San Diego Latino Film Festival 2006 CALL FOR ENTRIES Media Arts Center San Diego seeking films and videos for 13th Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival (March 9-19, 2006) Introduction Media Arts Center San Diego’s prestigious and internationally recognized San Diego Latino Film Festival, soars into its 13th year with impressive and exhilarating new activities, special events and initiatives. The 13th Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival (SDLFF) is now accepting entries for the 2006 festival. SDLFF will take place March 9-19, 2006 at the Mann Theaters at Hazard Center located in beautiful San Diego, California. Last year’s festival was attended by an audience of 17,000 actively-engaged film lovers, filmmakers, actors, programmers, distributors, industry representatives and journalists. The San Diego Latino Film Festival has used the unique geographical and cultural position of the San Diego Border Region to make the festival a premiere venue for the exhibition of international and U.S. Latino features, shorts and documentaries. The 2006 San Diego Latino Film Festival will include expanded opportunities for participating filmmakers and their films/videos to take the spotlight. The following is just a taste of what filmmakers and attendees can experience by participating at the upcoming San Diego Latino Film Festival: * 100 feature and short films to be screened; * over 100 guest filmmakers and actors; * SDLFF Awards Competition; * Latino New Media & Entertainment Sidebar; Workshops/Seminars with industry representatives and filmmakers (i.e. "Financing", "Distribution"); * Screenplay Contest; * 1st Annual Latino On-line Festival; * SDLFF’s "Top Ten to Watch"; * Celebrity Guest Curator; * annual showcase of "Latinos in TV"; * "Tributes" to acclaimed filmmakers/actors; * Concerts @ the Fest; * Pre-Fest Launch Parties; * "Best of Fest" showcase; * Opening, Centerpiece, and Closing Night Gala Celebrations; * the SDLFF Awards Ceremony; * Student Outreach Screenings; * "Meet the Filmmaker" Dialogues; and, * SDLFF’s Annual "Cine Cubano" Sidebar. Twelve years ago, the San Diego Latino Film Festival was originally established as a student film festival focusing on works by Latinos and/or about the Latino Experience. Since that time, the San Diego Latino Film Festival has developed into one of the larger and most well respected Latino film festivals in the country. Over 105,000 people have attended during the past ten years, and 980 films/videos from across Latin America and the United States have been screened. Past festival guests have included such renowned individuals as John Leguizamo, Alfonso Cuaron, Diego Luna, Gael Garcia, Carlos Carrera, Rodrigo Prieto, Alex Lora, Lupe Ontiveros, Bruno Bichir, Tony Plana, Elpidia Carrillo, Humberto Solas, Dennis Leoni, Arturo Ripstein, Luis Mandoki, Carmen Salinas, Adal Ramones, Danny Trejo, Paul Rodriguez, Patssi Valdez, Luis Valdez, Gregory Nava, Edward James Olmos, Lourdes Portillo, Moctesuma Esparza, Ray Bradbury, Jacob Vargas, Patricia Velasquez, Fernando Sariñana, Lucia Murat, Nancy de los Santos, Vanessa Bauche, and hundreds of other emerging and established Latino filmmakers. Selection Process: The festival is seeking innovative works that are 'by', 'about' or 'for' the Latino community, that have been produced between 2004-2006. Work previously exhibited in the San Diego / Tijuana Border Region – whether theatrically at another local festival or broadcast on television, – is not eligible to apply. A panel of distinguished curators from the San Diego and Tijuana community will select the films and videos to be screened during the "Official Selection" of the festival. All entries will be pre-screened for eligibility by curators, however, not all entries will be programmed. An additional panel of distinguished filmmakers, film critics, and actors will sit on this year's Awards Jury. Awards are given for excellence in form and content.  Awards Categories include: * Best Narrative Feature (40 min. and longer), * Best Documentary Feature (40 min. and longer), * Best Documentary Short (under 40 min.), * Best Narrative Short (under 40 min.), * Best Experimental Work, * Best Youth Work (For film and video works shot, directed and produced by youth under 18 years old), * Best Local Work (produced or directed by a current resident of San Diego / Tijuana Border Region), * Best Student Work, * "Audience Award" (popular ballot), Winners will share cash & prizes! Deadline for submissions to the festival is November 30, 2005.  HYPERLINK "mailto:HOW TO ENTER PREVIEW FORMAT: For review purposes, entries must be submitted on VHS (NTSC, PAL) or DVD. An entrant may submit any number of titles. However, each title must be submitted on a separate entry form and cassette or DVD and include a separate ent" HOW TO ENTER PREVIEW FORMAT: For review purposes, entries must be submitted on VHS (NTSC, PAL) or DVD. An entrant may submit any number of titles. However, each title must be submitted on a separate entry form and cassette or DVD and include a separate entry fee. SUBTITLED ENTRIES: All non-English-language entries must have English subtitles for preview and for Festival presentation. Exceptions may be made for entries with little or no dialogue. If you have questions, please contact us before sending your entry. DEADLINE: Tape or DVD, completed entry form, and nonrefundable entry fee must be received in our office by 5:00 p m PST, Tuesday, November 30, 2005. LATE ENTRIES: Late entries will be accepted until Thursday, December 15, 2005 and must be accompanied by an additional $25 late fee. You can avoid the late charge if you complete the Entry Form and send the regular entry fee by Monday, November 21 indicating that your entry will arrive later. (The tape or DVD of the entry must still arrive by Thursday, December 15, 2005.) The Festival is unable to waive entry fee or provide discounts beyond those indicated. CATEGORIES & ELIGIBILITY: Entries may be submitted in only one category.  Categories include: Narrative Feature (40 min. and longer), Documentary Feature (40 min. and longer), Documentary Short (under 40 min.), Narrative Short (under 40 min.), Experimental Work, Youth Work (For film and video works shot, directed and produced by youth under 18 years old), Local Work (produced or directed by a current resident of San Diego / Tijuana Border Region), and Student Work. EXHIBITION: Films/videos chosen for the Official Selection will be announced by Tuesday, January 31, 2006. will be shown during the Festival in there original film gauge or video format whenever possible. We can show any film or video format with the exception of one-inch, hi-band, U-Matic PAL and Beta PAL. Please note that the Festival can only present films with and optical soundtrack; films with magnetic stripe or a double-system (separate) soundtrack cannot de shown. All films and videos in a language other than English must be subtitled in English for Festival presentation. AWARDS: Competition judges reserve the right to withhold any awards if entries in any category do not meet the awards criteria. Jury decisions are final. Awards will be announced at awards ceremony on Saturday, March 18th. ENTRY FEES: Entry fees are based on running time. Entry fee: $15 (shorts) and $25 (features). Payment in U.S dollars only please. Domestic entries may pay by check (payable to MEDIA ARTS CENTER SAN DIEGO), money order, Visa or MasterCard. International entries please pay by Visa or MasterCard. Checks or money orders are not accepted for international entries. International entrants who do not wish to pay by credit card must contact the San Diego Latino Film Festival for instructions on sending a bank wire transfer. Do not send cash. Entry fees are not refundable. SHIPPING INFORMATION PACKAGING: Ship your cassette or DVD in a bubble-pack envelope. A fiberpack envelope can cause damage to tapes and tape decks. COST & LABELING: All shipping costs to and from San Diego must be bourne by the sender. All tapes and DVDs must indicate title, shipper's name and return shipping address. INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES: We recommend that all entries from outside the U.S. be sent Air Mail Registered or by a parcel or express service. We cannot accept entries shipped via air freight if customs and delivery fees have not been prepaid. RETURN OF ENTRIES: Unless you indicate on the entry form, preview tapes will not be returned. Please add an additional $10.00 return fee to the entry fee amount. You may also provide us with your FedEx or DHL account number, and we will return your tape by either of these services. Cassettes and DVD's may be picked up between February 16 and April 30 at the Festival offices during business hours at no cost. After April 30, 2006. unclaimed cassettes will be recycled. The Festival is not responsible for any damage to tapes or DVD's incurred during shipping. Send all entries to: San Diego Latino Film Festival 2006 c/o Media Arts Center San Diego 921 25th Street San Diego, CA 92102, U.S.A. TEL: (619) 230-1938 FAX: (619) 230-1937 E-MAIL: sdlff@mediaartscenter.org  Call for Entries Form - 2006 (Please print out form & mail to festival staff) Film Title ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Original language title: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Country (ies) of production: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Running time: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Year completed and/or premier airdate: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Original Language(s): ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Competition Category: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Is this a first feature by director? Yes__________ No__________ Color: Color__________ B&W__________ FORMATS Submitted format for preview: __ English soundtrack   __ English subtitles __ No dialogue __ VHS-NTSC       __ DVD __ VHS-PAL Production format ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Format for public screening ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ASPECT RATIO (for public screening) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FILM (Circle one) 1.33 1.66 1.85 2.35 VIDEO (Circle one) 4:3 16:9 PAYMENT & RETURN Entry fee enclosed: __ $25 (feature) __ $15 (short) __ + $25 (late fee, if applicable) Return to a U.S. or international address __ Add $10 __ Add $3.00 per additional title Use my: __ FedEx __ DHL account Account number: ____________________________ __ Will pick up entry __ Do not return Total amount enclosed: ____________________________ Method of payment: __ Check __ Money Order __ Visa __ MasterCard Pay Entry Fees on-line with a credit card. Click here: Account number: ____________________________ Expiration date: ____________________________ Signature: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ NOTE Make check payable to" "MEDIA ARTS CENTER SAN DIEGO" Contact information: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Contact person: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Company name: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Address: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Telephone: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fax: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Email: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Web site for film: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CREDITS Name(s) to appear on any award certificate Director: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Producer: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Production Company: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Screenwriter: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cinematographer: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Editor: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Principal Cast: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MATERIALS Please include any other available information you think would be helpful including synopsis, production notes and reviews. Materials will not be returned. Digital materials are acceptable. Logline Mandatory! Do not refer to enclosed materials Describe your entry in 100 words or less: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Print source: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ How did you learn about the festival? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Have you previously participated in the festival? Yes _____ Year ______ No ______ Release authorization I the undersigned acknowledge and agree as follows 1) I have read, understood and complied with all eligibility and entry requirements. 2) I am legally authorized to enter this film in the San Diego Latino Film Festival and agree that, if accepted, a film print or NTSC Beta SP tape will be made available for screening during the festival. 3) I hold the San Diego Latino Film Festival harmless from damage to or loss of the print or entry form in route to the festival. 4) The San Diego Latino Film Festival is permitted to retain a videotape copy of any work-selected in the Official Selection for a non-circulating Festival library. Signature ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Please mail the above entry to: San Diego Latino Film Festival 2006 c/o Media Arts Center San Diego 921 25th Street San Diego, CA 92102 E-mail: sdlff@sdlatinofilm.com Telephone: 619-230-1938 FAX: 619-230-1937