The Second Annual Rockport Film Festival

OPEN CALL FOR ENTRIES • Select a Category of Entry to continue.

Narrative Fiction Feature - Any narrative feature over 35 minutes.

Narrative Fiction Short - Any Narrative Film under 35 minutes.

Documentary Feature - Any Documentary Feature over 35 minutes.

Documentary Short - Any Documentary Short under 35 minutes.

Animated Short - Any Animated Short under 30 minutes.

Student Film - Student-produced Narrative or Documentary under 90 minutes.

Awards

		Best Documentary Feature		Best Fiction Feature
		Best Documentary Short		Best Fiction Short
		Best Animation		Best Student Film
		People's Choice
		Rotary International Humanitarian Award

MISSION & OBJECTIVE

International in scope but local in flavor, the Rockport Film Festival's mission is to celebrate the power of cinema on the Texas Coast. The festival provides a venue for independent filmmaking to be seen, heard and discussed in one of America's top 10 coastal art colonies. A partnership between Rockport Center for the Arts and the Rockport Rotary Club, both cultural creativity and humanitarian collaboration are covered by the Rockport Film Festival. "You show us your films, we'll show you a great time!"

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Rockport Texas is a charming coastal town of unique beauty, nestled on a peninsula of wind swept oaks and palms right on Aransas Bay. Commercial oyster and shrimp boats still venture from its harbors and bays, along with pleasure and sport fishing rigs. The surrounding wetlands and estuaries are a winter home to migratory birds. The natural beauty draws many artists to settle here.

Rockport is a favorite vacation destination with its blue wave beach and a growing retirement community. Coastal Living magazine recently named Rockport "one of the top 10 coastal art communities" in the country, and includes the quaint downtown Heritage District, venue for the festival, hoasts of shops, museums, galleries for local, regional and national artists, coffee shops, and restaurants.

Guest filmmakers will be welcomed by the community and given the opportunity to enjoy and explore the area. Throughout the festival there will be discussions with the filmmakers, receptions and afterparties. An awards ceremony will conclude the festival, recognizing the best films submitted and juried by a special panel of judges.

The RFF is co-sponsored by the Rockport Center for the Arts & the Rockport Rotary International. It enjoys the support of the Rockport -Fulton Chamber of Commerce, the downtown Heritage District and other community groups and businesses. Rotary International is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provide humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in business and professions, and helps build goodwill, peace and understanding in the world. All proceeds from the festival will be for Rockport Rotary's local and international projects and to enhance the work of the Rockport Center for the Arts.

In the documentary categories and student categories all works are welcomed. Special consideration will be given documentaries that 1. focus on the work of artists; and 2. deal with stories of people who provide service above self in the community, stories that deal with the environment, and conservation, issues of peace, understanding and humanitarian issues.

ORGANIZERS:

John Aäsp (Film Festival Co-Director); Robert O "Roc" Curry (Film Festival Director/Founder)

GENERAL RULES

1. Submissions can be through WithoutABox (WAB), using the WAB online entry forms.

2. We encourage the submission of international films, but all films must be either be in English or have English sub-titles.

3. Films must have been completed no earlier than January 1, 2004.

4. Films must be available for screening during the festival, November 6-8, 2008.

5. By submitting a film to Rockport Film Festival (RFF), you agree to allow highlights or excerpts of your film (e.g. a trailer) to be placed on the RFF website and used for other marketing and promotional purposes. You also agree to allow RFF to promote the following year's festival by using your film, in whole or part, in promotional "Best of" screenings. RFF will never solicit or screen your film outside the promotion of the RFF.

6. You may submit as many entries as you like. Each entry requires its own entry fee.

7. Please submit your entry on DVD, Region 1 format. Include the title of the film and running time and category on the DVD along with the WAB number. On the case please include running time, name of contact person, phone number and/or e-mail address, category and WAB Tracking ID.

8. Submit the films to Rockport Film Festival, c/o John Aäsp, Rockport Center for the Arts, 902 Navigation Circle, Rockport, TX, 78382.

9. The selected works will be exhibited in the DV Cam format. Exhibition submissions can be DVD Region 1, mini-dv, beta-cam, or DV Cam.

10. The submitted tapes will not be returned unless explicitly requested with a pre-paid mailer. RFF is not responsible for lost or damaged DVDs or tapes. DVD screeners are typically not returned.

11. In accordance with the RFF policy, the entry fee is non-refundable. You will not be allowed to enter your work, unless you agree to abide by the terms and conditions of the RFF.

12. Filmmaker must have obtained all clearances for exhibition and must certify that the work is original and no disputes regarding ownership exist on the film.

13. All entries must be postmarked by September 22th, 2008.

14. Finalists will be notified by October 10, 2008 if their film will be screened and considered with the other finalists for the awards of recognition. Please understand that acceptance in the festival will in no way guarantee that you, your actors or crew will be offered paid transportation or lodging for the event. We do promise a good time, however.

15. Awards will be presented to the "Best Film" in each category at the Awards Ceremony. In addition, the Rockport Rotary will award the "Rotary International Humanitarian Award" for excellence in portrayal of humanitarian issues, and the Rockport Center for the Arts will award the "Platinum Muse" for excellence in portraying visual, performing or literary arts.There will also be a "People's Choice Award," voted on by the audience during the festival.

16. Terms & conditions: By entering the Rockport Film Festival, entrants release, and hold the promoter and host and other contest entities harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, rights, claims and action of any kind arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the festival. The Festival is not responsible for any claim involving copyright, trademark or royalty infringements related to the work. The applicants are responsible for their own insurance and are not covered by the festival's insurance. The submitted works on DVD format will not be returned.

Join us and be part of the buzz!