A celebration of outstanding genre cinema in the historic cradle of the American supernatural.
2019 SUBMISSIONS
DEADLINES AND FEES
DEADLINES CLOSE 11:59 PM (PST)
EARLYBIRD DEADLINE: APRIL 29, 2019
REGULAR DEADLINE: JULY 8, 2019
LATE DEADLINE: JULY 29, 2019
EXTENDED DEADLINE: AUGUST 26, 2019
FEATURE FILMS (Over 75 min in length):
EARLYBIRD DEADLINE: $35
REGULAR DEADLINE: $50
FINAL DEADLINE: $60
EXTENDED DEADLINE: $65
SHORT FILMS (8 to 20 min in length):
EARLYBIRD DEADLINE: $30
REGULAR DEADLINE: $40
FINAL DEADLINE: $45
EXTENDED DEADLINE: $50
Film submissions selected for Sleepy Hollow International Film Festival (SHIFF) will be notified no later than September 2, 2019.
UNPRODUCED ORIGINAL FEATURE SCREENPLAYS (No shorter than 70 pages, no longer than 135)
EARLYBIRD DEADLINE: $35
REGULAR DEADLINE: $35
FINAL DEADLINE: $40
EXTENDED DEADLINE: $50
Final round SHIFF screenplay submissions will be notified no later than August 23, 2019. Winning SHIFF screenplay submissions will be notified no later than September 16, 2019.
ELIGIBILITY (FILMS)
Films must have been finished after January 1, 2018
Premiere status is a factor in considering a film’s inclusion in Sleepy Hollow International Film Festival (SHIFF). Films (features and shorts) must be one of the following: A world, U.S., New York State, or a Westchester County, NY premiere.
Films (features and shorts) may not have had any kind of public or festival exhibition within the borders of Westchester County, NY, prior to SHIFF.
Films (features and shorts) must have had no previous commercial exhibition or release in the US – This includes theatrical, television, streaming, VOD, internet, home video or otherwise.
Films (features and shorts) can be of any genre, but the submission must have, at the very least, a hint of the unknown, supernatural, sci-fi or the fantastic within. If the feature or short is a documentary, then the subject(s) explored must have at least a tangential connection to the same.
Short films must be at least 8 minutes long, but no longer than 20 minutes.
Feature films must be no shorter than 75 minutes, but no longer than 180 minutes.
Non-English Language Films (features and shorts) must be subtitled in English for exhibition at SHIFF.
Film submissions may be rough cuts, or works in progress, but only if the completed film will be available to the festival no later than September 23, 2019
ELIGIBILITY (UNPRODUCED SCREENPLAYS)
Screenplays must be longer than 70 pages, but no longer than 135 pages.
Screenplays can be of any genre, but the submission must have at the very least – a hint of the unknown, supernatural, sci-fi or the fantastic within.
Make sure your screenplay’s cover page has the following information – Title, writer(s) and writer’s contact info, including address, e-mail and phone number.
Screenplays are to be submitted through our festival listing at FilmFreeway. No hard copy paper script submissions will be accepted.
SUBMISSIONS (FILMS & SCREENPLAYS)
Films and screenplays can only be submitted to SHIFF through FilmFreeway.
AWARDS
SHIFF will announce winners, and award SHIFF official trophy statuettes, on closing night of the fest in the following categories:
BEST PICTURE
BEST DIRECTOR
BEST SCREENPLAY
BEST SCORE
BEST DOCUMENTARY
BEST SHORT
BEST PICTURE, BEST SCREENPLAY and BEST SHORT SHIFF fest awards also receive an InkTip script listing so writer(s) can promote themselves and their script to InkTip’s large network of producers and reps.
Companies who are InkTip members include: ABC, Anonymous Content, APA, CBS Films, HBO Films, ICM, Paradigm, Paramount Pictures, Hallmark Channel, FX, Universal, WME, Echo Lake, Zero Gravity, Bad Robot, 20th Century Fox, and many more. Producers have made more than 375 films from scripts and writers found through InkTip.)
SHIFF will announce winners on closing night of the fest in the following categories:
BEST UNPRODUCED SCREENPLAY (GOLD PRIZE)
Includes $500 cash and SHIFF original trophy statuette.
BEST UNPRODUCED SCREENPLAY (SILVER PRIZE)
Includes $250 cash
BEST UNPRODUCED SCREENPLAY (BRONZE PRIZE)
Includes $250 cash
Winners in ALL categories will be posted on SHIFF’s website, announced on SHIFF’s socials, and official “winners” press release blast to media outlets, as well as published in SHIFF’s local media partner, River Journal.
SCREENING REQUIREMENTS
If your film is selected for exhibition at SHIFF, we will require the following:
An unencrypted DCP (DCI compliant) and a Blu-ray Disc of your film delivered by September 30. This is a hard deadline.
Synopsis, cast and crew list
Headshot and short bio of the Director(s)
Production and Key Art stills
Trailer link
NOTICES
Entry fees are in U.S. Dollars, for each film and are non-refundable. SHIFF reserves the right to disqualify any submission, without refund of any kind, if eligibility requirements are not met including if eligibility status changes post-submission.
All entries that are selected into SHIFF grant SHIFF the right to use any footage from the screener and all submitted publicity photos, key art and any other materials sent to us pertaining to this entry for SHIFF’s promotional purposes, without limitations.
All DCP’s and Blu-rays are to be retrieved after the screening and signed for by the filmmaker. If you attend SHIFF and don’t collect your DCP and Blu-ray, you will be responsible for the shipping costs.
PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT: I, the undersigned, represent and warrant that I have full legal right and authority to submit the heretofore mentioned film/video and/or screenplay project for consideration by SHIFF, and that all necessary consents, licensing and approvals have been obtained with respect thereto. I agree to hold SHIFF and its sponsors harmless in any and all matters pertaining to the consents, licenses, and approvals of heretofore film/video and/or screenplay project. I understand that my submission is in no way a guarantee of acceptance or nomination into and at SHIFF. No one from SHIFF or its sponsors has guaranteed me admission into the festival. I, the undersigned, have read the terms and conditions appearing herein, and agree, without exception, to all the terms and conditions stated.
