Official Rules and Regulations: Select Rules and Regulations from the menu above for the English online version. Remember, by submitting your film to the OIAF, you are agreeing to these rules, so read them carefully!
2014 Entry Categories: Our complete list of categories that you could enter your film under.
Email us: Contact us at
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if you have any questions or concerns about the entry process and we'll help you any way we can!
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR FILM
Log in on the left and select "Entry Form" from the User Menu. Don't have an account yet? Click here to register!
Submissions
QUALIFICATION FOR ENTRIES: Only works completed after June 15, 2013 will be accepted.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: Works submitted for selection can be presented as a URL link to a streaming video source, or on DVD in either NTSC or PAL.
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: The official languages of the Festival are English and French. If possible, submit your work with an English dialogue track or with English subtitles otherwise, please submit an English dialogue script.
REGISTRATION AND DATES: No registration fee is required. The entry form must be submitted online by 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time) on May 16, 2014. The preview film must reach the festival office no later than May 30, 2014 or it will not be considered. The entrant must include the director's biography, director’s photo (300 dpi) and a minimum of 3 stills (300 dpi) from the film. These files can be uploaded online, submitted on disc or emailed to
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DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF FILMS FOR SELECTION: Copies of works submitted for selection must reach the festival office on or before May 16, 2014. Works arriving after this date will not be accepted. Entrants are asked to indicate the Entry ID when sending their preview DVD. Please ensure that your film is actually on the disc you have entered. Blank entries or incomplete URL links will not be considered.
SEND PREVIEW DVDS AND ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS TO:
OTTAWA INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FESTIVAL
Suite 120, 2 Daly Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6E2 Canada
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NOTE: We cannot accept customs fees. Do not list a value higher than $10.00 CDN on your entry package.
SELECTION: Each entry is considered for the Official Competition and the out-of-competition Showcase screenings. The Festival will select the films in competition and showcase. Works will be judged within their category for conceptual, technical and aesthetic innovation and excellence. We understand that rejection can be difficult to take, but remember that we receive many entries and only take a fraction of those for competition.
NOTE: The Artistic Director reserves the right to switch a film's category if he feels the film is more suited for another category.
NOTE: DVDs submitted for selection will not be returned. All works submitted for selection will be made available to the general public during the span of the Festival for screening in the Animation Resource Library.
IF YOUR WORK IS SELECTED...
REQUIREMENTS: Directors or Producers must provide digital video files (minimum resolution 1280 x 720).
NOTE: The Festival does not accept 35mm, BetacamSP or any other tape format as a screening copy. If the Festival Office does not receive the required film or video screening copy in the proper format on or before August 8, 2014, the selected work will be withdrawn from the competition or showcase program.
35MM FILM: In response to changing projection availability, unfortunately the festival can no longer accept 35mm as a screening format.
NOTE: The screening copy must have either an English dialogue track or have English subtitles. The entrant or producer must also provide an adequate supply of stills and documents to allow the festival to promote the film properly.
TRANSPORTATION AND INSURANCE: The Primary Contact is responsible for the transport costs, insurance charges and customs fees incurred when shipping material to the Festival. The Festival is responsible for the costs incurred with the return of material to the Primary Contact. However, due to budgetary limitations, the material will be shipped via SURFACE MAIL. Filmmakers requesting the return of materials via courier must incur the cost themselves.
No entered material can be returned or loaned during the festival. Any filmmaker requiring his or her work for private use during the festival is asked to bring a separate copy. The Festival will be responsible for storage and insurance costs of the prints only between the time prints are taken into care and the time they are handed to the carrier. In case of loss or damage to a print, the obligation of the festival is limited to the replacement value.
COMPOSITION OF PROGRAMMES FOR OFFICIAL COMPETITION: The Artistic Director of the Ottawa International Animation Festival will define the order and composition of the programs presented in the Official Competition and the overall program schedule. Short programs submitted on digital formats will be duplicated onto Competition-specific compilations for screening purposes only, and will not be made available beyond such purposes.
INVITATIONS: Invitations are given to filmmakers with films in competition. The invitation, intended solely for the use of the film's director, includes accommodation for the span of the event. If a film is made by several directors, only one of the directors will be entitled to complimentary accommodations. The invitation is not transferable under any circumstances.
ARTIST RENUMERATION: Screening fees for independent and feature works shown in Competition or Showcase are limited to $75 CAD. We reserve the right to screen films in Competition and Showcase three times (one Gala, two repeats) during the Festival, with a possible fourth screening if the film is selected as an award winner or Jury Prize. We cannot pay additional fees to distributors. Films in the Commissioned category do not receive a screening fee. One director from each film in Competition will receive complimentary accommodations for their own use, for the span of the Festival. All directors in Competition and Showcase will receive a complimentary pass for their own use.
COMPETITION JURIES: The Festival will have three juries: one international jury for the feature; one for school, independent, student and commissioned competitions; and one Children’s Jury comprised of 6-13 year olds to judge the Kid’s Competition finalists. All members of the international juries will be closely connected with the art of animation. The jury members will elect a president at their first meeting. Productions produced or directed by members of the juries are not eligible for entry in the categories of the Official Competition. The decisions of the juries are final.
FESTIVAL PRIZES: The juries will present the following awards:
GRAND PRIZE for Best Animated Feature
GRAND PRIZE for Best Independent Short Animation
GRAND PRIZE for Best Student Animation
GRAND PRIZE for Best Commissioned Animation
PRIZE for Best Animation School Showreel
PRIZE for Best Narrative Short Animation
PRIZE for Best Experimental/Abstract Animation
PRIZE for Best High School Animation
PRIZE for Best Undergraduate Animation
PRIZE for Best Canadian Student Animation
PRIZE for Best Graduation Animation
PRIZE for Best Promotional Animation
PRIZE for Best Music Video
PRIZE for Best Animation Series for Adults
PRIZE for Best Short Animation Made for Children
PRIZE for Best Animation Series Made for Children
PUBLIC PRIZE
Canadian Film Institute (CFI) Award for Best Canadian Animation
A prize will be awarded to the best entry in each of the Competition Categories. The juries, at their discretion, may also award additional special prizes. It is the jury's responsibility to decide which of the winning entries will be presented on the Festival’s Closing Night.
NOTE: The juries have the right to withhold an award in any category where no entries, in the Jury’s view, meet its standards for recognition.
MENTIONS: The producers and directors of award-winning films at OIAF should mention the prize obtained, the year and the name of OIAF in the credits of their film and on all related documentation.
PROMOTIONAL USE OF WORKS: Unless otherwise indicated on the entry form, the entrant grants the Festival the right to show, for TV publicity purposes only, up to 10% of the running time of the production to a maximum of three minutes. Any other proposed use outside of the Festival will be referred by the Festival to the Primary Contact for direct negotiation.
ACCEPTANCE OF REGULATIONS: By agreeing to and/or submitting the entry form for the Ottawa 2014 International Animation Festival, the participant accepts, without reservation, the terms of the present regulations as stated in this document.
Submissions
When deciding how to submit your film, choose the category that best describes your film's production environment, distribution method and/or purpose:
A - Feature Film Animated Feature: Animated film considered full- or feature-length
B - School Competition Animation School Showreel: A maximum of 40 minutes of a training/education institution’s best films from July 2013 to June 2014. Must include full versions of each film; no excerpts. It is the duty of the entrant to select the films. Films can also be entered individually in the appropriate Student Animation Competition category. Please fill out separate entry forms for any individual student films being submitted under Category D.
C - Independent Short Films Competition
Short-format, non-commissioned animated films or videos
Note: As it is extremely rare that any short film exceeding 30 minutes is selected for competition, we strongly recommend a maximum length of 30 minutes.
Narrative Short: Structured with some sort of narrative or story. (ie. "something happens") Experimental/Abstract Animation: Structured without a clear narrative or cause-effect plotline.
D - Student Animation Competition
Films made by students who are either enrolled in a school, or were enrolled during the films’ production
High School Animation: Films directed by students attending a government- or privately-funded general education program, generally stretching from ages 15-18 (also known as “upper” or “secondary” school) Undergraduate Animation: Films directed by students enrolled in a post-secondary (diploma or degree) program that lasts from 6 months to 4 years, with the standard requirement usually being a high school diploma. Graduation Animation: Films directed by students in a post-graduate (diploma or degree) program that lasts from 6 months to 2 years, and requires prior experience or an undergraduate diploma/degree for enrollment. In addition, "final" or "thesis" (graduation) projects for undergraduate programs would be considered within this category.
E - Commissioned Films Competition
Works that are funded and produced for specific commercial or promotional purposes
Promotional Animation: Includes commercials, title sequences, and station/program identification spots Music Video: Includes works made to specifically promote and/or compliment a music soundtrack Animation Series for Adults: Animated television series not specifically aimed at children demographics. Only one episode per series is eligible.
F - Films/Videos Made for Children
Works that are produced and distributed specifically for children and youth demographics
Short Animation Made for Children: Any non-feature animated film that is aimed specifically at young audiences. Animation Series Made for Children: Any special or series created specifically for a young television/video audience. Only one episode per series is eligible.
The deadline for submitting an entry form is May 16, 2014. The deadline for receiving the preview copy of the film is May 30, 2014. Films must be have a functional URL or arrive at our offices by that date otherwise they will be disqualified.
Filmmakers are responsible for all cost related to shipping the preview DVD to the festival. The Festival will not cover customs fees. If the film is selected, the filmmaker is responsible in providing an HD digital screening copy of the film and all costs related to getting the file to the festival, if any. The Festival will not pay for a BetacamSP PAL to NTSC transfer. We will cover the cost of getting any USB devices back to the filmmaker after the festival. However, due to costs the package will be sent back regular post.
While films with very little animated content will probably not be accepted, the presence of live action certainly does not disqualify your film. Your submission should use enough animation to clearly define your work; however, with no entry fee, there is no harm in trying.
As outlined in the Rules and Regulations, films submitted must be produced AFTER June 15, 2013. Films submitted to previous editions of the OIAF would not fulfill this requirement, and so would be ineligible.
There is no minimum duration limit, however it is highly unlikely we will accept any short films over 30 minutes. We strongly recommend keeping your films under this length.
Absolutely! We accept and encourage films from all over the world. Keep in mind that the Festival cannot cover customs fees for preview DVDs. Filmmakers whose works are selected and plan on attending the OIAF will receive an invitation letter to aid in organizing the appropriate travel documents.
Yes, however please notify us if the film is selected and please update us on its premiere status; whether it will be a World, North American, Canadian, Ontario, or Ottawa premiere.
While we won’t automatically reject incomplete works, films will be judged “as is”, alongside hundreds of other works that have been finished. As well, we do not accept any entries arriving after the deadline. It is strongly recommended that you don’t rush your art; wait until your film is complete and submit it next year. (Films are eligible for the 2014 Festival if they are produced after June 15, 2013.)
Absolutely. The festival prefers to receive DVD submissions, and you will only need to supply a high-quality Digital Video File if your film is selected. If you are notified that you have been selected, arrangements for sending us a Digital Video File can be made at that time. The festival will not be accepting 35mm, Betacam SP or other tape formats as screening copies. If your film is selected and you do not have a high-quality video file, please inform us immediately so that we have time to arrange a digital copy of your screening format.
At this time, we do not have a specific category for films made by children who are not yet in high school, however, we encourage school-aged students and classes to have their films submitted to the High School Animation category. Oftentimes, the youths’ films are quite capable of standing alongside the works of high school students. Please note that youth under the age of thirteen are required to have a parent or guardian submit and maintain their online account and entry form.
As long as your film was completed after June 15, 2013 and you were enrolled in the program at the time that it was finished, your film is still eligible for that category.
No. Films can only be entered into ONE category each. This also means that we will not accept the same film twice. The only exception to this rule is a student film that is submitted both individually as well as part of the School Showreel category. (Special Note: the Artistic Director reserves the right to move an entry to a more appropriate category.)
Training/Education Institutions entering their School's showreel should make sure that their DVD consists of a maximum of 40 minutes of the school's best films from July 2013 to June 2014. Please include FULL versions of each film; no excerpts. It is the duty of the entrant to select the films. Films can also be entered individually in the appropriate Student Animation Competition category.
We have on online entry process where entrants log into our website to submit their film(s). This process helps to simplify the entry process, and lets entrants update their entry information as they please. For those who do not have easy access to the internet, please contact us by email -
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- or phone (613-232-8769) for assistance.
No, we are no longer making hard-copy versions of the form available for download. In order to enter your film, you must create an account and submit your information online. For further assistance, please contact us by email -
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- or phone (613-232-8769).
Films submitted without a completed corresponding entry form will not be considered. Believe us, processing entry forms isn’t much fun either, but it has to be done. We have tried to streamline our online entry form to make it as easy as possible for entrants, but please drop us a line at
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if you are having trouble submitting multiple entries or have some suggestions.
Each entry form can list multiple directors, however we require that one person to be designated the Primary Contact. This is the person who we will contact regarding all entry and selection matters. Please choose either one of the directors, a producer, the distributor, or whoever has the rights to distribute the film as the Primary Contact. This person must submit the entry form while logged into their online account.
No, however you must at least indicate the film’s director(s). If you are both the Primary Contact and the director, please make sure you check the appropriate box on the entry form.
No. The online entry form covers all the bases. To avoid confusion when sending us your film, please write your Entry ID on the disc, case and/or envelope, or include a printout of your confirmation email.
"Premiere" refers to what "first showing" or “debut” your film would be, if it were screened in Ottawa. So, if your film has never been screened before, it would be a "World Premiere" at the OIAF. In other words, choose the largest geographical area in relation to Ottawa that your film has not yet screened in.
Once you submit your form, you will soon receive an email acknowledging that your online entry form has been received. As well, the film’s title should show up in “My Entries” in your account information when you log in. Please email us at
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if you are still unsure after 24 hours.
Simply log into your account and click on the film’s title under “My Entries” in your account settings. Once you make the appropriate changes and click “Submit”, you will receive an email confirming the change.
Along with a preview DVD of the film and a completed entry form (submitted online), we require a director’s biography in electronic format, director’s photograph (300 dpi) and 3 high-resolution stills from the film (300 dpi) in either TIFF or JPEG format.
You can either: 1) upload additional documents using the online entry form; 2) burn them onto a CD and mail them either with or separate from your preview DVD; or 3) email them to
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When emailing, please ensure that you indicate your Entry ID and title, and divide the files so that emails do not exceed 10 megabytes in size.
If selected, the synopsis posted in your entry form will be used on the website and as such can be as long as you'd like. In the case of print material, however, space is limited and we will reduce any longer synopses to one or two sentences. If you would prefer to do this edit yourself, please submit a shorter version of your synopsis as a Word document along with your other Additional Documents.
If you email or mail your additional documents, we will send you an email acknowledging receipt. If you have uploaded them to your entry form, they will appear in the Upload section of the entry form next time you update or view your film information. To update or view your form, simply log into your account and click on the film’s title under “My Entries” in your account settings.
No. We only accept DVD in PAL or NTSC or a working link to a streaming YouTube or Vimeo file. All DVD entries must be auto-playing DVDs, playable in the average consumer DVD player. Once burned properly, the disc should have a folder entitled “VIDEO_TS” when examined on a computer.
Please send us a DVD (PAL or NTSC) for submission. We cannot screen your preview DVD copy during the Festival. If your film is selected, we will contact you regarding requirements for Digital Video Files. WARNING: The festival will not be accepting 35mm, Betacam SP or any other tape format for screening this year. If your film is selected and you do not have a high-quality video file available, please inform us immediately so that there is time to make a digital copy from your screening format.
It is recommended that you print out and include your confirmation email with your Entry ID and submission details when sending your DVD. Also, please include any additional documents (bios, pictures, stills) that you have not already submitted online or by email.
On the outside of the envelope, write: FOR CULTURAL/FESTIVAL PURPOSES ONLY: NO COMMERCIAL VALUE
Do not list a value higher than $10 CAN, otherwise the package maybe charged custom fees. Due to the large amount of entries we receive, WE DO NOT PAY CUSTOM FEES FOR INCOMING ENTRIES.
Return address: you MUST include the full address including postal code (zip code) of sender.
The OIAF Address. Print clearly:
Ottawa International Animation Festival
2 Daly Avenue, Suite 120
Ottawa, ON K1N 6E2
Canada
We must receive your preview DVD in our offices by May 30, 2014, or it will be disqualified. Please allow plenty of time for mail delivery, especially when sending from overseas.
Unfortunately, due to the large number of entries we receive we are unable to return preview DVDs. Please do not send the original master DVDs or prints.
First, submissions are not judged together. They are divided into their respective categories (eg. music videos, commercials, TV shows, narrative short films, feature films, non-narrative films, etc.). Within those categories we look for technical, conceptual or aesthetic innovation and excellence. Does the filmmaker achieve what they set out to do? Is the idea/execution original or a tired cliché? We want works that are honest, original, and have a distinct personality.
1) Your film was produced before June 15th, 2013.
2) We don't receive an entry form for your submission, or it is incomplete
3) We don't receive a preview copy of your submission, or it is an ineligible format
4) Elvis references of any kind.
5) The use of any of the following musical pieces:
Also Sprach Zarathustra - Richard Strauss (more commonly called the Theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey)
The Blue Danube - J. Strauss
William Tell Overture - Rossini (that includes either the "Lone Ranger" or "Sunrise" segments)
These references have been overused to the point where they cannot even work in a satirical/parodic manner.
As of 2014, we screen from digital sources only. This means that we will only accept digital file formats for screening purposes. More information regarding preferred file formats will be provided with your selection notice if your film is chosen to be screened.
Should you come from a country for which Canada requires a letter, you will need to inform us. The Festival will write a letter of invitation to you and then a copy of that letter, plus a formal letter will be sent (via fax, email and letter mail) to the Canadian Consulate/Embassy in your jurisdiction.
The festival provides free hotel accommodations for directors whose film has been selected for competition. For others planning to attend, contact information for downtown hotels, bed & breakfasts and hostels are listed on our website. Visitors can make their own reservations.
Try a different web browser (Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer) and make sure you upgrade to the newest version. If you’re still having problems, try the Site Help link at the bottom of the website. If that doesn't help, please email us at
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and we’ll take care of it right away.
Depending on your connection speed, the size of the files, and the time of day, it may take awhile for additional files to upload properly and you may have to wait a number of minutes. If you continue to have problems, feel free to email the files to
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, divided so that emails do not exceed 10 megabytes in size.
Make note of the name of the file you wish to have removed and email us at
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Make note of the Entry ID for the entry you wish to have removed and email us at
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