Submission Information 

The COVEN Film Festival is a Charming Stranger Films, LLC production, devoted to films by emerging women and non-binary filmmakers from the San Francisco Bay Area and around the world. 

WHILE THEATERS ARE CLOSED, WE WILL BE RUNNING AN ONLINE SCREENING & ONLINE Q&A'S UNTIL THE HEALTH EMERGENCY IS OVER.

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Online Event:  December 14-19th, 2021

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Our event features online film screenings, panels and Q&As with filmmakers. 

Festival passes include: access to all films, Q&As with filmmakers and panels online. 

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This event spotlights women and non-binary storytellers, and recognizes that not every person is young, white, middle-class, cisgender, or able-bodied. Our mission is to amplify these stories -- emphasizing indigenous, differently-abled and people of color -- told by women or non-binary creators.

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COVEN Film Festival reserves the right to change our programming without notice.

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RULES & TERMS​ 

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Entering a film into the COVEN Film Festival implies the acceptance of the following regulations. Please completely fill out the Filmfreeway Entry Form. A separate Entry Form is required for each film being submitted. We accept online submissions through FilmFreeway only.

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ELIGIBILITY

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Films must be directed or co-directed by a woman or non-binary individuals. 

We accept all films of any length and genre that have been completed after Jan 1st, 2020. We welcome narratives, documentaries, animations and student films. 

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Rough cuts and works-in-progress are not eligible. 

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Films should not be available on demand or any streaming services prior to the festival.

WAIVERS

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STUDENT FILMMAKERS must complete this submission form to be approved for the student discount rate. https://www.covenfilmfest.com/student-survey

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If you are a filmmaker in a country that doesn't allow you to pay submission fees or you're in a bad economic situation, please fill out this submission form to be considered for a waver code for the festival. https://www.covenfilmfest.com/waiver-code-request

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COPYRIGHT & LEGAL TERMS

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By entering your film for consideration to the 2021 COVEN Film Festival, you authorise that your work is cleared for festival exhibition and accept full legal responsibility for the intellectual property therein. The submitter and all filmmakers associated with the project shall indemnify and hold harmless the COVEN Film Festival and any representative or affiliates from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including, but not limited to, attorney's fees and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered. 

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CONDITIONS FOR ENTRY

If accepted to screen at the Festival, the entrant agrees to provide a format file for exhibition. Foreign language films must be subtitled in English. Any costs associated with any subtitling or formatting is the sole responsibility of the entrant. 

Festival laurels will be provided to all Official Selections and Award Winners. Films should be presented in their original versions with English language subtitles or commentary where necessary. 
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By submitting, you agree that the Festival is allowed to use film stills, film posters, and trailers, and share them on social media sites and on the Festival website. Prints may be made, including film posters and stills of all selected films. 

The Festival does not pay screening fees. Please submit your film via the online submission platforms. By submitting, you agree that your film can be screened without a screening fee. 
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Terms and conditions updated May 28th, 2021.

DATES & DEADLINES

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• January 4th, 2021
  Opening Date

• February 26th, 2021
  Earlybird Deadline

• May 28th, 2021
  Regular Deadline

• August 27th, 2021
  Late Deadline

• October 29th, 2021
  Extended Deadline

• November 12, 2021
  Notification Date

• December 14 – 19, 2021
  EVENT DATE

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EVENT DATES

• December 14 – 19, 2021

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AWARDS

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Best Film 

Best Feature Film

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Best Short Film

Best Short Film 

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Audience Award 
One Audience Award is chosen by festival goers themselves through online voting after each series screening. 

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FEES

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Short Films
30 minutes and under in runtime. This includes narrative, animation, documentary, student and experimental films.

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• Standard: $20

• Student: $10

• Gold Members: $15

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Feature Films

50 minutes and over in runtime. This includes narrative, animation, documentary, student and experimental films.

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• Standard: $30

• Student: $20

• Gold Members: $25​