These are the Official Rules (the “Rules”) to the Hellenic Film Society’s Its Greek to Me Short Film Program (the “Program”) spotlighting short films by Greek-Americans.  The Program will be administered by the Hellenic Film Society (USA), Inc. (“HFS”).  

The Rules apply to all producers and directors (hereinafter “I” or “We” or “He” or “She” or “Submitter” or “Applicant” or “Applicants” or “Producer”), submitting a short film (hereinafter “Submission” or “Film”) for consideration into the Program.

1. Program Timeline: The Program entry period begins on January 19, 2026, at 12:00 AM Eastern Time (“ET”) and closes on March 20, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET (the “Program Entry Period”). Producers will be notified of being selected to participate in the Program no later than April 17, 2026. The selected Films will be shown at the Museum of the Moving Image (“MoMI”) on May 17, 2026, at 3:00 PM.
2. Eligibility:
   1. A $10 submission fee is required for each Film submitted.
   2. Only short films submitted through the official Submission Form will be considered.
   3. Applicant(s) must be 18 years old or older (as of the Program start date).
   4. Registration of the Film with the U.S. Copyright Office is strongly recommended.
   5. The Film must be original to and produced/directed by the Applicant(s).
   6. The Film must not be encumbered by any obligation to, or option held by, a third party.
   7. The intended final run of the Film must not exceed 20 minutes in running time and all genres are accepted.
   8. Either U.S. citizenship and/or residency is required.
   9. Applicant(s) and/or a department head of the Film must be of Greek-American descent.
   10. Each Applicant may submit up to two (2) entries. A separate application must be used for each Submission.
   11. Applicant(s) may submit material previously submitted to HFS.
   12. Directors of HFS and their immediate family members are ineligible.
3. Judging Round: Eligible Submissions received during the Program Entry Period will be randomly assigned for review to judges. The top ten (10) Submissions will then be reviewed by a judging panel appointed by HFS (the “Judging Panel”) who will select up to eight (8) films. Each Submission will be judged based on a careful review of the Submission. Applicants must accept without reservation the decisions rendered by the Judging Panel.
4. The Applicant(s) represents and warrants that the Applicant(s) is the sole and rightful owner of the copyright therein. The Film is free of all claims or encumbrances, and the Applicant(s) has the exclusive right and authority to offer the Film to participate in the Program, upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, and none of the rights granted herein will libel or defame any third party or otherwise violate the rights of any third party, whether under copyright or otherwise. Applicant(s) will indemnify HFS from any and all claims related to the Film’s submission and/or participation in the Program.
5. Electronic submissions and online screeners are accepted. Please include the title of the Film in the subject line when emailing. If submitting film links by VIMEO, please include user ID and password as applicable. Commercial transfer sites, such as dropbox.com, wetransfer.com, yousendit.com, may also be used.
6. The Film must be in industry standard format, digital file. If all or part of the Film is in a language other than English, then subtitles must be included within the Film.  
7. If Applicant(s) if selected to participate in the Program, the Applicant(s) must deliver an MP4 file or DCP for screening at MoMI. If the Applicant is unable to meet these format requirements, HFS may choose not to screen the film.
8. Once a Film has been entered, no substitutions will be considered.
9. Adaptations from other works not owned by the Applicant(s) are not permissible.        
10. The Film must not have been previously optioned, sold, or produced into a longer format.                
11. The Applicant(s) selected to present the Films at MoMI hereby grant to HFS, and those authorized by HFS, permission to publicize, release press and post on any of its websites and social media, the Film’s logline, synopsis, excerpts, photo, Applicant(s)’s names, image, likeness, voice, bio and other information as HFS may desire.
12. It is the Applicant(s)’s responsibility to provide and keep personal contact information up to date, including a required valid e-mail address, current mailing address, phone number, etc., that Applicant(s) provided to the contest during the sign-up process. HFS has no responsibility for communications that are misdirected because of Applicant(s)’s failure to provide HFS with updated contact information.
13. Applicant(s) must agree to comply fully with the Rules, which is a legal and binding document. Applicant(s) must agree to assume full responsibility and liability for any and all of their actions in relation to their participation in the Program.
14. Applicant(s) specifically acknowledge that HFS may refuse to accept, consider or otherwise not evaluate my Submission in the absence of Applicant(s) acceptance of the provisions herein.
15. In further consideration of HFS’s evaluation of the Submission, the Applicant(s) and their successors or assigns hereby release HFS, its directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives, from any and all actions, claims and demands which Applicant(s) had, now have, or hereafter may have, by reason of any matter in connection with this Submission and, if accepted, Applicant(s) participation in the Program.
16. Applicant(s) has read and understands the Rules. No oral representations of any kind have been made to Applicant(s) and the Rules state our entire understanding with reference to the subject matter herein. Any modification or waiver of any of the provisions of the Rules must be in writing and signed by both HFS and the Applicant(s).
17. The Program is run under the laws of the State of New York.