Filmmakers Guidelines: PLEASE READ THOROUGHLY
Deadline for submission is September 2nd 2013. Submissions are open now and you are encouraged to submit as soon as possible!
OUR MISSION
This festival is dedicated to the celebration of classic and Pulp Era style cinematic arts and entertainment by student, amateur, and professional filmmakers, specifically in the genres of adventure, fantasy, fantastic/adventure noir and horror as defined by the festival
Our ultimate objective is to keep a great tradition alive and inspire new generations of filmmakers to challenge themselves. The Pulp Era ran through the early to mid Twentieth Century. 'Pulp' refers to the medium of cheap-to-produce magazine style publications which featured the most thrilling and somewhat edgy genre literature of the day.
Classic pulp adventure and fantasy are somewhat underrepresented in the festival world. Horror is well represented, so therefore our festival will accept only classic style horror elaborated on further below. Because of the nature of high adventure and fantasy, these films are often challenging on the microbudget level, which is why we choose to encourage their production by celebrating and presenting such films to a public eager to appreciate them.
The genres accepted are:
Adventure: Examples would be Gunga Din, King Solomon's Mines or Tarzan. Any works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. The works of Robert E Howard, Talbot Mundy, H Rider Haggard, and other Victorian and Pulp Era adventure writers prior to 1950. Films like King Kong. The Indiana Jones series. The Phantom. Essentially, classic adventure in the pre-1970s style and spirit. Jungles, expeditions, pith helmets, lost temples, treasures, etc. A recent example of pulp adventure is Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. What does not fit our festival is contemporary hi-tech adventure like the Tomb Raider series.Think 'retro' and consider doing a period piece -- although period pieces are not required! -- and you'll be in the ballpark. Pulp and classic style are required. Special note: Steampunk entries are very welcome and encouraged!
Fantasy: Examples would be Ray Harryhausen's Sinbad films: 7th Voyage, Golden Voyage, Eye of the Tiger. The tales of Aladdin and other Arabian Nights stories. Sword and sorcery stories, be they Tolkienesque or Robert E Howard. The Wizard of Oz. Various mythologies, like the Hercules films or Harryhausen's Clash of the Titans.
Fantastic or Adventure Noir: Examples are The Shadow, Mandrake the Magician, Treasure of the Sierra Madre. These
differ from pure detective stories or westerns in that they feature
mysticism and fantasy elements and/or exotic places and treasure quests,
i.e. adventure elements.
Horror: Examples are the Universal classic monster films like Frankenstein, The Wolfman, Dracula, The Mummy, etc. Classic Hammer Horror of the 1950s and 60s. Movies about ghosts and hauntings, monsters, witches, H.P.Lovecraft style horror, or horror elements in adventure or fantasy. Contemporary settings are acceptable, as long as the horror is supernatural/paranormal/or non-human monsters. Recent examples of contemporary horror films in line with our definition are Insidious and Sinister -- however, remember the theme of the festival in your style and your film will have a better chance at screening. No slasher, serial killer or violence-as-horror films will be accepted. Please see restrictions below and abide by them.
Rules:
1. Films must be within the microbudget definition of under $50,000 in final production cost. Because of the relatively short notice of this event, there is no restriction on when the film was produced, as long as it can be submitted in digital format (An important distinction if it was actually shot on film) presentable in 1080 resolution for big screen exhibition. Professionals, please be honest with the budget limit.
2. Films are accepted in the following categories:
Short: 5 to 10 minutes in length.
Short Feature: 11 - 30 minutes.
Feature: 31 - 50 minutes
These are also the three categories of awards. Submissions will be narrowed down to finalists which will be judged by a panel of three. The finalists will be the films screened, depending upon the number of submissions, of course. If screen time remains to be filled after competition films are identified, then any one or more of the submitted films may be screened.
3. Format: Digital. DVD for submission is fine. A thumb drive file is preferred, if possible, should it be selected for screening, at which time you'll be notified and provided a shipping address. You will pay for the shipping should your film be selected.
4.
Theme: Films must be classic or pulp adventure, fantasy, fantastic noir or classic horror. If you
are not sure what Pulp Era means, look it up. Pulp is a particular type
of genre and it implies retro in style and/or content. Contemporary
stories are perfectly suitable as long as they are clearly in the spirit of the Pulp Era or
classic/retro style. Horror films must be classic or Pulp in style and supernatural/paranormal. No slasher films accepted. Theme is a major aspect of selection for screening
and competition, so do your homework.
5.
Content: Although this festival is not a children's event,
obscene material will not be accepted. That said, reasonable R rated
films are acceptable, including limited profanity and tasteful nudity.
The following is very important, horror filmmakers take note:
NO zombies (Voodoo style excepted)
NO graphic gore nor graphically depicted dismemberment, etc
NO torture porn
NO vomiting
Any submitted films in any genre containing any of the above restricted material will be automatically disqualified for consideration. The submission fee is non-refundable and does not guarantee screening at this event, so please remove these elements before you submit your film if it contains them. We are not kidding. This event is not a horror festival, it's a celebration of retro style and classic influence on the cinema of the fantastic. Our best suggestion for filmmakers submitting horror films, refer to horror films produced prior to 1970, especially those of Universal Pictures and classic Hammer Studios up to 1975
6. Third Party Copyrighted Material: Filmmakers are strongly discouraged from using copyrighted material not belonging to them nor unauthorized for their usage. If your film contains the copyrighted material of others, the liability waiver you will sign with your submission absolves the festival, its staff and the Fox Events Center of all accountability for any of your film's violations.
7. Films submitted on DVD must be in US-compatible format. 4:3 ratio is acceptable, but don't hard-matte it or it will be window-boxed.
All entries selected into PA&FIFE grant PA&FIFE the right to use any footage from the preview screener, and all submitted publicity photos and any other materials sent to us pertaining to this entry for PA&FIFE's promotional non-commercial purposes, without limitations.
Your entry MUST be accompanied with a printed signed letter containing your legal name, phone number, email address, your signature, the title and running time of your film and the sign date at the bottom of the following statement:
"TERMS AND CONDITIONS
I
represent and warrant that I have full legal right and authority to
submit the enclosed film/video project for consideration by PA&FIFE, and that all necessary consents, licensing and approvals have
been obtained with respect thereto. I agree to hold PA&FIFE and its
sponsors harmless and not liable in any and all matters pertaining to the consents,
licenses, and approvals of heretofore film/video project, absolving the festival, its staff and the Fox Events Center of all accountability for any violations. I understand
that my submission is in no way a guarantee of acceptance into PA&FIFE. No
one from PA&FIFE or its sponsors has guaranteed me admission into the
festival. Should my film be accepted to PA&FIFE, I grant PA&FIFE the right
to use any footage from the preview screener, and all submitted
publicity photos and any other materials pertaining to this entry for PA&FIFE 's promotional non-commercial purposes, without limitations. If I
no longer wish PA&FIFE to use my material in promotion of the event, I
will notify the Festival in writing."
Submit entries with letter containing above statement to:
Walter Bosley
LCL/Fox Pulp Film Festival
7231 Boulder Ave #505
Highland, CA 92346
Pay Short Films Fee $25
Pay Short Feature/Feature Fee $35
Contact: pulpadventurefestival@gmail.com
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