All submitted feature works selected for competition at CineKink NYC will be eligible to receive an Audience Choice award, as determined by audience balloting. In deference to market premiere considerations, feature works will be selected for inclusion in the CineKink touring showcase on a case-by-case, invitational basis only.
call for entries
submit to cinekink!
An organization dedicated to the recognition and encouragement of sex-positive and kink-friendly depictions in film and television, CineKink is seeking films and videos that explore and celebrate the wide diversity of sexuality for our annual NYC-based festival.
Presently scheduled for its 17th annual appearance in March 2020, the specially-curated CineKink NYC will include a short film competition, audience choice awards, an adult industry showcase, presentations, parties and a gala kick-off, with a national screening tour to follow.
Cutting across orientations, topics covered at CineKink have included — but are by no means limited to — BDSM, leather and fetish, swinging, non-monogamy and polyamory, roleplay and gender bending, sex work and sex geekery. We’re looking to blur some boundaries and will be considering offerings of any length and genre drawn from both the independent film world and the adult, with works ranging from documentary to drama, camp comedy to artsy experimental, mildly spicy to quite explicit — and everything in between.
Basically, as long as it involves consenting adults, just about anything celebrating sex as a right of self expression is fair game.
(Far be it from us to define “kink” — if you think your work might make sense in this context, do send it along. Nonetheless, please read ALL guidelines before submitting, and make sure your work fits with our sex-focused niche!!)
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There are two ways to submit. Choose just one!
submit via filmfreeway
submit directly to cinekink
Download the PDF CineKink NYC application.festival rules/submission guidelines
eligible works
Please read ALL rules and guidelines before submitting, and make sure your work fits with our sex-focused niche!! If it’s not clear from your synopsis that it does, please include a comment with your submission as to how it might be a match for us. It is your responsibility to determine whether your work might be appropriate for the festival, and your submission fee is not refundable.
All genres will be considered for inclusion in the festival and there is currently no restriction on production completion dates, as long as your submission is a finished work.
We do not require premiere status for your work to be considered, but we do request that you refrain from any public NYC screenings in the month leading up to and including the CineKink festival dates.
Feature works are those longer than 40 minutes; shorts are those works 40 minutes and under.
We will consider original digital series for inclusion in the festival, with up to three episodes totaling less than 30 minutes counting as a single submission.
We also accept 5-25 minute excerpts of longer works, both for general programming and for inclusion in our special “Bring It!” competition showcasing adult entertainment.
Occasionally we ourselves will excerpt longer works for inclusion in a program curated around a particular theme or focus. In these instances, we will consult with you first for permission and help in determining the best excerpt(s) of your work.
Once a work has been submitted, it may not be withdrawn. We will, however, consider exceptions for instances where inclusion in CineKink NYC may adversely effect a work’s premiere status at another festival. If this is or becomes a possibility, please let us know as soon as possible so we can work with you to avert a potential conflict.
festival awards and touring showcase
In addition to our annual NYC festival run, presently scheduled for March 2020 we also award and showcase CineKink works as follows:
features (over 40 minutes)
shorts (40 minutes and under)
CineKink will be presenting awards to short films and videos identified by our jury as “best” in a variety of categories. These shorts will be included in the festival’s touring showcase to represent the “Best of CineKink” for the year following their award. All shorts programmed for CineKink NYC will be considered eligible for inclusion in the touring showcase and will be selected for that on a case-by-case basis, as determined by the festival director.
excerpts (5-25 minutes)
CineKink NYC will be presenting awards to excerpted work identified by our audience as their favorite during a special “Bring It!” adult entertainment competition during the festival. Other excerpts may also be eligible, as determined by the festival director, to be included in the best shorts competition. All excerpts programmed for CineKink NYC will be considered eligible for inclusion in the touring showcase and will be selected for that on a case-by-case basis, as determined by the festival director.
original digital series
original digital series (up to three episodes, totaling less than 30 minutes)
CineKink may present awards to original digital series/episodes identified by our jury as “best” in a variety of categories. These series will be considered for inclusion in the festival’s touring showcase to represent the “Best of CineKink” for the year following their award. All series/episodes programmed for CineKink NYC will be considered eligible for inclusion in the touring showcase and will be selected for that on a case-by-case basis, as determined by the festival director.
By submitting your work to CineKink NYC, you grant CineKink permission to showcase that work in the manner described above, including any applicable tour appearances. Other exhibition opportunities – dvd, television, the internet – will only occur with prior approval from the rights holders and after receipt of all necessary clearances.
what to submit
A completed entry form and an entry fee must accompany each feature, short, excerpt and/or series submitted.
Preview screeners may be submitted through our submission platform (FilmFreeway) or online, via a link to a streaming copy (i.e. VHX, Vimeo, or YouTube). Please note any necessary password and update us if it changes.
If you’re submitting an excerpt, you may send us the entire work, but indicate start/end times for us to consider.
If you’re submitting a series, you may include up to three episodes per entry.
In addition to your entry, please include a log-line description of your work, and a brief synopsis if available. A publicity still or two is also welcome, either online or on disc, high-resolution preferred. Please hold off on sending any additional materials at this time.
To ensure timely selection notification and communications, please keep us updated with your current email address, and add the domain “cinekink.com” to any spam filters.
entry fees and deadlines
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- Deadlines are for midnight Eastern time, meaning that’s the time by which you need to finalize your submission, including payment and screening link. If you’re submitting via a DVD, that’s the date by which your package needs to be postmarked.
- Our email address for Paypal payments is info@cinekink.com. If you choose to pay fees via PayPal, please contact us when you do, so we’re on the look-out for your payment, and include a print-out of your transaction with your submission. To bypass our spam filter, either use the email-dropdown on our website OR head your email “Submitting to CineKink.”
- Entry fees must be in U.S. funds only. Checks or money orders should be made out to CineKink and must be from a US-based bank. International entries may pay via PayPal, which accepts all major credit cards.
- Payment of entry fee is NOT required from alumni directors whose work has previously screened at CineKink; limit of three entries per, submitted by November 29th).
- Early: $20 shorts/excerpts/episodes; $30 features – October 4th
Regular: $25 shorts/excerpts/episodes; $35 features – November 1st
Late: $30 shorts/excerpts/episodes; $45 features – November 29th
Extended: $35 shorts/excerpts/episodes: $55 features – December 20th
(via FilmFreeway only for extended deadline, no direct submissions accepted)- Alumni Fee Waiver: November 29th
exhibition formats
For shorts and excerpts we prefer digital files via online download, using the specs below. For features we also ask for a DVD or Blu-Ray backup, and can aslo screen in 35mm, 16mm, Beta SP or mini-DV (NTSC only). We do not currently screen off of DCP, though that may change in the future.
Specs for digital files are as follows:
Quicktime-wrapped MPEG-4 H.264 .mov (Ex. “myfilm.mov”)
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 preferred (16:9 or pillar-boxed 4:3)
Color Space: Rec. 709 (HDTV)
Scanning: Progressive
Audio: MONO or STEREO (mixed) tracks
Data rate: 640 kbps (minimum)
We will send additional formatting and delivery instructions with our selection notifications.
publicity and marketing
All films selected for CineKink NYC may be briefly excerpted for publicity purposes. CineKink reserves the right to promote any work to print, broadcast or internet media as required to market the festival and our organization.
screening fees
While CineKink does not pay screening fees for submitted work programmed during the festival, we do pay royalties for tour appearances where possible. Our primary focus is on producing the best possible vehicle for sex-positive and kink-friendly works and promoting them as widely as possible.
all physical materials should be mailed/shipped to:
CineKink
1092 St. Georges Avenue, #190
Rahway, NJ 07065
(phone is 917/609-5928)
confirmation
If you have submitted online, that is the best place to confirm your entry. For direct submissions, enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope if you wish to receive confirmation that your entry has been received.
questions & contact
Email us at cinekink2019 (at) cinekink (dot) com or via the website dropdown menu. Please use header “Submitting to CineKink” for quicker routing.
selection and notification
Submissions will not be considered until we’ve received all elements of your entry, including a screener, applicable payment and your signed agreement.
Programming decisions are made by the festival director after review by any selection committees/designees. We expect that all film selections will be determined by February 14, 2020, and we will notify all filmmakers, via e-mail, of which films and videos have been selected. A full schedule of the festival, including exact screening times, will be sent out shortly thereafter.
If accepted, the print of your film, presentation video or digital file will need to be received on our end by February 28, 2020.
shipping
Cost of shipping exhibition prints to the festival, and any related customs and insurance, is the responsibility of the entrant. Exhibition copies must be sent to the festival prepaid. The festival will cover return ground shipping via FedEx, UPS or US Mail. The entrant or the recipient must pay additional charges for express shipping to foreign film festivals. The festival cannot accept responsibility for damage or loss of materials while in transit.
shipping address
CineKink
1092 St. Georges Avenue, #190
Rahway, NJ 07065
(phone is 917/609-5928)
We are able to receive overnight, signature-required deliveries at this address.
return of submission materials
Submission DVDs and videos will not be returned.
submission checklist
be sure to check that you've included all four requirements below!
1
Link to online, streaming version and/or DVD
Be sure to include a link to any online media you can give us.
2
Complete and signed entry form/ agreement
Be sure you've included all the legal paperwork for us to proceed.
3
Payment made via Film Freeway or Paypal (include print-out of receipt) or check/money order (US banks only)
Be sure you've paid the entry fees and any other costs!
4
A log-line description of your film/video
Be sure to include a logline description so we can process your entry faster.
submission agreement
By entering your film or video for consideration, you attest that you are legally authorized to submit the work to CineKink and that all necessary releases, licenses and records have been obtained with respect thereto. You shall indemnify and hold CineKink harmless 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 rescheduling or cancellation, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered. CineKink reserves the right to remove a work from festival consideration and/or programming for any reason or for no reason and shall not be liable for any refund or claims of any kind arising out of such removal. If your work is accepted, you expressly grant CineKink the non-exclusive right and license to exhibit and utilize your film/video as described in these festival rules.