international
The International Short & Independent Film Festival began twenty years back., in 1988. This is an unique film festival in South Asia arranged every two years by Bangladesh Short Film Forum, an organization of independent film-makers and cine-activists. The festival welcomes films of artistic merit and creative expression with a commitment to social and cultural harmony, secularism, sustainable ecology and the rights of women, children and minority communities.
The Objectives of the Festival
The International Short & Independent Film Festival was launched to facilitate meaningful and artistic cinematic expression and to exchange views and ideas, and to share the creative energy of film-makers and cine-activists from Asia and other parts of the world. The festival aims at creating a platform for solidarity and better understanding among the independent creative film-makers of different countries irrespective of nationality, creed. colour and gender.
Another objective of the festival is to open the doors of free length fiction., documentary, animation and experimental films of the world for the local audience. To encourage young and enthusiastic film-makers in Bangladesh , a new section titled 'Independent Shorts' has been introduced from the 8th festival. Films made in any format (including films made with mobile phones) with their duration time not exceeding 10 minutes. This section of the festival will be open to Bangladeshi film-makers only.
The Slogan of the Festival 'Free Cinema. Free Expression.'
Rules and Regulations:
1. The 11th International Short & Independent Film Festival will take place in Dhaka , the capital of Bangladesh , from 4th to 12th March, 2010
2. This is a biennial festival of contemporary short and independent films from countries around the world.
3. The sections in the festival are:
a) Competition Section : Short and documentary films from around the world, originally made in film & video (DV, DVCam, HDV, Betacam-SP) format, are eligible for entry in this section. The films must have screening time not more than 60 minutes, and they must be produced/released after August 30, 2007
b) Information Section : Independently produced Short / feature length fiction, documentary, animation and experimental films from around the world, originally made in film & video (DV, DVcam, HDV, Betacam-SP) format, are eligible for entry in this section. The films must be produced/released after August 2007
c) Retrospective Section : The festival will have retrospective sessions of short films either by outstanding film-makers, or films on specific subjects, genre or films from a particular country and region.
d) Special Screening Section : There will be special film sessions on special themes such as human rights, environmental issues, women and children's issues, etc.
e) Special Session on Festival Director's Choice : A selection of free-length fiction and documentary films produced with a strong aesthetic value and social commitment will be screened in this section.
f) Independent Shorts : Films made in any format (includingones made with mobile-phones) with a maximum length of 10 minutes will be welcome in this section. This section will be open to Bangladeshi film-makers only. The festival copy, or exhibition format, should be DV, DVCam, HDV or DVD.
4. Juries and Awards :
The festival authority will nominate an international jury of three members for the international competition section. The jury will award the following prizes :
a) Best documentary (up to 60 minutes) : Crest+cash(US$ 1000.00)
b) Best fiction (up to 60 minutes) : Crest + cash (US$ 1000.00) A national jury of three members will award the Tareque Shahriar Best Independent Short Award (A crest and cash of BD Tk.25,000.00). This section is for Bangladeshi film-makers only.
5. A selection committee appointed by the festival authority will be responsible for the final selection of the films.
6. Format for Screening in the Festival : Films will be acceptable for screening in the following formats only :
a. Film :16 mm/35 mm (with optical sound) b. Video : DV, DVCam, HDV, (PAL) Films made in languages other than English must be subtitled in English.
7. Applying for Entry :
a. Entry Fee : There will be no entry fee.
b. Pre-selection : The properly filled-up entry form should reach the festival office before January 15, 2010 The complete entry
form must include :
I. DVD (PAL) preview copy
II. A synopsis (not more than 200 words) of the film in English
Ill. Three different stills of the film
IV. A bio-filmography (100 words) and two photographs of the director.
V. Other publicity material, if available
(The entry form is also available at the festival website :
www.isiff org. Photocopies of this entry form are also acceptable.)
8. Postal/Shipping Expenses and Responsibilities :
All such expenses to and from the festival for the film/video as well as all other expenses incurred, such as insurance, are to be paid by the entrants. The festival will not be responsible in case of accidental damage or loss. The transport of the film/video will be at the entrant's own risk and expense.
The festival copy/printrof the film/video, if selected, must reach the festival office before February 15, 2010
Please note that you must clearly write: 'For temporary cultural purpose only. No commercial value.' on the film/video package while sending both preview and testival prints. The pro-forma invoice must also be accompanied by a declaration that the cost of the package does not exceed US$ 10 (under no circumstances should the amount circumvent excessive taxation). Costs arising from wrong declaration will be charged to the account of the sender.
9. Information for contacting and Sending the FiImsNideos : The film/video prints should be sent preferably through a recognized courier service to the following address : Festival Director
11th International Short & Independent Film Festival
Dhaka 2009
108 Aziz Co-operative Supermarket
(2nd floor) Shahbag,
Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Phone :+(88)01713037660, 01711144861, 01711697845
E-mail : info@isiff.org , Web : www.isiff.org
10. Notice of Shipping :
Entrants are required to inform the festival office by fax or e-mail about the title of the film/video, the sending date, and how they have been sent, as well as the name and address of the entrants.
11. The Return of the FiImsNideos :
The preview copy submitted to the festival will not be returned to the entrants. They will be retained at the Bangladesh Short Film Forum's library for research, training and educational purposes.
The festival authority will return the screening prints to respective sources within one month after completion of the festival.
