DAYDREAM

filmfest

narratological cinema

verité films

avant-garde cinema

animated artworks

immersive media

academia cinematographica

9 OCT 2024

LONGITUDINAL FEATURES

BRIEF CINEMATIC PIECES

EPISODIC SEQUENCES

VISUAL MUSIC INTERPRETATIONS

DRAMATIC CONSTRUCTS

COMEDIC FRAMEWORKS

HORROR AND MACABRE

SCIENCE FICTION

FANTASTICAL REALMS

THRILLING ENTERPRISES

ACTION-INTENSIVE FILMS

ADVENTUROUS EXPLOITS

MYSTERIES AND ENIGMAS

DOCUMENTARIAN TRADITIONS

AVANT-GARDE CINEMA

MUSICAL AND CHOREOGRAPHIC FILMS

WHAT IS A DAYDREAM?

A daydream is an imaginative and visionary exploration—often fleeting and transient—that transcends the boundaries of reality. For filmmakers and artists, daydreams are an essential creative force. They serve not just as a muse, providing spontaneous sparks of inspiration, but also as a cerebral workshop where ideas are nurtured and visions are sculpted into narratives.

Daydreams are crucial because they allow creators to delve into uncharted territories of their minds, discovering unique stories and expressive possibilities that resonate on a personal level. The act of translating these ephemeral daydreams into tangible art not only liberates the artist but also enriches the cultural landscape by contributing new and diverse perspectives.

Moreover, daydreams often haunt artists; they are persistent and compelling thoughts that demand attention. This haunting quality is not merely a source of inspiration but a call to action—to create and share the visions that incessantly occupy their minds. It is a drive to manifest the intangible into something palpable and share it with the world, making it a vital element of artistic expression and personal fulfillment.

The name "Daydream" reflects the essence and the ethos of this film festival. It signifies the celebration of creative minds that dare to envision, innovate, and transcend the conventional confines of storytelling. The festival is a tribute to those who dream with their eyes open and are brave enough to bring their unique visions to life through the medium of film and art.

Daydream International Film Festival is not just a platform; it's a movement towards acknowledging and appreciating the unexplored corners of imagination that compel filmmakers and artists to create. It embodies the spirit of innovation, the courage to explore the unknown, and the beauty of transforming fleeting visions into enduring cinematic experiences.

FINALISTS

2024

WHY COMPETE?

Competing at Daydream International Film Festival offers numerous benefits to filmmakers and artists looking to make a mark in the industry:

• Regular Competitions: With three contests held annually, Daydream provides continual opportunities for new talent to emerge and be recognized.
  
• IMDb Qualifier: Being an IMDb-qualifier, the festival ensures that winners and selected entrants gain valuable exposure and credibility, which are critical for advancing careers in the competitive film industry.
  
• Reputation and Prestige: The laurels awarded by Daydream are recognized symbols of quality and achievement in the international film community, enhancing the profile of the winners.
  
• Career Advancement: Achievements at Daydream can significantly impact your professional trajectory, opening doors to further opportunities in filmmaking, including networking with industry leaders and participation in other prestigious film events.
  
• Visibility and Promotion: Selected films receive promotional support and increased visibility through Daydream’s channels, media partners, and international networks, ensuring widespread recognition and audience engagement.
  

By competing at Daydream, you not only strive to excel in a competitive environment but also gain the opportunity to present your work on a prestigious, international platform that celebrates the art of film and the spirit of daydreaming.

Best Picture

Best Feature Film

Best Medium-Length Film

Best Short Film

Best Micro-Short

Best Animated Film

Best Feature-Length Documentary

Best Short Documentary

Best Series or Episode

Best New Media

Best Original Podcast

Best Music Video

Best Original Song

Best Feature Screenplay

Best Short Screenplay

Best TV Script

Best Student Film

Best Experimental Film

Best Queer

Best Dream Sequence

(also known as Dance or Poetic Film)

Best Drama

Best Comedy or Musical

Best Action, Sci-Fi or Fantasy

Best Horror or Thriller

Best Directing

Best Emerging Director

Best Directorial Debut

Best Original Screenplay

Best Cinematography

Best Lead Actor

Best Lead Actress

Best Supporting Actor

Best Supporting Actress

Best Ensemble Cast

Best Sound and Film Editing

Best Visual Effects

Best Original Score

Best Art Direction

Best Makeup and Special Effects

Best Documentary Directing

Best Documentary Production

Best Music Video or Commercial Production

AWARDS

RULES

1. Online Festival Dynamic: Daydream is an exclusively online film contest that operates annually with a unique structure featuring three classification periods throughout the year. The culmination of these periods leads to a final Results Day, on which all individual award category winners are announced. While Daydream does not routinely stream films as part of its contest, we reserve the right to request permission to showcase the Best Picture winners during a designated short window. This potential showcase is subject to the following conditions to ensure the security and integrity of the films:

a. Copyright Confirmation: Filmmakers must provide express consent and confirm copyright ownership for any streaming of their audiovisual project, ensuring that all necessary rights are in place for public exhibition.

b. Secure Viewing and Anti-Piracy Measures: In the event of streaming, audiovisual projects will be protected with encryption, making them safely viewable without risk of unauthorized access or distribution. The streaming platform will employ robust anti-piracy measures, including but not limited to geoblocking capabilities and digital rights management (DRM) to prevent downloading and illegal sharing.

c. Limited Accessibility: The streaming window will be brief, and access will be tightly controlled and limited to a specified audience, ensuring exclusivity and respect for the filmmakers’ work.

2. Use of Stills and/or Clip Fragments: You certify that your work is ready for festival exhibition (all music, fonts, visuals, etc. are cleared worldwide, in perpetuity, multi-platform), and that the intellectual property is yours. If you are acting as a distributor, you affirm you've secured permission from the copyright owner. You allow us to use stills and short clips from your audiovisual project on the festival's digital platforms, including our website and social media channels, exclusively for promotional, non-commercial, and educational purposes.

3. Downloading: You grant permission to the Festival Director and Jury to download your audiovisual project(s) to assist with offline viewing and to fulfill the festival's programming needs. There may be an opportunity for your audiovisual project to be showcased, to be confirmed, in those events you permit us to showcase your audiovisual project online with appropriate encryption and password protection.

4. IMDb: Daydream's team can update your awards/nominations on your IMDb pages, but will not initiate the creation of project pages if they don't exist.

5. Code of Conduct: You pledge to maintain respect and courtesy toward all involved.

6. Feedback: While we don't provide feedback on every submission, we do offer a critical review option.

7. No Refunds and Sportsmanship: No refunds will be provided based on dissatisfaction with final festival decisions.

8. One-Time Fee for All Categories: A singular fee ensures your project is evaluated across all festival categories for potential awards/nominations.

9. Accepted Submission Types: We accept a broad spectrum of submission formats.

10. Submission Permissions: Filmmaker teams can enter multiple projects in the same festival round.

11. Submission Restrictions: Once an audiovisual project has been submitted to a particular edition, it cannot be re-submitted in subsequent ones.

12. Film Reviews: To request a written critique, your audiovisual project must have been submitted to the competition.

13. Official Selection: A submission does not automatically grant "Official Selection" status.

14. Mailing List: By submitting to Daydream, you automatically join our newsletter.

Privacy Policy

1. Newsletter and Promotional Communications Opt-In: By submitting an entry to our festival, you consent to be added to our mailing list and marketing communications from partner film festivals and creative contests.

2. Opt-Out Rights: You may unsubscribe or withdraw consent for electronic communications at any point. Opt-out is available by emailing us with a request to unsubscribe.

3. Use of Personal Information: We respect your privacy and will handle your data according to relevant data protection regulations.

4. Changes to this Clause: We may update this Privacy Policy Clause when necessary.

5. Contact: Any queries regarding this Privacy Policy Clause can be directed to our team.

By agreeing to these terms, filmmakers understand that their content will be treated with the highest level of care and consideration, with safety and security as a priority. Daydream is committed to promoting cinematic excellence while safeguarding the filmmakers' intellectual property.

By entering Daydream, you confirm your understanding of and compliance with the above terms and acknowledge having read and accepted Daydream's rules and regulations.​

At Daydream, our mission is to ensure a level playing field for all filmmakers who wish to showcase their creative prowess. We are fully committed to maintaining the integrity and fairness of our online platform, and to this end, have set forth the following guidelines:

1. Email Marketing & Official Selection: While we employ email marketing as a strategy to amplify the reach and awareness of our festival, it is important for filmmakers to understand that receiving marketing communication does not equate to automatic official selection or nomination. Audiovisual projects undergo a stringent selection process, and there is no guarantee of selection based solely on marketing outreach.

2. No Free Waivers: In the realm of online creative contests, optics matter as much as substance. Offering free waivers can inadvertently send a mixed signal about the festival's integrity and the value it places on filmmakers' contributions. Our decision to not provide free waivers is twofold:

3. Respect for All Participants: Many filmmakers invest both time and resources to participate in our festival. It is paramount that every filmmaker feels their efforts and investments are respected and valued equally.

4. Maintaining Prize Integrity: Granting the prestigious winner of the year title, accompanied by a grand cash prize, to someone who entered on a fee waiver could potentially undermine the perceived value and fairness of the competition. Such an approach might unintentionally devalue the efforts of those who adhered to the standard entry process.

Our festival thrives on the passion, dedication, and sportsmanship of its participants. We believe these policies ensure an environment where creativity is celebrated, and all filmmakers are given an equitable chance to shine.

DAYDREAM

filmfest

SUBMISSION IS THROUGH

EXCLUSIVE EMAIL INVITATION.

WRITE TO US TO SUBMIT YOUR ​FILM OR ARTWORK

daydreamfilmfest@gmail.com

9 OCT 2024

© 2023 DAYDREAM FILMFEST