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FAQ

When is the next festival?

Melbourne International Film Festival 2012 will run from Thursday 2 August to Sunday 19 August, 2012.

When are the submission deadlines for MIFF 2012?

We have three submission deadlines for the festival:
Early bird submissions open Monday 19 October 2011 and close Thursday 17 November 2011.
• Submissions in this category must be submitted and post-marked on or before Thursday 17 November 2011 to be considered.
• DVD/package must be received by the MIFF Submissions Department by Thursday 1 December 2011 to be considered.

What are the entry fees?

Early bird entry fees:
Shorts AUD$65
Features AUD$75

Regular entry fees:
Shorts AUD$70
Features AUD$80

Late entry fees:
Shorts AUD$90
Features AUD$100

Are the deadlines postmarked?

Yes, your package has to be postmarked on or before the deadline date of the relevant level of submission to be accepted. Any packages posted after this date will not be accepted and you will be notified of this by email upon receipt of the package.

All packages must be received within two (2) weeks of the deadline in which they were submitted, to be considered for MIFF 2012.

Am I able to have the entry fee waived?

No, we’re unable to waive the entry fee as we rely on these fees to administer the large numbers of entries we receive.  Sorry, no exceptions.

How do I submit my film?

There are two (2) ways you can submit your film:
• Through the MIFF website, click here (insert link) – it’s easy and takes approximately 10 minutes.
• Through the MIFF Withoutabox profile – you can find the link on our submissions page.

How do I pay the entry fee?

You pay online when completing your application using VISA or Mastercard, for both the MIFF system and Withoutabox. If the full amount is not paid, we will be unable to process your film and you will be notified by email.

I have completed the online application, what should I do now?

MIFF website system:
Once you have successfully completed ALL the film details online, an automated email will be sent to the email address you provided when you registered (please ensure this email is in working order).
The attachment to this email will outline the details you have submitted to MIFF and will act as the receipt of your payment. Please print this attachment and send the relevant pages, along with your DVD, to the submissions department.

Withoutabox:
Once you have successfully uploaded your film to the MIFF Withoutabox profile, your film will be assigned a Tracking ID – please clearly label your DVD with this number and send it to the MIFF Submissions Department. If you need help with your Withoutabox submission, please contact support@withoutabox.com.

Does MIFF have a competition?

Yes, but only for short films – we do not have a competition for feature films.

For more information on our shorts competition refer to our regulations page.

How does MIFF define a ‘short’ and a ‘feature’?

Short films are 30 minutes or less.
Features films are 31 minutes or more, for entry and categorisation purposes.

Which film category should I choose?

MIFF accepts short and feature fiction, animation, documentary and experimental films.
These categories are mainly for administration purposes, so should you be unsure about which category your film fits into, please select the most appropriate, and the programming team will amend these details at our discretion.

Does the film have to be shot with specific equipment?

No, this doesn’t matter to us. What does matter is that the film preview and exhibition formats adhere to our requirements (below).

Which format should the preview copy be?

Preview screeners must be on DVD, and we accept both NTSC and PAL formats.

Please test your DVD on a stand-alone DVD player before sending it in, as technical problems will delay/affect your submission. MIFF will endeavour to contact you in the event your DVD doesn’t play/is broken, to work with you to have your film considered.

Please ensure your DVD is set to ‘all regions’.

Make sure your DVD is clearly labelled with either the label included in the email attachment (if submitted through MIFF website) or the Tracking ID (if submitted through Withoutabox). .

What formats do you accept for selected films?

If your film is selected, MIFF will accept the following formats:

  • 35mm print
  • 16mm print
  • Digital Betacam PAL
  • Digital Betacam NTSC
  • Betacam SP PAL
  • Betacam SP NTSC
  • HD CAM

We DO NOT accept HD CAM SR.

What else should I include with my submission?

All we require, once you have completed the online submission process, is your preview DVD and either a copy of the pdf attached to your confirmation email (if submitted through the MIFF website) or the Tracking ID (if submitted through Withoutabox).

Will you return my DVD preview screener?

No, we do not have the resources available to do this.

What is the shipping address for submission packages?

If you are sending your package by post, please send to:
Melbourne International Film Festival – 2012 Submissions
GPO Box 4982
Melbourne
VIC 3001
Australia

If you are using a courier, please send to our street address:
Melbourne International Film Festival – 2012 Submissions
Level 5, 225 Bourke Street
Melbourne
VIC 3000
Australia

Will you notify me once you have received my film?

Due to the volume of submissions the festival receives, we do not confirm receipt of submissions. We recommend you choose the registered mail option to keep track of your package. However, you may email submissions@miff.com.au with your film title and director’s name to receive confirmation 10 days after the submission was sent.

I have made a mistake on my online form. What should I do?

Please email submissions@miff.com.au with film title, director’s name, Tracking ID (if submitted through Withoutabox) and the correction/s to be made, and we will update our database.

How many films can I submit?

You may submit as many films as you like providing each of the films meets the submission criteria and you have completed an online submission form and paid the entry fee for each film.

Can I resubmit my film from last year?

No. Films must have been completed after January 1 2011. MIFF does not accept films previously submitted, even with significant changes.

Can I submit a work-in-progress or a ‘rough cut’? Is it possible to get an extension for an unfinished film?

MIFF encourages filmmakers to submit films that are as close to finished as possible, as this is in everyone’s best interest.

Work-in-progress or rough cuts will only be accepted on these conditions:
• The only things to be completed are colour grade, final sound mix or credits (film must be at picture lock stage).
• A work-in-progress/rough cut can only be submitted in the late submission period.
• You have discussed your submission with submissions@miff.com.au and have had your film approved for submission as a work-in-progress/rough cut.

Can I submit my film if previously screened at other festivals?

Yes, as long as the screenings weren’t within the state of Victoria, Australia.

Can I submit my film if it was released theatrically, on DVD, or broadcast on TV or online before the festival?

No. Any films broadcast on Australian television, released theatrically or on DVD for sale or rental, or available online prior to August 20 2012 are ineligible for entry. This includes films on YouTube, Vimeo or any video-on-demand sites.

If my film is not in English, do you require English subtitles?

Yes, your film will be ineligible for selection if it is a foreign language film without English subtitles.

When will I hear if my film is selected?

All applicants will be notified of MIFF’s programming decisions by mid-June 2012 by email of. Please ensure that the email address provided is correct and operational at that time. If your contact email changes it is important you let us know.

If my film is not selected, may I speak with a programmer for feedback?

No, unfortunately, due to the volume of submissions we receive we are unable to correspond with each applicant in these circumstances.

If my film is selected, does MIFF provide screening tests prior to the film’s screening?

No. We do not have the facilities to provide any screen tests. If you are concerned about your film, please check the print/tape prior to sending it to the festival.

If you need further assistance after reading this information, please email the Submissions Department, submissions@miff.com.au or call us on +61 8660 4888.

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