Submit a Film

Call for Film Entries

Since 2006 the PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL has been touring the very best films from around the globe showcasing the passion, action, adventure, and paddling lifestyle.

We are currently collecting new paddling films for the Paddling Film Festival World Tour. Each year films are entered by both professional producers and up-and-coming filmmakers from all corners of the world. We invite you to submit your paddling film for a chance to screen to more than 35,000 paddlers in more than 120 cities worldwide.

CASH PRIZES

Over the last 13 years, Rapid Media has awarded a total of $71,000 to paddling filmmakers. Each year there are $5,500 in cash prizes up for grabs. Each of our 10 category winners receives a $500 cash prize as does the Aqua-Bound People's Choice Award winner. How do we decide who wins the Aqua-Bound People's Choice Award? We don't, audiences decide. At the end of the tour, the scores will be tallied and the Aqua-Bound People's Choice Award winner will be announced at the 2019 Paddlesports Retailer Show in Oklahoma City.

GAIN INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE

The World Tour screens in more than 120 cities around the world. Since Rapid Media launched the festival back in 2006, the World Tour has screened 959 times to more than 282,864 audience members. If your film is selected to tour, your film and contact information will be listed on our World Tour website, program, newsletters, and social media channels.

ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS

Sending an entry to the Paddling Film Festival and World Tour implies acceptance of the Rules and Regulations.

Entries can be of any duration. Shorter films are preferred (2 to 20 minutes). Films longer than 20 minutes should be accompanied by a shorter World Tour version.

Entrants grant the Festival organizers the right to make Festival versions of films that are shorter than 20 minutes.

Films can be narrative, story, animated, or experimental and can be entered by professional or amateur filmmakers.

Foreign language films must be accompanied by an English translation or have English subtitles.

Screening fees will not be paid for film screenings during the Festival or World Tour.

All music rights must be cleared before films are submitted. Consent of performers and/or persons appearing in the film must be obtained before films are submitted.

Films may have been previously entered in other film festivals.

Entrants grant the Festival organizers permission to use excerpts, not exceeding three minutes, for promotional purposes in various media, trade shows, and retail stores.

Entrants are required to supply promotional materials, such as still images, for the purpose of promoting the films and Tour.

Entrants grant the Festival organizers the right to copy the entry in part or in its entirety in any media format to facilitate the operation or promotion of the Festival and/or World Tour.

The entrant acknowledges and agrees that all matters not covered by these Rules and Regulations, and questions arising from them, will be decided at the sole discretion of the Festival organizers.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

You will be required to provide a HD high-resolution version of the film.

FilmFreeway accepts all major video formats in full quality HD up to 10 GB. We transcode videos for playback compatibility and performance and recommend that you use settings close to our output settings:

Maximum video bitrate: 2200 Kbps, H.264, mp4
Audio: 128 Kbps, AAC, 2 channel stereo
Aspect ratio preserved; maximum video height of 720 pixels

Films will need to be in NTSC format. NTSC (National Television System Committee) is a Color TV standard for the United States, Canada, Japan, and other countries of North and South America and Asia. To resolve the incompatibility problem of the NTSC and PAL video formats, it’s best to use software that can change PAL to NTSC and vice versa.

PROMOTIONAL IMAGES

Entries MUST be accompanied by a minimum of three (3) high-resolution images from the film to be reproduced, published and/or exhibited for promotional purposes as they pertain to the Paddling Film Festival.

The annual signature image is used on our marketing materials which include posters, banners, website, programs, and magazine ads.

If your image is selected as the "Signature Image", we offer a payment for use of the winning image.

Preferred Format: Digital; 300 dpi jpeg and/or Tiff format; minimum size is 4" x 6" landscape or portrait. Please include a press kit and director's CV, if available.

ENTRY FEE & DEADLINES

Early Bird Deadline - October 1st ($20 per entry)
Deadline - November 1st ($25 per entry)
Late Submissions - December 1st ($30 per entry)

Each year there are $5,500 in cash prizes up for grabs. Each of our 10 category winners receives a $500 cash prize as does the Aqua-Bound People's Choice Award winner. How do we decide who wins the Aqua-Bound People's Choice Award? We don't, audiences decide. At the end of the tour, the scores will be tallied and the Aqua-Bound People's Choice Award winner will be announced at the 2019 Paddlesports Retailer Show in Oklahoma City.

SELECTION PROCESS

Each year films are entered by both professional producers and up-and-coming filmmakers from all corners of the world. The Paddling Film Festival committee narrows these submissions down to a shortlist of films and then decides upon 10 winners - one film per category - who receive cash prizes and recognition. The shortlisted and winning films are then toured around the world as the Paddling Film Festival World Tour. Winners will be notified after the premiere in February. Prizes will be awarded for the best film entry in each category. Winners and shortlisted films will be the only films screened in the Paddling Film Festival World Tour.

How to Submit a Film

To submit your film to the Paddling Film Festival, all entrants are required to provide a HD high-resolution version of the film via FilmFreeway, pay the applicable submissions fee and include a downloadable link to your film along with promotional graphics. Please review the Rules and Regulations prior to completing the online entry form.