LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL: ENTRY GUIDELINES
ELIGIBILITY
The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival accepts films and mediaworks that are principally made by and/or about Asian Pacific Islander individuals and communities around the world. All lengths and genres will be considered.
FILM COMPLETION DATE
All submitted works should have been completed on or after January 1, 2021.
AWARDS ELIGIBILITY
The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival recognizes filmmaking achievement through presentation of juried and balloted awards.
AWARDS FOR FEATURE FILMS may include:
• GRAND JURY AWARD – NORTH AMERICAN FEATURE FILM (Narrative and Documentary Feature)
• GRAND JURY AWARD – INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM (Narrative and Documentary Feature)
• FESTIVAL AUDIENCE AWARD (Narrative and Documentary Feature)
• EMERGING FILMMAKER AWARD - Presented to a director screening their first or second feature without US distribution at LAAPFF 2022
AWARDS FOR SHORT FILMS include:
• GOLDEN REEL AWARD* (Narrative/Animation Short and Documentary Short)
• LINDA MABALOT NEW DIRECTORS/NEW VISIONS AWARD
*Recipients of the GOLDEN REEL AWARD for Narrative/Animation Short Film will be eligible for consideration in the Animated Short Film/Live Action Short Film category of the ACADEMY AWARDS® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy® rules.
SUBMISSION CATEGORIES, DEADLINES, FEES
Your signed entry form, screener, and entry fee must be filed via FilmFreeway.com; to be RECEIVED by one of these dates:
FEATURE FILM (Narrative, Documentary)
Fiction or non-fiction films of any genre principally created by and/or about Asian Pacific Islanders with themes involving, but NOT limited to, Asian Pacific American and/or Asian Pacific diasporic culture, history and experiences. Works eligible for this category MUST have a running time of at least 41 minutes and is expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required.
EARLY DEADLINE - Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 11:59pm PT | $40 USD entry fee
FINAL DEADLINE - Sunday, January 1, 2023 at 11:59pm PT | $45 USD entry fee
SHORT FILM (Narrative, Documentary)
Fiction or non-fiction films (and music videos) of any genre principally created by and/or about Asian Pacific Islanders with themes involving, but NOT limited to, Asian Pacific American and/or Asian Pacific diasporic culture, history and experiences. Works eligible for this category MUST have a running time not to exceed 40 minutes and is expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required.
EARLY DEADLINE - Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 11:59pm PT | $30 USD entry fee
FINAL DEADLINE - Sunday, January 1, 2023 at 11:59pm PT | $35 USD entry fee
INDIGENOUS STORYTELLING/ PACIFIC CINEWAVES FEATURE FILM (Narrative, Documentary)
Fiction or non-fiction films of any genre principally created by and/or about Indigenous Peoples – descendants of the original stewards of a geographical region before people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived (e.g., Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders, Ifugao, Hmong, and more). Works eligible for this category MUST have a running time of at least 41 minutes and is expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required.
FINAL DEADLINE - Sunday, January 1, 2023 at 11:59pm PT | $25 USD entry fee
INDIGENOUS STORYTELLING/ PACIFIC CINEWAVES SHORT FILM (Narrative, Documentary)
Fiction or non-fiction films (and music videos) of any genre principally created by and/or about Indigenous Peoples – descendants of the original stewards of a geographical region before people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived (e.g., Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders, Ifugao, Hmong, and more). Works eligible for this category MUST have a running time not to exceed 40 minutes and is expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required.
FINAL DEADLINE - Sunday, January 1, 2023 at 11:59pm PT | $20 USD entry fee
• BODIES IN MOTION: DANCE SHORT FILM
A film collection of dances in which bodies—powerful, precarious, feeling, and knowing—move us. Co-organized by the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center. Works eligible for this category MUST have a running time not to exceed 40 minutes and is expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required.
FINAL DEADLINE - Sunday, January 1, 2023 at 11:59pm PT | $10 USD entry fee
• CHILDREN/YOUTH SHORT FILMS
Films that are children and family friendly. Works eligible for this category MUST have a running time not to exceed 40 minutes and is expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required.
EARLY DEADLINE - Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 11:59pm PT | $30 USD entry fee
FINAL DEADLINE - Sunday, January 1, 2023 at 11:59pm PT | $35 USD entry fee
Please submit your film ONCE to the category most suitable for your film. If our programmers think your film may be suitable for another LAAPFF program category, it will be recommended for further consideration. If your film is submitted to the wrong category, you are responsible for any changes in submission fees. If the new category has a higher fee, you are responsible for paying the difference or risk ineligibility. We do not offer refunds.
The Festival does not provide waivers. We understand the severe financial restrictions among many of our artists. As a non-profit organization, we also operate under limitations on resources and the entry fees sustains us to produce the best possible space to showcase your works. We encourage all artists to submit by the early deadline.
***Please note this year's changes to the following programs:**
EPISODICS
• Series of multiple videos in episodic form intended for digital platforms, including but not limited to mini-series, web series, serialized television, etc. Our Episodics program this year will be a curated online artist conversation that amplifies select series. If you have an existing series that connects to the Festival’s mission and would like to be considered, please email festival@vcmedia.org with subject line "EPISODICS" and include your series link, synopsis, and credit list.
EMERGING MEDIA
• Content including but not limited to virtual/augmented/mixed reality, site-specific installations, and cross-platform projects. For this year's Emerging Media program, we will review submissions received in 2021 and recently released projects. If you have an existing project that connects to the Festival’s mission and would like to be considered, please email festival@vcmedia.org with subject line "EMERGING MEDIA" and include your project link, synopsis, and credit list.
SUBMISSION MATERIALS
PREVIEW FORMATS FOR ALL SUBMISSIONS:
Password-protected Vimeo (720p optimal) preferred, or secured online screener.
Please include the following materials in your submission:
• Synopsis
• Director’s statement *optional
• Director’s biography
• Cast and crew listing
EXHIBITION FORMATS
• FEATURE: Digital; D-Cinema (DCP) with required Blu-Ray disc (NTSC)
• MUSIC VIDEOS, SHORTS: Digital; D-Cinema (DCP) with required .MOV file conforming to Apple ProRes 422 HQ (1920 x 1080 24p 48kHz)
If your film is selected for exhibition, you are responsible for delivering the exhibition copy and other materials, such as: trailer, screener link, press stills, and press kit, by the Festival’s deadline. The Festival will use your materials for print and online promotion. We may also request various other items (posters, etc.) to maximize exposure for your film.
SUBTITLES
Invited entries in language(s) other than English must be subtitled in English in all exhibition media.
SHIPPING
Digital media of invited entries must be sent to the Festival pre-paid at a date to be determined prior to the Festival. Return or forward shipping will be covered by the Festival.
RENTAL FEES
The Festival does not pay rental fees. Instead, we choose to invest our resources in producing the best possible showcase for your work and promoting your work as widely as possible.
SELECTION NOTIFICATION
You will be notified of Festival selections by no later than Saturday, April 1, 2023.
