2027 DURANGO INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
FILM ACCEPTANCE AGREEMENT
(only if you have been notified your film is in DIFF 2026)
Congratulations on being selected to screen at the 22nd annual Durango Independent Film Festival, taking place March 3 – 7, 2027 in historic downtown Durango, CO.
This Agreement sets forth the required Terms and Conditions between the Durango Independent Film Festival ("DIFF" or "Festival") and the accepted Filmmaker, concerning the Filmmaker’s original work or visual art (the "Film") and participation in the 2027 Durango Independent Film Festival. By signing this Agreement, the Filmmaker agrees to all the terms and conditions as set forth in the Agreement.
Please read all the information below.
VENUES:
The Festival will use two venues in town (3 screens) – Gaslight Twin Cinema and Durango Arts Center. Films will screen at least twice in-person during the Festival. Please note that times and dates for Festival screenings are at the discretion of the Festival.
FILM TITLE:
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: It is the Filmmaker’s responsibility to provide the Festival with accurate information so that the Film is listed correctly in the Festival program. Please provide the following information exactly as the Film should be listed in all media including the Festival Program. For example, if the title of the Film should be listed in all CAPS (upper case), please use all CAPS when completing the agreement below. However, if not, please do not use all CAPS when completing the agreement below. The Festival will be unable to make corrections once the program is finalized.
FESTIVAL FORMAT REQUIREMENTS:
All filmmakers or their representatives will need to provide a 1080p MOV or MP4 version of the Film. Please provide the film file by Januay 9, 2027. If the Festival does not receive the Film by January 8, 2027, the Festival has the right to withdraw the selection of the Film for the 2027 Festival.
For the 2027 Festival, two of three DIFF venues are equipped with DCP projection systems, so most filmmakers will also need to provide a 2K DCP version of their film. Once Festival screenings are scheduled in December, filmmakers will be notified if the Festival needs a 2K DCP version of the film. If a DCP version of the Film is not available, DIFF staff will make one from the MOV or MP4 film file provided.
Summary of specs and delivery options (full discussion here):
1080p MOV and MP4 film files shall be no larger than 50 GB.
DCP shall be 2K Flat or Cinemascope; audio: 5.1; frame rates: 24, 25, 30 fps.
Electronic delivery: DIFF Print Traffic will make every effort to download any film file (MOV / MP4 / DCP) up to 50 GB. DIFF will provide an upload link to our file transfer service in the acceptance email. Filmmakers are welcome to use the DIFF file transfer service or any of the many other commonly used file transfer services such as FTP, WeTransfer, FileMail, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc.
DCP film files larger than 50 GB must be delivered via hard media: flash drive, hard drive or CRU.
Filmmakers are welcome to submit smaller film files on hard media as well.
DIFF retains the rights to all media during the Festival. Every precaution will be taken to safeguard the exhibition copies while in the possession of the Festival. However, DIFF is not responsible for any loss or damage to the exhibition copies, directly or indirectly caused by any employees, volunteers, staff of the Festival or arising from damages incurred as a result of actions taken by the Festival screening venues including but not limited to mishandling of the exhibition prints or equipment malfunction. DIFF makes no warranties, express or implied, about the safekeeping of the exhibition copies except as set forth herein. DIFF strongly recommends the filmmaker obtain the necessary insurance coverage to protect the Filmmaker in the event of damage to, loss of, or theft of, the exhibition copies.
SHIPPING INFORMATION:
The Filmmaker must send (electronically or physically) exhibition copies of the Film to DIFF no later than January 8, 2027, a deadline set by DIFF to ensure the technical team can perform proper inspections. The Filmmaker is responsible for the cost of shipment to the Festival and will send the exhibition copies of the Film to the following address:
Durango Film | Attn: Print Traffic Coordinator | 835 Main Avenue #208 | Durango, CO 81301
Upon shipping, the Filmmaker will forward shipping information with the tracking number to durangofilm@gmail.com and include the title of the Film with any correspondence with the Festival. The Festival's Print Traffic Coordinator will respond in the following weeks with any additional pertinent information.
Domestic Return Policy: The Filmmaker will include the most current return address so DIFF may return the Filmmaker’s CRU, flash or hard drive promptly following the conclusion of the Festival.
International Return Policy: DIFF does not pay the cost for shipping the Film to international destinations, except Canada. DIFF will ship to international destinations upon receipt of a prepaid package or a FEDEX or UPS account number provided by the filmmaker. DIFF will send international exhibition prints to other U.S. or Canada Film Festivals, if requested in a timely manner.
Post-Festival, all exhibition copies will be shipped by March 31, 2027, except as stated above. DIFF does not pay for the cost of overnight or priority shipping unless prior approval has been granted. The Filmmaker is responsible for providing DIFF with complete and legible shipping information by February 20, 2027; otherwise, the Film will not be shipped.
PROMOTION MATERIALS / MEDIA IMAGES / ADVERTISING:
Promotional materials, such as postcards (up to 100) and up to 2 posters, should be sent by mid-January to the following address. Durango Film | 835 Main Avenue #208 | Durango, CO 81301
Media Image Requirements: Please attach the following files to this online Agreement form below:
Poster Image: A poster image for the Film, shown in the online film guide and on detail pages. (Recommended: 2:3 aspect ratio or at least 200 x 300 resolution, if possible).
Cover image: A cover image for the Film, shown as a background in the online film guide and on detail pages. (Recommended: 960 x 380 px.) Accepted formats for the poster & cover image are PDF, PNG & JPEG.
Festival program image: A still frame image from your film which must be at least 3.1" x 1.625" (7.874 cm x 4.1275 cm) at 300 dpi. Accepted formats for the program image are PDF, TIFF, and JPEG.
Advertising in the Festival Program: Please contact diffadmin@durangofilm.org if interested in placing an ad in our Festival Printed Program at a discounted rate. Ad reservations need to be placed by December 31, 2026. Print-ready ads must be submitted by January 18, 2027.
TRAVEL AND LODGING INFORMATION:
Once DIFF receives the signed Agreement and the Festival screening schedule has been finalized, the DIFF Hospitality Manager, will contact the signer of this agreement or the Travel Coordinator of the Film, as listed below, to provide pertinent travel information should a representative of the Film desire to travel to Durango for the Festival. Please contact the DIFF Hospitality Coordinator at hospitality@durangofilm.org with any questions.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
Copyright Warranty:
The Filmmaker has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement because the Filmmaker is either: (i) the owner of the copyright to the Film and all copyrighted materials that may be included within the Film, or (ii) has been granted such power and authority by the copyright holder(s) of the Film and all copyrighted materials that may be included within the Film. The Filmmaker agrees to submitting the Film for DIFF as well as for promotional and commercial purposes in connection with its use by DIFF subject to the terms of this Agreement and confirms that the Film is an original work of authorship. It is the Filmmaker’s sole responsibility to ensure all appropriate releases and rights have been secured. The Filmmaker agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Festival, its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, and agents from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) arising out of or in connection with any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, or the exhibition of the submitted project.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Disclosure & Compliance:
Disclosure of Generative AI Material: The Filmmaker represents and warrants that they have disclosed in the acceptance form whether the Film utilizes any generative artificial intelligence ("Generative AI") tools, platforms, or systems in its creation, including but not limited to scriptwriting, visual effects, deepfakes, synthetic voice generation, or image creation. If Generative AI was used in the making of the Film, the Filmmaker must provide a clear credit statement or breakdown of AI-assisted elements in the production memo field below.
Intellectual Property and Chain of Title: The Filmmaker warrants that the Film contains sufficient human authorship to grant the Filmmaker valid copyright ownership. The Filmmaker further warrants that any Generative AI tools used to create content for the Film were operated in compliance with the respective tool’s terms of service and do not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, privacy rights, or publicity rights of any third party.
Indemnification: The Filmmaker agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Festival, its affiliates, and sponsors from any claims, liabilities, or losses (including legal fees) arising out of a breach of third-party intellectual property or publicity rights caused by the use of Generative AI or digital replicas in the Film.
Prior Showings or Screenings:
The Filmmaker understands that, if the Film will be screened within 60 miles of Durango, Colorado or shared online/streamed, broadcast on cable or network television, released for download sale or on DVD prior to the beginning of the Festival (March 3, 2027), the Filmmaker must notify DIFF in writing at diffadmin@durangofilm.org. DIFF may decide to replace the Film in the 2027 Festival depending on the information provided.
Press, and Publicity Information:
The Filmmaker retains all rights to ownership of the Film, and grant DIFF the permission and non-exclusive right to feature, advertise, display, or compile, in whole or part, the Film in connection with efforts to market or promote the 2027 Durango Independent Film Festival. Marketing efforts may include stills and/or clips of the Film in Festival publicity and printed materials, including the DIFF website, social media outlets, the official Festival program guide, Festival trailer, and other DIFF promotional materials. DIFF reserves the right to screen the Film post-Festival at a "Best of the Fest" event with the Festival retaining the right to gained profits from said screenings. DIFF does not pay screening fees.
Miscellaneous:
This Agreement is due no later than November 30, 2026, and by not sending this Agreement to DIFF in a timely manner may result in the Film being replaced in the 2027 lineup. If a delay absolutely cannot be avoided, the Filmmaker must make arrangements with the DIFF Creative Director, Greg Weiss, via creativedirector@durangofilm.com prior to the November 30, 2026, deadline.
DIFF reserves the right to decide on other issues not specifically addressed herein. DIFF is a 501(c)(3) non- profit organization. This Agreement embodies the entire Agreement and understandings relating to the subject matter. This Agreement may not be modified or amended or any term or provision hereof waived or discharged except in writing signed by the parties.