1. The 34th “Cinéma du Réel” International Film Festival will be held in Paris at the Centre Pompidou and in partner film theatres from March 22nd to April 1st 2012. The festival is organized by the Bibliothèque publique d’information (Public Information Library), The Association Les Amis du Cinéma du Réel, the Centre Pompidou, the Centre national de la recherche scientifique-Images (National Centre for Scientific Research-Images), the Comité du film ethnographique (Ethnographic Film Committee), with the support of the French Ministry of Culture and Communication (Service of Book and Reading and Heritage Directorate), le Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (National Film Centre), the Ile-de-France Regional Council, the City of Paris, the Procirep Television Commission, the Société civile des auteurs multimédia (SCAM Authors’ Society), the Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique (SACEM Authors’ Society), the Acsé and the Institut français.

2. The films submitted must be copyrighted in 2011 or 2012.

3. Cinéma du reel gives priority to cinematographic writing and approaches, in a broad understanding of documentary that can sometimes challenge the traditional borders of the genre, whatever the subject, length, format or form. Nonetheless we strongly insist that the Festival is not seeking news reports, current affairs programs, journalistic-style documentaries, promotional or corporate films. We invite you to get an understanding of the festival’s editorial project by browsing through the previous year’s selections on the website.

4. Only films that have not been commercially released or broadcasted in France are eligible for submission for the International competition and the First Films international competition.

5. The festival’s artistic director determines the selection of films and the sections in which they well be programmed. Each film in competition will be screened up to three times during the festival.

6. Registration and Viewing Material

6.1 All films sent to the festival must be submitted by completing the online submission form available on the website. It must be printed, signed and sent along with the dvd.

6.2 Deadlines

6.2.a – Films completed before November 1st 2011:
Online submission duly completed and viewing material to be sent and postmarked November 15th 2011 at the latest.

6.2.b – Films completed after November 1st 2011:
Online submission duly completed: November 15th 2011.
Viewing material to be sent and postmarked December 15th 2011 at the latest.

6.3 There is no guaranty that films registered or sent and postmarked after the above mentioned deadlines will be previewed. Films registered and sent in time that wouldn’t reach the festival on December 31st 2011 at the latest will not be previewed.
The viewing copies can be DVD format (-R if possible) or VHS (all colour formats). Mailing costs for these copies, as well as any related duties, charges and fees, notably shipping and customs charges, are assumed by the sender.
For DVD’s sent from abroad we advise you to mention on the envelope “No commercial value. For cultural purposes only”.

6.4. The festival keeps the viewing material for the sole purposes of documentation, of promotion and of viewing by professionals on its premises for a maximum period of 6 months, except for films included in the Festival’s video library, and will only return the viewing material upon formal request by the sender.

7. Selection

7.1. Filmmakers having their film selected at the festival will be personally contacted by mid-January.

7.2. The filmmakers and right-holders of the selected films undertake not to withdraw the films from the Festival programme after the programme has been announced mid-January 2012, and not to screen or broadcast the film in France before the end of the festival, with the exception of press or professional screenings you may organize.

7.3. If the festival shows interest in a film presented for selection in a non definitive version, the confirmation of its selection will only be effective after the viewing of the final version before December 31st 2011 or after a dialogue with the filmmaker on the planned modifications to the film.

8. Awards
Grand Prize of the Cinéma du Réel (Grand Prix Cinéma du Réel), funded by the Bpi with the support of Procirep, €8 000 and awarded to a film of the International Competition.
Joris Ivens Award (Prix Joris Ivens), €7 500 funded by Marceline Loridan-Ivens, The European Foundation Joris Ivens and the Association Les Amis du Cinéma du Réel and awarded to a film of the First Films Competition.
The Library Award (Prix des Bibliothèques), funded by the Service of Book and Reading, Department of the Media and Cultural Industries, Ministry of Culture and Communication, €6 000.
Scam International Prize (Prix International de la Scam), funded by the Scam, €4 600 and awarded to a film of the International Competition.
Louis Marcorelles Award (Prix Louis Marcorelles), awarded by the Institut français in the form of purchase of rights multilingual DVD and valued to €10 000.
The Youth Jury Award - Cinéma du Réel (Prix des Jeunes - Cinéma du Réel), funded by the Centre Pompidou, €2 500 and awarded to a film from the International Competition, the First Films Competition, the Contrechamps français.
Intangible Heritage Award (Prix du Patrimoine Immatériel), given by the Heritage Directorate of the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, €2 500.
Short Film Prize (Prix du Court Métrage), funded by the Bpi €2 500 and supported by Vectracom, is awarded to a film of the International Short film competition.
The titles of the above-mentioned awards may be modified, but their total amount and their nature will not be affected.
The award amounts are paid to the filmmakers. The festival cannot be held responsible for, or be involved in any further financial agreement resulting from the filmmakers’ contractual obligations.
Films awarded at Cinéma du reel will have to include very clearly the logo provided corresponding to award received on all promotional documents (posters, flyers, postcards, etc) and press kits published after the festival, in the context of a theatrical release or a presentation at a festival in France and abroad.
Films not awarded are free to use a logo provided by the festival indicating their selection in the competition on promotional documents, dvd or on the credits of the film.

9. Prints and formats

9.1. The Festival has facilities for screening 16 and 35mm prints, Beta SP, Digital Beta, HDV Cam, DV, Mini DV, DVCam and DVCPro video tape. The Festival prefers the original theatre print of the completed work. Only quality prints will be accepted.

9.2. Subtitles and versions
Films selected for the International Competitions are screened in their original version with subtitles in French and English. The costs of electronic subtitling in one of these two languages will be borne by the Festival, the other by the production.
Films selected for the Contrechamp français must be provided in the French-language version or in the original-language version with French subtitles.
In order to ensure the electronic subtitling of films, it is imperative that the Festival have at its disposal the subtitles files in .stl or .srt format, or a full and final original-language text and dialogue script, a French or English translation of texts and dialogues, a subtitle list in French or English.

9.3. The screening material and the elements necessary to the electronic subtitling of the films must reach the festival on February 15th 2012 at the latest. No modified versions of the films will be accepted after this date.

9.4. The submitter is responsible for shipping and import fees to the festival. We will only assume the return expenses of the selected films, as well as storage and insurance expenses of the films from the time the films are received until they are sent back. In case of loss or damage during this period, the Festival will assume responsibility only for the replacement value of the print at the current rate.

10. Video library
Selected films will be included in the festival’s video library, accessible to professional accreditation holders. The Festival can moreover propose that certain submitted films that were not selected be included in its professional video library and be available for viewing during the festival, and thereafter on its premises, for researchers and programming professionals.

11. Festival registration is free of charge. This registration implies full acceptance of the terms and provisions of the present Rules and Regulations.
Should any litigation arise only the French version of the Rules and Regulations shall prevail.

August 2011