GUIDELINES

HORROR FILM FESTIVAL
INTERNATIONAL HORROR & DARK GENRE COMPETITION

FESTIVAL REGULATIONS

Please read the following rules carefully before submitting your work.
By submitting, you confirm that you have read and accepted the applicable festival terms.

ELIGIBILITY

  • Submissions must fall within horror, dark genre, or related creative work, including fantasy, sci-fi and other cross-genre forms that retain a clear dark identity.
  • OHFF accepts submissions from all countries and welcomes both established and emerging filmmakers and artists.
  • Previously released, screened, published or distributed works are eligible; premiere status is not required.
  • Works in languages other than English must include English subtitles where dialogue is essential to their evaluation.
  • AI-assisted and AI-generated works are eligible, provided the participant holds the necessary rights to all submitted material.
  • Multiple submissions are permitted, provided each work is submitted separately.

RIGHTS, WARRANTIES & PERMISSIONS

  • The participant represents and warrants that they have full legal right and authority to submit the work to OHFF, and that all necessary rights, consents, licenses and approvals have been obtained.
  • The participant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless OHFF, its organizers, partners and sponsors from claims arising from any failure to obtain the necessary rights, consents, licenses or approvals.
  • By submitting to OHFF, the participant grants the Festival a non-exclusive, royalty-free right to use submitted stills, posters, trailers, excerpts and artwork for promotion, publicity and editorial coverage.
  • All ownership and copyright in the submitted work remain with the respective rights holder, except for rights expressly granted under these Rules or through a separate agreement.
  • The participant confirms that all information provided with the submission is accurate and that OHFF may rely on such information for evaluation, publication and festival administration.
  • Submission to OHFF grants no distribution rights unless the participant selects an Outronox Play option or enters into a separate distribution agreement.

SELECTION & FESTIVAL DECISIONS

  • Submission to OHFF does not guarantee acceptance or selection as an Official Selection.
  • All submissions are evaluated at the sole discretion of the OHFF selection team and, where applicable, the Festival Jury.
  • OHFF reserves the right to determine eligibility, category placement and the most appropriate consideration of each submitted work.
  • Official Selection and award decisions are final and are not subject to appeal or reconsideration, except at the sole discretion of OHFF.
  • OHFF is not required to provide individual feedback, scores, explanations or reasons for selection, non-selection or award decisions.
  • Selection as an Official Selection does not guarantee an award, screening, distribution agreement or any additional opportunity unless expressly confirmed by OHFF.
  • OHFF may revoke or disqualify any submission or Official Selection if eligibility, submitted information or rights are found to be invalid or disputed.
  • The number of Official Selections, nominees, finalists and award recipients may vary at the discretion of OHFF and does not need to be identical across categories.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE, NOTIFICATIONS & EVENT FORMAT

  • All dates, deadlines, notification periods and event schedules published by OHFF are indicative and may be updated when necessary.
  • OHFF reserves the right to modify submission deadlines, notification dates, selection announcements and award schedules at its discretion.
  • The date, location, duration, format and program of any final event, screening or awards presentation may be changed according to organizational, technical or programming requirements.
  • Festival activities may be held in person, online, in hybrid form or through other formats considered appropriate by OHFF.
  • If selected, the participant authorizes OHFF to screen or exhibit the submitted work as part of official Festival activities, without additional screening fees unless otherwise agreed.
  • Publication or notification dates may vary between submissions, categories or Festival stages and do not create an obligation for simultaneous communication to all participants.
  • OHFF may adjust its procedures, evaluation timetable, programming and event structure whenever considered necessary to ensure the best possible organization and presentation of the Festival.
  • OHFF may postpone, reschedule, relocate, modify or cancel any event, screening or festival activity when necessary.
  • Participants are responsible for providing accurate contact information and monitoring OHFF official communications and announcements.
  • Selection or award recognition does not guarantee an in-person screening, ceremony, invitation or physical event unless expressly confirmed by OHFF.

SUBMISSION MATERIALS & TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

  • All submissions must be completed exclusively through the official OHFF submission form.
  • Participants are responsible for providing complete, accurate and accessible submission materials.
  • Film and trailer submissions must include a working screener link or accessible file for the duration of the evaluation process.
  • Any required passwords must remain valid until the evaluation process has been completed.
  • Works containing essential dialogue in languages other than English or Italian must include English or Italian subtitles.
  • OHFF may request replacement files, additional materials or higher-quality masters when necessary for evaluation, promotion or Festival activities.
  • Failure to provide requested materials within a reasonable period may result in exclusion from further consideration.
  • OHFF is not responsible for inaccessible links, expired passwords, corrupted files, upload failures or technical issues originating from materials supplied by the participant.
  • Submitted works may not be substantially replaced or modified after evaluation has begun unless authorized by OHFF.
  • OHFF reserves the right to determine whether submitted materials are technically sufficient for evaluation or Festival use.
  • Technical specifications for screenings, publication or delivery of selected works may be communicated separately when required.
  • Upon request by OHFF, the participant must provide a means to download the submitted work.

DISTRIBUTION OPPORTUNITIES

  • Submission, Official Selection or an award does not guarantee any digital or physical distribution opportunity.
  • By selecting the Outronox Play option, the rights holder grants Outronox a non-exclusive worldwide license to digitally distribute the submitted work through Outronox Play.
  • If the rights holder selects the Outronox Play option and distribution is accepted by Outronox, the rights holder grants Outronox a non-exclusive worldwide license to digitally distribute the submitted work through Outronox Play. The license runs for an initial period of eighteen (18) months from the work’s first release on Outronox Play and automatically renews for successive eighteen-month periods unless the rights holder requests non-renewal by email at least 30 days before the end of the current term.
  • Outronox retains sole discretion over whether, when and how a work is released and may offer or move it between rental, subscription and free-access models during the license term.
  • Paid rentals generate a royalty of 30% of Net Receipts actually received by Outronox.
  • “Net Receipts” means amounts received after deduction of VAT or similar taxes, payment processing fees, platform commissions, refunds and chargebacks.
  • Subscription viewing generates €0.05 for each Qualified View. Fraudulent, automated, abnormal or artificially generated views are excluded.
  • Free-access availability, including advertising-supported availability, does not generate any per-view royalty or revenue share unless otherwise expressly agreed.
  • Outronox determines pricing, availability and promotional periods and does not guarantee any minimum number of views, rentals, revenue or level of promotion.
  • Outronox may use supplied promotional materials and make reasonable technical adaptations necessary for digital delivery, without materially altering the work.
  • Participants selecting Outronox Play must provide a technically suitable downloadable master and any reasonably required materials upon request. Failure to provide them may result in distribution being declined, delayed, suspended or cancelled.
  • Outronox may refuse, suspend, remove or discontinue a work for legal, technical, editorial, commercial or operational reasons. The rights holder warrants that all necessary rights are controlled and agrees to indemnify Outronox against related claims.
  • Statements are issued every six months. Payments are made once the amount due reaches €50; lower balances are carried forward.
  • Any deluxe physical distribution opportunity requires a separate agreement with the rights holder, covering format, royalties, pricing, quantities, territories and release terms.

FEES, PAYMENTS & WITHDRAWALS

  • Submission fees, where applicable, are non-refundable once a submission has been completed.
  • Non-selection, withdrawal, disqualification or changes to Festival dates, format or programming do not entitle the participant to a refund, except where expressly determined by OHFF.
  • Any optional promotional or distribution terms associated with a specific submission option apply only where expressly selected by the participant.
  • Participants may request withdrawal of a submission, but withdrawal does not automatically entitle them to reimbursement of any applicable fee.
  • Withdrawal from Festival consideration does not terminate an Outronox Play license already in effect, which remains governed by the applicable distribution terms.

ACCEPTANCE OF RULES / GENERAL TERMS

  • By submitting to OHFF, the participant confirms that they have read, understood and accepted these Rules and all applicable submission terms.
  • OHFF reserves the right to interpret and apply these Rules and to resolve circumstances not expressly covered herein.
  • Failure to comply with these Rules may result in rejection, withdrawal or disqualification of a submission.
  • If any provision of these Rules is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in effect.

LEGAL CAPACITY

  • The participant must have the legal capacity and authority necessary to enter into these submission terms.
  • Submissions made on behalf of a company, production, collective or other rights holder must be authorized by that entity.
  • Where legally required, submissions by minors must be made or authorized by a parent or legal guardian.
NEED CLARIFICATION?

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

Contact the festival before submitting if you need clarification
about eligibility, materials or submission options.


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