Submissions terms

Effective October 13, 2026. These terms cover the submissions app at globalfilmfests.com/app/: accounts, films, the tracker, calls for entries, entries, judging and decisions. They add to the site-wide terms of service; where the two differ on something inside the app, these terms apply. The submissions privacy policy explains how entry and judging data is handled.

1. Who’s who

• Filmmakers keep films, track entries and enter calls.
• Festivals are the people who claim a listing and run calls: admins, programmers and judges.
• We run the app (Global Film Festivals, part of the WholeTech network, Austin, Texas). We are not a party to the selection decision; that is the festival’s call.

2. Fees

• We never charge filmmakers a service fee.
• Entries made through the app are currently free. When a call’s deadline carries an entry fee, the app sends you to the festival’s own entry form. Any fee you pay there, and any refund, is between you and the festival.
• If paid entries are added to the app later, the fee, our commission to the festival, and the refund rules will be shown before you pay, and these terms will be updated first.

3. Entering a festival

• Enter only films you have the right to submit, and make sure everything you tell the festival is true: credits, runtime, completion date, premiere status.
• Each call has its own rules. You accept them when you tick the box and enter.
• Screener licence. Entering lets that festival’s team watch your film through the link you gave, for judging only. Screening it publicly, sharing it, or keeping a copy needs your separate agreement with the festival.
• Screeners are links you control (Vimeo, YouTube unlisted, Drive and so on). We host no video. Change or remove the link any time; removing it before a decision may cost you the entry.
• You can withdraw an entry until the festival selects it. Withdrawing doesn’t refund fees paid elsewhere.
• The premiere check is a warning tool, not legal advice. Each festival defines its own premiere rules.

4. Running a call (festivals)

• Claim only a festival you run or represent. Claims are confirmed by email at the festival’s own domain or by our review.
• The entrant pledge. To open a call you agree to watch every film entered and to tell every entrant your decision by the date you set. The app requires the date. If it passes without a decision, the app tells those entrants the decision is overdue and reminds your team.
• Keep call details true and current: categories, deadlines, fees, eligibility, premiere rule and rules text. Don’t change the rules for entries already made.
• Use entrants’ details and films only to run your festival. Don’t download, re-share or publish screeners without the filmmaker’s permission, and don’t add entrants to mailing lists they didn’t ask for.
• You decide who joins your team and what role they have. You’re responsible for what your team does in the app.
• Numbers you publish (entries received, films selected, invited films) must be honest. They appear as “reported by the festival”.
• If you write feedback for an entrant, it is sent with the decision.

5. What we can do

• We may refuse or remove a claim, close a call, or suspend an account when someone breaks these terms, a festival takes entries without holding an event, or filmmakers are being misled. Where we can, we tell the people affected.
• We may contact a festival’s entrants if a call is closed or a festival disappears, so they aren’t left waiting.

6. Your data and your account

• You can export your tracker and delete your account at any time (see the submissions privacy policy).
• Festivals can export their entries as a spreadsheet to run their festival. That export is theirs to protect.

7. No guarantee

We don’t promise any film will be selected, any festival will behave well, or that the app will always be available or error-free. To the fullest extent the law allows, we aren’t liable for festivals’ decisions, fees, events or conduct, or for indirect losses. The limits and the Texas governing-law clause in the site terms apply here too.

8. Changes

We’ll update the date above when these terms change and email account holders about significant changes. Questions: contact us.