The Music Imbizo is an international music business conference, exhibition and film festival. The conference collects various music industry stakeholders under one roof to map the way forward for the music industry in the continent – Africa. It is a platform to exhibit, network, share expertise and knowledge.
The Music Imbizo Film Festival screens music related films from the African continent and the diaspora. Any format is welcomed, as long as it is themed around music.
The Music Imbizo Film Festival is about music industry related films from across the African continent and the diaspora. Feature films, short films, long format music videos, documentaries and other formats may be considered if they are music related.
- Submission fee is $12.00
a) Submission fee and screening
Film submission and participation is $12.00 for all filmmakers. Free screening of the shortlisted films will take place during The Music Imbizo in Durban (South Africa).
b) Materials to submit
Films are to be submitted in their original version for the selection process. Films in English do not require translation. Films in other languages are recommended to be subtitled in English.
All films must be uploaded via the FilmFreeway. The Music Imbizo Film Festival reserves the right to disqualify any film that fails to adhere to the above mentioned terms.
• Features: Reserved for fiction films over 40 minutes in length that are bold, inspiring and that have added value in cinema.
• Documentaries: Non-fictional films/ and Docu-dramas over 40 minutes in length.
• Feature-Length Film: a narrative, animated or experimental film with a running time of 40 minutes and above around the music industry or subjects related to the business.
• Short Film: A fiction or documentary film with a running time of under 40 minutes.
• Student Film: A fiction or documentary film with any running time. The director must be enrolled in a high school, college, or university during the year that the film is produced.
c) Dialogues/Subtitles
If your project includes non-English dialogues, please ensure all subtitles are hard-coded to your video file.
d) Completion
Projects need to have been completed in the last three years, i.e. from January 1, 2021, to be eligible for consideration for the 2024 edition of the Festival.
e) Declaration of Rights Upon Submitting a Film
The Music Imbizo Film Festival will only accept the submission of a film if the submitter is the holder of all usage rights to the film necessary for the submission. The festival reserves the right to demand appropriate proof of these rights and to reject the submission upon failure to provide it.
f) Notification
All the submitted films will be notified on May 10th 2024, if their film has been shortlisted or not. If your film is shortlisted, you will be contacted by the Festival Director regarding practical details of your screening during the Festival.
g) Shortlisted Films
Upon completion of the Festival selection process, the festival will attempt to contact the Applicant using the contact information provided on the submission form to notify the Applicant of the film's shortlisted status.
The Music Imbizo Film Festival will not be held responsible for any failure to contact the Applicant using the contact information provided on the submission form. It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to ensure that the contact information provided on the submission form is correct.
h) Participants Obligations
No shortlisted film may be withdrawn from the festival program after its participation has been publicized. During the festival, no participating film may be screened outside the festival venues prior to its official presentation at the Festival.
Participation in the Festival requires unconditional adherence to all regulations set out in these guidelines. The Film Festival Director reserves the right to rule on any cases not provided for in these guidelines.
i) Usage Rights
The participant declares and guarantees that they are the holder of all usage rights necessary for the use of the film in the context of this agreement. The participant affirms that any third parties involved in the production and distribution of the film have agreed, where necessary, to its use in the context of The Music Imbizo Film Festival, its follow up and developments, as specified in this agreement. The participant guarantees that by using the film in the context of this agreement, no rights of third parties, including persons depicted in the film, are infringed.
j) Catalogue
All the material required for the Festival catalogue (synopses, cast and credits, biography and a complete filmography of the director, photographs of the director, actors and scenes from the film in black and white and colour, must be submitted at the same time with the films.
k) Enquiries
Any enquiries can be directed to The Music Imbizo Film Festival by email at films@themusicimbizo.co.za