Morelia International Film Festival

General Rules

1. FICM promotes talented young Mexican filmmakers. It also collaborates in the development of cultural and tourist activities in the state of Michoacán.
2. The films shown in competition as well as those that don’t compete are chosen by a Selection Committee whose decisions cannot be appealed.

Competition

1. FICM has four competitive sections: Mexican Short Film, Mexican Documentary, Michoacán Section and Mexican Long Film.
2. Films directed or produced by Mexican citizens (by birth or residence) are the only ones allowed to compete. They also must be partially supported financially by a Mexican organization.
3. Only films produced between 2009-2010 are allowed to participate. Those that have participated in past editions of FICM are ineligible.
4. The formats used for exhibition in FICM are 35mm and HD. Technical details involvng the projection of the film will be sent to those who have been selected.
5. Without exception, all films in competition must be subtitled in English.
6. The deadline to register projects will be announced by FICM. There will be no time extensions.
7. Works that don’t follow the guidelines will be excluded from the program of FICM.

1. Short Film and Mexican Documentary Sections

   1. In the Mexican Short Film Section, the maximum duration for works that participate in this section is 40 minutes. In the Mexican Documentary Section any work regardless of its length can participate as long as it hasn’t been exhibited commercially. No television series will be accepted.
   2. Any work filmed for promotional purposes, that has been presented on television or distributed commercially on DVD or on the Internet will not be accepted. Films that have been distributed on the Internet with a user code that permits restricted access may be accepted.
   3. Each selected filmmaker has the right to have two accreditations and free lodging for two nights in a double room with breakfast included. Their stay must coincide with one of the screening dates of their project. Specific screening dates will be announced by the Organization Committee.
   4. Each filmmaker whose work has been selected will be offered round-trip transportation to Morelia from any place in Mexico. The itinerary and transportation will be announced before the date of departure. Once the screening dates are set, any changes in the traveling schedule and costs related to that change will be the responsibility of the filmmaker.
   5. Saving places in a screening room can only be done for people with a pass. Additional guests invited to the screening must purchase their own ticket.
   6. In the national competitive sections, awards will be given for the winning Fiction Short Film, Animation Short Film, Documentary Short Film and Documentary Long Film. Each award consists of a statue of El Ojo, a sculpture made by Javier Marín, famous Michoacán artist; a diploma and 100,000 Mexican pesos in cash.

2. Michoacán Section

   1. A work can compete in this section if it is directed or produced by Michoacán citizens (by birth or residence) and whose budget or part of it comes from a Michoacán origin.
   2. All Michoacán works will be considered for Short Film, Documentary and Mexican Long Film sections and should follow the registration rules for these sections. Michoacán works that do not participate in one of the above-mentioned sections will be considered solely for the Michoacán section.
   3. Filmmakers who live in Morelia have the right to receive two press badges.
   4. Michoacán filmmakers who do not live in Morelia have the right to two press badges, free lodging for two nights in a double room with breakfast included and round-trip transportation to Morelia from any place in the state of Michoacán. The schedule will be announced prior to the festival. Once the screening dates are set, any changes in the traveling schedule and costs related to that change will be the responsibility of the filmmaker.
   5. Saving places in a screening room can only be done for people with a pass. Additional guests invited to a screening must purchase their own ticket.
   6. An award is given to the winner of the Michoacán section. The prize consists of a statue of El Ojo, a sculpture made by Javier Marín, famous Michoacán artist; a diploma and 50, 000 Mexican pesos in cash.
   7. The winner of this section will compete automatically in the national sections according to its format (documentary, short film, long film).

3. Mexican Long Film

   1. FICM selects a maximum of seven Mexican long films with a minimum screening time of 60 minutes for this section. Only first and second works of a director that haven’t been shown in other festivals or commercially in Mexico are accepted.
   2. Each director whose work has been selected has the right to have two double rooms in a hotel and four accreditations. There will be no acceptions.
   3. Each filmmaker who has been selected will be offered round-trip transportation to Morelia from any place in Mexico. The itinerary and transportation will be announced prior to the festival. Once the screening dates are set, any changes in the traveling schedule and costs related to that change will be the responsibility of the filmmaker.
   4. The number of seats that can be reserved for the screening of the filmmaker’s work is 20. Each director will be given 20 tickets for his first screening. If the filmmaker plans to invite more people they will have to purchase their own tickets.
   5. An award is given to the winner of the Long Film section. It consists of a statue of El Ojo, a sculpture made by Javier Marín, renowned Michoacán artist; a diploma and 100, 000 pesos in cash.

4. Michoacano Contest for Short Film Screenplay

   1. Screenplays up to 10 pages long can participate in this competition. They must be written by Michoacan authors who were either born or reside in the state of Michoacán. An award is given for the Michoacan Contest for Short Film Screenplay which consists of a diploma and 10, 000 Mexican pesos in cash.

Registration

1. To register:
   1. The applicant must fill out the registration form. If selected, this information will be used by FICM for the Festival´s catalogue.
   2. Two copies of a DVD with information such as: title, filmmaker´s name, film length, year of production and registration number, must be sent or taken personally to one of FICM´s offices.

   3. Works must be send to:

      MORELIA´S INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
      Melchor Ocampo 35, Col. Centro
      Morelia, Michoacán, C.P. 58000
      Telephone. (443) 317-7801 / 02

      FICM - MEXICO CITY OFFICE
      Edificio Balmori, Orizaba 101, Int. 101, Col. Roma
      México, D.F., C.P. 06700
      Telephone. (55) 1054-6796, 5511-5150, 5533-1241 / 42

2. Once the DVD is sent to FICM´s offices it will become part of the festival´s archive. The films will not be used for commercial purposes.
3. The reception date for the projects sent by courier or mail will be the one registered on the postal stamp.
4. FICM is not responsible for loss or damage to the materials during their delivery.
5. The deadline for registration and reception of projects for all of the competitive sections is June 4, 2010.

Selected Projects

1. The list of selected works will be announced on www.moreliafilmfest.com and will be published in important national Mexican newspapers on Friday, August 6, 2010.
2. Once a movie is selected, it cannot be canceled from FICM´s program.
3. Without exception, all films in competition must be subtitled in English. In case the film´s original language is not Spanish, a copy of the project with Spanish as well as English subtitles will be required. If the project doesn´t include subtitles it will be disqualified.
4. A filmmaker or producer whose work has been selected must exhibit it between October 16 and 24, 2010, in Morelia, Michoacán.
5. Selected works may be part of national and international screenings in which FICM participates during the year.

6. To participate in FICM, filmmakers and producers must turn in:

   1. A final cut of the film. Deadline for the reception of films in HD is September 3, 2010, and for those in 35mm format the deadline is September 24, 2010.
   2. Two DVD copies of the final work in its final version with English subtitles or Spanish in case this is not the original language of the film.
7. FICM reserves the right to use a trailer or promotional clip with a maximum one minute screening time of the selected works for solely promotional purposes, including (but not limited to) television transmissions and Internet.
8. The participant must inform FICM in writing if there are any restrictions to be followed regarding the handling of a film´s copy.

Delivery and Return of Materials

1. All charges related to courier transportation as well as the insurance for the film copy must be paid by the participant. Once the copy is in FICM´s offices the festival will be in charge of the insurance of the materials until they are given back to the participant.

2. Copies of the selected films must be delivered to the following addresses:

   MORELIA´S INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
   Melchor Ocampo 35, Col. Centro
   Morelia, Michoacán, C.P. 58000
   Telephone. (443) 317-7801 / 02

   FICM - MEXICO CITY OFFICE
   Edificio Balmori, Orizaba 101, Int. 101, Col. Roma
   México, D.F., C.P. 06700
   Telephone. (55) 1054-6796, 5511-5150, 5533-1241 / 42

3. If you send your copy by courier, please declare it as: “without commercial value, cultural purposes only” (in Spanish: "sin valor comercial, con fines culturales únicamente"). The Festival will not pay for any taxes that the delivery may incur.
4. FICM is not responsible for loss or damage to the materials during their delivery.
5. FICM doesn´t pay for the return of materials outside Mexico.

Catalogue

1. The information that is given during registration will be that which is included in FICM´s catalogue.
2. The catalogue includes the following information: original title, English title, Spanish synopsis (maximum 50 words), English synopsis (maximum 50 words), format, b/w or color, running time, country, production year, director, screenplay, producer, production company, photography, edition, sound, music, cast, awards (of the work presented), director´s biography (maximum 40 words), filmography (as a director and only as a filmmaker, no TV or advertisement works), contact (name, telephone and email address).
3. Deadline for the catalogue is August 13, 2010. Any changes must be made prior to that date. There will be no exceptions.
4. Editorial decisions regarding content will be made exclusivley by the Directional Committee.

Accreditations

1. FICM hands out accreditations only to those who participate actively in the festival´s program and events: filmmakers, special guests, press, film distributors and sponsors.
2. Accreditations have an expiration date.
3. Accreditations are personal and not transferable. In case of any suspected misusage of the accreditation it will be canceled.
4. In case of loss, the charge for a replacing the accreditation will be 500 Mexican pesos.