2019 BEESLA Film Festival Rules

All submissions must be between 5-10 minutes in length.

Films may have been exhibited or previously distributed.

No purchase necessary to enter or claim a prize. A purchase does not increase your chances of winning. Odds of winning will depend on the total number of entries received. Entry via the Audience Awards account and connection is required. You must have the authority to submit the film for our consideration.

Anyone may submit to this festival, but videos will be judged for admittance into the festival before audience and jury voting opens. Preliminary judging will be based on the quality of content and adherence to the assignment. Videos will be judged by a score of 1-3. Videos that score a 1 will not be allowed to compete in the festival. The film must not (i) infringe any rights of publicity or privacy, moral rights or IP rights, including any music-related rights, (ii) be defamatory or indecent, and (iii) violate any applicable laws. You must have obtained and been able to prove that you have all the necessary rights to the music in your film. Creative commons licenses will not be accepted and do not prove that you have the rights to the music on your film.

HOW TO ENTER:

To enter the festival, filmmakers must create an Audience Awards account and follow the instructions from the festival landing page of the contest brief.

1st-4th place films screen at the 39th BESLA Film Festival. The 1st place winner's film will show on BET's social media platforms and be featured on BET.com.

To enter, you must have a valid Audience Awards account. Signing up for Audience Awards is free of charge.

You may not post or transmit a caption that contains threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, scandalous, inflammatory, pornographic or profane material or any caption that could constitute or encourage conduct that would be considered a criminal offense, that would otherwise violate any law, or is inconsistent with BESLA brand image.

NOTE ABOUT MOBILE:

If you participate in the festival via your wireless mobile device (which may only be available via participating wireless carriers and is not required to enter), standard messaging or data rates will apply according to the terms and conditions of your service agreement with your wireless carrier. Other charges may apply and may appear on your mobile phone bill or be deducted from your prepaid account balance. Wireless carriers' rate plans may vary, and you should contact your wireless carrier for more information about rate plans and charges relating to your participation in this festival. Internet and data may not be available from all mobile phone service carriers and handset models. Cellphone service may not be available in all areas. Check your phone's capabilities for specific instructions.

Entries generated by a script, computer programs, macro, programmed, robotic or other automated means will be disqualified. Entries that are incomplete, illegible, corrupted, false, lost, late or misdirected, deceptive or otherwise not in compliance with the Official Rules may be disqualified from the festival at the sponsor's sole and absolute discretion. In the event of a dispute over the identity of an entrant, the entry will be deemed submitted by the authorized account holder of the email address associated with the Audience Awards account of the entry, which the entrant will have the obligation to establish. Authorized account holder is defined as the person assigned to an email address by an internet access provider, online service provider or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses. All materials submitted become the property of the sponsor and will not be returned. In the event a dispute regarding the identity of the individual who actually submitted an entry cannot be resolved to the sponsor's satisfaction, the affected entry will be deemed ineligible. Illegible and/or incomplete entries and entries submitted by entrants who do not meet the eligibility requirements (including all requirements with respect to age and residence) are void. All users must text verify to vote for films. The phone numbers will never be used for any purpose except to protect voting standards.

VOTING

Voting is open to the public. Voters can vote once a day for as many films as they like. Filmmakers can vote for their own films and any other films they like once a day. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Any questions regarding the determination of a winner will be decided in the sole discretion of the sponsor, which is final and binding in all matters relating to this festival.

The approximate retail value of the prize(s) may be based on information provided by the sponsor and the value of any prize awarded to a winner may be reported for tax purposes as required by law. For tax reporting purposes, the winner(s) may be required to provide the sponsor with a valid social security number before the prize is awarded. An IRS Form 1099 may be issued in the name of winner(s) or, if a minor in the jurisdiction in which they reside, in the name of their parent or legal guardian, for the actual value of the prize(s) received. The prizes are awarded “as is” without warranty or guarantee, either express or implied (including, without limitation, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose). Prizing may be fulfilled by a third party. Prizes are nontransferable and cannot be substituted or redeemed for cash by the winner.

REDEEMING PRIZES:

Winners will be notified via email within one day of the festival closing. All winners are subject to verification at the sole discretion of Audience Awards and BESLA. As part of the verification process, Audience Awards may, without otherwise altering the grant of rights to festival entities, require potential winners to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility, and except where prohibited by law, a liability and publicity release. Any and all materials submitted become the property of the sponsor and will not be returned. Filmmakers from outside of the US may submit to this festival. Out of the US prize winners are fully responsible for shipping, duties and taxes fees for prizes.

NON-EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS PROVISION:

Audience Awards works to accelerate filmmaker’s careers in various ways. By submitting content on Audience Awards, you agree as follows:

You own or have obtained all necessary rights, including music rights, consents, authorizations and licenses to the submitted content and there is not pending or anticipated litigation regarding such content. You may have to provide proof of your rights.
You hereby grant Audience Awards a limited non-exclusive license to use and display the submitted content on the Audience Awards website, promotional videos, and at Audience Awards supported film festivals.
From time to time Audience Awards may seek to commercialize content (including through third party licenses, advertising or Audience Awards subsidiary channels) and/or put content on other Audience Awards branded channels. In such cases, Audience Awards will notify you that it intends to commercialize your content and/or add your content to a new channel. Any such notice will include the proposed terms of the arrangement (including any associated payments to you) and will provide you the right to opt out of any such proposed arrangement. If you opt out, Audience Awards will not include your content in any such commercial arrangement. You hereby agree that Audience Awards can include your content if you do not opt out.
Audience Awards currently uses Stripe to make commercialization payments to filmmakers. Subject to change.

OFFICIAL RULES OF PARTICIPATION:

All federal, state and local laws apply. By participating, entrants agree (i) to be bound by these Official Rules, including all eligibility requirements, and (ii) to be bound by the decisions of Audience Awards including the interpretations of these Official Rules, which are final and binding in all matters relating to the festival. The Audience Awards are not responsible for (i) lost, late, misdirected, deceptive, damaged, garbled or illegible entries; (ii) error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of entry materials, or for technical, network, telephone-equipment, electronic, computer, hardware or software malfunctions of any kind, or inaccurate transmission of or failure to receive entry information by Audience Awards on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the internet or at any website or any combination thereof; or (iii) any injury or damage to entrant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participating in the festival. Audience Awards reserves the right to permanently disqualify from this festival any person they believe has violated these Official Rules.

By accepting a prize, each winner irrevocably consents to the use by Audience Awards or festival entities of winner's name, likeness and statements relating to the festival, without further compensation, in all worldwide marketing, promotion and publicity carried out in perpetuity by Audience Awards and any of festival entities. Any information provided by the sponsor may be used to communicate with an entrant in relation to the festival or on a festival winner’s list. Audience Awards reserve the right to terminate, cancel, suspend and/or modify the festival if any fraud, virus or other problems corrupt the administration, security or proper play of the festival, as determined by Audience Awards in their sole discretion. Any damage made to the website or the Audience Awards service will be the responsibility of the account holder.

If a festival is terminated before the end date/time, the sponsor will determine the winner from all eligible entries received as of the termination date/time. If any such malfunction, error, disruption or similar damage occurs and impairs the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper play of the festival, Audience Awards may, in their sole discretion, suspend or terminate the festival by posting a notice at theaudienceawards.com.

RELEASES/DISCLAIMERS/INDEMNITY:

Under no circumstances, including negligence, shall Audience Awards and their affiliates be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages, including without limitation, property damage, personal injury and/or death, resulting from participation in the festival or acceptance, use or misuse of any prize. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the preceding release is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or void for any reason, the entrant agrees that, by entering the festival, (a) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or in connection with the festival or any prizes awarded shall be resolved individually without resort to any form of class action; (b) any claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering the festival, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (c) under no circumstances will any entrant be permitted to obtain any award for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental or consequential damages and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased, other than damages for actual out-of-pocket expenses.

Entrants hereby acknowledge that the Audience Awards festival entities have neither made nor are in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation or guarantee, express or implied (including, but not limited to warranties of any kind concerning the appearance, safety or performance of any prize), in fact or in law, relative to any prize. Each winner shall bear all risk of loss or damage to their prize after it has been delivered to such winner via U.S. Mail, FedEx, United Parcel Service or any other shipping agent.

By entering and participating, entrant agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Audience Awards and the festival entities from and against any and all claims, demands, liability, damages or causes of action (however named or described) losses, costs or expenses, with respect to or arising out of or related to: (i) entrant’s participation in the festival, and (ii) entrant's acceptance, use or misuse of a prize, including, without limitation, any property loss, damage, personal injury or death caused to any person(s). Winners assume all liability for any injury or damage caused or claimed to be caused, by participation in this festival or use or redemption of a prize.

APPLICABLE LAW:

The festival and these Official Rules shall be construed and governed in accordance with the substantive laws of the state of Montana, as distinguished from the choice of law rules. By participating, entrants agree that all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, entrant's rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the sponsor in connection with the festival shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Montana, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules. By participating, entrants consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal, state and local courts located in Delaware.

MISCELLANEOUS:

The names of individuals, groups, companies, products and services mentioned herein, and any corresponding likenesses, logos, and images thereof reproduced herein, have been used for identification purposes only and may be the copyrighted properties and trademarks of their respective owners. The mention of any individual, group or company (including, without limitation, Audience Awards), or the inclusion of a product or service as a prize, does not imply any association with or endorsement by such individual, group or company or the manufacturer or distributor of such product or service and, except as otherwise indicated, no association or endorsement is intended or should be inferred. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.

In the event that any provision of the Official Rules is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, the other provisions will remain in effect and will be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein. The sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules will not constitute a waiver of that provision. To the extent, there is a conflict between these Official Rules and any terms of use or other agreement posted on the sponsor’s website, Audience Awards website or elsewhere, these Official Rules control.

YOUR ACCOUNT AND VOTING TERMS:

You are responsible for your use of the services and for any content accessed or made available to others through your account, even if that content is accessed or made available by others. Audience Awards will not be held responsible for your use of the services or for any such content. You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account login information and for any activities or actions occurring under your account. Audience Awards encourages you to use a "strong" password (passwords that use a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols) for your account. Audience Awards will not be responsible for any loss or damages resulting from your failure to comply with this obligation.

Each account login may only be used by one person - a single login shared by multiple people is not permitted. Fake email addresses are not allowed. You must be a human. Accounts registered by "bots" or other automated methods are not permitted. One person or legal entity may not maintain more than one free account.

You may not vote on behalf of someone else. Filmmakers and third parties may tell their customers, friends and neighbors about the competition and direct them to Audience Awards to vote for a film. Filmmakers are encouraged to share information they believe is relevant through links to the filmmakers’ Audience Awards pages. Filmmakers are responsible for complying with all applicable terms of each third-party platform, and all applicable laws, in connection with sharing information about its film. Neither filmmakers nor third parties retained by you may solicit or entice others to vote by offering any type of consideration including gifts, awards, bribes or inducements, including merchandise, cash, online currency, discounts, lottery or anything deemed to have value in exchange for votes, including donations to charity. Noncompliance may result in removal from the competition. Soliciting others for votes or sending spam related to voting is not within the spirit of the competition and films may be subject to removal from the competition if it is determined that they have participated in any such activities.

Notwithstanding anything in these rules, filmmakers may purchase print or digital advertisements simply stating that they are participating in the program, and they are encouraged to reach out to their friends, family, and fans to vote. The count of eligible votes by the Audience Awards shall be deemed final. The Audience Awards reserve the right to eliminate or disregard any or all votes in excess of stated limits or otherwise not in accordance with the Official Rules or any instructions on the website, including any voting instructions.

The Audience Awards are not responsible for, nor are they required to count, in their sole and absolute discretion, late, lost, misdirected, unlawful or illicit votes, votes cast for a filmmaker later determined to be ineligible, votes cast in violation of the rules, votes achieved through automated means by using more than one account, using another person's name or identity, or votes that are achieved through other fraudulent means, unsportsmanlike conduct or in a manner otherwise inconsistent with these festival rules. If you are caught cheating and you have an entry in a film and video festival, your entry will/may be deleted from the festival and not be eligible to receive a prize. Using vote-collecting websites including, but not limited to, getonlinevotes.com, votesforfestival.com, vapulsemedia.net, etc. is not allowed.

ELIGIBILITY:

The festival is open to the public worldwide, excluding the following: Antarctica, Afghanistan, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Belarus, Bouvet Island, British Indian Ocean Territory, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Christmas Island, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Lao, People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Serbia and Montenegro, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Zimbabwe. An eligible minor (the age of majority is eighteen (18) in most states but twenty-one (21) in Mississippi and nineteen (19) in Alabama and Nebraska) should obtain a parent or legal guardian’s permission prior to entering. Further, entrants must be members in good standing of the Audience Awards in order to participate in the festival and win the prize(s).

Employees of Audience Awards and/or their affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, directors, officers and distributors and other prize suppliers and each of their immediate family members and/or those living in the same household (whether legally related or not) are not eligible to enter or win. The festival is governed by U.S. law, is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, and is void where prohibited.

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