BIFSC
Berlin International Film Scoring Competition
BIFSC offers emerging Film Composers the platform to showcase their work and compete to receive multiple Awards worth of over 3500 Euros, participate in Film Scoring Workshops and have their music recorded by a live ensemble, be invited in Film Festivals with VIP accreditation.
BIFSC
Berlin International Sound Design Competition
The competition is created to give the opportunity to emerging Sound Designers to create the original Sound Design for a short film, win prizes, and receive unique networking opportunities, all while gaining invaluable experience in their craft.
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Rules and Regulations
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Competition Rules
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Awards
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Copyrights
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Additional Provisions
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§ Competition Rules
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1.1 The competition is open to Sound Designers of all ages and nationalities.
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1.2 Prize Winners of previous Berlin International Sound Design Competitions are not allowed to participate.
1.3 The Sound Designers participating in the competition will receive the Short Film for which they will have to create the Foley and SFX.
1.4 By participating the Sound Designers agree that they own the copyright of their work.
1.5 There are no restrictions for the participants regarding which sound sources are used to create the Sound Design. Purchased Sound Libraries, Sound SFX Libraries, or any other software are allowed to be used.
1.6a Each participant should complete the online registration form at https://www.bifsc.org/sound-design-competition and pay the entrance fee.
Following the registration, the participant will receive an email with further details about the competition, a downloadable link to the Film in digital form for which the Sound Design needs to be created, and a unique identification code that will be used for the submission of the film. After the participant receives the above materials to participate in the competition, the registration fee is not refundable.
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1.6b Participating in the competition as a Team is allowed. Each team member needs to pay the registration fee separately. A team member should contact BIFSC to receive further instructions to complete the tea
1.7 Each Sound Designer must deliver the video file of the movie synchronized with the original Sound Design by the official deadline as stated on the official website to the email address info@bifsc.org by providing a downloadable link of their submission using one of the following file transfer software: Wetransfer, Dropbox or google drive. The video file shall be named using the unique identification code. Each submission will be given to the Judges of the competition using the identification code Anonymously.
1.8 Previous Finalists of the same competition can take part again and be considered for receiving Awards and be named in the 10 finalists.
Previous Award Winners of the same competition (Film Scoring) will not be considered for receiving Awards and be named in the 10 finalists.
1.9 Applicants are allowed to take part in both the Berlin International Sound Design Competition and the Berlin International Film Scoring Competition.
The Registration is valid only for the Berlin International Sound Design Competition. Participants that are interested in taking part in the Berlin International Film Scoring Competition as well, should register separately at www.bifsc.org.
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2​. § Awards
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2.1 Up to ten (10) finalists and Three (3) Award Winners will be announced
2.2 The three (3) Award Winning Sound Designs will be sent to all the composers participating in the BIFSC competition, laying the grounds for future collaborations, and providing one of the most important networking opportunities in the film industry for Sound Designers. The Composers will be able to choose between the three (3) Sound Designs and use the one they prefer together with their original Composition for their participation in the Berlin International Film Scoring Competition.
2.3 The Winners will receive the prizes specified on www.bifsc.org. The decisions of BIFSC and the Jury will be final and there will be no appeal.
2.4 All the money prizes will be paid out within 2 months from the day of the prize winners' announcement.
2.5 The organizer reserves the right to award additional prizes.
2.6 The organizer has the right to cancel the Competition in case of an insufficient number of applications. The participant's entry fee will be refunded within 60 days excluding the applicable bank fees.
2.7 All award winners may receive the prize packages courtesy of our competition sponsors. In the unlikely event that a sponsor is unable to provide an Award, BIFSC should not be held accountable.
2.8 BIFSC reserves the right to change Awards or prizes. All changes will be related to all entrants awards recipients and finalists.
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​ 3. § Copyrights
3.1 The Participant retains full ownership of their work, but by entering the competition, assigns, on a non-exclusive basis and free of charge, their copyright to their sound design submitted for the Competition and their artistic performances and recordings in a territorially and time unlimited way.
3.2 The participants of the Competition grant the Organizer their permission to publish their image, which has been recorded by any photographic or recording techniques for the needs of organizing the Competition and in accordance with the statutory purposes of the Competition Organizer.
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3.3 Contestant does not have the right to assign rights to their version of the entry or the original film. The individual submitting a sound design to the BIFSC hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the sound design for consideration. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless BIFSC, its organizers, judges, sponsors, and partners, individually and collectively, from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the submitted material. The burden of determining that any material is not protected by copyright, trademark, rights of privacy, publicity or any other proprietary rights rests with the sound designer. The entrant shall bear the sole liability for any damage resulting from any infringement of copyrights, proprietary rights, or any other harm resulting from such a submission.
3.4 Dissemination or distribution of the copyright-protected footage received from BIFSC (with or without the added work by the contestant): BIFSC holds the right to present the winning submissions on the official website of the competition (www.bifsc.org). BIFSC does not grant any further permission to sound designers to distribute the film with or without their added work.
3.5 By taking part in the Competition the participant declares to hold exclusive and unlimited copyright to the sent sound designs and to assume responsibility towards the Organizer for legal faults of the submitted sound designs and in particular for claims of third parties against the Organizer connected with breaking their copyright.
3.6 Should third parties lay a claim against the Organizer on account of breach by the participants of copyright or personal rights of third parties connected with the usage of the sound designs, the participants of the Contest shall indemnify the Organizer against any and all of such third parties.
4. § Additional Provisions
4.1 Unless otherwise decided solely by the organizer, a complete legal relationship between the participant of the Competition and the Organiser shall be governed by the Laws of Bulgaria. The BIFSC competition and any action related thereto shall be governed, controlled, interpreted and defined by and under the laws of Bulgaria, without regard to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof. The exclusive jurisdiction and venue of any action with respect to the subject matter of these Terms and Conditions under the Rules and Regulations of the competition shall be the competent courts of Sofia, Bulgaria, and each of the parties hereto submits itself to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts for the purpose of any such action.
4.2 The Organizer of the competition makes final decisions on all organizational issues. Such decisions are irrevocable and non-claimable.
4.3 If a participant wants an invoice, the invoice must be requested within 3 days from registration.
4.4 The Organiser has the right to change the rules of participation.
By registering for the Berlin International Film Scoring Competition, participants agree that they shall be bound by the terms and conditions of this agreement as presented here under the Rules and Regulations of the competition.