan films should be submitted to the Mexican Short Film, Documentary or Feature Film sections. Michoacan works not selected for the above categories will be considered for the Michoacan Section.
  3. Each director from Michoacan is entitled to two festival badges.
  4. Directors from Michoacan who are not residents of Morelia are also entitled to a double room for two nights (breakfast included), which should coincide with one of the screening dates of the director's film, as well as round-trip transportation to Morelia. The itinerary will be decided a few weeks prior to the Festival. Once the travel and accommodation dates have been accorded, any subsequent changes will run at the filmmaker's expense.
  5. Seats can be reserved only for badge-holders. Any other cast and crew or guests of the film must buy their tickets at the box office.
  6. One Michoacan short film will be awarded "El Ojo" (a trophy designed by Michoacan artist Javier Marín), a diploma, and $60,000 pesos in cash.
  7. The winner of this section automatically passes to the corresponding national competition.

2.2 Mexican Short Film and Documentary Sectiones

  1. The Morelia International Film Festival accepts short films of up to 40 minutes for the Mexican Short Film Section. For the Mexican Documentary Section, documentaries of any length that have not been commercially distributed are eligible for competition. Television series will not be accepted.
  2. Short films intended for promotional purposes, which have been presented on television, or distributed either commercially or through the Internet will not be accepted. Short films distributed on the Internet through a restricted user code are eligible.
  3. Each selected director is entitled to two badges and a double room for two nights (breakfast included), which should coincide with one of the screening dates of the director's film. Screening dates will be provided in due time by the organizing committee.
  4. The Festival will provide each selected director with round-trip transportation to Morelia from any point within Mexico. The itinerary and mode of transportation will be decided a few weeks prior to the Festival. Once the travel and accommodation dates have been accorded, any subsequent changes will run at the filmmaker's expense.
  5. Seats may be reserved only for badge-holders. Any other cast and crew or guests of the film must buy their tickets at the box office.
  6. Prizes will be awarded to one fiction short film, one animated short film, one documentary short, and one documentary feature. Each prize consists of "El Ojo" (a trophy designed by the Michoacan artist Javier Marín), a diploma, and $120,000 pesos in cash.

2.3 Mexican Feature Film Section

  1. The Festival will present Mexican features with a running time of over 60 min., exclusively first or second films that have not been commercially distributed in Mexico.
  2. The Festival will provide each selected Mexican feature with two double rooms for two nights and four badges. There will be no exceptions.
  3. The Festival will provide each selected director with round-trip transportation to Morelia from any point within Mexico. The itinerary and mode of transportation will be decided a few weeks prior to the Festival. Once the travel and accommodation dates have been accorded, any subsequent changes will run at the filmmaker's expense.
  4. Up to twenty seats can be reserved for the premiere screening. Tickets must be purchased at the box office for any additional guests.
  5. One Mexican feature film will be awarded "El Ojo" (a trophy designed by Javier Marín), a diploma, and $120,000 pesos in cash.

2.4 Michoacan Short Film Screenplay Competition

  1. Screenplays with a maximum length of ten pages may be submitted, written by Michoacan citizens (by birth and/or residence).
  2. One prize will be awarded consisting of a diploma and $12,000 pesos cash.

*In addition to the aforementioned prizes, the jury may award Honorable Mentions.

3. Submissions

  1. Each applicant must:
    1. Fill out the entry form. This information will be used for the Festival catalogue in the event that the film is selected.
    2. Turn in two DVD or Blu-ray screeners labeled with the title of the film, name of director, running time, year of production, and registration number provided by the on-line submission system.
    3. Screeners should be sent to either of the following addresses:

      FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE CINE DE MORELIA
      Melchor Ocampo 35, Col. Centro
      Morelia, Michoacán, C.P. 58000
      Teléfonos. (443) 317-7801 / 02

      FICM - OFICINA EN LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO
      Edificio Balmori, Orizaba 101, Int. 101, Col. Roma
      México, D.F., C.P. 06700
      Teléfonos. (55) 1054-6796, 5511-5150, 5533-1241 / 42

  2. All DVDs of selected works become the property of the Festival for archival purposes. This material will not be used for profit. Blu-rays can be returned at the filmmaker's expense.
  3. The Festival will respect the postmark date for works sent by mail or courier.
  4. The Festival accepts no responsibility for loss or damage of submission materials during shipment to the festival.
  5. Submissions and screeners for all competitive sections are due by June 15, 2012 at 5:00pm.

4. Selected Work

  1. A list of selected films will be announced at www.moreliafilmfest.com and published in the principal Mexican dailies on Friday, August 10, 2012.
  2. No film may be withdrawn from competition once it has been selected.
  3. Without exception, all selected works must be subtitled in English. For those works whose original language is not Spanish, a screening copy subtitled in Spanish and an additional copy subtitled in English is required. Unsubtitled works will be disqualified.
  4. The director and/or producer of each selected film agrees to screen it between the 20th and 28th of October, 2012 in Morelia, Michoacan.
  5. Selected films may be included in national and international screenings organized year-round by the Morelia International Film Festival.
  6. To participate in the Morelia International Film Festival, the directors and/or producers of selected works commit to turning in:
    1. The final copy of their short film: The deadline for short films in HD is September 7, 2012 and for 35mm and Digital Cinema, September 28, 2012. All 35mm and Digital Cinema short films need to be submitted along with a HD copy.
    2. The final copy of their feature film: The deadline for feature films in HD, 35mm and Digital Cinema is September 28, 2012. All 35mm and Digital Cinema feature films need to be submitted along with an additional Blu-ray copy.
    3. Two DVDs of the film's final version by September 7, 2012. Works whose original language is Spanish need to be subtitled in English. For those works whose original language is not Spanish, a screening copy subtitled in Spanish and an additional copy subtitled in English is required.
  7. The Festival reserves the right to use a segment of up to one minute of selected works exclusively for promotional purposes, including (but not limited to) television and Internet broadcasts.
  8. Any special instructions regarding the handling of the video or film print should be submitted in writing.

5. Print Shipping

  1. The applicant will assume shipping and insurance costs of the video or film print until it reaches either of the festival offices. From that point on, the Festival will assume insurance costs until the print is shipped back from festival headquarters.
  2. Videos and prints should be sent to either of the following addresses:

    FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE CINE DE MORELIA
    Melchor Ocampo 35, Col. Centro
    Morelia, Michoacán, C.P. 58000
    Teléfonos. (443) 317-7801 / 02

    FICM - OFICINA EN LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO
    Edificio Balmori, Orizaba 101, Int. 101, Col. Roma
    México, D.F., C.P. 06700
    Teléfonos. (55) 1054-6796, 5511-5150, 5533-1241 / 42

  3. If the print is sent through a courier service, please declare "no commercial value, for cultural purposes only." The Festival is not responsible for shipping taxes.
  4. The Festival accepts no responsibility for loss or damage of videos or film prints during shipment to and from the festival.
  5. The Festival is not responsible for returning prints and videos to locations outside of Mexico.

6. Catalogue (Filmguide)

  1. The film information printed in the catalogue will be the same as that submitted in the entry form. Each selected work will have 3 working days after the publication of the results to revise and confirm online the information that will be printed in the catalog. The deadline is August 15, 2012 at 24 hrs. *Any information or revision sent after this date will not be taken into account.
  2. The following information will be included in the catalogue: original title, English title, year of production, country, screening format, color or b&w, running time, Spanish synopsis (50 word max.), English synopsis (50 word max.), director, screenwriter, producer, production company, cinematography, editing, art, sound, music, animation, cast, director's biography (40 word max.), filmography (film only, no TV series or publicity work), prizes and special mentions (for the submitted film), and contact information (name, telephone, e-mail and webpage).
  3. The Festival reserves all final decisions regarding the catalogue's editorial content.

7. Acreditations

  1. The Morelia International Film Festival grants accreditations (badges) only to those who actively participate in the Festival's program and activities: directors, special guests, press, film distributors, and sponsors.
  2. Accreditations are only valid on certain dates.
  3. Accreditations are personal and intransferable. In case of any irregularities, badges will be cancelled.
  4. In case of loss, a $500 pesos fee will be charged for a replacement badge.

Enrollment and/or participation in the Morelia International Film Festival implies acceptance of the above guidelines.