APPLICATION
We’ve all been there. Students sometimes need to make due with certain resources and are forced to take certain shortcuts but that is no reason to be careless! Please take the steps needed in advance to make sure that all the guidelines for submission are being met. No need to be hasty, please take the time to review our FAQ and Submission Regulations before submitting. We’re all in the same boat and are here if there are any questions or concerns. Please contact us if further information is needed.
1. How do I submit my film to the DIFF | LA?
To submit your film to the DIFF | LA, you will have to complete the submissions form under the submissions page at www.DIFFLA.org, pay the submissions fee and send us two copies of your film on DVD. Please review the Rules and Regulations carefully prior to completing the online entry form.
Please note that our submissions form is available ONLY on our website at
www.DIFFLA.org
2. Can you mail or fax me a submissions form?
No. We are only accepting online applications through our website at www.DIFFLA.org
DEADLINES and FEES
3. What are the submissions deadline and fees for DIFF | LA 2013?
REGULAR DEADLINE:
Friday, February 11th, 2013, 6PM PST – Free for a limited time!
Please note:
- The OFFICIAL entry deadlines is the postmark date. This means that your submission must be mailed in by the applicable date and must arrive at our offices no later than 2 weeks from the postmark date.
- The LATE entry deadline is an ARRIVE BY date. This means that your submission must be arrive in our offices
4. How can I pay the submissions fee?
You must fill out the online Eventbite submissions form at www.DIFFLA.org. At the end of
the form, you will be prompted to pay the fee. American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa accepted. Please do not send checks, money orders, or cash.
5. What if my submission arrives after the deadline for which I have registered?
Your film MUST be postmarked or MUST arrive in our office no later than the applicable deadline for which you have registered.
6. Does it make a difference to which deadline I submit?
No. All submissions are processed and viewed in the same manner. The only difference is the higher submissions fees. We encourage you to submit as early as possible.
FILM SUBMISSIONS
7. If I have already completed the online submissions form, can I go back to edit information or to update my contact information or my film’s screening history?
Once you have completed and submitted the online form, you cannot go back to edit. If you need to change any information you have provided us with, you must email: info@diffla.org.
8. Can I submit a film that is a trailer or work-in-progress?
No. We will not be able to consider your film if you send in a trailer or work-in-progress film. We are only accepting finished films.
9. What is your preferred format for submission?
Films should be submitted on DVD (DVD-R or DVD+R disc only; we do not accept dual layer DVDs or BluRays.) DVDs MUST be compatible with standard consumer DVD players. Please ensure that your disc plays in a standard DVD player prior to sending to the Festival.
Please use permanent marker to label your DVD. Do not use a paper label on your disc; stickers and paper may make a disc unplayable.
We have also left a space in the submissions form for a Vimeo link. However, it will be used as a backup should your DVD not play.
10. Can my submission DVD be in PAL format?
We will not accept PAL formatted DVDs. Please convert your film to NTSC if it is natively in PAL format.
11. What should I submit if I’m submitting for the Writing Category?
Please send in two copies of your script in proper script format (3 hole punched with brads) to the designated address.
12. What should I include with my submission?
After you have completed the online submissions form and have paid the applicable submissions fee, please send two copies of the film on DVD and a copy of your student ID.
13. Is there a tracking number for submission?
No. We do not provide tracking numbers for submissions. As long as you properly label your DVD screeners, we will be able to match the entry materials with the information you provided online.
14. Where do I send my entry materials?
Art Center College of Design
ATTN: Film Department: DIFF Festival
C/O: Nijo Watanabe
1700 Lida Street
Pasadena, CA 91103
15. Do I have to obtain rights and clearances for the music or other copyrighted material included in my film?
Yes, please review the Rules and Regulations carefully.
16. What happens if you are unable to get my DVD to play?
If your DVDs do not play, we will use the optional Vimeo link you’ve supplied us. If you haven’t supplied us with a Vimeo link, we will contact you to request another copy. However, there is no guarantee that we will get your replacement disc in time and we must give preference to those who sent in a working copy to begin with. For this reason, we ask that you make absolutely sure that your disc plays all the way through before you submit to us.
17. Will my materials be returned to me?
No. Due to the high number of submissions we receive we are not able to return any materials. All submission materials will be destroyed or discarded by DIFF | LA.
REQUIREMENTS + ELIGIBLITY
18. How do I know if my film is eligible for consideration?
Please refer to our rules and regulations for complete eligibility rules.
FILM SECTIONS
19. Can I choose the film section I want to submit to?
No. When you submit your film, you can choose between the following: Narrative Short, Documentary, Commercial / PSA, Music Video, and Writing. If your film is selected to screen at the festival, DIFF | LA programmers will determine which film section best suits your film.
NOTIFICATION
20. How do I know if my submission has arrived?
Due to the high volume of submissions we cannot send individual notification. It is your responsibility to ensure that your submission arrives within the deadline window you have selected. If you have submitted your film for the EARLY or OFFICIAL deadline, your materials must arrive in our offices no later than 2 weeks from the postmark date. We will NOT accept submissions after February 1st, 2013. DIFF | LA reserves the right to disqualify any submission, without refund of any kind, which does not arrive at the shipping destination within the deadline window selected by the entrant.
You can email info@diffla.org to find out if we have received your submission up to 2 weeks after the applicable submission window deadline.
21. When and how will I know if my film has been selected?
Films selected for screening in all categories will be notified on or about February 15th, 2013. We will then ask you to provide the film in a high definition file format for official screening. You can email info@diffla.org to find out if we have received your submission.
22. If my film isn’t chosen to screen during your Festival, will you let me know why?
No. Due to the large volume of submissions our programmers cannot offer individual critiques.
THE FESTIVAL
23. When does DIFF | LA take place?
The 1st annual DIFF | LA will take place Saturday, March 16th, 2013.
24. Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?
This is a film student film festival, so you must supply us with a copy of your Student ID when sending in your materials.
25. What are my parking options getting to the event?
There will be parking on the Art Center College of Design campus.
26. Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?
Contact info@diffla.org with any questions you have.
27. Can I update my registration information?
You may update contact information and film information, but you cannot update or replace your film.
28. Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
Yes please! It will help us speed the check-in process.
29. What is the refund policy?
We will only refund your registration fee if there was an error. IE: Paying for 2 film submissions when you only wanted to submit 1.
30. The name on the registration/ticket doesn’t match the attendee. Is that okay?
Ideally, your name would be the same on your registration, but please bring your ID so that we can try to fix the situation.
