ARTICLE 1

Produced by the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA) of Argentina and accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Association (FIAPF), the 38th Edition of the Mar del Plata International Film Festival will take place as an “in-person” festival in the city of Mar del Plata and / or on-line as the circumstances dictate, from November 2 - 12, 2023. The Festival’s objective is to stimulate and facilitate meetings among members of the national and international cinematographic community and to present films of all genres, accompanied by their representatives, in order to contribute to the development of culture and the progress and diffusion of the audiovisual industry.

ARTICLE 2

Submission of films in all categories is free and open to Argentine and international feature length, medium length, and short films of all genres.

The productions must have been finished within 12 (twelve) months prior tothe beginning of the Festival.

The Festival cannot accept those films or projects that are connected to members of the organization or of the Selection Committee.

ARTICLE 3

The 38th edition of the Mar del Plata International Film Festival will include International Feature Film Competition, the Latin American Feature Film Competition, the Argentine Feature Film Competition, the Argentine and Latin American Short Film Competition, the Altered States Competition and the En Tránsito (Work-in-Progress) Competition for Latin American productions in process; as well as various parallel sections and special events.

ARTICLE 4

Each film will have a maximum of five (5) projections, including an additional press screening, in the case that this is decided by the Festival authorities.

Once the Festival has communicated the selection of a film, after receiving the producers' or representatives' acceptance in writing, the film cannot be withdrawn from the festival. Its producer or designated representative must send the film, and other related materials, including promotional materials, requested by the Festival, before the deadline, as indicated in “ANNEX I” of the Regulations. These materials will be used by the Catalogue and the Web Page, as well as for press, publicity and communication about the film’s participation in the Festival.

Films will be presented in their original language with English subtitles, plus electronic subtitles in Spanish. Only the Festival authorities may decide upon any presentations outside of these rules.

Films program in any of the Festival’s section must not have had a commercial premiere in Argentina before the Festival has finished, nor can they have been publicly screened in other spaces that are not within the framework of the Festival, unless they sign agreements with the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA) for screenings in other cinemas in the country or for their broadcast through Cine.ar and Cine.ar Play. Only the Festival authorities may decide upon any presentations outside of these rules.

ARTICLE 5

In order to present a film for Festival selection, it is necessary to the following steps as detailed below:

a) Complete the Online Submission Form.

b) Send a downloadable link with a password that is valid until November 2, 2023. Links to submitted films must, by obligation, have the option of being downloaded so that they may be viewed by the Festival’s Selection Committee. We recommend a maximum size of 2GB. Its use will be strictly internal.

Inscription for all categories opens on May 15, 2023 and closes onJuly 31 of the same year.

The Festival offices are located at Avenida Belgrano 1586, Piso 9 (CP1093), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Tel.(5411)4383-5115. This information is being made know for those who may want to correspond, though the Festival expressly clarifies that the entire submissions process will take place exclusively online.

Once the selection process has ended, the Festival will update the status ofeach film, regardless if they are selected or not .

ARTICLE 6

The Selection Committee will recommend to the Festival authorities the films that, according to the understanding of its members, should be selected to form part of this edition of the Festival. The Presidency and Artistic Direction will decide based upon this proposal, selecting the films that are in line to the Festival’s objectives and reveal relevant and refreshing artistic values, with the objective of creating an Official Selection that is compatible with the requirements of an International Competitive Festival accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Association (FIAPF) .

ARTICLE 7

INCAA will designate the members of the jury of each section, based on the proposal of the Festival authorities, who will make the selection. The Festival President, or his representative, will be present during the jury deliberations, but will not take part in the deliberations nor have any vote. Decisions will be made by an absolute majority in the two first reviews, and by a relative majority in any following. Anyone who has interests in the production or exploitation of any film in competition may not be a jury member. The jury members firmly commit to not publicly expressing their opinions with respect to the films under their consideration before the official announcement of awards .

ARTICLE 8

OFFICIAL INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
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Argentine and international feature length films may participate. The productions must have been finished within 12 (twelve) months before the beginning date of the Festival. Their projection in the Festival must be a premiere with the territory of the Argentine Republic and they must not have had any kind of public exhibition in Argentina. Upon being selected to participate in the Festival, they must not be exhibited in any other places until after all of their projections in the Festival.

Films that have competed in festivals outside of Argentina before the date of selection for their presentation at Mar del Plata are not invalidated from participating in the Competition.

Projection copies are required to have subtitles in English. The following awards will be given:

Best Feature Length Film;

Special Jury Award;

Best Direction;

Best Acting;

Best Script.

The Jury may award up to 2 (two) Special Mentions, having to indicate the reason that these special mentions are deserved. The Jury will give only one award ex aequo, except for Best Feature Length Film. No film may receive more than 2 (two) awards, and no category may be declared without a winner .

ARTICLE 9

LATIN AMERICAN FEATURE FILM COMPETITION
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The competition will consist of Latin American productions and co-productions that must have been finished within 12 (twelve) months before the beginning date of the Festival. Their projection in the Festival must be a premiere with the territory of the Argentine Republic and they must not have had any kind of public exhibition in Argentina.

Upon being selected to participate in the Festival, they must not be exhibited in any other places until after all of their projections in the Festival.

Films that have competed in festivals outside of Argentina before the date of selection for their presentation at Mar del Plata are not invalidated from participating in the Competition.

Projection copies are required to have subtitles in English.

The jury must declare a winner for the Best Feature Length Film in the Latin American Competition. They may also award up to 2 (two) Special Mentions .

ARTICLE 10

ARGENTINE FEATURE FILM COMPETITION
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The films must be Argentine productions. They must have been finished within 12 (twelve) months before the beginning date of the Festival. Their projection in the Festival must be a premiere with the territory of the Argentine Republic and they must not have had any kind of public exhibition in Argentina.

Upon being selected to participate in the Festival, they must not be exhibited in any other places until after all of their projections in the Festival.

Films that have competed in festivals outside of Argentina before the date of selection for their presentation at Mar del Plata are not invalidated from participating in the Competition.

Projection copies are required to be presented subtitles in English.

The jury will give 1 (one) award for the Best Feature Length Film in the Argentine Competition and 1 (one) award for Best Direction. No category may be declared without a winner, and the jury may also award up to 2 (two) Special Mentions.

ARTICLE 11

ARGENTINE AND LATIN AMERICAN SHORT FILM COMPETITIONS
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(1) Argentine Short Film Competition
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The competition will consist of Argentine productions and co-productions that must have been finished within 12 (twelve) months before the beginning date of the Festival. Their projection in the Festival must be a premiere with the territory of the Argentine Republic and they must not have had any kind of public exhibition in Argentina.

Upon being selected to participate in the Festival, they must not be exhibited in any other places until after all of their projections in the Festival.

Films that have competed in festivals outside of Argentina before the date of selection for their presentation at Mar del Plata are not invalidated from participating in the Competition.

Projection copies are required to have subtitles in English.

Short films may not be longer than 30 (thirty) minutes, including credits.

The jury will give 1 (one) award to the best Short Film in the Argentine Competition.
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(2) Latin American Short Film Competition
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The competition will consist of Latin American productions and co-productions that must have been finished within 12 (twelve) months before the beginning date of the Festival. Their projection in the Festival must be a premiere with the territory of the Argentine Republic and they must not have had any kind of public exhibition in Argentina.

Upon being selected to participate in the Festival, they must not be exhibited in any other places until after all of their projections in the Festival.

Films that have competed in festivals outside of Argentina before the date of selection for their presentation at Mar del Plata are not invalidated from participating in the Competition.

Projection copies are required to have subtitles in English.

Short films may not be longer than 30 (thirty) minutes, including credits.

The jury will give 1 (one) award to the best Short Film in the Latin American Competition.

ARTICLE 12

ALTERED STATES COMPETITION
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Argentine and international feature length, medium length and short films that explore new forms of narratives and innovative cinematographic languages may participate in this section.

To participate in the competition, films must have been finished within 12 (twelve) months before the beginning date of the Festival. Their projectionin the Festival must be a premiere with the territory of the Argentine Republic and they must not have had any kind of public exhibition in Argentina.

Upon being selected to participate in the Festival, they must not be exhibited in any other places until after all of their projections in the Festival.

Films that have competed in festivals outside of Argentina before the date of selection for their presentation at Mar del Plata are not invalidated from participating in the Competition.

Projection copies are required to have subtitles in English.

The jury will give 1 (one) award for the Best Film in the Altered States Competition; a winner must be declared in the category. The jury may also award 1 (one) Special Mention.

ARTICLE 13

“EN TRÁNSITO” (WORK-IN-PROGRESS)
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Argentine and Latin American production and co-production feature length film projects that are still in the production may participate in this section. It is open to fiction, documentary and experimental films.

In order to submit a project, the following is required:

1) Complete the Online Submission Form.

2) Send a downloadable link with images from the project (without any limit in terms of time).

Selected projects, will submit a fragment of the work to be projected during the Festival that cannot be greater than 10 (ten) minutes in length. Links to submitted films must, by obligation, have the option of being downloaded so that they may be viewed by the Festival’s Selection Committee. We recommend a maximum size of 2GB. Its use will be strictly internal.

Attached a Word or PDF file with the following information:

-Project title.

-Name and last name of the director(s).

-Name and last name of the producer(s).

-Contact information for the project (telephone and email address).

-Technical information (genre, length, shooting format).

-Synopsis (maximum of 1 page).

-Treatment (maximum of 10 pages). A script cannot be used to replace the treatment and should only be sent if requested.

-Letter intention by the director(s) about their project.

-Bio filmographies of the director(s) and producer(s).

-Production stage of the project.

A committee consisting of Festival programmers will select the projects that will participate.

Argentine films that have been shot in contravention of the existing regulations related to the COVID-19 pandemic will not be considered.

The jury will give 1 (one) En Tránsito award to the best work in progress.

ARTICLE 14

Once programmed, after receiving the producers' or representatives' acceptance in writing, the film cannot be withdrawn from the festival.

14.1. The producers and distributors of the films in Competitions commit to including in all their advertising and press materials the phrase “Official Selection of the Mar del Plata International Film Festival”, using the Festival’s logo.

14.2. Producers and distributors of those films that win awards commit to highlighting the awards in all their advertising and press materials, using the Festival’s logo.

14.3. The logo will be available on the Festival webpage.

14.4. All awards that are not received at the Closing Ceremony can be picked up from the Festival offices in the City of Buenos Aires (or wherever is indicated according to the circumstances) up to one month after the completion of the event.

ARTICLE 15

The Festival will cover costs of storage and insurance of copies during the official period of the Festival. The Festival will not cover customs costs for exporting or importing copies in the country of origin. In case of deterioration of a copy, grievances / claims must be sent within one month of the date the film was sent. The Festival’s responsibility will not be greater than the cost of a new copy, according to standard costs for a standard copy from a laboratory.

ARTICLE 16

The Festival will not accept films that have been exhibited on VOD platforms with the exception of those restricted to professional use. The Festival reserves the right to evaluate each case.

ARTICLE 17

The Presidency and Artistic Direction of the Festival will resolve any matters not contemplated in these Rules and Regulations by referring to the rules and regulations of the International Federation of Film Producers Association (FIAPF) as they apply.

ARTICLE 18

The Argentine films selected in the all sections of the Festival declared "of interest" by INCAA according to Law N° 17.741, whose producers authorize their broadcast through Cine.ar TV and Cine.ar Play in the subsequent weeks after the screening date at the Festival, as well as screenings in INCAA spaces following the regulations of the Festival at thetime, will be considered as “premieres” for the purposes of the settlement of corresponding subsidies.

ARTICLE 19

The Festival aims to achieve the greatest accessibility in all its contents. To this end, the Argentine films selected in any of the sections indicated inthese regulations must include a file with the list of dialogues in Spanish.

ARTICLE 20

The Festival will be developed as in-person event. Depending upon the evolution of the public health situation, the Festival may be suspended, postponed, as well as shifted to greater or lesser degree to an online mode (which could, if necessary, become a completely online festival). These circumstances will be communicated to interested parties as soon as possible.

The presentation of a film or project for participation in the Mar del Plata International Film Festival implies on behalf of the interested parties the acceptance of these Rules and Regulations.
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ANNEX I

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

The projection copies of selected films must be delivered in a DCP formatto the address indicated by the Festival organization, before October 6, 2023, respecting the requested technical requirements. Presentation in other formats requires the Festival authorization. Those interested in participating in the Festival must complete the following steps:

Those interested in participating in the Festival must complete the following steps:
a) Complete the Submission Form on the Festival webpage https://www.mardelplatafilmfest.com/
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b) Send a downloadable link of 2 GB with a password that is valid through November 2, 2023.
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c) Commit to accepting the decisions of INCAA through its designated functionaries and jurors for the evaluation of these technical questions.
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d) Application for all sections will close on July 31, 2023.

FORMATS

Only DCP that are compatible with DCI norms will be accepted.

Disks with USB 2.0 connections will not be accepted.

Presentation of other formats requires the express authorization of the Technical Department of INCAA. The name of the DCP must follow the guidelines of the Digital Cinema Naming Convention. Each DCP disk mustbe delivered in an appropriate durable case to avoid damage. The storage partition format must be EXT2 or EXT3, though NTFS is also accepted. No other file systems will be accepted. KDM (Key Delivery Message): encryption is optional. The festival handles a large quantity of DCP content that does not require KDM. For each encrypted DCP, we request a KDM. The KDM should be valid from the day the DCP arrives and should remain operative through to the last day of the Festival.

JPEG 2000 / COLOR SPACE: XYZ / The maximum bit rate supported in JPEG 2000 is 250 Mbps. Frame rate supported in 2D: 24 fps, 25 fps and 48 fps. Frame rate supported in 3D: 24 fps. Material in 2K or 4K is played in progressive scan 2048 x 1080. Subtitle file types supported: TICineCanvasTM and SMPTE 428-7-2007.