That's brilliant. Just follow these simple guidelines for submitting your film.

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Please read these rules carefully to make sure that your film meets the requirements to submit:

1. Films selected to be at the festival last year cannot be submitted again for the festival this year.

2. The film must be no longer than 15 minutes (excluding Short Features which will be up to 45 minutes). This must include a title screen and credits.

3. The film must have been completed within the last two years (beginning January 2023).

4. If your film contains any verbal dialogue, the film must come with English subtitles embedded in the film.

5. The concept of the film must be of original ideas. Any external materials used in the film (i.e. music, videos and so on) must be appropriately secured by the person/group submitting.

6. The film must be submitted by the final deadline on the 1st of August at 11:59 pm (BST Time) to be counted. Any film submitted after this final deadline will not be counted.

7. Every selected film will receive a laurel and a certificate with the chance of being screened at our live event (all selected films will be shown online).
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PLEASE NOTE!​

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• Submission fees are NON-REFUNDABLE and non-negotiable!!

• The categories 'Student', 'Interpretari (LGBT this year)' and 'UK Short Feature'  and `International Short Feature' welcome all film genres to their categories, not just one genre.

• Upon applying for the festival, those who submit understand and consent that they are solely responsible for their films being as accurately described and that all criteria are met. Starling Film Festival and all those associated with and/or in charge of the festival will not take legal responsibility for any film submitted under false information or use of unsecured external materials. This responsibility falls to the individual/group submitting to the festival.

• ​Once selected, filmmakers will receive an email regarding written consent about participating and being screened at the live/online festival. SFF will set a deadline for all selected filmmakers to meet. If the deadline passes and SFF has not received formal written consent, then your film selection will be revoked.

• Any film discovered to be submitted under any false information will be immediately removed from the festival, regardless of where the film stands.​​

• All final decisions our programmers and juries make are final and cannot be disputed.

• If chosen for our in person screening it is a requirment that the subtitles be on the picture at the bottom rather than underneath the picture. 

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To recap how the Festival plays out:

• Submission Period - 6th Jan to 1st August 2025

• Selected Filmmakers - All films are showcased on our online website

• Finalist Filmmakers - Of the selected films, finalist films are then shown at our in person event (excluding Short Feature Films). These films will also be in the chance to win our Aviary Audience Award. The winner for this award will be selected by those who attend on the night.

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Best of luck to all who submit to the festival.

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