TERMS AND CONDITIONS

AUTHORITY & RIGHTS

You confirm that you are the rightful owner of the film or have the necessary authority/permission to submit it. If you are submitting on behalf of a team, you must have consent from all producers/rights-holders. You must also have permission from any third-party rights holders (e.g., music composers, stock footage providers). You warrant that no other party's rights are infringed and that you will indemnify the festival for any losses or damages arising from claims regarding rights or disputes.

ORIGINAL CONTENT

Your film must not contain any content that violates copyright or intellectual property rights. All music, footage, images, or graphics must be original or properly licensed. The festival will NOT BE liable for copyright infringements, with responsibility lying solely with the applicant/filmmaker.

PROHIBITED CONTENT

The festival will not accept films that contain hateful or malicious content. Specifically, we disallow content that promotes racism, hate speech, communal or religious disharmony, gender discrimination, extreme violence towards animals, or serves as propaganda for any extremist ideology. Pornography or material illegal under Indian laws will also not be screened. Films violating these guidelines will be disqualified.

CERTIFICATION & GOVERNMENT CLEARANCE

While Indian law generally requires censorship clearance for public screenings, the festival will obtain an exemption from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for festival screenings. Therefore, a CBFC certificate is NOT required for submission or selection. If a film is already CBFC certified, only that version will be screened. Otherwise, the festival will apply for a one-time screening exemption from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (Govt. of India) on behalf of all selected films. Submitting implies agreement to cooperate with this process. It notes that the exemption process is usually routine for recognized festivals, and filmmakers typically don't need to do anything, but may be asked for an undertaking or information in rare cases. All screened films will have either a CBFC certificate or an official exemption letter.

LEGAL CLEARANCES

Films should not be under any pending legal disputes or litigation that could affect their screening. Any court injunctions or disputes must be resolved or disclosed before submission. Misrepresentation can lead to disqualification.

INSTITUTIONAL FILMS

For films produced by a film institute, university, government agency, or organization, an NOC (No Objection Certificate) or written permission from the relevant authority is required for submission and screening. Examples: a student diploma film needs the institute's nod; a funded film needs organizational permission. Proof of such permission may be requested if the film is selected.

USAGE OF SUBMITTED MATERIALS

By entering, the filmmaker grants The Bhopal Film Festival the rights to screen your film (if selected) without any screening fee. Permission is also granted to use promotional materials (stills, trailers, clips, film title, synopsis) in the festival catalogue, website, social media, and press releases for marketing.

The festival will not commercially exploit the film; rights remain with the filmmaker. This usage is solely for promoting the screening and the festival.

The applicant grants an irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual license to show, use, market, copy, modify, publish, distribute, create derivative works from, and display the film in any format and media for non-commercial purposes, without additional payment.

NO SCREENING FEE & NO RETURN OF MATERIALS

The festival will not pay any screening fee, licensing fee, or shipping cost. We assume submitters understand this for an indie festival with free submission and non-commercial intent. Physical media or materials submitted will not be returned. Since the process is primarily online, this likely doesn't apply. The festival also cannot provide insurance for any tapes/drives sent, preferring online submission to avoid this.

FINAL DECISION

Decisions by the festival selection committee and jury regarding film selection, categorization, awards, or any other competition aspect are final and binding. The festival organizers reserve the right to disqualify any entry that violates rules or to resolve unaddressed cases at their discretion, aligning with principles of fairness and integrity.

Exceptions or changes to rules may be made in special cases, with participants informed accordingly.

By submitting, applicants agree that no legal claim or dispute will be pursued against the festival, jury, organizers, or partners regarding selection or awards, and they accept all above terms and interpretations by the festival management.

PARTICIPATION & CONDUCT

If selected, the filmmaker/representative should maintain professional conduct.

Any attempt to unduly influence jury members or the selection process will result in immediate disqualification. The festival aims to keep the process transparent and fair to all.

By adhering to these terms, a smooth festival experience is ensured for organizers, audiences, and filmmakers alike. These rules follow standards set by respected festivals, adapted to the local context.