http://caff.net.au/category/caff-newsWell it is 2011 and the film fest is getting closer! The standard entry date is March 18th 2011 and the late entry date April 1st 2011. THE ABSOLUTE LAST ENTRY DATE IS APRIL 8TH!!! (You can only enter via Without a Box for this one). Please note that your entry is not complete until we have received your playable film!
We now have a simplified way to enter your film into CAFF 2011. We still recommend that you take the time to fill out the Without a Box entry as this is a great way for you to build a profile as a film maker and will also alert you to other film festivals that you may want to enter.
That said, we understand that not everyone can be bothered with the longer process so we have given you another option. Just letting you know, you need to pay your entry fee via Paypal and agree to the CAFF Terms & Conditions before you can complete your entry. Click here to go to the simplified Online Entry form. Click here for CAFF Entry Guidelines and Terms & Conditions.
http://caff.net.au/prizes List of prizes offered in 2010 only
CAFF ENTRY GUIDELINES
GENERAL GUIDELINES
1. The Cairns Adventure Film Festival is open to film makers of all experience levels and ages. CAFF takes a broad approach to the definition of adventure activity and wishes to be an inclusive and approachable film competition that showcases the action, enthusiasm and nature of the adventures as well as the film maker’s talent.
2. Your film must have been made in Australia, New Zealand, East/South East Asia or you are an Aussie, a Kiwi or an Eastern/South Eastern Asian (then your film can be feature content from around the globe). See definitions below for the countries contained in these regions. Note: we have kept the Mad Minutes open to all nationalities.
3. Your film must adhere to the relevant category time limits and content rules:
Short Adventures in Nature – Under 10 minutes (including titles & credits) narrative style short films featuring adventures, journeys and explorations in nature. This can include sport based narratives, outdoor expeditions or travel docos. We aim to keep this category as green powered as possible with the focus being on the adventurer’s interaction with wilderness and the wonders it contains.
People’s Choice Mad Minutes - Under 2 minutes (including titles & credits) featuring fast paced action clips and adrenaline action set to pumping music. These will be posted on YouTube in the month prior to the event and judged by the voting viewers. Please note you must use copyright-free music or have written copyright permission for the song you use. Open to any nationality of film maker.
Caffeinated Adventures – Under 6 minutes (including titles & credits) featuring adrenaline style adventure activities of any sort. Music videos, animation or narratives allowed. Must have music copyright permission. Under 18’s welcome – there will be an award for the best Under 18 entry.
Adventure Features – Under 90 minutes (including titles & credits). We welcome entries of quality adventure films showcasing great expeditions, achievements and personal journeys by those who are out there pushing the limits in our natural world. Surf, snow, expedition, urban adventures and all nature-based adventures are welcome here as long as they have a story and show respect for the natural world.
Under 18’s – This year CAFF does not have a separate category for under 18’s but we welcome and encourage under18 filmmakers to enter any of the above categories. We will be awarding special prizes to the best Under 18 films. Please note that written parental consent is required to enter and you will need to indicate on your entries that you are Under 18.
Cairns Adventure Film Festival Web:
www.caff.net.au Email:
becs@caff.net.auGENERAL GUIDELINES (continued)
4. All films must have written proof of music copyright permission, if applicable. See below for more details.
5. CAFF intends to show the films in 16:9 ratio for maximum cinema screen quality. Please film your work in this ratio if you camera allows. Please see below for conversion methods if you have filmed in 4:3.
6. CAFF does not condone or support films or activities that are personally defamatory, harmful to animals, humans or the environment and reserves the right to reject films that contain such content. CAFF will not be held responsible for personal injuries sustained while filming content for this competition.
7. The main event and awards night of the Cairns Adventure Film festival will be held at AJ Hackett Bungy site in Cairns (Australia) on 28th May 2011. After this CAFF would like to tour Australia and New Zealand with the best CAFF films with the intention to showcase the talents of not only the film makers but also the adventure sportspeople and the natural wonders highlighted in the films. We will liaise with the top ranking film makers before this tour reel is developed and hope to provide a profit share arrangement for those participating. The organisers of CAFF also intend to show the best films in the UK and parts of Europe and Scandinavia in mid 2011.
8. CAFF also has the intention to market and sell a DVD copy of the best films of the three short film categories subject to copyright and distribution constraints. This will be with the written consent of the relevant film makers.
SUBMITTING YOUR ENTRY
Option 1 (Preferred method)
SUBMIT ONLINE AT WITHOUTABOX.COM (Instructions below)
Why? Because Without a Box is the premier film festival submission vehicle that will not only allow you to upload your film online but will also connect you with many other film festival opportunities.
Option 2 (Simpler method)
Submit online at
www.caff.net.au via our simplified online entry form. Just go to the Competition page and click on the link. You must have Paypal in order to pay your entry fee.
Please keep a record of your entry form for tracking purposes.
Cairns Adventure Film Festival Web:
www.caff.net.au Email:
becs@caff.net.auWithout a Box Instructions
Submitting your entry online is easy! Just follow these steps:
1. Click on the entry link here
http://www.withoutabox.com/login/9615 or from the home or competition page of
www.caff.net.au.
2. Register as a Without a Box (WAB) user if you are not already. This is free of charge. You can also register on IMoB the world’s largest internet movie database here. This will give you a free profile page on which to promote your work.
3. Once you have signed up or if you are already a member, enter your username and password in the “Withoutabox Express” section to begin submitting your entry.
4. Please see the WITHOUT A BOX SUBMISSION FOR DUMMIES section below for the minimum information you need to enter to get your film to qualify for the category you have entered. This may seem like a lengthy process but it will result in less questions in the long run and is much quicker than most non Without a Box film festival entry forms.
5. Please note, CAFF welcomes online screening uploads to save on DVD waste. If you choose this option you only need to post us your Data CD (see below for format details).
6. You will need to agree to Terms and Conditions of Entry during this online entry process.
7. You will also need to pay the relevant entry fee/s for the submission date and film category you are entering (credit card only). Please note that you must submit by the date you select or you may be asked to pay more for a later entry. (See entry fees and submission dates outline below).
8. After you have filled out the last page, a confirmation page will appear which will inform you of your Tracking Number. IMPORTANT!!! PLEASE KEEP A RECORD OF THIS NUMBER!!! You must write this Tracking Number on each DVD of each film that you submit (on the cover and on the actual DVD) and this is how we can match your entry number with your DVD.
It’s not that hard is it? Just imagine how easy it will seem next time!
If you have any questions or are having trouble submitting your film online please email
becs@caff.net.au.
WITHOUT A BOX SUBMISSION FOR DUMMIES
1. Register as a Without a Box film maker at
http://www.withoutabox.com/login/96152. Essential items checklist (you can click the ‘SKIP’ button for the rest or just answer Yes or No):
a. Title: Original – your film title!
b. Genre – must be Adventure (and any other relevant ones)
c. Synopsis: Logline – type a few lines summarising what your film is about
d. Production: Country – click on your country - must be in the regions of Australasia, East Asia or South East Asia (unless it is a People’s Choice Mad Minutes entry which are open to any nationality)
e. Production: People – name the key players in your film
f. Production: Funding – how much did your film cost to make? (you can say $1 if you want!)
g. Date of completion – must be after June 2009
Cairns Adventure Film Festival Web:
www.caff.net.au Email:
becs@caff.net.auh. Running time – must fit with the parameters of the particular category you have chosen.
i. Format: Exhibition – we require PAL region code 0 or 4.
j. Format: Screeners – CAFF prefers that you use the WAB Secure Online Screener to upload your film for the judges. If you feel more comfortable posting us a DVD copy then you need to indicate this (see postal address below)
k. Publicity: Consent – please answer Yes or No
FINAL ENTRY CHECKLIST
1. Complete our Withoutabox Online Entry Form or the CAFF simplified Online Entry Form. You will be asked to agree to our Terms and Conditions during this process (see below).
Please ensure you have completed our online entry form BEFORE sending your two DVDs to us.
2. CAFF prefers the Without a Box Secure Online Screener method of viewing and judging entries, this is a great way to avoid waste and to allow our remotely spaced judges to view the entries from where ever they are. If you wish to post your DVD’s please ensure they are received by CAFF within 2 weeks of the filling in of your entry form.
3. Produce 2 DVD copies of each film you submit (except Mad Minutes – see below); noting the following:
CAFF would like to lessen the waste created by this competition so please use a soft or cardboard DVD sleeve rather than hard jewel covers.
Please clearly label both DVDs with the film title and (if applicable) the Tracking Number issued by WAB.
DVD should be in PAL TV format.
DVD Regional code should be set to ALL REGIONS.
Please do not use DVD-RAM discs.
Please check that the DVDs playback in your DVD player before you submit them; if your DVD doesn’t work your entry will be disqualified.
4. Please also provide a DATA File CD of each of your films in any of the following formats:
AVI, MOV, DIVX or H264. (not other formats please!)
This is very important as it will be used for our final edit of the films on the showreel, we only use the DVD copies to judge the entries.
5. Please ensure you provide written permission, from the copyright owner, for the use of all music and sound recordings that you have used. (See below for more information about music copyright).
6. The People’s Choice Mad Minutes will be uploaded to YouTube to be voted upon by the viewing public. You do not need to send us a copy of these films unless your film is selected as a winning film. CAFF intends to upload the entries onto their website and will have a voting form set up that will tally the votes (from May 1st 2011). We only require a data CD in either AVI, MOV, DIVX or H264 format for these films. Please note we still require written music use permission for this category and need to fill in your entry form.
Cairns Adventure Film Festival Web:
www.caff.net.au Email:
becs@caff.net.au7. Post DVDs with proof of music copyright to: Cairns Adventure Film Festival
PO Box 810
Cairns North QLD 4870
Australia
Submission Dates & Fees
Short MM Caff. Feat.
Early Bird October 29th 2010 $10 $5 $10 $15
Regular March 18th 2011 $20 $10 $20 $30
Late April 1st 2011 $25 $15 $25 $35
WAB late April 8th 2011 $35 $20 $35 $45
(All fees shown above are the Without a Box fees. They are to be paid via credit card on Without a Box when you submit your film and are in Australian Dollars)
Event dates: Thursday 26th May – Sunday 29th May 2011
Locations: Cairns and Port Douglas, Far North Queensland, Australia
Main event: AJ Hackett Cairns, Saturday 28th May 2011
Other Important Information
Written Permission for All Music in Your Film
If you choose to use published music, you will need permission in the form of a license agreement to do so. CAFF strongly recommends you use original or “copyright free” music in your film to avoid paying pricey license fees. The other option is to approach a local band and ask them for a track or two to use. To obtain the necessary clearances to use existing music, you will need to contact the copyright owner/s of your chosen track and request a license agreement to use their music in “all media” and in “all territories”. If you are having trouble with this process, please contact AMCOS (
www.amcos.com.au) on
1300 852 388 and they can assist you in tracking down copyright owners and requesting
license agreements.
Can I use music that I download from a website?
Just because you are able to download music from a website does not mean you
can use it in your film. In most cases, music made available to download is for
“private use” only (i.e. not a public viewing). If you plan on using downloaded music, please make sure ensure that it clearly states it is “copyright or royalty free” – i.e. there is no copyright owner or royalties that need to be paid, or that it clearly states you are able to do so. Having said this, there still may be limitations on how you use the music so we strongly suggest you read the fine print and contact the owner/s of the website just to be sure.
Remember, you will need clearance in “all media” and “all territories” to be eligible for
Cairns Adventure Film Festival Web:
www.caff.net.au Email:
becs@caff.net.auWhat ratio will my film be screened at?
This year Cairns Adventure Film Festival will screen all films at 16:9 ratio. This means if you
shoot your film at 4:3 (as many older cameras do not allow the 16:9 shooting option) you need convert it to 16:9 before sending it to CAFF.
There are two methods in which you can convert your film from 4:3 to 16:9:
1. The picture is simply transferred from 4:3 to 16:9 leaving black bars on both sides of the image (this method is known as Pillerbox).
2. The picture is enlarged to fit horizontally on the screen. Note that this method means that the top and bottom of your picture is cropped to fit the 16:9 ratio.
There are pros and cons for both aspect ratio conversion methods. We suggest that you look into each method further and choose which best suits the look and feel of your film.
What countries are contained in Australasia, East and South-East Asia regions?
Australasian countries include: Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands of Polynesia and Micronesia (including New Caledonia, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga), Papua New Guinea and eastern Indonesia.
East Asian countries include: China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Macau, Tibet and Mongolia.
South-East Asian countries include: Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Brunei, East Timor and the Philippines.
Why has CAFF limited itself to just these countries?
The aim of CAFF is to showcase the beauty and talent of the Asia Pacific region. The film makers and adventure sports people in these regions do not have a ready outlet for their films or a way to receive recognition for their achievements. The adventure film competitions and festivals are dominated by North American and European films at present and CAFF seeks to provide an opportunity for adventure film makers from our region to be represented and acknowledged.
Will there be any prizes awarded at CAFF?
The short answer is “Yes!” but we are not ready to announce what they are at this point.
Last year we had over $4000 of prizes sponsored by Australian businesses. Many of them were adventure activities such as rafting and skydiving (so were therefore local to the Cairns area). We also had vouchers for DVD’s from Madman Entertainment which is Australia’s top anime and alternative film supporter.
We have a good relationship with our sponsors and expect to be able to provide many great prizes to our entrants again. Stay tuned on
www.caff.net.au for news regarding prizes and awards.
Cairns Adventure Film Festival Web:
www.caff.net.au Email:
becs@caff.net.auTerms and Conditions
1. Your film must be of the adventure genre and CAFF must be allowed to publicly screen it free of charge at our film festival in May 2011.
2. CAFF will not judge any DVDs that do not play in a standard DVD player, in the Region Codes 0 or 4 and in the PAL format. DVD’s will not be returned to entrants.
3. CAFF reserves the right to not show films that we deem to be inappropriate for our festival or that contain defamatory, libellous or derogatory content. CAFF also reserves the right to not show films that involve wilful environmental damage or that are harmful to animals, humans or public property.
4. CAFF will not be held responsible for any physical or mental injuries sustained by those involved in the making or viewing of the films presented to this competition. Entrants take risks of their own free will and CAFF will not take responsibility for their actions.
5. With the exception of the People’s Choice Mad Minutes, all films must originate or feature content from Australasia, East Asia or South-East Asia. This can be in the form of the director, producer, main participants or the physical region in which the majority of filming takes place.
6. Written music copyright permission must be provided for all music that is NOT copyright-free. This is the entrant’s responsibility and is a key requirement of entry to this competition.
7. Entrants in The People’s Choice Mad Minutes agree to allow their films to be uploaded to the CAFF YouTube site for voting and public viewing.
8. The organisers reserve the right to reproduce any entry in whole or part for use in educational, marketing or promotional material or for screening at events related to the Cairns Adventure Film Festival.
9. The entrant authorises CAFF to use their name and likeness in connection with any publicity for the Festival and the entrant agrees to undertake publicity appearances as reasonably requested by CAFF.
Australian Competitions Club
