Submissions for the 71st Melbourne International Film Festival,which will be held on 3-20 Aug., 2023
- Swati Bhat
- 6 min read
Updated: Jan 29, 2023
Swati Bhat
Image: MIFF 2022 submission Seriously Red
MIFF2023 is looking for feature-length films, short films, XR works or episodic content from makers and creators across the globe.
And requesting to submit the project now to access the best possible rate.
Submission Regulations
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING REGULATIONS CAREFULLY PRIOR TO SUBMITTING OR MAKING ENQUIRIES REGARDING SUBMISSIONS. MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (“MIFF”) SUBMISSION REGULATIONS FOR THE 71ST ANNUAL MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (“FESTIVAL”) 3 TO 20 AUGUST 2023 THESE REGULATIONS GOVERN THE SUBMISSION OF ALL WORKS FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THE FESTIVAL AND YOU (“YOU” OR “SUBMITTER”) ARE REQUIRED TO READ THE FOLLOWING REGULATIONS CAREFULLY TO CONFIRM YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE SAME PRIOR TO SUBMISSION OF ANY FILMS. PLEASE NOTE THAT MIFF RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALTER THESE REGULATIONS WITHOUT NOTICE AND THAT THESE REGULATIONS ARE NOT CONFIRMED TO GOVERN REGULATIONS FOR FUTURE FESTIVALS.
Submission Dedlines:
31st January 2023 and extended deadline will be upto 14th February 2023.
Definitions:
Short Film This category is reserved for any film whose runtime is 40 minutes and 29 seconds or less (including credits). If the film is submitted into any Short category and the length is greater than this definition stipulates, MIFF will change the category and the Submitter will be required to pay the fee increase before the film is considered. Failure to do so will mean that the film will not be considered for the Festival and any and all fees paid prior will be forfeited.
Feature Film This category is reserved for any film whose runtime is 40 minutes and 30 seconds or more (including credits). If the film is submitted into any Feature category and the length is less than this definition stipulates, MIFF will change the category; the film will still be considered for the Festival, but MIFF will not refund any portion of the fees paid.
Australian If at least half of a film’s total film funding for development or production is from Australian sources, if at least half of the film was shot in Australia, and/or if at least half of the post-production work was done in Australia, a film can be classified as (at least) an Australian co-production and is thus eligible to be submitted into any Australian category. If the film is submitted in an Australian category and there is no indication that any of the corresponding definitions apply within the FilmFreeway fields ‘country of production’ or ‘country of filming’, MIFF will change the category and the Submitter will be required to pay the fee increase before the film is considered. Failure to do so will mean that the film will not be considered for the Festival, and any and all fees paid prior will be forfeited.
International This includes all films that do not fall under the ‘Australian’ definition; to reiterate, Australian co-productions can be submitted into any Australian category. If the film is submitted into an International category and it meets the conditions for an Australian category, MIFF will change the category; the film will still be considered for the Festival, but MIFF will not refund any portion of the fees paid.
Experimental This sub-category of short film is reserved for films that have an absence of linear narrative and/or include abstraction within the structure and conventions of the physical medium itself. It is not for unconventional fiction films.
Episodic This category is for any project presented or intended to be presented in a multi-episode format, including limited series, docuseries, web series, anthologies or any other project that was designed to develop over multiple episodes. There is no limitation as to the length of each episode or the number of episodes in each submission; however, only one screener will be accepted for any submission, so all episodes for consideration must be presented in succession within that single screener.
Preview Screener Format:
Screeners in physical format are no longer accepted; MIFF accepts online screeners only. Any submission sent via disc or any other physical format will not be considered for the Festival; should this be the only format in which the submitted film is delivered, the submission will be disqualified, and any and all fees paid will be forfeited.
Short, Feature and Episodic Preview Screener Formats
Submitted films must be either uploaded directly to FilmFreeway via their Secure Online Screener system, or supplied as a password-protected Vimeo link or unlisted YouTube link entered directly into the FilmFreeway online application form. Some important notes:
MIFF does not accept screeners via email; you must upload directly to FilmFreeway or to a third-party site such as Vimeo or YouTube.
If the password changes at any point between the submission and the Festival, the Submitter must inform MIFF via email ASAP. Any film that is submitted with an incorrect or outdated password cannot be considered for the Festival; in such a case, the submission will be disqualified, and any and all fees paid will be forfeited.
If the screener is supplied via a Vimeo link, please ensure that the privacy settings are updated such that embedding is allowed; this ensures that MIFF can view the film via FilmFreeway. This can be done while logged in to your Vimeo account and navigating to Settings > Privacy > Where Can This Video Be Embedded? and selecting ‘Anywhere’.
XR Preview Screener Formats
360-degree video should be uploaded directly to FilmFreeway as a downloadable file.
All other experiences (including interactive) are to be sent as a downloadable link directly to submissions(at)miff.com.au. The Submitter must ensure that the Tracking Number assigned to the submission by FilmFreeway is included in the subject line.
Whichever way XR preview screeners are sent, the work must be received by MIFF by the dates listed above. As with all other submissions, if the work is not received by the appropriate deadline, the submission will be disqualified, and any and all submission fees paid will be forfeited.
Eligibility Requirements:
To be eligible for consideration, all submissions must meet the following requirements:
Films must have been completed after 1 January 2022.
Films must not have been (or will not be) broadcast on television or publicly screened, distributed or exhibited in a physical location within the state of Victoria, Australia, prior to 21 August 2023. The only exceptions to this requirement are for private screenings held for cast, crew or investors, and film-school graduation screenings.
Films must not have been (or will not be) available commercially online and accessible from the state of Victoria, Australia, either for free or via on-demand services prior to 21 August 2023. Screenings as part of a digital or online festival are permitted if the festival is for a limited run and geoblocked such that access by Australian viewers is prohibited.
Films must be in their original language; if the original language is not English, subtitles in English must be provided.
Please note:
MIFF reserves the right to program films that do not adhere to the above eligibility requirements.
These regulations are specific to MIFF 2023 and do not indicate eligibility for MIFF 2024 and beyond.
Selection:
Submission to MIFF is with the understanding that selection may be for any and all exhibition formats that constitute MIFF 2023, including in-cinema screenings, digital exhibition or both.
All Submitters will be notified of an outcome by end of June 2023. Festival programmers select and invite all films presented at MIFF. If the Submitter’s contact details change during the submissions period, you must inform MIFF via submissions(at)miff.com.au.
If the film is selected to screen at MIFF 2023, it must be made available in one of the following formats, received by MIFF no later than close of business (5pm AEST) 11 July 2023:
Shorts and Features
35mm
16mm
DCP (DCI Compliant)
Pro-Res
Other video format compliant with MIFF’s digital platform requirements
XR (inclusive of VR, MR and AR)
Meta/Oculus
HTC VIVE
360-degree video for playback through Gear VR
Mobile application
If the film is selected for both in-cinema and digital exhibition at MIFF 2023, it must be made available in materials appropriate for both settings.
If the film is selected to screen at MIFF 2023, MIFF strongly encourages the Submitter to supply closed captions and/or audio description so that the film can be viewed by audiences with access requirements.
If the film is selected to screen at MIFF 2023, the Submitter must provide a minimum of three (3) digital copies of stills from the film via email or WeTransfer (minimum image specifications: 300dpi, JPGs or JPEGs only). Electronic Press Kits (EPKs), digital posters, director headshots and social media handles may also be supplied to MIFF, but are not mandatory. Please note: MIFF may supply these materials to third parties for the purpose of editorial coverage of MIFF. These materials may also be used for MIFF’s publicly available print publications and print products as well as online media (MIFF website/s, MIFF mobile application/s and MIFF social media channels), where they will remain available without any time or territorial restrictions. Please be aware that MIFF cannot make photographer attributions within our printed or online guides.
Exhibition materials, including but not limited to film prints or DCPs, of officially selected films will be insured by MIFF for the duration of the film’s stay in Australia and during transit to the Festival; all incoming freight charges will be covered by the Festival.
MIFF abides not to hold any more than four (4) screenings of any submitted film exhibiting at a physical location (excluding XR). An expanded capacity for digital exhibition may apply.
MIFF’s selection decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into. MIFF does not provide critical analysis or feedback.
