The Spinning Wheel Film Festival: A Call For Submissions
The Spinning Wheel Film Festival - Hollywood 2008 - Film Submission Form
The Spinning Wheel Film Festival is a celebration of films by, about and for Sikhs.
It is now in its sixth year, with annual festivals in Toronto, New York, Los Angeles and Washington D.C., and new ones "under construction" in Europe and Asia. Festivals have also been held at Miami and San Francisco.
The Spinning Wheel hereby invites submissions for its new season commencing in the Fall of 2008, with festivals already scheduled for Toronto, New York and Los Angeles. [Washington D.C. is holding its second annual festival on June 20-21, 2008.]
Films in all genres are welcome, including shorts, documentaries, features, archival and historical footage, and works-in-progress.
The length of each submission may vary - from a minute long to 180 minutes in duration.
The language preferred is English or Punjabi, but other languages are welcome if subtitles are provided in either of these two languages.
All may apply - submissions are welcome from every corner of the globe. Men, women and children may enter ... Sikhs and non-Sikh filmmakers are equally welcome.
Films made in the last twelve months are particularly welcome, though productions from past years can also be submitted and will be considered.
The criteria used to select the films to be screened will include quality of form and substance, a nexus with Sikh issues or interests, novelty of approach, and choice of subject matter.
We encourage submissions on the full gamut of subjects including children's films, education, music, art, sports, humour, politics, religion, current issues, women's issues, youth, seniors, racism, immigration, history, architecture, careers and professions.
Controversial issues are not taboo, as long as the thesis or treatment is logical, sincere, honest and not intended to create mischief. And the submissions must not be intentionally offensive.
Irreverence or "pushing the envelope" is not taboo, again as long as it is done within boundaries of good taste and decency.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS JULY 31, 2008, by which date the same should arrive by mail or courier to the following address:
The Spinning Wheel Film Festival - Hollywood 2008 - Film Submission Form
The preview copy should be in the form of a DVD or VHS tape in North American format.
The applicant will hear from our staff no later than August 31, 2008, but ONLY IF THE FILM IN QUESTION HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR SCREENING. There will be NO notification if the film has not been selected. The preview copies will NOT be returned to the applicants. [They will be retained in the SWFF files for record purposes; they will be kept secure and confidential and not used for any other purpose.]
The choice of films to be screened will be solely in the discretion of the Film Selection Committee. No reasons for selection or rejection of any film will be provided.
Please provide full details of the filmmakers, as well contact information, including phone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses, etc. Please also advise if you are available to attend any or all of the festivals where your film will be screened ... if invited, your travel and accomodation will be paid for by the host Spinning Wheel.
CAVEAT:
No other person, entity or Spinning Wheel chapter is authorized to solicit or receive submissions on behalf of any of the Spinning Wheel Festivals. The Spinning Wheel Film Festival [International Office in Toronto] takes full responsibility for the security and confidentiality with respect to each film received by it, whether screened or not, but will not be responsible for any submissions sent to anyone else. All submissions must solely be sent to the address given hereinabove or to one of the following three members of the selection committee: Dr Birinder Singh Ahluwalia, Bicky Singh, T. Sher Singh.
This call for submissions is for the screening of films in each Spinning Wheel chapter around the world.
The Spinning Wheel Film Festival - Hollywood 2008 - Film Submission Form