The Toronto Palestine Film Festival (TPFF) is now accepting entries for the festival’s second year to be held in September-October 2009.

The festival was conceived by Palestine House last year to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Nakba. This year’s festival will continue to present the extraordinary narrative of a dispossessed people living in exile or under Israeli occupation and will continue to introduce Canadian audiences to the rich variety of Palestinian cinema.

This year the festival will also create at least one special program for children. We encourage all filmmakers, especially filmmakers under 18 years of age, to submit works that are suitable for young audiences.

Eligibility

While highlighting the work of Palestinian filmmakers, the festival will showcase the diverse and creative work of all filmmakers (any nationality) exploring both historic and contemporary themes related to Palestinian culture, experience and narrative.

The TPFF Selection Committee accepts films, videos and digital media in all genres of any length, included productions of youth under the age of 18. Entries should be produced between 2004 and 2009.

All foreign language entries must be subtitled in English. Any works currently in production may be submitted as rough cuts but, if selected, must be provided in final form with English subtitles by 30 July 2009.

Formats accepted for submission (for the selection process only):

DVD/VHS (PAL or NTSC) or QuickTime movies on CD (for shorts or youth work only)

Formats accepted for exhibition (for presentation at the festival):

Film: 35mm and 16mm

Video: DigiBeta or BetaSP (NTSC preferred)

Digital: DV and Mini DV

(DVDs are NOT ACCEPTABLE unless they are for short films under 15 minutes.)

Deadlines

Early submission deadline: 30 March 2009

Extended submission deadline: 30 April 2009

Filmmakers will be notified of selections via email by 30 July 2009. This will be followed by letters of acceptance mailed to all filmmakers whose works have been selected for inclusion in the Festival. Film selections will be publicly announced on the TPFF website by 30 July 2009.

Submission form can be found at: http:www.tpff.ca.