QUALIFICATION FOR ENTRIES: Any frame by frame or computer-assisted animated film or video, or non-gameplay video game animation may be entered. Only works completed after June 15, 2012 will be accepted.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: Works submitted for selection can be presented on DVD in either NTSC or PAL.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: The official languages of the Festival are English and French. If possible, submit your work with an English dialogue track or with English subtitles otherwise, please submit an English dialogue script.

REGISTRATION AND DATES: No registration fee is required. The entry form must be submitted online by 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time) on May 31, 2013. The preview film must reach the festival office no later than June 7, 2013 or it will not be considered. The entrant must include the director's biography, director’s photo (300 dpi) and a minimum of 3 stills (300 dpi) from the film. These files can be uploaded online, submitted on disc or emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF FILMS FOR SELECTION: Copies of works submitted for selection must reach the festival office on or before June 7, 2013. Works arriving after this date will not be accepted. Entrants are asked to indicate the Entry ID when sending their preview DVD. Please ensure that your film is actually on the disc you have entered. Blank entries will not be considered.

SEND PREVIEW DVDS AND ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS TO:

OTTAWA INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FESTIVAL
Suite 120, 2 Daly Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario  K1N 6E2  Canada
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NOTE: We cannot accept customs fees. Do not list a value higher than $10.00 CDN on your entry package.

SELECTION: Each entry is considered for the Official Competition and the out-of-competition Showcase screenings. The Festival will select the films in competition and showcase. Works will be judged within their category for conceptual, technical and aesthetic innovation and excellence. We understand that rejection can be difficult to take, but remember that we receive many entries and only take a fraction of those for competition.

NOTE: The Artistic Director reserves the right to switch a film's category if he feels the film is more suited for another category.

NOTE: DVDs submitted for selection will not be returned. All works submitted for selection will be made available to the general public during the span of the Festival for screening in the Animation Resource Library.

IF YOUR WORK IS SELECTED...

REQUIREMENTS: Directors or Producers must provide digital video files (minimum resolution 1280 x 720).

NOTE: The Festival does not accept 35mm, BetacamSP or any other tape format as a screening copy. If the Festival Office does not receive the required film or video screening copy in the proper format on or before August 9, 2013, the selected work will be withdrawn from the competition or showcase program.

35MM FILM: In response to changing projection availability, unfortunately the festival can no longer accept 35mm as a screening format.

NOTE: The screening copy must have either an English dialogue track or have English subtitles. The entrant or producer must also provide an adequate supply of stills and documents to allow the festival to promote the film properly.

TRANSPORTATION AND INSURANCE: The Primary Contact is responsible for the transport costs, insurance charges and customs fees incurred when shipping material to the Festival. The Festival is responsible for the costs incurred with the return of material to the Primary Contact. However, due to budgetary limitations, the material will be shipped via SURFACE MAIL. Filmmakers requesting the return of materials via courier must incur the cost themselves.

No entered material can be returned or loaned during the festival. Any filmmaker requiring his or her work for private use during the festival is asked to bring a separate copy. The Festival will be responsible for storage and insurance costs of the prints only between the time prints are taken into care and the time they are handed to the carrier. In case of loss or damage to a print, the obligation of the festival is limited to the replacement value.

COMPOSITION OF PROGRAMMES FOR OFFICIAL COMPETITION: The Artistic Director of the Ottawa International Animation Festival will define the order and composition of the programs presented in the Official Competition and the overall program schedule. Short programs submitted on digital formats will be duplicated onto Competition-specific compilations for screening purposes only, and will not be made available beyond such purposes. 

INVITATIONS: Invitations are given to filmmakers with films in competition. The invitation, intended solely for the use of the film's director, includes accommodation for the span of the event. If a film is made by several directors, only one of the directors will be entitled to complimentary accommodations. The invitation is not transferable under any circumstances.

ARTIST RENUMERATION: Screening fees for independent and feature works shown in Competition or Showcase are limited to $75 CAD. We reserve the right to screen films in Competition and Showcase three times (one Gala, two repeats) during the Festival, with a possible fourth screening if the film is selected as an award winner or Jury Prize. We cannot pay additional fees to distributors. Films in the Commissioned category do not receive a screening fee. One director from each film in Competition will receive complimentary accommodations for their own use, for the span of the Festival.  All directors in Competition and Showcase will receive a complimentary pass for their own use.

COMPETITION JURIES: The Festival will have three juries: one international jury for the feature; one for school, independent, student and commissioned competitions; and one Children’s Jury comprised of 6-13 year olds to judge the Kid’s Competition finalists. All members of the international juries will be closely connected with the art of animation. The jury members will elect a president at their first meeting. Productions produced or directed by members of the juries are not eligible for entry in the categories of the Official Competition. The decisions of the juries are final.

FESTIVAL PRIZES: The juries will present the following awards:
GRAND PRIZE for Best Animated Feature
GRAND PRIZE for Best Independent Short Animation
GRAND PRIZE for Best Student Animation
GRAND PRIZE for Best Commissioned Animation
PRIZE for Best Animation School Showreel
PRIZE for Best Narrative Short Animation
PRIZE for Best Experimental/Abstract Animation
PRIZE for Best High School Animation
PRIZE for Best Undergraduate Animation
PRIZE for Best Canadian Student Animation
PRIZE for Best Graduation Animation
PRIZE for Best Promotional Animation
PRIZE for Best Video Game Animation
PRIZE for Best Music Video
PRIZE for Best Television Animation for Adults
PRIZE for Best Short Animation Made for Children
PRIZE for Best Television Animation Made for Children
National Film Board of Canada (NFB) PUBLIC PRIZE
Canadian Film Institute (CFI) Award for Best Canadian Animation

A prize will be awarded to the best entry in each of the Competition Categories. The juries, at their discretion, may also award additional special prizes. It is the jury's responsibility to decide which of the winning entries will be presented on the Festival’s Closing Night.

NOTE: The juries have the right to withhold an award in any category where no entries, in the Jury’s view, meet its standards for recognition.

MENTIONS: The producers and directors of award-winning films at OIAF should mention the prize obtained, the year and the name of OIAF in the credits of their film and on all related documentation.

PROMOTIONAL USE OF WORKS: Unless otherwise indicated on the entry form, the entrant grants the Festival the right to show, for TV publicity purposes only, up to 10% of the running time of the production to a maximum of three minutes. Any other proposed use outside of the Festival will be referred by the Festival to the Primary Contact for direct negotiation.

ACCEPTANCE OF REGULATIONS: By agreeing to and/or submitting the entry form for the Ottawa 2013 International Animation Festival, the participant accepts, without reservation, the terms of the present regulations as stated in this document.

Narrative Short: Structured with some sort of narrative or story. (ie. "something happens")
Experimental/Abstract Animation: Structured without a clear narrative or cause-effect plotline.

High School Animation: Films directed by students attending a government- or privately-funded general education program, generally stretching from ages 15-18 (also known as “upper” or “secondary” school)
Undergraduate Animation: Films directed by students enrolled in a post-secondary (diploma or degree) program that lasts from 6 months to 4 years, with the standard requirement usually being a high school diploma.
Graduation Animation: Films directed by students in a post-graduate (diploma or degree) program that lasts from 6 months to 2 years, and requires prior experience or an undergraduate diploma/degree for enrollment. In addition, "final" or "thesis" (graduation) projects for undergraduate programs would be considered within this category.

Promotional Animation: Includes commercials, title sequences, and station/program identification spots
Video Game Animation: Includes non-gameplay animation created for video game trailers or cinematics.
Music Video: Includes works made to specifically promote and/or compliment a music soundtrack
Television Animation for Adults: Animated television series not specifically aimed at children demographics. Only one episode per series is eligible.

Short Animation Made for Children: Any non-feature animated film that is aimed specifically at young audiences.
Television Animation for Children: Any special or series created specifically for a young television/video audience. Only one episode per series is eligible.