RULES AND TERMS
​
The Ann Arbor Film Festival is open to experimental films as well as films that demonstrate a high regard for the moving image as an experimental art form, no matter the genre. Each year the AAFF selects 100-145 shorts and features for exhibition in the awards competition portion of the festival.
-
Films previously submitted may not be re-entered unless there has been a significant change to the edit. Later versions of a film may be reviewed and/or selected at the programmer's discretion.
-
Short and feature-length entries are accepted.
-
Short films run no longer than 60 minutes. Feature films run 60 minutes or more.
-
Entries not in English should have English subtitles.
-
Works in progress may be submitted, but are juried in the same pool as all other submissions.
-
Work must be contemporary - completed within the last three years.
-
Entry fees are per film entered, and must accompany the entry form for confirmation. Entry fees are non-refundable.
-
Make checks and money orders payable to the Ann Arbor Film Festival.
-
The Ann Arbor Film Festival does not give waivers or discounts.
-
Entries are accepted via secure online screening and 16mm only. We do not accept DVD, VHS or video data files for screening purposes.
-
16MM
-
If you would like the festival to preview a 16mm print of your film, please contact the festival directly at submissions@aafilmfest.org to make arrangements.
-
SCHEDULE
The 61st Ann Arbor Film Festival will take place March 21-26, 2023 (online March 21-29). Each program is different. Films are not rated. All programs are intended for mature audiences except for Saturday's Almost All Ages (6+) program. Some films have imagery of a stroboscopic nature.
Passes are on sale now, and gain you access to many or all of our programs, depending on the type of pass. Tickets to all individual programs will be available March 1.
WHAT DO ALL THESE PROGRAM TITLES MEAN?
We show a LOT of moving image art during the week of the festival. Here’s a quick guide to help you navigate everything we have to offer!
-
Films in Competition: short film programs built from films submitted to our festival this year. Short films are all less than 60 minutes (usually less than 20 minutes), and each program will have anywhere from 6-14 films.
​
-
Features in Competition: programs that either consist of a single feature film (60 minutes or longer), or a feature and a short film that were submitted to the festival this year (if a program includes a paired feature and short, the films may relate to each other, but have not been submitted together by the same filmmaker).
​
-
Special Programs: specially curated programs of films that have not been submitted for award consideration this year, but instead were curated around a thematic idea by friends and artists of the Ann Arbor Film Festival.
​
-
Off The Screen! (OTS!): new media, video, live performance, and art installations that are either ongoing during festival week or happen at a specific time.
​
-
Speaker Series: panel discussions, workshops, and presentations by friends and artists of the Ann Arbor Film Festival.