Rules & Regulations for Submitting to the Detours International Film Festival

Welcome to the Detours International Film Festival! Below are the submission guidelines to help ensure your project meets our eligibility requirements.

General Submission Guidelines:

Submission Categories:
Projects must fit into one of the following categories:

U.S. Narrative Feature Films

U.S. Documentary Feature Films

International Narrative Feature Films

International Documentary Feature Films

U.S. Short Films

International Short Films

Episodic Content (60 minutes or less)

Episodic Content (over 60 minutes)

Eligibility:

Projects must be completed after January 1, 2023.

Projects must not have been publicly released before February 3, 2025, unless the version submitted is significantly different.
U.S. and International Short Films have no premiere requirements.

Premiere Status:

Feature Films must retain world or international premiere status depending on the submission category.

Language Requirements:

Projects with significant non-English dialogue must include on-screen English subtitles.

Technical Requirements:

All submissions must be provided as a Vimeo or YouTube link or through direct digital upload.

Submission Deadlines:

Submissions must be completed and marked “In Consideration” by 11:59 PM on the final day of the deadline window.

Contact Information:

Applicants must ensure their contact information is accurate throughout the selection process.

Submission Process:

How to Submit:

Visit https://www.difilmfest.com/ to complete the submission form.

Pay the applicable submission fee.

Review and Selection:

The Festival reserves the right to determine the eligibility and program placement of all submissions.

Selected projects will be notified using the contact information provided.

Accepted Projects:

Accepted projects may be presented in-person, online, or both, as determined by the Festival.

Important Notes:

Short Films: No restrictions on prior screenings or availability for short films.

Feature Films: Must not have been publicly released in their current form prior to February 3, 2025.

Legal Responsibility: It is the applicant’s responsibility to clear all rights for copyrighted or trademarked content.

Disqualification: Projects that fail to meet the guidelines may be disqualified without a refund of the submission fee.

For more information or questions, please contact us at info@difilmfest.com or visit our website at [festival website link]. We look forward to seeing your work!