Mead Film Festival

2012 CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

THE MARGARET MEAD FILM FESTIVAL

The American Museum of Natural History's Margaret Mead Film Festival is presented by the Museum's Public Programs Division in the Department of Education. Held annually each fall, the Mead Festival was founded in honor of pioneering anthropologist Margaret Mead, one of the first anthropologists to recognize the significance of film for fieldwork. The Mead Festival screens documentaries, experimental films, animation, and hybrid works that increase our understanding of the complexity and diversity of the peoples and cultures that populate our planet.

In 2010, the Margaret Mead Film Festival implemented the Margaret Mead Filmmaker Award. The Award recognizes documentary filmmakers who embody the spirit, energy, and innovation demonstrated by Margaret Mead in her research, fieldwork, films, and writings. The award is given to a filmmaker whose feature documentary offers a new perspective on a culture or community remote from the majority of our audiences' experience as well as displays artistic excellence and originality in storytelling technique. Films selected for the Margaret Mead Film Festival that are U.S., North American, or World Premieres are eligible for the Award. The award winner is selected by a jury of industry professionals. The 2011 jury was comprised of Darren Aronofsky (director), Liz Garbus (documentarian), Karen Cooper (director of Film Forum, NY), and Stanley Nelson (documentarian). This award has a cash prize.

ELIGIBILITY

  • The Mead Festival considers a range of non-narrative films and videos including feature length documentaries, hybrid works, shorts, experimental films, essay films, animation, and new media.
  • Productions must have been completed within the last three years.
  • Works in any language other than English must have English subtitles or English voiceover narration.
  • The Mead Festival does not accept resubmissions.
  • Download Guidelines and an Entry Form to submit your film directly to the Mead Festival.
    1. Entry Form (PDF)
    2. Guidelines (PDF)

Please note that submissions will not be returned.

DEADLINES

  • Early Deadline: April 2, 2012
  • Extended Final Deadline: June 16, 2012

Entries must be postmarked by the above dates.

ENTRY PROCEDURE

Submit your entry by one of two methods:

  1. Download and complete the Entry Form. Please complete a separate form for each entry.
    • Mail a hard copy of the Entry Form along with your labeled DVD submission to:
      Margaret Mead Film Festival
      American Museum of Natural History
      Central Park West at 79th Street
      New York, NY 10024 USA
    • Email meadfest@amnh.org with the director's name, film title, email address, and street address.
    • Pay the entry fee – mail a check along with your entry form or pay through our website.
  2. Enter online at withoutabox.com (WAB).
    • Complete a separate form for each entry on withoutabox.com (WAB).
    • Mail a copy of your labeled DVD submission to:
      Margaret Mead Film Festival
      American Museum of Natural History
      Central Park West at 79th Street
      New York, NY 10024 USA
    • Pay the entry fee through WAB or mail a check along with your entry form.

PREVIEW FORMATS

  • DVD (Multi-zone or Zone 1, North American only)
  • Label your tape or DVD with your name, email address, running time and the title of your submission. DO NOT SEND UNLABELED DVDs.

PRESENTATION FORMATS

  • HDCam, DigiBeta, Beta SP (NTSC), 35mm, 16mm, .mov.

ENTRY FEE

  • $10-$35 in U.S. dollars (pay what you can afford).
  • Make checks payable to American Museum of Natural History or pay online with a credit card.
  • For questions regarding this fee, please refer to our FAQ.

TRAVELING FESTIVAL

Select titles are invited to participate in the Margaret Mead Traveling Festival, presented at independent film and community centers, museums, and universities throughout the United States and abroad. An honorarium is provided.

NOTIFICATION

  • All entrants will be notified via email in September 2012. Please be sure the Margaret Mead Film Festival email address (meadfest@amnh.org) does not get caught in your spam filter.
  • The Mead Festival does not confirm receipt of submissions. If you would like confirmation of delivery, we strongly suggest using a traceable method, such as FedEx.
  • Please do not call or write to check on your submission. Review our FAQ prior to submitting your work.

FESTIVAL DATES

November 29-December 2, 2012