We encourage submissions from both emerging and established filmmakers. Our team of judges will evaluate the films based on their artistic merit, technical excellence, and storytelling.
Applicant Requirements:
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UPFF welcomes applicants aged 18 (on date of submission) and above with physical, emotional, or intellectual disabilities.
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Applicants self-identify as having a disability on date of submission, and may receive services under IDEA (IEP) or ADA: Section 504
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Submissions must be made by the producer or someone with the rights to screen the film in the United States and online.
Film Requirements:
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All films will be at least 5 minutes and no longer than 45 minutes (including titles and credits).
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Films must be an original work created by disabled filmmakers, showcase disabled actors, or feature the subject of disability. UPFF reserves the right to request additional information.
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Any submissions must have a key production role filled by at least one person with a recognized mental or physical disability (E.G. Director, Writer, Producer, Cinematographer, Lead Actor etc) Films that prominently showcase disability themes are also welcome.
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Non-artistic accommodations (e.g. adaptive technology; transcribing; holding a camera) are allowed for applicants to participate fully in the filmmaking and application process.
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Any genre can be submitted. Films with adult content (e.g. violence, sex, language, drug use, etc.) must be indicated in the application. UPFF reserves the sole right to determine which films will be screened at the festival.
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All films must include a complete narrative, not be a trailer or commercial for a longer work.
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Films must not infringe upon any 3rd party rights (e.g. logos, music, graphics, etc.) and must be suitable for publishing.
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Filmmakers who reside in countries other than the United States are welcome to enter the contest; however, films must have Closed Captions in English that includes English translation of any (non-English) language, sound descriptions, music titles and lyrics. All films must be submitted in English. Any non-English Language dialogue, graphics etc. in films must include English subtitles or English dubbing.
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UPFF Employees, judges and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate in the current year’s festival.
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All entries must have been completed on or after January 1st 2023.
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Entry fees are as listed on the FilmFreeway site checkout form. All entry fees are non-refundable. No coupon or discount is applicable on a previously submitted entry. Entries must be received on or before the listed deadline dates by 11:59PM Pacific Time, and submission fee payment must be paid in full at time of the submission. Any submissions that are incomplete by our final deadline will be disqualified without refund.
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The entry fee applies to each film. Multiple entries from the same submitter are accepted.
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All characters and content must be original creations fully owned by the filmmaker.
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Submissions that incorporate fan fiction or any elements from existing copyrighted works will not be accepted.
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Adaptations of books, plays, or other source material written by another author are not eligible. A script that has been adapted from your own book, play, or other source material is eligible, provided that you have retained all film and television rights to the property or if the work is in public domain.
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A script that has been sold, is currently under option, is in production by a third party, or is otherwise encumbered by a third party on the date of submission, is not eligible for an award. However, if a script is optioned, sold, or produced after the submission has been entered, it will remain eligible for the current year’s contest.
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Projects must be submitted through a secure online screener, either as a password-protected Vimeo link attached to your submission or uploaded directly to FilmFreeway. Online screeners must be streamable; we do not accept films that require downloading (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive, WeTransfer, etc.). We DO NOT accept hard copy mailings of DVDs or Blu-Ray screeners. Additionally, we do not accept partial screeners, trailers, or links that require access other than password protected links.
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Entrants must ensure that screener links and passwords are active throughout the entire festival cycle. Once we have all necessary materials, the submission will be marked “In Consideration” on FilmFreeway. Once submission is marked “In Consideration”, no further changes can be made to the entry. It is the submitter’s responsibility to make sure that all submission requirements are met.
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