MAPLE SUMMIT FILM FESTIVAL

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2022

Online Film Awards for

Narrative Shorts, Narrative Features,

and Conservation Documentary Films.

Where Creativity is Inspired and Nurtured

Maple Summit Film Festival

Not far from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in Fayette County, overlooking the Youghiogheny River Valley is Maple Summit - a rural community known not only for adventurous outdoor activities, but for having inspired and nurtured some of the world's most influential artists: Frank Lloyd Wright was inspired to design both Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob here; documentary filmmaker and co-producer of The Beatle's Let It Be Saul Swimmer, 1940's radio and stage personality Rhoda Chase (aka "The Blue Velvet Voice"), and three-time Edgar Allan Poe Award-winning mystery writer John Dickson Carr were all raised in nearby Uniontown; film pioneer and director of The Great Train Robbery Edwin S. Porter was raised in Connellsville; and the father of Pop Art, Andy Warhol, was born and raised in nearby Charleroi.

This gem of the Appalachians has also played - and continues to play host to renowned international artists. From those invited to summer with the influential Kaufmann family at Bear Run in the 1920-60s to the artists supported by the Hardy family - the owners of 84 Lumber, and now the artist in residency programs at Fallingwater. Craftsmen and women from around the world come to teach workshops at the Touchstone Center.

Maple Summit Film Festival was founded to celebrate not only the natural beauty of the Laurel Highlands, but also the area's long history of creative inspiration and nurturing.

About Us

Our Mission

Maple Summit Film Festival was founded to provide an outlet for independent filmmakers in the spirit of the artists who've found inspiration in Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands, a place with a rich history, known for its natural beauty, tranquility, and a sense of adventure.

Our Festival

Maple Summit Film Festival is an annual film festival with categories for Narrative Shorts, Narrative Features, LGBTQ+ Shorts, LGBTQ+ Features, and Conservation Documentaries; all of which will compete for the "Best of" Annual Awards in their categories at a Live Festival Event.

Festival categories include:

Narrative Short (between 10 and 39 minutes in length)

Narrative Feature (longer than 40 minutes in length)

Conservation Documentary (at least 30 minutes in length)

Categories are open to all genres (Comedy, Drama, Horror, etc.) and all themes (Trans, LGBTQ+, Race, etc.) with the exception of Conservation Documentary, which is specific to films with subject matter pertaining to nature conservation.

Submission Fee Schedule*

Narrative Short - Early Bird - $10

Narrative Short - Regular Deadline - $15

Narrative Short - Late Deadline - $20

Narrative Feature - Early Bird - $20

Narrative Feature - Regular Deadline - $35

Narrative Feature - Late Deadline - $50

Conservation Documentary - Early Bird - $35

Conservation Documentary - Regular Deadline - $50

Conservation Deadline - Late Deadline - $65

Discounts apply for Student Filmmakers and FilmFreeway Gold Members.

"Official Selection" films will be notified by email with a link to digital laurels; these films will be judged to "Finalists" and will be announced online and receive digital laurels/certificates via email.

The finalist films will be screened before an audience, followed by an award ceremony.

Annual Festival Awards may include a framed certificate or other physical award, and based on availability, sponsored products and services.

*Submissions are processed exclusively through Film Freeway.

Terms & Conditions

The Annual Awards Screening of the Maple Summit Film Festival will take place in October 2022 (exact dates and venue TBC) in or near the city of Uniontown, PA in Fayette County.

1. 2021 Submission Deadlines

Submissions will be accepted from 1 December 2021 to 25 June 2022. The early bird deadline is 25 January 2022; the regular deadline is 30 April 2022; the late deadline is 25 June 2022. Early entry is encouraged but in no way guarantees acceptance.

2. Submission Format

Films must be submitted via password protected online screeners ONLY. We do not accept films sent over by DVD.

We do not accept subsequent cuts or more complete versions of submitted films, therefore changing or updating the originally submitted link is not accepted. Only one version of the film will be reviewed by programmers.

3. Submission Eligibility

- All submissions must have been completed after 1 January 2019.

- Films with distribution, which have not had a theatrical and/or day-and-date release are accepted.

4. Premiere Status

- There is no premiere policy for Short Narrative films, and Feature Narrative.

- Submitted films may have screened at other Festivals, both physical and online.

5. Submission Fee

All submissions for Maple Summit Film Festival are to be paid through FilmFreeway platform. The submission fee is non-refundable.

6. Selection of Films

Submissions are reviewed and selected under criteria, including but not limited to:

- Quality of narrative and production values.

- Craftsmanship.

- Independent nature of the production.

8. Notification

Maple Summit Film Festival endeavors to announce "Official Selections" within 30 days of the late deadline. "Finalist" selection will be completed by and announced by 25 August 2022, and inform all submitting parties, in writing, if their film has been named a "Finalist" of the Maple Summit Film Festival.

9. Annual Festival Awards

Jury prizes for Best Short Narrative Film, Best Feature Narrative Film, and Best Conservation Documentary Film.

Filmmakers are awarded digital laurels, announced on social media, and may receive tangible, industry goods and/or services if available.

All finalist films' online screeners must be made available for the duration of the festival (January 1- October 31, 2022) for all the judges panel.

MAPLE SUMMIT FILM FESTIVAL

Where Creativity is Inspired and Nurtured

Maple Summit Film Festival

Produly and exclusively accepting entries on FilmFreeway.

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About Us

Our Mission

Our Festival

Terms & Conditions

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Maple Summit Film Festival