Anarchy Home Page - Slamdance.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Hey, what's all this about Anarchy?

A: Anarchy is Slamdance's online short film competition which was launched in January 2000. Developed with the independent filmmaker in mind, Anarchy is a great opportunity for filmmakers to compete against their peers, enjoy exposure on a global level, and begin their journey on the festival circuit. On the other hand, Web junkies and film freaks can watch streaming short films and vote for the winner.

Q: How does it work?

A: Slamdance will select three, 9 minute or under films, every month from March to November. Each monthly winner will compete against the finalists online at our end of the year competition as well as screen at twice at the Slamdance Film Festival in January in Park City. It's your back door to one of the Film Industry' biggest events.

Please note that Slamdance is not responsible for the expenses of your trip to Park City. However we might let you into our really cool parties!

Q: Say, that does sound pretty cool. I'll bet my 7-minute student film about two astronauts eating an animated platter of brie is good enough to be on Anarchy. How do I submit?

A: Well, Sparky, it's really pretty easy. As long as your film is under 9 minutes and that you have all rights to your film including music, just fill out our electronic entry form, hit the submit button, print it out, write us a check, and send the form, check and a DVD/VHS (preferably NTSC) of your film to:

Slamdance Film Festival
Attn: Anarchy
5634 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA, 90038, USA

Please note that the submission copy is non returnable (so don't send your master). If you want to submit your package in person, please call the office first and make sure we're here.

Q: Uh, what was that you said about a check?

A: Yup, a check for $25 ($15 if you're a student with current ID). Entry fees are payable by check (from a U.S. bank) or money order or U.S. travelers cheques in U.S. dollars. All fees are non-refundable. All fees payable to: "Slamdance". (If you are a student, please include a copy of your current student ID with your check.)

Q: Is it worth it?

A: Anarchy has given many of our filmmakers a platform to showcase their talent. For example, Monica Mitchell's film, "Night Deposit," (which won our first Anarchy competition in 2000) went on to play in over 50 film festivals world wide. The same goes for Anarchy's 2001 winner, Voodoo, which was directed by USC student Gregg Bishop. "Anarchy allowed my film to be seen by a mass audience and helped open up doors in this business that would have otherwise remained shut," stated Bishop. He has screened his film in more than forty festivals, and came back to Slamdance this year with his feature "The Other Side." If your film is accepted, you will forever be associated with Slamdance. That ain't too shabby!

Q: So are you guys just looking for trendy Danish digital stuff?

A: Nope, your Anarchy film can be about anything, and shot on anything. Hell, it might never have been shot at all! If you've got a Flash animation, or other computer-generated "film," then send it in. From IMAX to Pixelvision and all points in between, all we care about is that you can put it on a DVD or VHS for submission purposes.

Of course, we won't be able to post your film on our site if it contains adult content or if you don't have the music rights secured.

Q: So what's the deadline?

A: Are you one of those people who settled for Northern Utah Tech 'cause your application to Harvard was a week late and you convinced your Mom that even Stephen Hawking had to go to his safety school? Well, no worries. Because we're doing Anarchy on a year-round basis, we've got a rolling deadline - just get it in when you can, and we'll make it eligible for the next available block of shorts. We'll notify you if and when your film is selected for a competition.

Q: So if I submit my film to Anarchy, is it automatically entered into the Slamdance Film Festival?

A: No. Entry into Anarchy is completely separate from the festival. A different group of programmers, different sensibilities, different tastes in clothing. However, if you are accepted into the Anarchy competition, it doesn't mean you can't enter Slamdance's main festival. So go ahead and enter both!

Q: Let me get this straight: I can submit to Anarchy...

A: Right.

Q: ...and then a few months later, submit to the regular Slamdance fest...

A: Right again.

Q: ...and do a separate entry form, entry fee and everything else?

A: Yup, that's pretty much how it's going to work - that's if you want to submit to both. No one's pulling your leg, here. You can decide to submit to one and not the other; that's fine. Information on submitting to the 2005 Slamdance Film Festival is now available.

Q: OK, so if I submit to Anarchy and get in, what are you going to need from me?

A: If you get picked to have your short streamed on Anarchy, we'll need a Mini DV tape or hi-res Quicktime file. Like the submission tapes, these are also non-returnable unless you provide a self-addressed, pre-paid envelope - so again, don't send your absolute master. (Keep in mind, all submissions have to be on DVD or VHS).

Q: Anything else?

A: If your film is accepted into Anarchy, we'll send you a nice letter explaining what things we'll need from you at that point with definite deadlines for you to get them in to us. If you miss these deadlines, you'll miss the opportunity to participate in that month's slate of films. If you're going to have a problem getting your stuff together, please call the Slamdance office and let someone know ASAP.

Q: And then I suppose you're going to want me to sign an iron-clad contract for all rights in the known (and unknown) universe for known (and unknown) perpetuity, and then charge me more money for you bastards to digitize, encode and stream it!

A: Not at all! Nope, here at Anarchy all we ask is that if your film gets chosen, that you grant us a one month window of NON-exclusive internet use. If you are a winner of your block of films, we'll also want to put your film into our "Global Anarchy"-level competition for a year (also on a non-exclusive basis).

Q: Uh, so if I've already got my film playing on www.MyUncleAdam'sPersonalHomepage.com and I want to submit to you guys, I can really do that?

A: Yup. As long as Uncle Adam says it's OK for you to have the film running on our site as well as his, that's fine with us. In fact, we'll also be able to put a link to Uncle Adam's URL on your contact info on our website. Heck, your 7-minute Northern Utah Tech film about two astronauts eating an animated plate of brie could be playing on eight different websites and as long as none of them have exclusive dibs on your film, that's fine with us (and frankly, it'll be good credibility and traffic for them to have your film play - and hopefully win - on Anarchy).

Q: Say, this Slamdance Anarchy thing really does sound exciting! Take that, Harvard!

A: Excellent.... Now just click on over to the Anarchy entry form and do what the computer screen tells you to do. If you have any further questions, please send us an email: diamond@slamdance.com. And while you're waiting for our decision on your film, sit back, relax and enjoy some other fine Anarchy offerings!