RULES & REGULATIONS

RULES & REGULATIONS

Feature Films- BFF SCREEN

Please read the rules and regulations carefully before submitting your film.

If you have any queries regarding submissions. Please Contact Us at 9815068100.

1. Objectives

• 1.1) The Bathinda Film Festival aims at providing a common platform for film makers of the world to project their excellence in film art; contributing to the understanding and appreciation of film cultures of different nations in the context of their social and cultural ethos; and promoting friendship and co- operation among people of the world.
• 1.2) The Bathinda Film Festival is purly meant for delegates & the screening of the Short films in the festival would be limited to delegates (including film-makers, media students, critics, film theorists, film lovers and all those associated with the production and business of film and members of the press duly registered with the festival authorities as well as its jury.)

2. Date, Place & Deadline

• 2.1) The 4th edition of BFF (Bathinda Film Festival) will be held in the Month of November, 2024.
• 2.2) The Place of the Festival is Bathinda City, Punjab, INDIA. (PIN Code : 151001)
• 2.3) The deadline for short film submissions is October 28, 2024 (05:00 pm)

3. FREE ENTRY PASS

• 3.1) An Entry pass will be required to Attend/Watch the festival.
• 3.2) Free entry passes will be available on the festival website in the month of October 2024.
• 3.3) Delegates, film-makers, media students, critics, film theorists, film lovers can download their entry passes from the website free of cost.

4. Eligibility & Participation

• 4.1) Participation in the festival implies acceptance of Festival Rules & Regulations, Terms & Conditions.
• 4.2) Any Feature Film produced anywhere in the world can participate in the Bathinda Film Festival.
• 4.3) Entry Forms with incorrect / inadequate / illegible / ambiguous particulars will not be considered.
• 4.4) Anybody can submit one or more than one entries. There is no limit for submission. (Multiple entries from the same participant are accepted, but each feature film must be accompanied by a separate form)
• 4.5) Any organization, agency, individual, producer, director, Actor, team member, crew member can submit the Feature films.
• 4.6) The Feature films must have been completed or released after 1st January 2023 in order for them to be eligible for BFF SCREEN.
• 4.7) The minimum duration of the Feature films (fiction or documentary) should be 36 minutes or more.
• 4.8) The maximum duration of Feature films (fiction or documentary) should not exceed 180 minutes.
• 4.9) Feature films submitted in any form to earlier editions of the festival are ineligible to apply. A film that has been withdrawn from participation in earlier editions cannot be re-submitted to the festival.
• 4.10) Feature Films that are works-in-progress are accepted on the condition that the submitted version will be the only one watched by the selection committee. Once submitted as a work-in-progress, the film is ineligible to apply for future editions of the festival, in any other form. If selected, a final version of the film in the specified formats must be available to the festival 15 days before the festival.
• 4.11) Participation at other international festivals outside India and/or applying in does not ensure entry into the festival.

5. BFF SCREEN – Feature Films

• 5.1) Duration of Feature film = Minimum 36 Minute & Maximum 180 Minutes
• 5.2) Both released & un-released films can be submitted.
• 5.3) There is No Entry Fee in any category.
• 5.4) Last date for Entries : 28-10-2024 (05:00 pm.)
• 5.5) Google Drive /We transfer/ Youtube/ Facebook links are allowed.
• 5.6) ਫ਼ੀਚਰ ਫਿਲਮ ਦਾ ਰਨ ਟਾਈਮ= ਘੱਟੋ-ਘੱਟ 36 ਮਿੰਟ ਅਤੇ ਵੱਧ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ 180 ਮਿੰਟ ਦਾ ਹੋਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।
• 5.7) ਰਿਲੀਜ਼ ਹੋ ਚੁੱਕੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਬਿਲਕੁੱਲ ਨਵੀਂਆਂ ਦੋਵੇਂ ਤਰਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਫ਼ੀਚਰ ਫਿਲਮਾਂ ਭੇਜੀਆਂ ਜਾ ਸਕਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ।
• 5.8) ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਣੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੋਈ ਦਾਖਲਾ ਫੀਸ ਜਾਂ ਰਜਿਸਟ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਫੀਸ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ।
• 5.9) ਐਂਟਰੀਆਂ ਭੇਜਣ ਦੀ ਆਖਰੀ ਮਿਤੀ : 28-10-2024 (ਸ਼ਾਮ 05:00 ਵਜੇ) ਤੱਕ ਹੈ।

6. Genres or Category of Films

• 6.1) The Feature Films can be submitted in any of the categories given below Action, Adventure, Animation, Biopic, Comedy, Drama, Documentry, Epic, Experimental, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical, Horror, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller.

7. Languages accepted in the Bathinda Film Festival

• 7.1) Indian Languages
  Languages Included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Maithili, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu.
• 7.2) World Languages
  The six official languages of United Nations: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

8. Subtitling

• 8.1) A film maker can submit any language film but films submitted other than Punjabi or Hindi Language must have Punjabi Subtitles in it.

9. Definition of BFF SCREEN (Duration or Runtime)

• The total runtime of the Short Film, including opening & closing credits, should strictly be of
• 9.1) BFF SCREEN = New (Unreleased) Feature Films & Feature Films already released in Cinemas/ OTT Platforms/ Youtube/ Facebook or any other Social Media Platform in India or Abroad. (see rule)
• 9.2) The total runtime of the Feature Film, including opening & closing credits, should strictly be of Minimum 36 minutes and a Maximum of 180 minutes.
• 9.3) The new (un-released) films & already released films both can be submitted in BFF SCREEN. There will be one Combined "official selection list" for both the categories. Awards and prizes will also be given in one combined category.
• 9.4) ਨਵੀਆਂ ਬਣੀਆਂ ਫ਼ਿਲਮਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਸੋਸ਼ਲ ਮੀਡੀਆ ਪਲੇਟਫਾਰਮ ਤੇ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਰਿਲੀਜ਼ ਹੋ ਚੁੱਕੀਆਂ ਫ਼ਿਲਮਾਂ ਦੋਵੇਂ ਹੀ ਇਸ ਕੈਟਾਗਰੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਭੇਜੀਆਂ ਜਾ ਸਕਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ. ਦੋਵਾਂ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਣੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਲਈ ਇੱਕ ਹੀ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ (ਸਾਂਝੀ) "ਅਧਿਕਾਰਤ ਚੋਣ ਸੂਚੀ" ਹੋਵੇਗੀ। ਇਸੇ ਤਰਾਂ ਅਵਾਰਡ ਅਤੇ ਇਨਾਮ ਵੀ ਇੱਕ ਹੀ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ (ਸਾਂਝੀ) ਸ਼੍ਰੇਣੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਜਾਣਗੇ।

10. AWARDS & PRIZES

• The following prizes are awarded to the Feature films screening at the festival.
• 1stPrize: It includes a trophy & Certificate
• 2ndPrize: It includes a trophy & Certificate.
• 3rdPrize: It includes a trophy & Certificate.
• Special Jury Awards: It includes a trophy & Certificate.


• Best Actor Award (Male): It includes a trophy & Certificate.
• Best Actor Award (Female): It includes a trophy & Certificate.
• Best Script Writer Award: It includes a trophy & Certificate.
• Best Director Award: It includes a trophy & Certificate.
• Participation Certificates will be given to all “official Selection Films”.

11. OFFICIAL SELECTION OF FILMS

• 11.1) Selection of feature films for BFF 2024 will be done by a Preview committee & Jury.
• 11.2) However, Festival President and Festival Director reserves the right to accept or reject any feature films that is likely to offend sentiments, feelings or sensibilities of any caste, community, religion and sect or is likely to promote racism or ill will in the society.
• 11.3) Official Selection committee (OSC) / Preview Committee will finalize the List of Official Selection of feature films in each edition or Category.
• 11.4) The decision of the Official Selection Committee shall be final & binding on all the Participants.
• 11.5) The festival will not provide any feedback on feature films or specific reasons for selection or rejection of any film.
• 11.6) Only the feature films makers who make it to the official selection of the festival will be notified about selection at the end of the selection process and no information will be divulged before that.
• 11.7) The festival is not bound to share any information about the received feature films / entries or the number of feature films received with anyone.
• 11.8) The festival will not provide any feedback about the selection process of the feature films.
• 11.9) The Preview Committee & Jury can evolve its own rules for assessment of the entries. The Festival Director or his representative can attend the Preview Committee and Jury deliberations.
• 11.10) Once the feature films has been selected and the right holder confirms her/his agreement, feature films in the official programme shall not be withdrawn from the festival programme before or during the event.
• 11.11) The festival will notify the selected feature films makers.
• 11.12) If selected, the representatives of the selected feature films must keep this information confidential (including on social media) till the official press conference of the Bathinda Film Festival, where the final list of selected feature films will be announced. Breach of this will make the selection of the feature films liable to be cancelled.However, Festival President and Festival Director reserves the right to accept or reject any film that is likely to offend sentiments, feelings or sensibilities of any caste, community, religion and sect or is likely to promote racism or ill will in the society.

12. In addition to the above, the Participant shall be required to submit images/posters of the Entries in the form and manner prescribed by BFF, to play as a part of the nominations clip and for promotions of the BFF SCREEN Awards across all mediums.

13. the Participant shall be required to submit clips of duration 30 to 90 Seconds of the Entries in the form and manner prescribed by BFF, to play as a part of the nominations clip/ AV and for promotions of the BFF Awards.

• 13.1) Please refer to the following specifications for Clips/images
• 13.2) Wrapper Format: MP4 OR MOV
• 13.3) Video Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) or 3840x 2160 (4K)
• 13.4) 4k resolutions will be given priority, try to send 4 k resolution Videos.
• 13.5) Video Ratio: 16:9
• 13.6) Duration: 30 to 90 sec.
• 13.7) (with rights to BFF to edit as per the requirement at different phases and mediums) Image Specifications : 300 dpi with 2 to 3 options

14. FOR SELECTED FILMS

• 14.1) The official festival laurel with “Official Selection” should be displayed in all advertising and promotional material of all the films selected for screening in the festival. These should also be clearly visible for theatrical release as well as for Video/DVD/Digital distribution in India and abroad. All selected films will receive a digital laurel of the festival. Films awarded at the festival will receive the appropriate laurel with the name of the award.

15. Copyright

• 15.1) It is the sole responsibility of the entrant to secure clearance from the copyright holders of any copyrighted material included in the film. BFF will not be held responsible for the unauthorized inclusion of any copyrighted material.
• 15.2) Bathinda Film Festival reserves the rights to copy or use the material submitted by the participants in any form, online or offline, for the festival’s promotional and archival purposes. Note that your entire feature film will never be shared with anyone or uploaded online without your permission. We understand that filmmakers want to keep the films private, and we will honour that.
• 15.3) All content used in the feature film must be either owned or licensed. If any copyrighted material is used in the film, the participant must have the permission and submit a copy to the Festival Organizers.
• 15.4) Only the rights holder is eligible to fill the form. You are solely responsible for the authenticity of the information provided by you. In case of any discrepancies found in the information provided by you, your entry will be disqualified.
• 15.5) An applicant submitting a film to the festival must confirm that they have the requisite authority or has obtained the requisite authority from the rights holder to submit this film in the BATHINDA FILM FESTIVAL.
• 15.6) BFF reserves the right to disqualify any film with any unauthorized inclusion of copyrighted material.

16. Authority Letter

• 16.1) The applicant must submit Authority Letter with the form “I confirm that I have the requisite authority or i took the requisite authority from the rights holder of this film to submit the film in the BATHINDA FILM FESTIVAL 2024”
• 16.2) ਮੈਂ ਪੁਸ਼ਟੀ ਕਰਦਾ/ਕਰਦੀ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਮੇਰੇ ਕੋਲ ਫਿਲਮ ਨੂੰ ਸਬਮਿੱਟ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਲੋੜੀਂਦੀ ਅਥਾਰਟੀ ਹੈ ਜਾਂ ਮੈਂ ਬਠਿੰਡਾ ਫ਼ਿਲਮ ਫੈਸਟੀਵਲ 2024 ਵਿੱਚ ਫ਼ਿਲਮ ਜਮ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਰਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਇਸ ਫ਼ਿਲਮ ਦੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਰਧਾਰਕ ਤੋਂ ਲੋੜੀਂਦੀ ਅਥਾਰਟੀ ਲੈ ਲਈ ਹੈ।“

17. Transportation & Insurance

• 17.1) Transportation and insurance costs of Pen Drives/DVDs/BLURAYs, related documents, photographs and publicity materials from the country of origin to the Festival Office shall be borne by the applicant.
• 17.2) For any duties, fees and charges accrued from the transporting of the trophy, awards, prizes will be covered by the recipient, not the Festival organizers.
• 17.3) The Pen Drive /DVDs / Blu-ray/HDD sent for selection will be retained by the Festival for Festival Archive. Also, DVDs/Pen Drives/HDD containing photographs & publicity material received with the Entry Form will be kept by the Festival.

18. Rights of the Festival Director

• 18.1) Festival Director reserves the right to accept or not to accept any film on any ground without assigning any reason.
• 18.2) Decisions of the Festival Director regarding all matters not expressly provided in these regulations or which require interpretation of the clauses mentioned above shall be final & binding on all.
• 18.3) The Festival Director reserves the right to settle all cases not covered by the guidelines and to grant exceptions in special cases.
• 18.4) The festival director also reserves the right to remove any film from the selection List in any special cases as deemed by the festival.
• 18.5) All cases will be governed by and construed in all respects in accordance with the laws of India and settled under the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Bathinda City.

19. GENERAL CONDITIONS

• 19.1) The feature films that are selected for final screening will not be allowed to withdraw under any circumstances until the festival is over.
• 19.2) The applicant will be the main point of contact for all future communications regarding this entry into the festival.
• 19.3) If any dispute arises the decision of the Festival President will be Final for all.
• 19.4) Festival President reserves the right to change / modify / alter any rule or its part or event of this competition anytime.

20. GENERAL AGREEMENT FOR PARTICIPATION IN BATHINDA FILM FESTIVAL

• 20.1) I have read the Rules and Regulations on the website and accept the Rules and Regulations of Bathinda Film Festival. I certify that I hold necessary rights for the presentation of this film in Bathinda Film Festival and that all rights and permissions have been made. This film is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation. By accepting these conditions, I transfer to Bathinda Film Festival the right to use excerpts of the submitted film, its stills, and trailers, for the purposes of publicity and marketing of the film festival at the various social networks and on the website of the festival, and for other non-commercial purposes related to the promotion of the festival. I hereby agree to indemnify Bathinda Film Festival, in the event that such rights have not been properly transferred.
• 20.2) ਮੈਂ ਵੈੱਬਸਾਈਟ ਤੇ ਨਿਯਮਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ਰਤਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪੜ੍ਹ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਮੈਂ ਬਠਿੰਡਾ ਫਿਲਮ ਫੈਸਟੀਵਲ ਦੇ ਨਿਯਮਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ਰਤਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਵੀਕਾਰ ਕਰਦਾ/ ਕਰਦੀ ਹਾਂ। ਮੈਂ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣਿਤ ਕਰਦਾ/ਕਰਦੀ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਮੇਰੇ ਕੋਲ ਬਠਿੰਡਾ ਫਿਲਮ ਫੈਸਟੀਵਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਸ ਫਿਲਮ ਦੀ ਪੇਸ਼ਕਾਰੀ ਲਈ ਲੋੜੀਂਦੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਇਹ ਕਿ ਜਿਥੇ ਕਿਤੇ ਲੋੜ ਸੀ ਸਾਰੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ਅਤੇ ਇਜਾਜ਼ਤਾਂ ਸੰਬੰਧਿਤ ਪ੍ਰੋਡਿਊਸਰ / ਡਾਇਰੈਕਟਰ ਤੋਂ ਲੈ ਲਈਆਂ ਗਈਆਂ ਹਨ। ਇਹ ਫਿਲਮ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਮੁਕੱਦਮੇ ਦੇ ਅਧੀਨ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਨਾ ਹੀ ਭਵਿੱਖ ਵਿਚ ਕਿਸੇ ਮੁਕੱਦਮੇ ਅਧੀਨ ਆਉਣ ਦੀ ਸੰਭਾਵਨਾ ਜਾਂ ਧਮਕੀ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ. ਇਹ ਫਿਲਮ ਭਾਰਤ ਦੇ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਅਤੇ ਵਿਵਸਥਾਦਾ ਪਾਲਣ ਕਰਦੀ ਹੈ. ਇਹਨਾਂ ਸ਼ਰਤਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਵੀਕਾਰ ਕਰਦੇ ਹੋਏ, ਮੈਂ ਬਠਿੰਡਾ ਫਿਲਮ ਫੈਸਟੀਵਲ ਨੂੰ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਸੋਸ਼ਲ ਨੈਟਵਰਕਸ ਅਤੇ ਫੈਸਟੀਵਲ ਦੀ ਵੈਬਸਾਈਟ 'ਤੇ ਫਿਲਮ ਫੈਸਟੀਵਲ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਚਾਰ ਅਤੇ ਮਾਰਕੀਟਿੰਗ ਦੇ ਉਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਲਈ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤੀ ਫਿਲਮ ਦੇ ਅੰਸ਼ਾਂ, ਇਸ ਦੇ ਸ੍ਟਿਲ ਅਤੇ ਟ੍ਰੇਲਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਵਰਤੋਂ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ਟ੍ਰਾਂਸਫਰ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਫੈਸਟੀਵਲ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਚਾਰ ਨਾਲ ਸਬੰਧਤ ਹੋਰ ਗੈਰ-ਵਪਾਰਕ ਉਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਲਈ ਵਰਤੋਂ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ਟ੍ਰਾਂਸਫਰ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ। ਮੈਂ ਬਠਿੰਡਾ ਫਿਲਮ ਫੈਸਟੀਵਲ ਨੂੰ ਮੁਆਵਜ਼ਾ ਦੇਣ ਲਈ ਸਹਿਮਤ ਹਾਂ, ਜੇਕਰ ਅਜਿਹੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਹੀ ਢੰਗ ਨਾਲ ਤਬਦੀਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ।

21. Disclaimer

• 21.1) All disputes in respect of any matter relating to the BFF shall be subjected to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts and forums in Bathinda City only.
• 21.2) Bathinda Film Festival & Bathinda Academy of Motion Pictures are the registered trademarks of Bathinda Film Foundation.
• 21.2) All rights reserved with Bathinda Film Foundation 2024.