Submissions
Submitting Artwork or Slides
There is no entry fee for artwork submissions and you can email them directly to us (staff [ at ] hplfilmfestival [ dot ] com). We accept images (jpegs) artwork based on weird tales, the works of H.P. Lovecraft (and similar authors), or Cosmic Horror. Images need to be at least 853x480 at 72 dpi. Larger images are fine... we'll shrink to fit. Images will be used for the promotion of the film festival during the on-screen slide shows. Please also let us know if we can use your image (with credit) on our website.
Submitting a Film or a Screenplay
All film and screenplay entries must be submitted online using Withoutabox.com. Withoutabox members receive discounts on entry fees.
CLICK ON THE WITHOUTABOX LOGO BELOW...
- SUBMISSIONS ARE CLOSED FOR 2008
Exhibition Format
We can project 35mm (platter system) or digitally. For Digital we have standardized on DVCAM SD with plans to move to HD in the future.
We prefer short films to be delivered to us on mini-DV tapes (NTSC or PAL) or DVCAM (NTSC or PAL) full frame with either 4:3 or 16:9 anamorphic. The DV standard is by definition a 4:3 frame however we screen all the films witin a 16:9 aspect ratio.
If your film is progressive, give us a progress version (interlacing blows).
Films that are originally 4:3 will be projected with "curtains" (black) on either side. FIlms that are 16:9 will be full screen. For any other formats that are larger or in between there will be some amount of matting either vertically (curtains) or horizontally (letterboxing).
DO NOT send us your 16:9 film hard matted inside a 4:3 frame! This will result in one or more of the following.
- We show the film as is and it will be "windowboxed" black on all four sides with a much smaller image for the audience to see.
- We will attempt to enlarge the film, removing the hard letterboxing which will result in a lower resolution image that has softer focus. This is not desirable.
- Andrew, our festival director, will blow a gasket.
We can also accept your film as a digital Quicktime or AVI file (4:3, full frame 16:9, or matted inside a 16:9 frame for odd aspect ratios).
If none of this make sense to you, or you are unable (or unwilling) to provide this format, we can if need be extract your short film from a DVD. However this is not optimal depending on the compression levels you used for your film.
If you have any questions contact us immediately.
See also for more info:
