Rules & terms

Criteria, style & structure

There are no rigid thematic or genre restrictions. Every project is juried by our academy panel and will be exhibited or reviewed within its designated film category.

The Festival seeks inventive, incisive, bold, vital and provocative works of any style, medium or genre.

Prize eligibility. Official Festival Prizes are strictly reserved for Short Films, Animations and Documentaries. Feature Films are evaluated entirely separately through the Academy Awards track and are not eligible for standard festival-level prize categories.

Submission eligibility

Official Competition. To enter the competitive Academy or Festival categories, the film must satisfy at least one of our core eligibility requirements: Persian filmmaker, Persian co-production, Persian crew, or Persian theme or subject matter.

Guest Exhibition. Submissions not meeting these requirements are evaluated strictly for non-competitive Guest Showcases (our World Section).

Entry formats & deadlines

Exhibition formats. Accepted formats for exhibition or academy review include digital H.264 files (with a Blu-ray back-up if requested). Depending on venue technical specs, a ProRes file may be requested.

Submission method. Entries must be submitted as online screeners via FilmFreeway. Secure, password-protected Vimeo links are welcome. We do not accept DCP files.

Completion window. All entries must have been completed before January 15 of each festival year.

Delivery deadline. Accepted digital exhibition media must be received by the Persian Awards traffic logging department no later than February 15.

Procedures & fees

There is no entry fee. Film submission to the Persian Film Awards is completely free.

Film length

• Features (Academy track): 41 minutes or longer.
• Shorts (festival track): 40 minutes or shorter, including short animations and short documentaries.

General agreements & programming

Submission of a work confirms that the Persian Awards Group (Persian Film Awards, PFA) has explicit permission to exhibit or review the project during the main event cycle and any subsequent official festival tours.

Submission implies that the event can use moving-image excerpts (trailers or teasers) and reproduce stills for promotional, marketing and academy or festival evaluation purposes.

Persian Awards hosts a "Best of Fest" screening series after the main event. If your film is selected for it, your explicit permission will be requested.

The general program, screening schedule and venue assignments remain the exclusive responsibility and discretion of the Festival and Academy Committee.

Once an entry form is completed and submitted, accepted films cannot be withdrawn from the official schedule or voting process.

Disclaimer

Every reasonable precaution is taken in handling entries. However, neither the organizers, employees, sponsors nor participating organizations can assume responsibility for the damage or loss of submitted materials. All films scheduled for presentation at PFA are previewed before screening or academy evaluation, with their physical or digital condition logged. Filmmakers are notified immediately if a file arrives corrupted or damaged.

Terms and conditions (regulations)

I, the authorized representative of the project being submitted (the "Film"), acknowledge and agree to the following terms in connection with the Film's submission to the Persian Awards International Film Festival, Persian Film Awards (the "Festival/Academy"):

• Acceptance of a film does not guarantee airline, travel or hotel accommodations for talent, directors or production crew.
• No physical or digital media assets are returned after the event cycle.
• The number of screenings, exhibition days, review panels and venue locations is at the sole discretion of Persian Awards.
• All accepted films must supply an H.264 file (and/or a Blu-ray screener if requested) and may be invited to a "Best of Fest" program after the event.

I represent and warrant that: (a) I am duly authorized, on my own behalf and on behalf of all other persons or entities who hold ownership or intellectual property rights in the Film (the "Film's Owners"), to submit this Film; (b) exhibition or evaluation of the Film will not violate any law or third-party rights; and (c) the Film is not subject to any active litigation, arbitration or adversarial legal claims.

I warrant that the submission will not infringe any copyright, patent, privacy right, publicity right, trademark or property right of any person or entity, and does not contain defamatory material. I have paid, and will pay in full, all licensing fees, music clearances and other financial obligations associated with the project.

I acknowledge that the presentation or evaluation of the Film does not create a confidential or fiduciary relationship between the organizers and the Film's Owners. Neither I nor the Film's Owners will receive financial compensation or screening fees. Selection does not constitute an endorsement of the film's opinions or content by the Persian Awards Collaborative.

I agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Festival, the Academy, the Persian Awards Collaborative and their respective parents, affiliates, officers, directors, employees and agents from any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages and expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees) arising out of the presentation of the film or any breach of the representations made here.

I warrant that this submission is voluntary. I waive and relinquish any right to assert claims or commence proceedings in any forum against Persian Awards or its related parties based on the selection, exhibition, evaluation or failure to exhibit the Film.

If accepted, I grant the right to use footage, stills, titles and biographical information for promotional, marketing and academy voting purposes, and agree to provide valid contact information for the director and producers.

I represent that I am 18 years of age or older, or have provided verified written consent from a parent or legal guardian.

Arbitration. I agree that any claim, dispute or controversy arising out of or relating to the Film, the event or these terms will be governed by the substantive laws of the Persian Awards and must be submitted to exclusive, binding arbitration before a single arbitrator in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, administered by the Persian Awards under its Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures. The arbitrator's award is final, binding and non-appealable, and judgment may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction in Canada. I waive my right to litigate claims in federal or provincial courts and the right to a jury trial.

This document supersedes any information obtained elsewhere, including prior years' rules, website FAQs or verbal communications.

By submitting my film, I freely, voluntarily and completely accept all terms, conditions and regulations outlined above.