Rules and Terms of Agreement.

The European Independent Film Festival (ECU 2008) Much more than a Script Competition.

  1. Entry into this competition confirms each entrant's acceptance of these rules and terms of agreement.
  2. The European Independent Film Festival (ECU 2008) Much More than a Script Competition is open to writers of any nationality from any country.
  3. Applications must be received electronically on or before midnight February 1st 2008
  4. Finalists will be announced March 1st with an overall winner announced at The European Independent Film Festival in Paris on 22nd March 2008
  5. All writers must be eighteen years old as of January 1st 2008.
  6. The entered screenplay must not have been previously optioned, sold or produced.
  7. Screenplays must be written in English, French, Spanish or German.
  8. A Short Screenplay must be no less than 5 pages and no more than 50 pages.
  9. A Feature Screenplay must be no less than 80 pages and no more than 130 pages.
  10. Screenplays of any genre will be considered and must be the original work of the author(s) submitting it. Where the screenplay is based upon another piece of work it is the responsibility of the screenplay writer(s) to obtain permission/copyright clearance from the original author.
  11. Screenplays based upon another work must be clearly marked as such.
  12. The entry fee for a Short Screenplay is 30€.
  13. The entry fee for a Feature Screenplay is 50€.
  14. Payments must be made in Euros, in full and in advance to competition entry.
  15. Entering the competition constitutes permission to use the winners' names and the scripts’ titles for publicity and promotions without any additional compensation.
  16. Multiple authorship screenplays are acceptable.
  17. The winners will be chosen by a panel of judges. The decision of the judges will be final and no correspondence nor discussion will be entered into.
  18. No cash alternatives to any of the prizes or additional payments shall be made.
  19. The Competition organizers reserve the right to reject any entry for any reason at their absolute discretion.
  20. No substitution or new drafts or corrected pages for screenplay entries will be accepted under any circumstances.
  21. Multiple entries are accepted provided a separate agreement to terms is accepted and additional entry fees paid with each submission.
  22. No additional material should be attached to the screenplay.
  23. The organizers reserve the right to amend these rules and regulations at any time by notice on www.ecufilmfestvial.com

Agreement to Terms

In order to be deemed eligible for The European Independent Film Festival (ECU 2008) Much More than a Script Competition, I/We, the undersigned Writer(s) of the submitted screenplay, attest that I/We have read and understand all of the Rules & Regulations and that I/We have complied with all of the Rules & Regulations, as well as agree and comply to the Terms listed below. I/We (“Writer(s)”) attest that the following is true and correct:

  1. Writer(s) agree to abide by all of the Rules and Regulations, both in this Agreement and posted on www.ecufilmfestival.com, and acknowledge that failure to do so will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee(s) and prizes, if any.
  2. Writer(s) recognize and acknowledge that The European Independent Film Festival (ECU 2008) Much More than a Script Competition, the Contest, its sponsors, judges, administrators, readers and other associates ("the Contest") have access to hundreds of ideas, stories and screenplays for motion pictures and that many stories and ideas relate to one or more common underlying themes, concepts or other elements.  The Writer(s) understand that The European Independent Film Festival (ECU 2008) Much More than a Script Competition and the Contest agree not to use any portion of the Screenplay unless:  1) Writer(s) do not control or own the Screenplay or such features or elements, 2) the Screenplay elements used by The European Independent Film Festival (ECU 2008) Much More than a Script Competition and/or the Contest and claimed by Writer(s) to be their Screenplay or embodied in the Screenplay is in the public domain, is not new or novel, or is not legally protected or protectable, or 3) any third party would be free to use the Screenplay if it had not been submitted to the Contest and been the subject of this Agreement.
  3. Writer(s) certify that the submitted Screenplay is the original work of the Writer(s) and has not been produced, sold or optioned at the time of submission.  Writer(s) certify that submitted material is not based on anyone else's copyrighted work, in whole or in part, and there is no legal dispute about the ownership of the submitted Screenplay.  (Adaptation of previously published work is eligible only if the Writer(s) can provide written and executed proof of their right to adapt the work to screenplay form, or if the work is indisputably in the public domain.)
  4. Writer(s) grant The European Independent Film Festival (ECU 2008) Much More than a Script Competition the right to use their name(s) and likeness(es) and the submitted Screenplay's title in all forms of publicity and other communication.
  5. Writer(s) agree to accept all decisions of the Contest judges, administrators and readers as final.  Writer(s) understand and acknowledge that there are no refunds, warranties or guarantees, and that the rules, judges, prizes, deadlines and other elements of the Contest may be changed or altered by The European Independent Film Festival (ECU 2008) Much More than a Script Competition without notice.
  6. Writer(s) understand and acknowledge that the submission of the Screenplay to the Contest does not establish any fiduciary or confidential relationship between the Writer(s) and the The European Independent Film Festival (ECU 2008) Much More than a Script Competition or the Contest or any of their judges or other associates, nor is there one intended or created by reason of this letter and/or submission of the Screenplay.  The Writer(s) agree that the Contest shall not be obligated to return the Screenplay to the Writer(s), and the Writer(s) release the Contest from all liability if the Screenplay is lost, misplaced, stolen or destroyed.
  7. If more than one Writer executes this Agreement or is deemed a Writer of a submitted Screenplay, then any and all references to "Writer(s)" within this Agreement and the Contest rules shall apply to each party jointly and severally.  The first Writer listed on this Agreement will be designated the primary contact for the purposes of communication and prize-awarding.  It is the responsibility of the Writers to decide how prizes are divided between themselves.
  8. Writer(s) agree to indemnify The European Independent Film Festival (ECU 2008) Much More than a Script Competition, the Contest, its sponsors, judges, administrators, readers and other associates against all claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, disputes and expenses (including attorneys' fees) arising out of or in connection with their participation in this Contest.  Writer(s) further agree that The European Independent Film Festival (ECU 2008) Much More than a Script Competition and the Contest shall be indemnified and held harmless against any claims pertaining to submitted Screenplays or their content if unauthorized parties should use them, or if the rights to the Screenplay or to any prize(s) awarded are disputed, or in the event of any other claim, judgment or other legal expense associated with the participation of the Writer(s) in this Contest.