Sandbox Showcase -
Terms and Conditions.
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1. General Eligibility
Filmmaker Residency: To be eligible for the showcase, the director, producer, or writer of the short film must be based in the North West of England.
Age Requirements: Filmmakers must be at least 18 or have a legal guardian submit on their behalf.
Film Completion: Submissions are accepted for films completed at any time before the submission deadline. The film's completion date should be after January 1st 2021.
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2. Film Requirements
Film Duration: Each short film must have a maximum runtime of 15 minutes, including credits.
Genres: All genres, including fiction, non-fiction (documentaries), animation, and experimental films, are welcome.
Originality: The films must be the original works of the submitting filmmaker(s). Adaptations or remakes must have proper authorisation and rights clearance.
Content Standards: Films must not contain obscene, defamatory, or discriminatory content. LMF reserves the right to disqualify any submission that violates these standards in its sole discretion.
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3. Submission Process
Submission Fee: A non-refundable fee of £10 per film is required for submission. This fee covers administrative costs and contributes to the showcase's operational expenses.
Submission Format: Films must be submitted in a digital format compatible with our screening equipment (e.g., MP4, MOV) with a minimum resolution of 1080p. Specific file requirements will be provided on the submission page.
Multiple Submissions: Filmmakers can submit multiple films. Each film requires a separate submission form and fee.
Language and Subtitles: Films not in English must include English subtitles. Subtitles should be embedded within the video file.
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4. Selection and Notification
Selection Criteria: Films will be selected based on originality, technical quality, storytelling, alignment with the event theme, and overall impact. The LMF programming team makes final selection decisions.
Notification of Selection: Filmmakers whose films are selected for screening will be notified at least 30 days before the showcase event. Notification will be sent to the email address provided in the submission form.
Non-Selected Films: If a film is not selected for a particular showcase, it will remain eligible for future showcases, and the filmmaker will not need to resubmit or pay an additional fee.
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5. Screening Rights and Permissions
Right to Screen: By submitting a film, the filmmaker grants LMF the nonexclusive, royalty-free right to screen it at LMF Short Film Showcase events. This right is granted for the duration of the event series and any related promotional activities.
Promotional Use: LMF may use stills, clips, trailers, and promotional materials related to the submitted films for marketing and promotional purposes, including but not limited to social media, press releases, and event advertising.
Publicity: The filmmaker grants LMF the right to use their name, image, and biographical information in connection with promoting and exhibiting the film at the showcase.
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6. Intellectual Property
Copyright Ownership: The filmmaker retains all copyrights to their film. LMF does not claim any ownership rights to the film.
Clearances: The filmmaker must secure all necessary rights, licenses, clearances, and permissions for all film elements, including but not limited to music, images, footage, and other copyrighted materials. By submitting a film, the filmmaker represents and warrants that all such clearances have been obtained.
Indemnification: The filmmaker agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless LMF, its employees, volunteers, sponsors, and affiliates from any claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses arising from the breach of any representation, warranty, or agreement made by the filmmaker in connection with their film submission.
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7. Storage and Data Management
Storage of Films: Submitted films will be securely stored on LMF's servers and only accessed by authorised personnel for screening, selection, and promotion. Films will not be distributed, sold, or made available to the public outside the LMF showcase events without the filmmaker’s explicit consent.
Data Privacy: Personal data collected during submission will be used solely for event administration and communication. LMF will not share personal information with third parties without consent except as required by law.
Film Retention: LMF will retain submitted films in its database for the event series. Filmmakers can request the removal of their movie from the database at any time by contacting LMF in writing.
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8. Disqualification and Withdrawal
Disqualification: LMF reserves the right to disqualify any film that violates the terms and conditions, contains inappropriate content, or is found to be in breach of copyright or other legal agreements. No refund of submission fees will be provided for disqualified films.
Withdrawal: Filmmakers may withdraw their films from consideration or screening by notifying LMF in writing. If a film is withdrawn after it has been selected for a showcase, LMF may choose to replace it with an alternative selection.
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9. Liability and Limitation of Liability
Event Changes: LMF reserves the right to change the event dates, venue, or format. LMF will make reasonable efforts to notify filmmakers of any changes. LMF is not responsible for any costs or expenses filmmakers incur due to event schedule or format changes.
Technical Issues: LMF is not responsible for any technical issues, including but not limited to submission failures, playback errors, or other technical difficulties related to the film files. Filmmakers are encouraged to test their files before submission to ensure compatibility.
Limitation of Liability: To the fullest extent permitted by law, LMF’s liability for any claim related to the showcase, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise, is limited to the amount of the submission fee paid by the filmmaker.
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10. Agreement to Terms
Acceptance of Terms: By submitting a film, the filmmaker acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agree to abide by all terms and conditions of the LMF Short Film Showcase. Failure to comply with these terms may result in disqualification and forfeiture of any fees paid.
Amendments: LMF reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions at any time. Filmmakers will be notified of any changes via the email address provided during submission.