TERMS AND CONDITIONS

01

The undersigned represents and warrants to the Institute that: (a) the undersigned is duly authorized, on behalf of the undersigned and on behalf of all other persons or entities who have any ownership rights, licenses or interests in or relating to the Project (the “Project’s Owners”), to permit the Institute to exhibit this Project in the Festival and to make the promises, representations and warranties set forth herein; (b) exhibition of the Project in the Festival will not violate any law or any right or consent of any person or entity, whether such exhibition is theatrical (live), digital, or any combination thereof; and (c) the Project is not subject to any litigation, arbitration, or other adversarial claim or proceeding, nor the subject of any threat thereof.

02

The undersigned further represents and warrants, on behalf of the undersigned and the Project’s Owners, that the exhibition of the Project in the Festival will not violate or infringe any copyright, patent, privacy right, publicity right, trademark, service mark or any other personal or property right of any person or entity, and that the Project does not and will not constitute or include any defamation of any person or entity. All license fees, clearance fees, and other obligations arising from or associated with the exhibition of the Project have been and will be timely paid in full.

03

If the Project is accepted for inclusion in the Festival, the undersigned acknowledges that the Institute’s exhibition of the Project does not create any confidential or fiduciary relationship between the Institute and the undersigned and/or the Project’s Owners. Neither the undersigned nor any of the Project’s Owners will receive any compensation for such exhibition, although some Festival prizes may include cash awards. No obligation of any kind is assumed by, or may be implied against, the Institute or the Festival by virtue of the selection of the Project. Selection does not constitute an express or implied endorsement of the content of the Project or any opinion expressed therein.

04

The undersigned agrees, on behalf of the undersigned and each of the Project’s Owners, to indemnify and hold harmless the Institute and the Festival, together with their parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, employees, attorneys, creative advisors, agents and representatives (“Stafford Film Festival Related Parties”), from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, fees and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that may be asserted by any person or entity, or incurred at any time in connection with the Project or the Institute’s use, handling, consideration or exhibition thereof, and/or arising from any breach or alleged breach of any representation made by the undersigned.

05

The undersigned warrants and agrees that the Project is being submitted voluntarily and without promise or inducement, and that submission neither imposes nor creates any obligation on the Institute, the Festival, or any Stafford Film Festival Related Parties to accept the Project, exhibit it, acknowledge its submission, or return any materials. In submitting the Project, the undersigned, the Project’s Owners, and every other person affiliated with the Project jointly and severally waive, forfeit and relinquish any right to assert any claim or commence any proceeding in any forum against the Institute, the Festival, or any Stafford Film Festival Related Parties based upon or relating to the submission, exhibition or failure to exhibit the Project, whether based on contract, implied contract, tort, statute, or other legal theory (a “Claim”). If any Claim is asserted in violation of this agreement, the undersigned agrees to indemnify the Institute and the Festival from all losses, fees and expenses incurred as a result.

06

If any Claim is asserted in violation of the agreements set forth herein, and an arbitrator or other tribunal permits such Claim to proceed despite the waiver in paragraph 5, the sole and maximum remedy that could be awarded shall be a refund of the submission fee paid in connection with the submission of the Project. Under no circumstances shall any other remedy, including actual, expectancy, reliance, consequential, special, punitive or exemplary damages, or injunctive, declaratory, provisional or other relief, be available.

07

If the Project is accepted for exhibition in the Festival, and the undersigned or the Project’s Owners have contractual obligations to any producers, distributors, creators, cast or crew regarding “festival benefits” (which may include production credits, screening tickets, Festival credentials or monetary compensation), those benefits must be administered and distributed by the undersigned and/or the Project’s Owners, do not impact the nature or quantity of benefits provided by the Institute, and the Institute has no responsibility in connection therewith. The undersigned or Project’s Owners are to supply the Festival with a downloadable trailer for promotional use as the Festival sees fit, without limitations.

08

The undersigned warrants and agrees that the Institute has made no claims, representations or guarantees in relation to the internal process utilised for selection of projects, and that submission neither imposes nor creates any obligation to provide the undersigned or any Project-related parties with comments, feedback or other information pertaining to the viewing or consideration of the Project.

09

By submitting the Project, the Institute and all persons employed by, contracted by, or otherwise directly associated with the Institute are deemed to have been granted the irrevocable right to view and/or download all digital assets associated with the Project, including video files, still images, assets streamed via the Internet, and all other assets and information provided on the application. All such digital assets shall remain active and accessible by the Institute. Any dissemination of these materials, incidental or otherwise, shall not be the responsibility of the Institute or any Stafford Film Festival Related Parties.

10

The undersigned represents that if the undersigned is younger than the legal age to enter into contracts in the state of the undersigned’s principal place of residence, the Institute has been provided with signed, written consent from the undersigned’s parent or legal guardian.

11

Any claim, dispute or controversy arising out of, in connection with, or otherwise related to the Project, the Festival, or these Terms and Conditions, including any Claim and any other cause of action arising from the actual or alleged breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation or validity of these Terms, as well as the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, will be governed by the internal, substantive laws of the State and will be subject to exclusive, binding arbitration before a single arbitrator, selected by mutual agreement of the parties. The arbitrator shall issue a written award and, subject to paragraph 6, shall have the right to award monetary relief, but shall not have the power to award punitive or exemplary damages, order the Institute to include the Project in the Festival, or award injunctive or non-monetary relief. The arbitrator shall award the substantially prevailing party its reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses. The award shall be final, binding and non-appealable. The undersigned waives any right to bring or litigate any claim in any federal or state court and any right to a trial by jury with respect to such claims.

12

The undersigned acknowledges the right to consult with an attorney of its own choosing with respect to these Terms and Conditions and the Rules and Regulations for submitting a project to the Festival. By completing the submission application, the undersigned acknowledges doing so after having consulted with an attorney, or having freely and voluntarily elected not to do so without coercion or duress.

13

Code of Conduct: The Stafford Film Festival Institute promotes an environment where bold, creative, and distinctive voices are celebrated. The Institute is committed to allowing filmmakers, their teams and Festival attendees to experience the Stafford Film Festival free of harassment, discrimination, sexism, and threatening or disrespectful behaviour. The Institute reserves the right to rescind an invitation to participate in the Festival for those who engage in such conduct.

14

The undersigned acknowledges on behalf of all Project Owners having read and understood the Rules and Regulations for submitting a project to the Festival, and that the information contained in said Rules and Regulations supersedes any information obtained elsewhere, including information contained in any current FAQ documents and/or rules and regulations documents from prior years.

15

By completing the submission application for Stafford Film Festival consideration, the undersigned, on behalf of the undersigned and all Project Owners, freely and voluntarily gives full and complete acceptance of all of the terms and provisions set forth in these Terms and Conditions. No oral representations, inducements, promises or assurances of any kind not set forth in these Terms and Conditions have been made by the Festival, the Institute, or any Stafford Film Festival Related Parties.

16

In the event that the Project is accepted for the Stafford Film Festival, the Project Owners will enter into a Festival Participation Agreement incorporating all of the terms and conditions of this agreement, which shall be and remain binding upon the undersigned, the Project and the Project Owners.

17

The festival reserves the right to screen or not screen any submitted film.

18

The festival is not obliged to conduct interviews with filmmakers.

19

A selected project may be screened in full at a physical location or digitally, including across social media platforms.

20

Disrespectful, rude or abusive behaviour towards festival staff results in immediate disqualification and forfeiture.

21

Prize money can only be paid to a PayPal account.