TAMIL NADU FILM FESTIVAL

RULES

The 2nd Tamil Nadu Film Festival (TNFF 2024) will be held from 10th to 19th August 2024 at LE MAGIC LANTERN, Lake Area, 18, 5th Cross St, Nungambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600034. Phone: 044 – 2817 4444 / 5555, Tamil Nadu, India.

ENTRIES OPEN

We are now accepting entries for the 2nd TNFF 2024. The last date for submission is 20th June 2024.

We have a few submission partners. Click the one you are most comfortable with; FILMFREEWAY, FESTHOME & CLICK FOR FESTIVALS

ARTICLE 1: MISSION & OBJECTIVE

MISSION

Tamil Nadu Film Festival (TNFF) is an international competitive festival of its kind, hosted in Chennai City. TNFF is all about celebrating, educating, empowering, promoting, and proliferating amazing quality independent Cinema in Chennai (Formerly known as Madras) the capital city of the State of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu Film Festival is a platform to promote inter-cultural relationships, discuss diversity in the current state of the Film Industry and help bring change in the future state of the Film Industry.

OBJECTIVE

TNFF will strive to acquire thought-provoking films and showcase excellence in filmmaking. TNFF will strive to ensure that Cinema will remain the most powerful vehicle for the freedom of speech and expression. TNFF will strive to discover new voices by being transparent in programming films mostly from submissions. TNFF will try to screen films with Closed Captioning and Audio Descriptions to enable people who are blind and deaf to enjoy films just like all the enabled people. TNFF will strive to become the Filmmaker’s Festival and the People’s Festival by being a platform that lets audiences be truly engaged and connected with every film through open questionnaire sessions after screenings. TNFF will promote both classic & contemporary films of all genres. TNFF will strive to help people appreciate and respect the ethnicity of the people and the places projected through the films. TNFF will strive to spread Hope, Peace, Joy & Love to filmmakers, producers, and fans alike. TNFF will strive to build strong alumni services for the filmmakers of all editions to come.

ARTICLE 2: ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

J D MEDIA PROMOTIONS

JD Media Promotions, an organization involved in promoting and empowering the film Medium since April 2010 has organized the first edition of Tamil Nadu Film Festival 2020 (TNFF). Due to COVID, the TNFF 2020 Film Festival was conducted online. JD Media Promotions has been the backbone for getting recognition for its many filmmakers (Clients). These filmmakers have achieved great heights because of the visibility they received through screening and winning awards at many International and National film Festivals.

ARTICLE 3: FESTIVAL PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

TNFF offers 10 days of celebration, of amazing quality independent Cinema through the following programs; Live screenings of Local & International Cinema, press opportunities, networking occasions, industry attendance, markets, speed pitches, live reads, Discussion Forum & high-quality Workshops. Forms of Film categories include Narrative Features, Documentary Features, Animated Features, Short Documentaries, Short Films, Animated Films, Music Videos, Short-short films, and Student Productions from film schools.

The TNFF will begin with the Inauguration Ceremony & the Opening film on the first day and will conclude with the closing film & the Awards Ceremony on the final day.

Each year the TNFF will comprise of about 150 films of every genre, length and format. These films find their place in one of the 9 sections:

  1. International Mix (for international cinema)
  2. World Panorama (for films by legendary filmmakers)
  3. Indian Mix (for new discoveries and promising talents from the Indian film world)
  4. Tamil Mix (for good stories and challenging new trends in Tamil Cinema)
  5. Campus Student Mix (for student films from all over the world)
  6. Generation Next – Grade Schooler: 5-12 yrs. (for films made for young audiences in the age group of 5 – 12 years.) & Generation Next – Teen: 13-18 yrs. (for films made for Teen audiences in the age group of 13-18 years.)
  7. Retrospective & Homage (which focuses on a great personality of cinema)
  8. Indian Classics (will show current restored film classics as well as rediscovered films)
  9. Special Presentations (a few handpicked special films will be curated in this section)

The competitive sections are International Mix, Indian Mix, Tamil Mix, Campus Student Mix, Generation NextGrade Schooler & Generation NextTeen.

The non-competitive sections are World Panorama, Retrospective & Homage, Indian Classics & Special Presentations

Awards will be given under 6 major Categories Namely International, National, Regional, Generation Next (Grade Schooler & Generation Next –Teen), Campus Student & Special Mentions.

ARTICLE 4: FORM OF THE FILM & RUN TIME

FORM OF THE FILM

All Narrative Features, Documentary Features, Animated Features, Short Documentaries, Short Films, Short Animations, Music Videos, and Short-Short films are eligible.

RUN TIME

  • Films with a run time of 0 to 120 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Narrative Feature.
  • Films with a minimum run time of 50 Minutes and above and up to any length are eligible under the Form: Documentary Feature.
  • Films with a run time of 0 to 120 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Animated Feature.
  • Films with a minimum run time of 7 Minutes to a maximum run time of 45 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Short Film.
  • Films with a run time of 0 to 50 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Short Documentary.
  • Films with a run time of 0 to 45 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Animated Short.
  • Videos with a run time of 7 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Music Video.
  • Films with a run time of 0 to 5 Minutes are eligible under the Form: Short-Short Film.

ARTICLE 5: GENERAL RULES FOR FILMS IN COMPETITION

  1. All films produced or coproduced four years before the date of the current edition of the TNFF are eligible.
  2. Films made in any language must have English subtitles. All films screened in the Competition Section will be in the Original Language with English subtitles.
  3. The date of completion for International films, where no proof is available, the date of the first theatrical screening will be considered. For all Indian films the date on the certificate issued by the Central Board of Film Certification will be considered. If no certificate is available a signed affidavit on Rs.100/- Stamp Paper stating the date of completion of film will be considered. Theatrical screening dates will not apply to Indian Films.
  4. For all Films without a Certification from the CBFC, the Festival will apply for an exemption from the Information & Broadcasting Ministry, Government of India, for the period of the Festival. The film will be screened subject to receiving this exemption.
  5. Selection of films for competition, are done by a Selection Committee, set up by the Festival Committee. The decision taken by the Festival Committee on the recommendation of the Selection Committee will be considered as final and non-appealable. The Festival Director has a special right to waive any condition for participation in the Competition.
  6. No legal claim can be filed for participation in the competition.
  7. Once officially selected No film shall be withdrawn from the festival programme.
  8. TNFF does not pay rental/screening fees. Instead, our limited resources are invested in the production and promotion of the best possible showcase for your work.
  9. Previously submitted works are not eligible for re-submission.
  10. Films available on YouTube are not eligible. Films available on OTT platforms on a revenue-sharing basis are eligible. The film contains no material, which is gory, obscene, libellous or defamatory.
  11. During the festival, before the official screening, none of the invited films shall be screened outside the festival venue by the filmmakers or entrants
  12. Selection at any other International festival does not ensure selection at TNFF.
  13. Films or revised versions of films submitted in a previous edition of the festival will not be considered for any of the Competition Sections but may be considered for inclusion in non-competitive sections.
  14. Films selected in the Competition sections will be screened by the organizer JD Media Promotions as part of its non-commercial screening activity in other parts of Tamil Nadu State. Prior information will be given to the respective film owners on such occasions.

ARTICLE 6: GENERAL RULES FOR NON-COMPETITIVE SECTION

  1. All films produced or coproduced before four years from the date of the current edition of the TNFF are eligible.
  2. Films except those in English must be in their original version with English subtitles. A Selection committee set up by the Festival committee will recommend films for the non-competitive section called World Panorama.
  3. Curated Sections:
  • The following curated sections are also included in the festival:
    • World Panorama
    • Retrospective & Homage
    • Indian Classics &
    • Special Presentations as per Festival programme

ARTICLE 7: ENTRY FEES, DEADLINES & SELECTION OF FILMS

  1. All submission must be made only through the partnered online submission platforms like FilmFreeway, Festhome, Festival life etc. Preferred submission platform is FilmFreeway. Click on this link to submit https://filmfreeway.com/TamilNaduFilmFestival
  2. All submissions will be considered only upon receiving the entry fee inclusive of 18% GST.
  3. Entry Fee:

INTERNATIONAL FILMS

CATEGORY OF FILMSEARLY BIRD
March 20, 2024

in Indian Rupee
REGULAR DEADLINE
April 20, 2024

in Indian Rupee
LATE DEADLINE
May 20, 2024

in Indian Rupee
EXTENDED DEADLINE
June 20, 2024

in Indian Rupee
Feature Film₹2487₹3315₹4144₹4973
Documentary Feature₹2072₹2487₹2901₹3315
Animated Feature₹2072₹2487₹2901₹3316
Short Films₹1658₹2072₹2487₹2902
Short Documentary₹1243₹1658₹2072₹2487
Animated Short₹1243₹1658₹2072₹2487
Music Videos₹829₹995₹1160₹1326
Short-Short₹859₹995₹1160₹1326

NATIONAL AND REGIONAL FILMS

Note: Entry fees for National, Regional, and Generation Next (National & International) entries.
CATEGORY OF FILMSEARLY BIRD
March 20, 2024

in Indian Rupee
REGULAR DEADLINE
April 20, 2024

in Indian Rupee
LATE DEADLINE
May 20, 2024

in Indian Rupee
EXTENDED DEADLINE
June 20, 2024

in Indian Rupee
Feature Film₹2360₹2950₹3540₹4130
Documentary Feature₹1416₹1770₹2124₹2478
Animated Feature₹1416₹1770₹2124₹2478
Short Documentary₹590₹826₹1062₹1298
Short Films₹944₹1180₹1416₹1652
Animated Short₹590₹826₹1062₹1298
Music Videos₹354₹590₹826₹1062
Short-Short₹354₹590₹826₹1062

STUDENT FILMS (NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS)

CATEGORY OF FILMSEXTENDED DEADLINE
June 20, 2024
In Indian Rupee
EXTENDED DEADLINE
June 20, 2024
In US Dollars
Feature Film140017
Documentary Feature80010
Animated Feature80010
Short Documentary4005
Short Films6008
Animated Short4005
Music Videos3004
Short-Short3004

ARTICLE 8: RULES FOR SELECTION COMMITTEE

  1. The Festival Committee will appoint the Selection committee consisting of eminent persons including filmmakers and others from different fields within the film Industry.
  2. Selection committee members should submit a signed affidavit in the prescribed format stating non-involvement of themselves or any close relative in the entries.
  3. The selection committee can suggest films for screening in Sections other than the entrants’ choice.
  4. The selection Committee will preview films submitted through the partnered online submission platforms only.
  5. Since the festival is in the inception stage it will not be able to provide feedback on the submitted films or give specific reasons for the rejection of any film.
  6. Notification date of officially selected films is approximately 30th July 2023.

ARTICLE 9: JURIES & AWARDS

JURIES

  1. A category-specific jury, comprised of studio/network/streaming executives, entertainment attorneys/managers/ agents, content creators, and other industry experts will be appointed by the Festival Committee. Also, an independent international Jury will be appointed by the Festival Committee. The appointed jury selects the winner (and any deserving honourable mentions) in each category. The decision of the Jury will be final.
  2. The Jury will judge the films chosen by the Selection Committee for the Competition.
  3. In addition to the Cash Awards, the Jury is free to award Special Jury Awards and Mentions to any aspect of filmmaking. These will not carry any cash prizes.

OFFICIAL AWARDS

  1. The Festival Jury will be the final and only authority to judge the films for competition.
  2. The total number of awards given in each edition of the festival will depend on the financial situation of the organizer.
  3. Each Best Award will receive a memento, certificate, and cash award (Note: the cash amount depends on new sponsors. It will be shared equally between the Producer and Director of the Best film.)
  4. Festival Attendees Poll: In addition to the above, TNFF festival attendees vote in an Audience Poll to select an Audience Award winner in the Best Feature and Best Short categories.
  5. Winners are announced via press releases to the key industry trade outlets. Each year, various award categories are sponsored by companies that provide cash and/or in-kind prizes to the winners.
  6. Following awards will be given for films in a competitive category;

INTERNATIONAL MIX AWARDS

  1. Best Narrative Feature
  2. Best Long Documentary Feature
  3. Best Animated Feature
  4. Best Short Documentary
  5. Best Short Film
  6. Best Animated short
  7. Best Music Videos
  8. Best Short-Short film
  9. Best Debut Director (For International Feature)

INDIAN MIX AWARDS

  1. Best Narrative Feature
  2. Best Long Documentary Feature
  3. Best Animated Feature
  4. Best Short Documentary
  5. Best Short Film
  6. Best Animated Short
  7. Best Music Video
  8. Best Short-Short film
  9. Best Debut Director (For Indian Feature)

TAMIL MIX AWARDS

  1. Best Regional Narrative Feature
  2. Best Regional Long Documentary Feature
  3. Best Regional Animated Feature
  4. Best Regional Short Documentary
  5. Best Regional Short Film
  6. Best Regional Animated Short
  7. Best Regional Music Video 
  8. Best Regional Short-Short film
  9. Best Cinematography (For Regional Feature)
  10. Best Editing (For Regional Feature)
  11. Best Music (For Regional Feature)
  12. Best Background score (For Regional Feature)
  13. Best Screenplay (For Regional Feature)
  14. Best Director (For Regional Feature)
  15. Best Debut Director (For Regional Feature)

GENERATION NEXT AWARDS

GENERATION NEXTGRADE SCHOOLER

  1. Best Narrative Feature
  2. Best Long Documentary Feature
  3. Best Animated Feature
  4. Best Short Documentary
  5. Best Short Film
  6. Best Animated Short
  7. Best Music Videos
  8. Best Short-short Film

GENERATION NEXTTEEN

  1. Best  Narrative Feature
  2. Best  Long Documentary Feature
  3. Best  Animated Feature
  4. Best  Short Documentary
  5. Best  Short Film
  6. Best  Animated Short
  7. Best  Music Videos
  8. Best Short-short Film

CAMPUS STUDENT AWARDS

  1. Best Student Feature
  2. Best Student Documentary Feature
  3. Best Student Animated Feature
  4. Best Student Short Film
  5. Best Student Short Documentary
  6. Best Student Animated Short
  7. Best Student Music Videos
  8. Best Student Short-short Film

SPECIAL AWARDS

Special Honourable Jury Mention Awards, Special Festival Mentions Awards, Social Relevance Awards & Audience Awards (based on festival attendees votes) in each category.

ARTICLE 10: INSURANCE & SHIPPING

  1. The festival will not incur shipping cost of films screened in of the Festival.
  2. Only the final screening material of the Films will be sent back to the participants at the address indicated in the entry form or as instructed in writing.
  3. TNFF 2022 will pay storage and insurance costs of films selected for the festival throughout the period during which the cinematographic materials are held in the custody of festival authority. In case of print loss or damage, the liability of the festival authority will not exceed the value indicated in the official entry forms.

ARTICLE 11: COPIES FOR ARCHIVE

The film submitted for the Competition will be stored in the Festival Library for use by the Festival Office for non-commercial, educational screening.

ARTICLE 12:

The Director of the festival has the authority to settle all cases not covered by the present rules. All appeals may be addressed to the Festival Director.

ARTICLE 13:

No cuts or changes will be made to the films by the festival management for any reason. The Festival undertakes to abide by International Regulations not to screen an entry more than three times.

ARTICLE 14:

  1. The final screening materials of selected films must reach the Festival Office by 20th July 2024.
  2. The required format of the final screening material for the festival will be intimated to the film owners upon the official selection of the films.

ARTICLE 15:

The import, distribution & commercial exhibition of all films to be presented in any section of the festival will be exempted from customs duty.

ARTICLE 16: SCREENING WITHIN OFFICIAL SELECTION

Films will be presented within the official section of the festival, only if they have been produced following cinematographic professional rulings in the country of production and if their priority destination is for normal and continued theatrical exhibition.

ARTICLE 17: ANNOUNCEMENT OF OFFICIAL SELECTIONS

The list of films selected for the festival will be posted on the Festival website https://tamilnadufilmfestival.com/ by 30th July 2024. All the entrants of films will be informed in writing about their Official Selection Status.

ARTICLE 18: FESTIVAL LOCATION

The festival will ensure that the films are screened at the best available theatres/ location depending upon the funds available to conduct the festival. The names of the theatres/locations and their seating capacities will be made available for information. The festival will also make available a schedule of the entire program that will take place during the festival period.

ARTICLE 19: PRESSKIT

All relevant information regarding a film should be furnished in the submission for inclusion in the official festival book.

ARTICLE 20: SCREENING TO PRESS

The festival will not present any film to any person or organization (other than the International jury) before the official public screening or eventually, before the general screening for the journalists, unless specifically asked for by the producer.

ARTICLE 21:

  1. One representative either one director or one producer of the officially selected film for the competition will be invited to participate in the festival.
  2. If he/she is unable to attend he/she may nominate any other member of the cast or crew, in writing.
  3. The Festival Director reserves the right to invite any person or persons connected with the film as guests to participate in the festival.

ARTICLE 22:

  1. Participation in the festival implies acceptance of all the aforementioned regulations and selection conditions.
  2. All final exhibition materials may be sent via online file transfer. Since we are a completely eco-friendly festival we do not like any material in hard copies.