FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: The 2020 Naples International Film Festival Announces Call for Entries and Cash Prizes Rise Past $30K

Call for entries are now open for the 2020 Naples International Film Festival (NIFF), which will take place October 22-25, 2020. The 12th iteration of the popular regional film festival, which was selected as one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” in 2019, will once again feature independent and international films with a spotlight on diversity, presented with its signature fun-under-the-sun style and marked appreciation for inventive and entertaining cinema. The deadline for early-bird submissions is April 30, and the final deadline is July 2, 2020.

Joe Pantoliano accepts his Artis-Naples Award last year (Photo by Charlie McDonald)

NIFF, which prides itself on its support of independent filmmakers and the diversity and quality of films selected for screening, has become a destination festival, popular among filmmakers, film industry members and the press. Under acclaimed multidisciplinary arts organization Artis—Naples, NIFF now trains a keen eye toward the intersection of other arts disciplines and the art of filmmaking, adding to what was already a great reputation built over the past decade with independent filmmakers.

“We look forward to making new discoveries with films we select this year and the filmmakers we and our Naples film fans will get to know,” says Festival Producer Shannon Franklin. “From our Opening Night red carpet gala to what is becoming another signature event, our Closing Night screening of a film classic accompanied by the Naples Philharmonic, we look forward to another edition of NIFF filled with singular movie moments and experiences.”

In 2020, filmmakers will be vying for more than $30,000 in cash prizes, including $7,500 each for the two juried competitions for Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature, and $5,000 for the Focus on the Arts Award, given to a Narrative or Documentary film with an emphasis on one or more of the visual and performing arts.

“The Naples International Film Festival continues to grow both in the number of films presented, filmmakers traveling to Naples to attend and, yes, even the prize money we award to our winning filmmakers. There is a very good reason that publications like MovieMaker Magazine have singled out NIFF as being one of the ‘cool’ ones,” says David Filner, Artis—Naples Executive Vice President Artistic Operations.

In 2019, NIFF screened 54 films (16 narrative features, nine documentary features, 29 short films) representing 20 countries during the four-day film festival. In addition to the films, more than 24 filmmakers attended the post-screening Q&A conversations and panel discussions during the festival and, as is the style of the Naples International Film Festival, were present throughout the festival, interacting and connecting with the film fans. Those filmmakers hailed from New Zealand, the U.K. and Japan, as well as from cities throughout the United States.

(L to R): Artis-Naples’s David Filner, Akio “Jimmy” Sakurai (MR. JIMMY), NIFF’s Shannon Franklin, Nick Reid (MISS VIRGINIA), Peter Michael Dowd (MR. JIMMY), R.J. Daniel Hanna (MISS VIRGINIA), Bill Gallagher (RUNNER), Guor Mading Maker (RUNNER), Andrew Margetson (HOUSEKEEPING), Isis Masoud (SOUTH MOUNTAIN), Andrew Aiello (INTERNATIONAL FALLS), Rebecca Tansley (THE HEART DANCES), John Hermann (STANDING UP, FALLING DOWN), Andrew Murton (ABOVE THE CLOUDS), Hilary Brougher (SOUTH MOUNTAIN), Leon Chambers (ABOVE THE CLOUDS), Artis-Naples’ Kathleen van Bergen (Photo by Charlie McDonald)

NIFF 2020 Categories/Requirements

Narrative Features: Any original work of fiction 41 minutes or longer. Narrative Feature films may be foreign or domestic.

Documentary Features: Any nonfiction feature film 41 minutes or longer. Documentary Feature films may be foreign or domestic.

Short Films: Any Narrative or Documentary film 40 minutes or less.

Florida Films: The Florida Films category is intended to celebrate, encourage and support Florida filmmakers and the production of films in the state of Florida. Documentary Feature, Narrative Feature or Short films must either include a filmmaker (director or producer) or cast member (leading actor or actress) from/or currently living in Florida, and/or have partial or principal photography in Florida.

Student Filmmaker Showcase, K-12 Division: Student filmmakers in the U.S., currently enrolled in grades K-12 (as of March 2, 2020), are invited to submit a short film with a running time of 10 minutes or less (including credits) completed any time after January 1, 2019. Films of all genres are accepted (documentary, narrative and animation).

Student Filmmaker Showcase, College/University Division: College and university students currently studying in the U.S. (undergraduate or graduate) are invited to submit narrative, documentary or animated films with a running time of 40 minutes or less (including credits) completed any time after January 1, 2019. Films of all genres are accepted (documentary, narrative and animation).

AWARDS CATEGORIES

Juried awards for Narrative and Documentary features

Audience awards for Narrative and Documentary features

Audience awards for Narrative and Documentary shorts

Focus on the Arts Award

Programmers’ Choice

Best First Feature

Rising Star Award

Indie Spirit Award

Impact Award

Artis—Naples Award

SUBMISSION DEADLINES