FAQ’s

EVERYTHING

you need to know

film submissions

ALL SUBMISSIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO US AS SECURE ONLINE SCREENERS. TPFF no longer accepts DVD/BluRay screeners as standard submissions.  You can submit via

  • Film Freeway
  • Our preference is Vimeo, however, TPFF will accept links to other streaming sites that is unlisted i.e. private YouTube that is not linked to the public or by filling out our online entry forms.
  • Filmmakers may submit more than one film however, each film must have its own Entry Form and Entry Fee.

https://filmfreeway.com/thepeoplesfilmfestival

Secure Online Screener or another online source such as Vimeo, YouTube.  Please be sure to include a password if required.

  • An e-mail address is required with your submission along with a contact name and title.
  • Indicate your premiere status. e. World premiere, US premiere, New York Premiere, Harlem, NY premiere.
  • If your film is accepted, we will need a press kit and digital still photos from your film if available.

Feature  Narrative, Documentaries, Short Narratives, Shorts Documentaries, International, Webisodes, Experimental, Animation Urban Underground including our new Micro|Short|Reel (Categories are subject to change)

We accept all kinds of films and are not limited to one genre or another.

  • We will not accept commercials, or promotional films.
  • Films that have received national U.S. network television (including cable) prior to Festival are not eligible.
  • Films that are available for viewing on the internet, are not eligible.

At time of submission we will only accept your entry if your film is uploaded to FilmFreeway,  Festhome in which films are available to preview through –

Secure Online Screener or another online source such as Vimeo, youtube, .mov, wmv, .mpg, .mpeg, .avi,.mp4file.  Please be sure to include a password if required.

eligibility

    • To be eligible, films MUST NOT HAVE EXHIBITED PUBLICLY IN HARLEM, NY prior to The People’s Film Festival.  Acceptations to this rule is at the discretion of the committee
    • Priority is given to World Premieres for features & shorts.
    • All films must be in English or with English subtitles. Foreign language films must be dubbed in English or presented in their original language with English subtitles.
    • Promotional, instructional or industrial films, and raw documentation of performances are not eligible.
    • Films must not have been broadcast on US television or online before the festival or commercially released on DVD/Blu-ray, VOD, or for download to the public.
    • These rules will be strictly monitored.

  • Premiere Status – Although we would be honored to have your film premiere with us first, we do understand that this may not always be the case. We accept all films, however, priority will be given to World Premiere and Harlem related stories.
  • Films that are screened at other festivals domestically and abroad MAY screen at our festival. If you are submitting a film that has already been publicly screened you must disclose this information including date, city, country, theater etc. along with your entry form.
  • Completion Date –  Only Films considered for competition must have been completed There is no mandatory completion date for your film submission.
  • Prior Screenings – Entries must not have been broadcast (televised) on US television or online before the festival.
  • Prior Submission – Films previously submitted to TPFF will only be considered if they reapply as a new submission with 60% changes to your film, including all applicable entry fees.
  • Can I Send In An Updated Version Of A Submission I Already Sent In?Yes. Please let us know the film is a new version when you send it in and we will swap it out. However, this must be done before submission deadlines.  If selected this can only be done at the discretion of the Festival Director.
  • Films MUST NOT HAVE EXHIBITED PUBLICLY IN HARLEM, NY (3) months prior to The People’s Film Festival accept at the sole discretion of the festival.  Priority is given to World Premieres for features & shorts.  This rule is strictly observed.
  • Submissions MAY NOT be withdrawn from The People’s Film Festival once they have been entered, except at the sole discretion of The People’s Film Festival.
  • Films that have been selected to screen with The People’s Film Festival MAY NOT be withdrawn once filmmaker accepts and signs our agreement to be screened with us.

  • ALL SUBMISSIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO US AS SECURE ONLINE SCREENERS. TPFF no longer accepts DVD/BluRay screeners as standard submissions.
  • You can submit via Film Freeway, Festhome or a password protected streaming link. Our preference is Vimeo, however, TPFF will accept links to other streaming sites that is unlisted i.e. private YouTube that is not linked to the public or by filling out our online entry forms.
  • Foreign films must be dubbed in English or presented in their original language with English language subtitles.

If your film is selected, Please Do Not submit your final exhibition copy with “FOR SCREENING PURPOSES ONLY” protectors.

An e-mail address is required with your submission along with a contact name and title.

  • Feature Films are thirty one (31) minutes or longer.
  • Short Films are thirty (30) minutes or less, including all credits.
  • Micro|Short|Reels are 90 seconds or less
  • All films must be in English or with English subtitles. Foreign language films must be dubbed in English or presented in their original language with English subtitles.

This rule is strictly observed.

Yes.

Submissions may be in work-in-progress form; however, works that are not final cuts must be clearly marked “Work in Progress (WIP)” or “Rough Cut” with an indication of what will change or what is missing e.g., sound, animation, etc.) If accepted, only ONE physical replacement version (i.e. final cut) will be accepted and replacement copies will not be accepted after April 15, 2024.

Submission of your work confirms that The People’s Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize any film including promotional stills and information submitted and accepted during the Festival and/or at any other Festival event for promotional purposes in The People’s Film Festival 2024. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations for participation in The People’s Film Festival. The individual or corporation warrant the submission of work and there are no disputes regarding the ownership of the submission and this film is not subject to any litigation nor is any litigation threatened. The individual or corporation also warrant the submitted material does not defame or invade the rights of any person living or dead and will indemnify and hold harmless The People’s Film Festival, The People’s Public Media Awards of Excellence, The People’s Media, Music & Arts Foundation, RecordDrop.com, its directors, management, staff, and sponsors, and defend them against all claims, demands, losses damages, judgments, liabilities and expenses (including attorney’s fees) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos screened or entered arising out of TPFF’s exhibition and promotion of said film- should such film be programmed as part of the 2024 People’s Film Festival.

TPFF reserves the right to make any necessary changes in event scheduling or programming. The selection committees’ decisions are final. All responses by The Peoples Film Festival (TPFF) will be made by email.

Films that are screened in Harlem within (3) six months prior to The People’s Film Festival MAY NOT screen with us accept at the sole discretion of the festival.  This rule is strictly observed.

Films that have been selected to screen with The People’s Film Festival MAY NOT be withdrawn once filmmaker accepts and signs our agreement to be screened with us.

entry fees & deadlines

There is no limit to the number of entries, however, you must submit a separate form and fee for each entry.  Entry materials will not be returned.  Incomplete entries will not be considered.

  • Each submission must pay an entry fee via Film Freeway, Festhome etc.
  • Early Entry Deadline (Nov 6, 2023)
  • Official Entry Deadline extended March 18, 2024
  • Late Entry Deadline extended April 8, 2024

Note: *Payment in US dollars are made by PayPal. A completed entry form and an entry fee must accompany each film.

  • We will accept online payment by credit card, (American Express, Discover, Master Card, and Visa). Please do not send checks, money orders. The nonrefundable Entry fees are in U.S. Dollars, are per film and must be payable in US dollars to The People’s Media Music & Arts Foundation Inc. When submitting to the festival you are agreeing that, if selected and the invitation accepted, to screen the submitted film during the dates of the festival.
  • The Festival reserves the right to disqualify a submission, without refund of any kind, if eligibility requirements are not met including if eligibility status changes post-submission. Incomplete entries without proper fees will be rejected.
  • TPFF does not pay any screening fees for presentation of the film during the festival.

CONFIRMATION OF ENTRY

Feel free to email us if you would like confirmation of entry, or check your Film Freeway/ Festhome account page.

RETURN OF MATERIALS

  • DVDs and other submitted materials will not be returned.
  • We do not dispose of submitted material, it will remain in our festival archives unless instructed otherwise.
  • Due to the number of submissions, we cannot provide feedback on any entries.

For questions regarding submissions, see TPFF FAQs or email us at info@thepeopelsfilmfestivl@gmail.com.

  • Please write “SUBMISSION QUESTIONS” in the subject line.
  • If Your Film Is NOT Selected
  • You will be notified via EMAIL if your film has been NOT been selected.

Yes.  You are welcome to submit as many films as you like, however, Each entry must be accompanied by a completed entry form and fees.

If you have any further questions please feel free to contact us at info@thepeoplesfilmfestival.com and we will do our best to assist you.

Programming decisions are made by the festival programmers and our selection committee. If accepted, we will notify filmmakers by email. Films selected for screening in all categories will be notified on or about April 15, 2024.  After acceptance, you must submit your final presentational format including electronic press kit materials if available.

If a film is invited to participate final exhibition copy, film stills, or publicity materials must be received upon acceptance. 

We do not pay rental fees for submitted work that is accepted.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide feedback on individual entries.

i’m selected what’s next?

 ALL SUBMISSIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO US AS SECURE ONLINE SCREENERS.  TPFF no longer accepts DVD/BluRay screeners as standard submissions.

  • You can submit via Film Freeway with password protected streaming link. Our preference is Vimeo, however, TPFF will accept links to other streaming sites that is unlisted i.e. private YouTube that is not linked to the public or by filling out our online entry forms.

We do not pay rental fees for submitted work that is accepted.

Materials must be received upon selection, however, no later thank prior to April 15, 2024. 

CONFIRMATION OF ENTRY
Feel free to email us if you would like confirmation of entry, or check your Film Freeway account page.

RETURN OF MATERIALS

  • Submitted materials will not be returned.
  • We do not dispose of submitted material, it will remain in our festival archives unless instructed otherwise.
  • Due to the number of submissions, we cannot provide feedback on any entries.

For questions regarding submissions, see TPFF FAQs or email us at info@thepeopelsfilmfestivl@gmail.com.

  • Please write “SUBMISSION QUESTIONS” in the subject line.
  • If Your Film Is NOT Selected
  • You will be notified via EMAIL if your film has been NOT been selected.

The Peoples Film Festival recognizes filmmakers for their work and give a People’s Awards to films selected as ‘best’ in various categories i.e. Best Documentary, Feature and Short, Best Director, Best International, etc. All films selected for the Festival are eligible for award.

Awards are given for:

  • BEST FILM
  • BEST SHORT
  • BEST DOCUMENTARY
  • BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
  • BEST INTERNATIONAL
  • BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT

SPECIAL AWARDS

  • THE “CHANCE AWARD” – Filmmakers who are multi-talented & accomplished in many fields including filmmaking.
  • “HARLEM FILMMAKER” AWARD – Films directed by Harlem Filmmakers.
  • THE “SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE” AWARD – Recognizes dynamic people whose activism and courage impacts the lives of many
  • THE “POWER OF SHE” AWARD – Films directed by or for women

PUBLIC MEDIA AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

  • RADICAL HISTORY MAKERS AWARD
  • MEDIA ACTIVIST
  • LIFETIME COMMITMENTTO PUBLIC MEDIA
  • COMMUNITY ACTIVIS AWARD

Winners will be announced during the “Peoples Media Awards”