SUBMISSION RULES, GUIDELINES & REGULATIONS for Films in Competition Section

These regulations are applicable to the films invited to participate in the competition sections of the 16th edition of Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes).

The 16th edition of BIFFes invites narrative fiction feature films for the Competition sections. The Competitions are held under the Asian, Indian and Kannada Cinema categories. Expert committees will shortlist about 12 feature films under each category for the final competition. The Chairman, Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy (KCA) and the Artistic Director, BIFFes will have additional discretionary powers to augment the selection process. Asian Cinema Competition, The Indian and Kannada cinema competition sections will have National and International Juries.

The final adjudication for all the competition sections will be made by the Juries of the respective section.

Cash prizes, mementos and certificates will be issued for the winners of the competition in each category.

Prize details

Asian film competition section
First Best Film
Second Best Film
Third Best Film

Indian film competition section
First Best Film
Second Best Film
Third Best Film – International Critics Special Mention Film

Kannada film competition section
First Best Film
Second Best Film
Third Best Film

International Jury Special Mention Film

Note: Films from Karnataka sub languages / dialects, can also participate in the competition.

Competition Entry Norms:

1. Competition Categories:

A. ASIAN CINEMA COMPETITION

Feature fiction Films produced between January 1st, 2024 and 31st December 2024, in any of the Asian Countries, of a minimum of 70 minutes’ duration are eligible to enter into the Asian competition section

B. CHITRABHARATHI – BIFFes forum for Indian Cinema

Feature fiction Films produced between January 1st, 2024 and 31st December 2024, in any of the Indian Languages including English and Indian dialects, of a minimum of 70 minutes’ duration are eligible to enter into the competition section. Date of issue of Certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification, Government of India, will be the date for the purpose of ascertaining the date of production.

C. KANNADA CINEMA COMPETITION – BIFFes forum for Kannada Cinema

Feature fiction Films produced between January 1st, 2024 and 31st December 2024, in Kannada and any of the dialects of the Karnataka state, of a minimum of 70 minutes’ duration are eligible to enter into the competition section. Date of issue of Certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification, will be the date for the purpose of ascertaining the date of production.

1. Films, which have been already submitted / considered for any competition section or exhibition at the earlier editions of BIFFes, will not be eligible for reconsideration.
2. a. Films which have participated in other film festivals between January 1st, 2024 and 31st December, 2024 can apply for any competition section, adhering to the respective sections criterias.
   b. Films which have participated in other film festivals prior to 1st January 2024, will not be eligible for any competition section under this provision.
3. The final decision will be taken by the Chairman, KCA / Artistic Director of BIFFes, in all matters connected with the selection and adjudication process.
4. Entry deadlines and selection of films

Submission of film: Online Film Application and online film screener link with English Subtitles must be submitted before 23th January 2025. Films should be submitted online at www.biffes.org.

With the following requirements, duly complete the entry form (available on our website).

For submission to the Indian and Kannada film competition categories, it is mandatory to provide a notarized certificate on stamp paper with a minimum value of ₹20 (twenty rupees) or a maximum value of ₹100 (one hundred rupees). While purchasing the stamp paper, the name of the Producer/ Production company/Director must be mentioned as the first party, and the 16th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) must be mentioned as the second party.

A single notarized certificate can be used to apply for three sections or any competition section/sections of the applicant's choice, and the selected sections must be clearly mentioned. The certificate must confirm the film's completion date and indicate agreement with the rules and regulations of the 16th Bengaluru International Film Festival.

Non-Indian Asian films must include a declaration form authorised by the film Director and Producer / film production house, declaring that their film was made between 1st January 2024 and 31st December 2024.

Kannada films, if eligible, can apply for any competition sections. Eligible Indian films can apply to both the Indian and Asian competition sections, while non-Indian films from various Asian countries are eligible to apply only to the Asian Cinema competition section.

For the Asian Cinema competition section film entries, CBFC certificate is not mandatory.

Film Synopsis in English & In Kannada (For Kannada Cinema Competition)

Press Kit or Publicity Brochure (Soft copy only)

A brief Note on the Director

Film Stills & Posters of the film and Director's photograph, Name, address, telephone / mobile number and email ID of the person submitting the film.

A non-refundable fee of Rs. 3000/- per entry for Indian films competing in Indian, Kannada and Asian cinema competition sections is applicable. The fee should be transferred online through the payment gateway, while submitting the film. The film submission to the competition section will be disqualified in case of noncompliance of entry fee /payment terms.

There is no Submission Fee for the Non-Indian films applying for the Asian Cinema Competition.

Submitted film print content English subtitled - (DVD / Bluray / Pen Drive) of the Feature Film Screeners, will be retained by BIFFes for its archives.

A list of films selected will be posted on the BIFFes website well in advance of the commencement of the festival. The applicants of the selected films will be informed through an official email.

The film festival catalogue/book, Festival screening schedule, the festival venues, seating capacities of each Screen and details of the films invited & participating will be available during the event.

5. Rules governing the film selection

BIFFes will appoint the Selection Committee comprising of filmmakers, experts on cinema and eminent persons from art, culture fields.

No person with any involvement in the films submitted will be present on the Jury panels or the Selection Committee.

There is no provision for screening of Kannada films not selected in the competition section of the Festival.

General Rules for the films in the Festival

6. Insurance & Shipping

BIFFes will incur shipping cost of the prints (and other approved formats) of the selected films.

All films will be imported using the BIFFes freight agent. The film festival will not be responsible for films imported by any other means.

English subtitled Film contents received in physical format will be sent back to the participants only to the address indicated in the entry form, or as instructed in writing, within three weeks of the festival closing date.

BIFFes will pay storage and insurance costs for selected films throughout the period in which the cinematographic materials are in the custody of BIFFes. In case of print loss or damage, the liability of the festival authority will not exceed the value indicated in the official entry forms.

In the event of damage to a film’s physical print, any claims lodged by the lender of the copy must be communicated to the festival, at the very latest, within two weeks of return of the print to the lender. The festival shields itself against liability for the oldness of a print, by informing the lender by letter or email about any deterioration of the print, after receiving the same.

Reimbursement for any eventual damage will be sent to the lender of the print in the lending place/country upon presentation of the invoice.

If the film prints selected for competition sections are in Encrypted DCP format, then the applicant should bear the costs of the KDM charges, for all the Film Festival screenings.

If the insurance company is obliged to reimburse damages only to the film festival authority, it shall immediately, upon receipt of this reimbursement, remit the sum to the lender of the copy.

7.The final physical print of each selected film must reach the sole shipping agent accredited by the festival authority, 3 weeks before the film festival dates. If film prints are not received by that time, the screening may be cancelled.

The import, distribution and non-commercial exhibition of all films to be presented in any section of the festival will be exempted from Customs' duty.

8. Copies for archives

Winners of awards may deposit an English-subtitled DVD/Blu-ray copy of the award-winning film for use by BIFFes for non-commercial, film academic and archival purposes.

9. Trailers and Promotions

Trailers and excerpts (not exceeding three minutes) may be sent for purposes of publicity on TV and online media. If excerpts are not available, the filmmaker is requested to authorize BIFFes to produce such excerpts. BIFFes has the authority to give maximum publicity to films being screened at the film festival using electronic, print and online media.

10. No cuts or changes will be made in the films by the festival management for any reason. The Festival shall abide by the International Regulations on film screenings.

11. Films will be presented within the official section of the festival, only if they have been produced following professional cinematographic rules in the country of production and if their priority purpose is for normal and continued theatrical exhibition.

12. The film festival will not present any film to any person or organization (other than the selection committee and jury panels) before the official public screening or, eventually, before the general screening for journalists, unless specifically asked by the producer.

13. Participation in the film festival implies acceptance of all aforementioned regulations and selection conditions.

14.The Chairman, KCA / Artistic Director of the film festival has the authority to settle all cases not covered by the present rules.

15.If any information provided by the applicants in their applications is found to be incorrect, BIFFes reserves the right to reject such entries.

All the materials may be sent to the following address

Artistic Director, Bengaluru International Film Festival Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, Kannada Chalanachitra Amruthothsava Bhavana Complex, #20/A, Circular Road, Nandini FHS Layout, Near Nandini Layout Police Station, Next to Presidency School, Bengaluru-560 096.

+91 80-23494255 / 080 23493410 / +91 8904645529

Mon - Sat: 10.00am - 06.00pm

Email: biffesblr@gmail.com

Website: www.biffes.org

For Film Submission related queries, Contact - Submissions@biffes.org

Special Note:

1. Only English subtitled DCP format film print content will be accepted for the final festival days screening.
   
   
2. Feature Films content has to be in one of the following formats, for screening at the festival:
   Physical DCP or digital delivery of the DCP through digital platforms. (DCP digital delivery & KDM cost and expenses should be borne by the film team / Producer / Production house)
   
   
3. Feature Films that have participated in other film festival competitions are also eligible.
   
   
4. One representative from each film, that is part of the competition will be invited and offered to and fro travel (economy class air ticket) and 3 days of accommodation.
   
   
5. All film submissions must be made online by the specified deadline.
   
   
6. Feature Films selected in the festival cannot be withdrawn from the program after 15th February 2025.
   
   
7. The above regulations takes effect with the submission of a completed film entry form.

ALL THE ABOVE REGULATIONS AND THE CONDUCT OF THE FESTIVAL ARE SUBJECT TO ANY SPECIAL GUIDELINES ISSUED NOW AND IN THE SUBSEQUENT PERIOD BY THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES.

Online film submissions open on 09.01.2025
Last date for film submission is 23.01.2025