The Red Lorry Film Festival (RLFF)
Organised by Big Tree Entertainment Private Limited (“BookMyShow”), it launched in 2024 with its inaugural edition held in Mumbai, India.
The festival celebrates a diverse range of cinematic voices from across the globe, uniting both established and emerging filmmakers.
The 2nd edition of RLFF will take place from 21 March to 23rd March 2025 in Mumbai and Hyderabad.
This year, RLFF has opened its film submission process, inviting filmmakers worldwide to submit their films of any genre through our official website.

Submissions are welcome for the following categories:
THE FRONT RUNNERS (Best Film in Competition)
FRESH FRAMES (Best Debut Film)

Awards & Prizes*

1. The Front Runners (Best Film): Competition Section: A maximum of 15 films will be shortlisted.
Best Film: US$7000 (shared equally between the Director and Producer).

2. Fresh Frames( Best Debut Film): A maximum of 10 films will be shortlisted.
Best Debut Film: US$5000 (to the Director of the film)

Benefits for Shortlisted Films for Films Selected in THE FRONT RUNNERS Section:

Screening Fee: $1,000 (for up to 3 screenings) to be paid by the Festival.

Travel & Accommodation:
2 Business Class Return tickets for the Lead Actor/Director.
2 nights hotel stay in Mumbai for the Lead Actor/Director.

Additional Premiere Benefits:
World Premiere: 2 additional Business Class tickets and 2 additional rooms.
Asia Premiere: 1 additional Business Class ticket and 1 additional room.

For Films Selected in the FRESH FRAMES Section:

Screening Fee: $800 (for up to 3 screenings) to be borne by the Festival.

Travel & Accommodation:
2 Business Class tickets for the Lead Actor/Director.
2 nights hotel stay in Mumbai for the Lead Actor/Director.

For IN FOCUS Section (Red Carpet Premiere or Special Categories)

There will be certain films that might not be shortlisted in any category but will still be showcased in the In Focus section, which is out of competition.
The producer or representative will be informed of this selection before the official announcement.

Screening Fee: $800 (for up to 3 screenings). (The screening fees will be borne by RLFF)

Travel & Accommodation:
1 Business Class ticket.
2 nights hotel stay in Mumbai for the Lead Actor/Director.

* All Award & Prizes and Screening fees that are payable are subject to applicable withholding tax deductions as per the tax laws.
All beneficiaries are required to provide us with the following documents:
1. Tax residency certificate issued by the revenue authorities for FY 2024-25.
2. Form 10F duly filled and signed. We will share the template once you are eligible for the same.
3. No PE certificate duly filled and signed. We will share the template once you are eligible for the same.
4. Any additional documents which may be asked by the bank for remittance outside India.
5. PAN and GSTN if you are an Indian

Please note, that once the above details are submitted, from that day, it might take 7-8 working days to clear the payment.

(Beneficiaries must submit all necessary documents for cash awards. All transfer charges and other taxes will be borne by the beneficiary.)

Submission Timelines

Please adhere to the following submission deadlines:
Opening Date: November 7, 2024
Early Bird Deadline Ends: December 7, 2024
Regular Deadline Ends: January 7, 2025

In the event of an extension, updates will be announced through social media, and the website and reflected on WFCN platforms.

Submission Fees

For THE FRONT RUNNER Section:
Early Bird Submission (until November 30, 2024): US$ 70
Regular Submission (until January 7, 2025): US$ 75

For THE FRESH FRAMES Section:
Early Bird Submission (until November 30, 2024): US$ 50
Regular Submission (until January 7, 2025): US$ 55

Important Notes

1. All submission fees are non-refundable.
2. Submissions are accepted only through the official festival platforms (WFCN).
3. Ensure all eligibility requirements are met before submitting.
4. Participants must ensure they have the right to participate in the International Film Festival of India regarding parties connected with the production/distribution of the participating film and/or other rights holders/licenses

Eligibility Criteria (Applicable to All Categories)

1. Only feature-length films are eligible for submission.
2. The film must have a minimum runtime of 60 minutes.
3. All genres are welcome for submission.
4. The film must have been completed after March 1, 2024.
5. The film must hold a minimum of India premiere status.
6. Films will only be screened in their original language/version with English subtitles. Films without English subtitles will not be screened at the festival.

Premiere Status Preferences

World Premiere: The first public screening of the film anywhere in the world.
International Premiere: The first public screening of the film outside its country of origin.
Asia Premiere: The first public screening of the film in Asia.
India Premiere: The first public screening of the film in India.

The Red Lorry Film Festival (RLFF) only accepts films with at least an Indian Premiere status, meaning the film must not have been publicly screened in India on any platform before the RLFF screening.

RLFF does not accept films that have already been publicly screened in India. A public screening is defined as any showing of the film to a ticket-buying audience or one that has been advertised to the public. This includes screenings at film festivals, theatrical releases, or films made available through video, DVD, television, the Internet, or VOD.

Film Submission Form

1. There is a single application form for both categories.
2. The form will be available on WFCN; links to the platforms can be found on the official RLFF website.
3. The individual submitting this form must do so on behalf of the film's rights holder.
4. Whether or not the applicant is the rights holder, they are fully responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the information provided.
5. Any inaccuracies in the form will result in disqualification of the entry.
6. It is assumed that the applicant has obtained the necessary authorization from the rights holder to submit the film to the RLFF.
7. The applicant should ideally be the Primary Contact Person, serving as the main point of contact for all future communications regarding their submission to the festival.

CBFC and Film Certification Exemption Guidelines

1. Films submitted to the festival do not require certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) of India.
2. However, if a film possesses a CBFC certification, only that version will be screened.
3. Uncertified films must obtain an exemption from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B), Government of India.
4. The Festival will assist selected films in this process.
5. Filmmakers are required to provide the film’s certification status at the time of submission.
6. All certified films must display the certification at the beginning of their Digital Cinema Package (DCP).
7. Every film screened at RLFF must possess either a valid CBFC certificate or an exemption from the Ministry of I&B.
8. RLFF will apply for an exemption from the CBFC. If permission is not granted, the producer will be informed, and the film will not be screened at the RLFF.

Selection Process for RLFF

1. All films must be submitted directly to the Red Lorry Film Festival (RLFF) through the online application process.
2. Requests for private screenings by selection committee members will not be accepted, and any film links sent via email without a completed application form will be disregarded.
3. The festival does not offer fee waivers; all submitted films are required to pay the application fee.
4. RLFF will not provide feedback on films or disclose specific reasons for any rejections.
5. Submissions and fee payments are accepted solely through the online application form.
6. No individual claiming to represent the RLFF team is authorised to accept payments for programming films at the festival. If approached by anyone making such offers, please report it for verification.
7. The Primary Contact Person will be notified of the film’s selection for RLFF at the conclusion of the selection process. No details will be released before this notification.
8. If selected, representatives of the chosen film must maintain confidentiality about their selection (including on social media) until the official press conference for RLFF, where the final list of selected films will be announced.
8. Any breach of this confidentiality may lead to the cancellation of the film's selection.
9. Selected films must adhere to specific marketing guidelines, which will be communicated via email.
10. Selected films are subject to specific screening fees. which will be borne by RLFF
11. All communications related to the film, including promotional materials, press releases, social media posts, and any other public-facing content, must prominently feature the Red Lorry Film Festival logo. This is to ensure proper acknowledgment of the film's participation and screening at the festival.

(By displaying the festival's logo, you are helping to promote the event and giving credit to the platform that hosted your film. The logo should be used in accordance with the provided brand guidelines to maintain consistency and professionalism across all materials)


Selection Workflow

1.Initial Screening: Films are evaluated by the festival programming team based on artistic quality, originality, and relevance.
2. Shortlisting: The programming team compiles a shortlist, which is reviewed by the selection committee.
3. Selection Committee Review: The committee assesses the shortlisted films, and categorises them according to award and non-award categories.
4. Final Selection: The core programming team, led by the festival director and jury, makes the final selections for various award categories.
5. Notification: Selected filmmakers will be notified via email and provided with guidelines for screening and marketing.

Technical Specifications for WFCN Submission

Poster: Size: 210px x 280px
Video Submission:
Upload link: High-quality file in the following format
File Size: Up to 10GB
Trailer:
Size: Up to 2GB
Format: High-quality file
Thumbnail: 1920px x 1080px
JPEG or PNG format
English Subtitles: SRT or VTT file, if available, for the trailer.

Technical Specifications for Selected Films

DCP Submission: Films selected must provide their Digital Cinema Package (DCP) at least 30 days before the festival start date (by February 15, 2025).
Projection Format: RLFF will accept films only in DCP format.
Liability for Damage: RLFF assumes responsibility only for the replacement of damaged storage components and not for the actual film files. Damage claims must be submitted within 14 days of receiving the media back from the festival.

Acknowledgments for RLFF Submission

I declare that I am the producer, owner, or have permission from the rights holder of the film and its content, which I am submitting for the Red Lorry Film Festival (RLFF).
The film and its content do not infringe any third party rights, violate any laws, or include unauthorised material.
I have obtained all necessary consents and approvals for the film, including promotional materials and synopsis, to be submitted and screened at RLFF.
I am solely responsible for clearing the film from any legal claims, including libel, defamation, invasion of privacy, and rights violations.
I understand that RLFF is not responsible for any unauthorised content in the film that may lead to third-party claims.
I confirm that all rights granted for the film and its content are free of any claims or encumbrances, and do not require any royalty or licence fees to be paid by RLFF. The producer/owner/right holder shall be solely responsible for clearing the FILM submitted for the festival from all royalties.
RLFF has full discretion to disqualify any film without refunding submission fees, and I grant them the right to screen and promote the film on their platforms.
RLFF may use stills, posters, or promotional materials from the film for festival-related advertising and promotions.
I agree that the film’s synopsis may be edited for inclusion in the RLFF catalogue.
I release RLFF from liability for any loss or damage to the film, promotional materials, or synopsis during submission or screening.
I will not use RLFF’s intellectual property without permission and indemnify RLFF, sponsors, and third parties against any claims related to my submission.
I accept the festival rules and guidelines and acknowledge RLFF's right to sublicense promotional rights as necessary.
BookMyShow reserves the right to reject/disqualify any film. In case of any disputes, the decision of BookMyShow shall be final and binding. These terms and conditions shall be governed by the laws of India and Courts at Mumbai shall have exclusive jurisdiction in case of any disputes.
Participation in RLFF is subject to Bigtree’s user terms and conditions as applicable and privacy policy