Welcome to the Black and Brown of it all - Call for Universal and Culturally related Movie Shorts, Full Length Features, Dance, Poetry, Comedy, Music Videos, Web Series Episodes and Best Commercials/PSA (Public Service Announcements).

We love a good story from anywhere and everywhere - it's all about us providing You with a unique Platform to be seen, appreciated and make valuable connections.

Our Festivals include Live Performances, Pop-Up Shop and lots of Professionals, Organizations, Attendees and Media.

We produce several themed Film Festivals per year for all Genres and Categories - In-Person, Live Virtually Online and Mobile. Isn't it great that you can live in any State or Country and still attend. Maybe Chat, join a Panel or sit in on a few Q&As!

We represent the Past, Present and Future as we are located in the legendary community which once housed Greats such as Count Basie, Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Jackie Robinson, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, W.E.B Dubois, Al Roker, Ja Rule, LL Cool J, Run DMC, Q Tip and 50 Cents, to name a few. We live in that place called "Creativity", Embracing All with something to share, that story or song, that series episode or dance or joke or business commercial that you have the passion to tell.


We are the perfect Festival for newcomers, professionals and previous Festival Winners.

Queens Underground is also known for our fabulous Red Carpets for everyone our Cable TV Show (3 boroughs and counting) and our Commercials which air on popular TV Stations as CBS, MSNBC, OWN, BET, VH1 and NY1 around the tri-state region in the New York City area. In fact one of the prizes is a Commercial (mini-trailer) of your own airing in New York City on a major TV Channel.

-A Commercial (mini-trailer) of your own airing in New York City on a major TV Channel.
-In-person or Remote Interview for our Cable TV Show and also uploaded to our own Internet TV Station.
-Free upload to the new popular Movie On Demand Site: Sakal Streaming
-Articles about you in Popular Blogs
-Trophies, Certificates and Branded Merchandise
-Promotion Before, During and After the Festival
-More Prizes To Be Announce (TBA)

WE'RE INTERNATIONAL!

Please read and re-read all of the Rules and Terms.

Visit:

QueensUnderground718.com for more info, trailers, merchandise, discounts and Red Carpet Interviews.

NOTE: The Festival will take place whether In-Person or Online depending on the severity of the coronavirus. Dates and locations subject to change due to Covid Restrictions, but the Festival will stil take place. Advance notice will be given. If the Film Festival is online, you will be sent a link to access the Festival.

GOOD NEWS: The Festival will definitely be available for international filmmakers regardless of the virus situation. In consideration of various time zones, the link will be active for a specified period of time.

1. Always check your Junk Mail, Social and Promotional Folders to make sure that you are receiving our emails.

2. All deadlines and other requirements must be met. No exceptions. Not adhering to deadlines will affect whether or not your project is screened at the Festival including Online.

3. Your Project MUST BE DOWNLOADABLE, NOT STREAMED from platforms such as Youtube or Vimeo. Make sure your file is in mp4 or Mov file formats Only. These are not downloadable and, therefore, WILL NOT BE SCREENED at the Festival In-person nor Online. You will receive one (1) request and if a downloadable file is not submitted by the deadline, your project will not be screened; no refunds apply.

4. Ensure that you include a downloadable Movie Trailer. Projects without Movie Trailers may not be promoted and will not air during the promotional period on any of our media outlets.

5. A Movie Poster with title and credits is mandatory. Your Movie Poster is your "Business Card" and "Teaser" to gain interest in your project.

6. You may always set up your page to take advantage of early bird discounts and then complete the uploads after, but before the deadline.

7. DISCOUNTS: You may only use one (1) Discount Code Per Entry.

8. Quality Of Projects: No worries, we do not expect everyone to have access to "movie quality" cameras. Consumer cameras and cell phones may be used to film - for this film festival -the focus is on the story and creativity. However, we do expect quality submissions. All of the other requirements must still be met.

****SELECTED PROJECTS:

Submitters are expected to actively and consistently promote their projects on a weekly basis to encourage attendance to see your project on the Big Screen. This is especially important during the month of the Festival. This is a REQUIREMENT, along with TAGGING @FilmFestivalsQueensUnderground and @NYInternationalFilmFestival. If Promotions are not your "thing", Contact us - Our Media Partners can help!

GET CREATIVE!

You may send us a Video Drop, A Directors Statement, Bloopers or any Video under 3 minutes that we can use to promote you and your project to attract guests to come out see your project on the Big Screen. Think of ways to get new people to want to see your project.

CATEGORIES:

Rated "R" Projects:
We are now accepting Projects that include standard "Rated R" content, however, we will only screen tasteful projects where profanity and only "some" nudity is necessary to tell the story. Any projects with excessive use of certain words will not be screened publicly. and may not be viewed by all of the judges. This includes lyrics in projects and in music video's especially. If you are unsure, it is best to contact us first - refunds will not be issued.

1. MOVIE SHORTS (MOVIE, STAGE PLAY):
From 5 minutes to 20 minutes; (please note that any films which were submitted prior to the ten (10) minute minimum length will still be accepted and judged as all other entries).

2. MUSIC, POETRY, DANCE, COMEDY VIDEO
(poets, comedians, singers, dancers, musicians, writers, songwriters, rappers) from 1 to 5 minutes.

3. WEB SERIES EPISODE / PODCAST /RADIO SHOW: may be submitted with episode time under 30 minutes.

4. Small Business and Large Business, Group, Club, Organization Commercials or PSA: 1 minute up to 5 minutes.

5. Movie Poster Contest -Submit a Movie Poster to win whether or not your project is submitted or completed. The audience will vote for this category.

Films, Performance Videos (Singers, Poets, Musicians, and Storytellers), and Small Business Commercials may be submitted from anywhere in the world.

If the audio is not English, accurate subtitling in English must be included for all characters and sounds.

Filmmakers may submit several movies, videos, or commercials per category and/or submit works for 1, 2, or 3 or more categories - each submission requires a separate registration and fee.

**You understand and agree that your work is original and not copy written by any other individual or group. Your work may include whole or part of any works that are classified as Public Domain in the United States Of America.

-By submitting your film, video, small business commercial, photo’s, short bio and synopsis (required) you are giving us full permission to use any or all of the materials to promote, advertise, market, and screen publicly before, during and after the Festival or any or all of our media platforms.

-Submissions may not contain any or suggest any content that is violent, racist, libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, hateful, sexual, culturally, or ethnically offensive in any way. Projects or posters submitted with cursing which is not considered within context will not be Screened at the Film Festival. Projects with adult content will be shown towards the end of the Festival.

-Queens Underground 718 reserves the right, to remove or delete your submission without notice and without limitations where any instances of non-compliance have occurred.

-Entry does not guarantee acceptance or screening into the film festival, nor does it guarantee Screening if the requirements have not been met. Refunds nor credit are issued.

-If your project is not downloadable, it will be viewed by the Panel, but will not be screened publicly at the Festival and all other rules apply.

-Scheduling of screenings will be organized by Queens Underground 718. A Playbill will be forwarded to you (and available at the physical Film Festival). You will be able to determine the approximate time of your screening based on the start time. For non-US time zones, you will have access to the Festival link for 24 hours for each day.

-Rough cuts and incomplete projects may or may not be selected for public screening.

-Full credit for all participants must be included.

-Student Discount: For Film Festivals with student projects, the student must be enrolled in a film, video or production program or completed a program within the last 6 months. Proof may be required and will have to be submitted by the requested deadline.

-You agree and understand that you are expected to promote and tag Queens Underground 718 and the NY International Arts Festival once you receive notice that your project has been accepted. The promotion must be continuous with tagging both @FilmFestivalsQueensUnderground and @NYInternationalArtsFestival.

-You may also send us a promotional Drop or short video announcing your participation via Google Drive or similar method. We encourage active and creative marketing strategies to generate a buzz to see your project - thereby - creating what may very well become "unexpected opportunities".

-Filmmakers may receive receive 1 free ticket for the day of their screening only for In-Person Film Festivals. Online viewing offers discounted fees for filmmakers. We suggest that if you are in another country and/or the Film Festival is only held virtually, that you set up a watch party and even charge for tickets to fund your next project. VIP seating will also be available - detailed information will be on the Website.

-With your submission you are hereby agreeing to indemnify and hold completely harmless the Queens Underground 718 International Film Festival, Queens Center Of The Arts, its management, juries, subsidiaries, agents, sponsors, partners, affiliates, staff and volunteers, etc. from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees, and all court costs/fees) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of, or damage to, the screening videos entered. You understand that submitting does not guarantee screening. You understand and agree that refunds are not issued. You understand and agree to meet the requirements and deadlines.

-You understand that No materials will be returned.

-You understand that If entries exceed the expected amount, the dates for screenings and announcements may be extended. You will be notified in advance.

-You will also be notified of any changes for dates and policies - please make sure that you are receiving and checking junk and social email folders for notices.

-If you do not read or speak English - you are responsible to find and utilize a translator or translation App. All communication with the Festival Team must be in English. Queens Underground does not accept responsibility for any Non-English miscommunications.

-Translations for your submissions must be accurate and exact. Any entry with misrepresented subtitles will be removed immediately.

***Entry fees and ticket purchases and other fees are non-refundable. Cash prizes, if any, will be sent in US dollars and only transferred through standard online business Apps.

-In the event that your project is not selected for screening, but first ensure that you have met the deadlines. You may request an email explaining the reasons. In some instances, the project may be great, but not appropriate for mixed or young audiences. In some cases, a project such as this may be screened on another date with an adult-only audience.

-All decisions are made at the discretion of the Organizer, especially and including the criteria for submissions by youth under age 17 and submitted as free are final and will may not be appealed.

-Check for Updates at QueensUnderground718.com and NYIAF.com (NY International Arts Festival - Annual Festival in February)

-Email: [email protected]