Bali International Film Festival (aka Balinale) is held annually on the inspirational island of Bali, Indonesia. We present an outstanding selection of independent local and international movies, many with filmmakers in attendance, and attract a diverse audience of film-goers.

We celebrate our 16th edition from Thursday 1 June to Sunday 4 June 2023.

Film submissions from all genres of fiction and documentary, feature-length and short, from Indonesia and around the world are accepted for consideration in our hybrid festival of regulated in-person, digital programming, and outdoor screenings.

The festival has a juried competition with awards presented in several artistic and technical categories for Narrative Features, Documentaries, and Short Films.

We are dedicated to supporting local filmmakers by waiving submission fees for Indonesian Nationals (WNI) allowing them to show their films to an international audience and meet filmmakers from all over the world.

The annual festival holds several workshops and seminars for film students & enthusiasts.

‘Bali Film Forum’ for film and television industry professionals focuses on developing the Indonesian creative industries by building a more effective and meaningful dialogue between them and their international counterparts.

Special Jury Awards:
- Jury Award
- Best Narrative Feature
- Best Documentary Feature
- Best Short Narrative
- Best Short Documentary

Festival Awards:
- Gary L Hayes Award for Emerging Indonesian Filmmakers
- American Indonesian Cross-Cultural Filmmaking Prize

SUBMISSION INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES 2023

Please read the following regulations carefully prior to submitting or making enquiries regarding submissions

1. Submission Deadlines
All materials must be uploaded to the submissions site, before Friday, Thursday, 30 March.

In order to confirm your understanding of and acceptance of the terms and conditions, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING REGULATIONS CAREFULLY.

Entrants must fill out the online entry form on the submission site, upload a secure screener, and provide all other necessary documentation and signatures before the deadline of Thursday 30 March 2023.

Bali International Film Festival is granted permission to exhibit the film at its associated events during the current festival year and up to its next edition, where the film will receive proper credit and promotion.

In order to be considered:
- A film must be successfully uploaded
- In the appropriate category
- With complete EPK and promotional materials uploaded
- Proper fee paid
- Received the designated deadline

If a submission does not satisfy all of these standards, Balinale reserves the right to disqualify the film and all money paid will be forfeited.
For each film that is submitted, only one category may be chosen.

Please be aware of the following terms:
Submissions that do not meet the eligibility criteria or are otherwise disqualified under these regulations are not eligible for refunds.

Incomplete payment will result in disqualification of the film submission.

Bali International Film Festival is not responsible for covering any screening or shipping fees associated with the submissions.

Please note that there will be no screening or loaner fees charged for films screened at the festival.

2. Entry Liability
The filmmaker holds the Bali International Film Festival, its foundation, management, juries, subsidiaries, agents, sponsors, affiliates, etc. harmless from any and all claims of liability resulting from entry.

By submitting your film(s), you acknowledge that you have all necessary rights and permissions for the film(s) and agree to grant permission for the Bali International Film Festival to exhibit. The filmmaker indemnifies the organizers of the Festival against all claims, demands, costs, damages, expenses (including legal fees), proceedings, and losses resulting from the screening of the film at the Festival or from claims by any third parties.

Balinale is guided in all its work by the core values of excellence; creativity; and equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB).

3.Shipping
Prior to shipping, any physical materials must be approved by the festival to avoid customs fees, delays, or possible confiscation.

It is preferable to have a downloadable version, but physical copies can be arranged on a case-by-case basis.

Balinale will not cover any shipping costs.

4.Film Categories
Independent works that are creative, challenging, and unique. Genres of independent thought-provoking, unique and entertaining films will be considered.

Short
This category is reserved for any film whose runtime is 20 minutes or less (including credits).

Documentary
Feature: This category is reserved for any film whose runtime is minimum 40 minutes or more.

Short: This category is reserved for any film whose runtime is under 40 minutes or more.

Feature Narrative
This category is reserved for any film whose runtime is between 90-150 minutes.

5. Submission Payment
• is payable via FilmFreeway only

• A limited number of free submissions will be provided for Indonesian Nationals (WNI). Please refer to the WNI CATEGORY and complete the details.

• Submission Fee Waivers for NON-INDONESIAN productions will only be considered when a request is received between 28 March - 30 March 2023.
Note: Premieres and Award Winners are given priority.
Only those awarded waivers will be notified.

• Submission fees cannot be discounted, including for the submission of multiple films.

6. Screener Formats
• Balinale accepts online screeners submitted through FilmFreeway. Any submission sent via disc or email or any other physical format must be approved by the festival.
Submitted films must be uploaded directly to FilmFreeway via their Secure Online Screener system, or supplied as a password-protected Vimeo link or unlisted YouTube link entered directly into the FilmFreeway online application form.

Encrypted films will not be accepted.

• The submitter must alert Balinale right away if the password changes at any stage between the submission and the Festival.

• If the screener is provided with a Vimeo link, please make sure the privacy settings have been modified to allow embedding so Balinale can see the movie through FilmFreeway.

7. Eligibility requirements
All submissions must adhere to the following criteria in order to be considered:

•Films must have been completed within one year of the festival dates. Eligible films include those that have had international exposure or have been screened at other festivals, but not have had significant commercial or broadcast exposure in Indonesia.

•Non-English language films must be either subtitled or dubbed in English.

•Submission fees and forms need to be completely filled out. Submissions may be made more than once, each with a separate submission form. Works-in-progress, commercials, and advertisements are not accepted.

•Fill out the film submission form completely and adhere to all press kit specifications (i.e. still images, trailer). Failure to do so could disqualify the submission.

•The festival does not accept pornographic material.

Please be aware that by submitting your movie to the festival, you consent to the festival committee's final judgment. The festival organization and the judges are unable to comment on your work. A filmmaker who inquires about the status of a submitted film with a jury member risks being disqualified.

8. Selection
All exhibition materials of SELECTED FILMS must be received by Monday, 15 May.

Films must be provided in MP4, or Mov. format. Downloadable is preferable. Physical can be arranged on a case by case basis. If your screening takes place in cinema a DCP can also be arranged.

• A decision will be announced to all submitters by Sunday, 7 May.

• You must notify Balinale via [email protected] if the Submitter's contact information changes during the submissions period.

• Balinale decisions are final

• Screenings are scheduled at the discretion of the Festival. Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the published schedule, We reserve the right to make changes at any time for any reason. Bali International Film Festival will not be liable for any costs claimed as a result of a schedule change.

• A limited number of tickets are reserved by the Festival for each filmmaker's screening (s). It should not be assumed that inclusion of your film in the Festival program also covers travel costs and related expenditures.

• The person most directly in charge of the idea and artistic execution of the movie will receive the award. A second statuette may be given out if multiple people were directly and significantly involved in the decision-making process.

• Every effort will be made to prevent material loss or damage. The Bali International Film Festival disclaims any liability for any materials lost or damaged in transit to or from the Festival.

• A movie cannot be withdrawn after it has been accepted without the festival committee's express consent.

9. Correspondence
All correspondence from Balinale regarding FilmFreeway submissions will be sent via [email protected] and via FilmFreeway.

Although Balinale takes every precaution to ensure that messages are sent to the Submitter via email, Balinale disavows any responsibility for messages not delivered to the email address supplied.

10.Force Majeure
Bali International Film Festival, its authorized representatives or agents shall not be liable for any delays or cancellations occurring because of circumstances beyond its control, including but not limited to acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, work stoppages, travel restrictions, acts of God, or failure of communication or power supply. In the event of venue cancellation, the festival shall take reasonable steps to minimize losses but shall have no liability with respect there to.