RUSSO BROTHERS ITALIAN AMERICAN FILMMAKER FORUM (RBIAFF) - FELLOWSHIP APPLICATIONS OPEN FEBRUARY 1, 2024

(Photo Courtesy of AGBO: Anthony Russo, Angela Russo-Otstot, Joe Russo)

WHO:

The Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum (RBIAFF), in collaboration with the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) and the AGBO Foundation, invites emerging filmmakers to apply for annual fellowship opportunity

WHAT:

The RBIAFF offers production grants to five emerging filmmakers who seek to develop and create stories for the screen that illuminate aspects of the Italian American experience. Applicants must create a sizzle reel, no longer than 3 minutes, that effectively conveys the filmmaker’s ideas and skills to later create a short film exploring the Italian American experience. This may include, but it is not limited to, narratives that celebrate Italian American culture, language, history, land, or people through the art of film.

GRANTS AND PRIZES:

Five selected applicants will each receive a $10,000 production grant to develop their submitted concepts into short films. Additionally, the winning film among these five will be awarded an extra $10,000 and admittance into the AGBO Storyteller's Collective, an alumni network of young filmmakers that have been honored by AGBO fellowships or competitions. The Storyteller’s Collective offers ongoing mentorship and industry guidance from AGBO executives. Beyond mentorship, it also serves as a community for these filmmakers to connect with one another and collaborate, nurturing and supporting each other’s growth as artists. To date, we have proudly awarded over $400,000 in RBIAFF grants, aiding 47 passionate filmmakers to realize their creative visions.

FORMATS ACCEPTED:

Submissions can be in documentary, narrative, fiction, or nonfiction formats. Applicants from all nationalities and backgrounds are strongly encouraged to showcase their unique perspectives on the Italian American experience.

JUDGING:

Entries will be evaluated by a committee of AGBO executives and the national leadership of the ISDA, ensuring a thorough and fair assessment process.

DEADLINE:

Submissions must be received by February 29, 2024.

WHERE TO APPLY:

agbo.com for detailed rules and application information.

CONTACT

press@agbo.com 

ABOUT AGBO

AGBO is an Academy Award-Winning independent studio focused on developing and producing intellectual property universes spanning film, TV, gaming, and publishing. Founded in 2017 by award-winning and record-breaking directors Anthony and Joe Russo, AGBO’s mission is to innovate and advance the next generation of storytelling to entertain and inspire worldwide audiences. AGBO’s recent productions include the Academy Award-Winning Best Picture film “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” Netflix’s “Extraction 2,” and “The Gray Man,” Amazon thriller series “Citadel.” https://www.agbo.com/ 

Festival Information: agbo.com

YouTube: @agbofilms

IG: @agbofilms

#RussoBrothersItalianAmericanFilmmakerForum 

#RBIAFF

#AGBOfilms

SUBMISSION CHECKLIST:

1. An original sizzle reel or Pitch Video (the “Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video”), which may be no more than three (3) minutes in length and effectively conveys Participant’s ideas and skills. The Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video should explore the story of the Italian American experience, whether it is about the people, language, land, culture, or history. The Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video can be in a documentary, narrative, fiction, or nonfiction format. Animation entries will be accepted.

2. Participants Biography (Directors Bio) (submitted in the section provided in the FilmFreeway Application)

3. The Participant’s Headshot (submitted in the section provided in the FilmFreeway Application)

4. Participants Resume (submitted in a document uploaded to the FilmFreeway Application)

5. Personal Statement - A statement from the Participant, no longer than 500 words, detailing how the Participant’s personal experience and/or connection to the Italian American community has influenced the conception of their idea. This statement should illustrate Participant’s personal inspiration, the importance of depicting the proposed narrative on screen, Participant’s passion for Italian American storytelling, and motivation for participating in the Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum. (submitted in the section provided in the FilmFreeway Application)

6. Longline for the Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video, written in 50 words or less (submitted in the section provided in the FilmFreeway Application)

7. Synopsis of the Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video, written in 250 words or less (submitted in the section provided in the FilmFreeway Application)

8. A completed questionnaire providing the following information:

         * Credits for the Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video

         * Project type

         * Genre

         * Proposed budget for a Short Film 

         * Participant’s country of origin

         * Participant’s location in the United States

         * Whether the Participant is a first-time filmmaker

         * How the Participant heard about this Competition

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS COMPETITION. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. THIS COMPETITION IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW AND OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.

PLEASE READ THESE COMPETITION OFFICIAL RULES (“OFFICIAL RULES”) CAREFULLY, AS THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR RIGHT TO BRING A LAWSUIT IN COURT TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTES ARISING HEREUNDER. These Official Rules provide for indemnification of the Released Parties (defined below), a limitation of your rights and remedies, and state that any dispute between you and Sponsors regarding the Competition must be resolved in binding arbitration on an individual basis, and in any event may not proceed on a class basis or otherwise seek class-wide relief. Neither Meta Platforms, Inc. (including Facebook and Instagram), X Corp., nor Byte Dance (TikTok) is sponsoring or associated with this Competition, and by entering, you are not providing your information to either company.

1.       Competition Overview:

A. “Sponsors”: AGBO Films LLC, PO Box 13564, Los Angeles, CA 90013, and the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (“ISDA”), 419 Wood St. #3, Pittsburgh, PA    15222 (individually, a “Sponsor,” and collectively, the “Sponsors”), are the            Sponsors of this Competition.

B. “Competition”: The Sponsors are looking for the next great filmmaker to develop a story for the screen illuminating aspects of the Italian American experience. To enter this skills-based sizzle reel/pitch video and short film Competition, aspiring filmmakers are invited to go to https://agbo.com/community/the-russo-brothers-italian-american-filmmaker-forum (“Site” or “Website”) to complete an application and agree to the Official Rules (the “Official Rules” or the “Rules”), then submit a sizzle reel or pitch video that complies with all requirements listed in the Rules using the FilmFreeway platform posted at the Site. Please review the full Official Rules for all entry and participation requirements.

C. “Prize”: The top five qualifying participants selected by the judges and AGBO Selection Committee as finalists (“Finalists”) will receive a $10,000 grant to create a short film to further explore their chosen story of the Italian American experience. These grants are open to people of all nationalities and backgrounds, as the Italian American culture has touched so many of us in profound and resonant ways. Grants will be awarded based solely on the promise of a film’s premise as described in the sizzle reel or pitch video, how it relates to the Italian American experience, and the creative potential of the filmmakers. From among the top 5 participants chosen to create a short film, the participant who receives the highest score will win an additional grant of $10,000 and admittance into the AGBO Storyteller’s Collective (“AGBO StoCo”).

2. Entry Dates: “Initial Submission Period” and “Finalist Submission Period”: The entry period for participants to submit their sizzle reel or pitch video, along with all other required entry materials described below (“Initial Submissions”), begins February 1, 2024, at 12:00 AM Pacific Standard Time (“PST”), and ends February 29, 2024, at 12:00 PM PST (“Initial Submission Period”). The five Finalists who are chosen to receive a $10,000 grant will have from the time they receive their grant (anticipated to be between April 15 and April 19, 2024) until November 1, 2024, at 12:00 PM PST to submit their final versions of the short film (“Finalist Submission Period”). The Site’s server clock shall serve as the official time keeping device for the Competition.

3. Eligibility Requirements: The Competition is open only to individuals who are non-professional directors, or teams of no more than two (2) non-professional directors working together, who meet the following Eligibility Requirements at the time they enter the Competition. Competition entrants who satisfy all of the requirements listed below are referred to as “Participants” or “Entrants”

Entrants who collaborate may enter as part of a team (“Team” or “Team Entrant(s),” who may also simply be referred to as “Participant” or “Entrant”), as long as (i) the names of each collaborating Entrant are included in the entry/on the entry Submissions (as defined below), with one Entrant identified as the primary contact (“Team Leader”); (ii) there are no more than two (2) collaborators; and (iii) each collaborator satisfies all Eligibility Requirements and is otherwise in compliance with and agrees to these Official Rules, the Submission and Release Agreement, and any other written documentation the Sponsors may require. If two people choose to participate in the Competition as collaborators, Sponsors will only communicate with the Team Leader, who will be responsible for making all Submissions and providing all required documentation and Sponsor will treat the other collaborator as having assigned all rights in relation to the Competition, except that should the Team win any Prize(s)(as defined below) such Prize(s) shall be split equally between the Team Entrants, subject to all requirements set forth in these Official Rules having been met.   

Regardless of whether they enter individually or as collaborators, all Entrants must meet the following requirements: 

A. Entrants must be at least 18 years of age (19 years in Alabama or Nebraska; 21 years in Mississippi) or older and competent to contract at the time of entry.

B. Entrants must be legal residents of one of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia, and eligible to work in the United States.

C. Entrants must be non-professional directors who have not, in any single calendar year, have individually earned more than $25,000 as a director for theatrical films or television, or for the sale of, or sale of an option to, any original story, treatment, screenplay, or telepla Entry scripts must be the original work of one writer, or of two writers who collaborated equally, and must be written originally in English. Adaptations and translated scripts are not eligible.

D. Entrants may not be party to an agreement with a studio, production entity, new media, and/or publishing company, or any other third party that might interfere with their participation in the Competition and/or production of any related sizzle reels or pitch video, short films, or other Competition-related materials. Submissions must not have been optioned or sold prior their submission in the Competition.

E. Entrants may not currently be or have been within the last two years, or have an immediate family member (including, without limitation, spouse, ex-spouse, domestic partner, ex-domestic partner, parents, grandparents, siblings, children, and/or step-children, and/or those living in Entrant’s household (whether or not related) who is or was an employee, officer, or board member of any of the following entities (together, the “Competition Entities”):

i. Sponsors or any of their respective affiliated or subsidiary companies, including (but not necessarily limited to) AGBO and the AGBO Foundation;

ii. Any judges for the competition, including but not limited to Sponsors’ representatives;

iii. Any other person or entity involved in the development, production, distribution, execution, marketing, promotion, or other exploitation of the Competition.

By entering the Competition, Entrants represent that they satisfy the above Eligibility Requirements (to the best of their knowledge) as of the date of entry. Sponsors are relying on the accuracy of these representations, and each Entrant agrees that if they discover that any of their representations are inaccurate or incomplete, the Entrant shall immediately notify Sponsors.

F. Submission Requirements:

a,. “Initial Submission”: To enter the Competition, each Participant must submit the following materials at the Site during the Initial Submission Period, which together comprise the Initial Submission. Unless otherwise indicated or expressly agreed to by Sponsors, the Participant must use the FilmFreeway Platform to provide the Initial Submission, including all items listed below.

i. An original sizzle reel or Pitch Video (the “Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video”), which may be no more than three (3) minutes in length and effectively conveys Participant’s ideas and skills. The Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video should explore the story of the Italian American experience, whether it is about the people, language, land, culture, or history. The Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video can be in a documentary, narrative, fiction, or nonfiction format. Animation entries will be accepted.

ii, The Participant’s biography and headshot.

iii. The Participant’s resume.

iv. A statement from the Participant of no longer than 500 words detailing how the Participant’s personal experience and/or connection to the Italian American community has influenced the conception of their idea. This statement should illustrate Participant’s personal inspiration, the importance of depicting the proposed narrative on screen, Participant’s passion for Italian American storytelling, and motivation for participating in the Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum.

v. A logline for the Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video, written in 50 words or less.

vi. A synopsis of the Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video, written in 250 words or less.

vii. A completed questionnaire providing the following information:

1. 1. Credits for the Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video.
   2. Project type.
   3. Genre.
   4. Proposed budget for a Short Film (as defined below).
   5. Participant’s country of origin.
   6. Participant’s location in the United States.
   7. Whether the Participant is a first-time filmmaker.
   8. How the Participant heard about this Competition

Additional specific technical and content requirements for the Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video submission are described in Section 5, below.

Limit: One (1) Initial Submission per Participant.

 b. “Finalist Submission”: Those Participants who are chosen as top five Finalist and Grant Recipients, as defined and explained below, must submit the following materials to the Site (again using FilmFreeway, unless expressly agreed to by Sponsors) during the Finalist Submission Period:

i. One (1) original short film, not to exceed forty (40) minutes in length, (“Short Film”).

a. Theme: The Finalist Submission should further explore Participant’s originally-proposed story and theme of the Italian American Experience, to match the story that served as the focus of the Participant’s Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video. The Finalist Submission should effectively convey Participant’s ideas and skills.

b. The Site will accept all major video formats in full quality HD up to 10 GB. The Site will transcode videos for playback compatibility and performance, however, the Sponsors recommend that Finalists use settings that are close to the Site’s output settings:

i. Maximum video bitrate: 2200 Kbps, H.264, mp4.

ii. Audio: 128 Kbps, AAC, 2 channel stereo.

iii. Aspect ratio preserved.

iv. Maximum video height of 720 pixels.

Further technical requirements for the Short Film Submission are described in Section 5, below.

i. The Participant’s biography and headshot.

ii. Logline, written in 50 words or less.

iii. Synopsis, written in 250 words or less.

iv. A signed Submission Release Agreement.

c. Content Requirements:

i. Sizzle Reels/Pitch Videos and Short Films (where requested) (together, the “Submissions”) must be the original work and sole property of the Participants making the Submissions. The Submissions and all related materials (together, the “Entry Materials”) must be provided in English or, if any language other than English is included, an English translation must be provided.

ii. Sponsors are not soliciting the creation of new Sizzle Reels/Pitch Videos or Short Films, or otherwise asking Participants to engage in “speculative writing” as that term is used by the Writers Guild of America.

iii. Submissions (and in particular Short Films) may be in any genre, but must be intended for production as a live-action (not animated) motion picture capable of securing an MPAA rating of “R,” “PG-13,” “PG,” or “G.”

iv. Submissions must not have been previously optioned, sold, licensed, or produced as a live stage production, theatrical motion picture, television, or online program.

v. Submissions must not have won a previous screenwriting competition, and by submitting a Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video and, as applicable, Short Film, Participant represents, warrants, and covenants that it will not be entered into any other contest or competition during either the Initial or the Finalist Submission Period. If the Submission or any portion thereof has been entered into any other screenwriting competition(s), the name of such competition(s) must be disclosed at the time of entry.

vi. Submissions must not include material that: (i) defames any individual or entity; (ii) invades the privacy or misappropriates publicity rights of any third party; (iii) infringes the copyright of any third party or is otherwise unlawful or infringing; or (iv) is harmful to users of the Site or could adversely impact the Competition, Site, other Participants.

vii. Participant acknowledges that Sponsors may have motion pictures, television programs, and other creative materials in development or production that include ideas, concepts, plots, characters, settings, and themes similar to Participant’s Submission, and that Participant will not be entitled to any compensation or right to negotiate with Sponsors because of any such similarities. Nothing in these Official Rules or related materials shall create an implied or express contract to compensate Participants for their Submissions, except as specifically described in these Official Rules.

viii. Sponsors reserve the right to notify any Participant of Producer’s interest in negotiating directly with Participant to develop and potentially produce a motion picture based on the Submissions. If Participant agrees to move forward with such negotiation, Participant’s Submissions shall not move forward in the Competition.

ix. Sponsors recommends that Participants register their Submission with the Writers Guild of America and/or U.S. Copyright Office. Participants should retain all rights in their Submissions throughout the Competition.

G. Technical Requirements:

a. Sizzle Reels/Pitch Videos must be no longer than 3 minutes long and in English or, if any language other than English is included, an English translation must be provided. Sizzle Reels/Pitch Videos must be provided in film versions only, and formatted using industry-accepted standards.

b. Short Films must be no longer than 40 minutes long, and must be provided in film version only and formatted using industry-accepted standards. Upon request, Participant may be required to provide Sponsor with the corresponding script for the Short Film. The Short Film should be in English or, if any language other than English is included, an English translation must be provided, and formatted using industry-accepted standards.

c. Title pages must not include Participant names or other identifiers.

d. No hard copy submissions will be accepted.

e. Loglines must be 50 words or less.

f. Synopses must be 250 words or less.

g. New drafts, substitutions or corrected pages will not be accepted. Producer will not be responsible for Submissions that are incomplete, lost, unintelligible, misdirected, or damaged while in transit.

H. Judging

a. Initial Submission/First Round of Judging:

i. All Submissions will initially be reviewed for compliance with the Official Rules, and those that do not conform to the formatting, technical, content or any other requirements in these Official Rules will be automatically disqualified.

ii. Between March 4, 2024, and March 18, 2024, each Initial Submission that satisfies all the requirements in these Rules will be reviewed by Sponsors’ selection committee (“Selection Committee”), which will be comprised of members of a team of experienced screenplay evaluators comprised of members of leadership from AGBO and ISDA (“Evaluators”). Each Initial Submission will initially be reviewed, scored, and ranked by members of the Selection Committee based on the following criteria (“Criteria”) on a scale from 1 (worst) to 10 (best), with each evaluator assigning a number score for each of the listed criteria. Each Initial Submission will receive a cumulative score calculated as the sum of the individual evaluator scores.

Criteria:  

(1) Originality/Creativity

(2) Direction

(3) Story Structure/Writing

(4) Theming/Prompt followed

(5) Producibility and Audience Appeal

iii. On or about March 18, 2024, each Evaluator from the Selection Committee will submit their list of the top three (3) Initial Submissions from those Initial Submissions reviewed by that evaluator. The top twenty-five (25) Initial Submissions across all evaluators with the highest aggregate scores based on the Criteria will then advance to the second round (“Top 25 Submissions”).

iv. In the event of a tie between Initial Submissions, the Initial Submission(s) with the highest scores in Originality, Direction, and Story Structure combined will move forward to the second round.

b. 2^nd Round of Judging:

i. Between on or about March 18, 2024, and March 27, 2024, the Selection Committee will review the Top 25 Submissions. Each of the Top 25 Submissions will be reviewed by two (2) evaluators of the Selection Committee who did not review that Submission in the first round of judging. Each of the Top 25 Submissions will receive one score from each of their assigned Evaluators reviewing the specific Top Submission. Each Top Submission will then be assigned a cumulative score calculated based on the sum of the individual evaluator scores, and the total will be deemed as the final score for the Second Round of Judging.

ii. In the event of a tie during the Second Round Judging, the Initial Submission(s) with the highest scores in Originality, Direction, and Story Structure, combined will become part of the Top Submissions and move forward to the third round. If there continues to be a tie, the entries will be rejudged against each other based on an additional criteria selected at the Sponsors’ sole discretion.

iii. On or about March 27, 2024, the top ten (10) Initial Submissions with the highest total scores based on the Criteria (“Top Ten Submissions”) will advance to the third round.

c. 3^rd Round of Judging:

i Between on or about April 1, 2024, and April 5, 2024, the Top Ten Submissions will be reviewed by the Selection Committee using the Criteria. Each Evaluator will judge each of the Top Ten Submissions and provide a score using the Criteria. Each Top Ten submission will then receive a final cumulative score, calculated as the sum of the individual evaluator scores. The five (5) Participants with the highest cumulative final scores in the third round of judging will be selected as a potential top five grant recipients (“Grant Recipients”), pending a satisfactory background check and return of a signed Participant agreement, and signing any other documentation required by Sponsors.

ii. The five Participants who are not selected as Grant Recipients will be alternates, and if any Grant Recipient is disqualified, then the Top Ten Participant with the next highest score will be selected as a Grant Recipient, subject to qualification and confirmation pursuant to requirements set forth below.

iii.In the event of a tie during the Third Round Judging, the Initial Submission(s) with the highest scores in Originality, Direction, and Story Structure Value combined will become a Grant Recipient. If there continues to be a tie, the entries will be rejudged against each other based on an additional criteria selected at the Sponsors’ sole discretion.

d. Grant Recipient Qualification and Confirmation; Semi Finalists:

i. All potential Grant Recipients will be contacted by Sophia Russo, through either email or telephone, to indicate that they have been selected as a potential Grant Recipient. Potential Grant Recipients must indicate, by April 10, 2024, that they agree to sign and submit a “Participant Agreement” and “Authorization for Background Check,” and must submit each of those documents in a timely manner and by the deadline indicated within each document. Those that pass the background check will then be cleared to move forward in the Competition and confirmed as a Grant Recipient. If a potential Grant Recipient is disqualified based on the results of the background investigation, or for failure to sign and return the Participant Agreement, the Participant with the next highest aggregate score will take her/his place. For any Sizzle Reels/Pitch Videos that were a collaborative work, each Participant who collaborated on the Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video must submit a signed Participant Agreement and Authorization for Background Check.

ii.Potential Grant Recipients who receive satisfactory results from the background check, as determined in Sponsors’ sole discretion, and who timely return a signed Participation Agreement will be confirmed as Grant Recipients, and must then submit a Short Film, as indicated above and in compliance with the requirements listed herein, and by no later than November 1, 2024, at 12:00 PM PST.

iii.Each qualified Grant Recipient will be provided a grant of $10,000 to demonstrate their skill at creating a Short Film. Only one $10,000 grant will be provided per Grant Recipient, regardless of the number of collaborators.

Each Short Film must be no longer than forty (40) minutes and in addition to the Technical and Content Requirements described above,  https://agbo.com/community/the-russo-brothers-italian-american-filmmaker-forummay not include any materials created by third parties (e.g., music, photos, footage) unless they have obtained a license for the same and can provide that license to Sponsors and/or Producer upon request. Producer will provide documents that should be used to obtain licenses for third party materials.

e. Final Judging of Grant Recipients and Short Films:

i. Initial Round of Short Film Judging: All Grant Recipients who successfully submit a Short Film, as directed, and explained above and herein, will be eligible for final judging of their Short Films. The Selection Committee will review and judge each of the five (5) Short Films based on the following criteria (“Short Film Criteria”). Each Short Film will be reviewed and scored by at least two (2) members of the Selection Committee, and each Short Film will be reviewed by an equal number of members of the Selection Committee. The top three (3) Short Films with the highest cumulative scores will advance to judging for the winner selection (“Top Three”).

Short Film Criteria:

(1) Originality/Creativity

(2) Direction

(3) Story Structure/Writing

(4) Cinematography/Production Value

(5) Theming/Prompt followed

(6) Editing

(7) Producibility and Audience Appeal

ii.In the event that two or more Short Films receive a tied cumulative score, the Short Film with the highest cumulative score for Direction and Story Structure/Writing will advance to the Top Three for the final round of Short Film judging.

iii.Final Round of Short Film Judging: The Top Three Short Films will be reviewed by a panel of judges comprise of Leadership at AGBO and the ISDA. Each of the Top Three will be evaluated on the following criteria (“Final Round Criteria”):

1. 1. Use of Theming
   2. Artistic Merit
   3. Level of Technical Mastery of Filmmaking
   4. Potential for Director to Grow/Improve in Collective

iv. The scores for each of the Top Three will be totaled, and the Short Film with the highest cumulative score will be deemed as the winner of the Competition (“Winner”).

v. In the event of a Tie between any or all of the Top Three, the tied Short Films will be rejudged against each other on the Short Film Criteria listed above, and the Short Film with the highest score will be deemed as the Winner of the Competition.

POTENTIAL WINNER IS SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION BY SPONSOR, WHOSE DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND BINDING IN ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE COMPETITION. A PARTICIPANT IS NOT THE WINNER UNLESS AND UNTIL PARTICIPANT’S ELIGIBILITY HAS BEEN VERIFIED AND PARTICIPANT HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT VERIFICATION IS COMPLETE.

I. Selection and Announcement of Winner: The Winner will be announced on or about December 2, 2024. To receive the name of the Winner, send an email to marketing@agbo.com. Requests must be received by June 2, 2024.

J. Prize and Winner’s Obligations:

a. There will be one (1) Prize awarded one (1) winner (or winning Team, as applicable) (“Winner”) in this Competition. The Winner will receive one payment of $10,000 via a wire transmission and admittance into the AGBO Storyteller’s Collective. If winner is a Team, the payment will be sent to the Primary Contact, who will be responsible for splitting the cash Prize equally between the collaborators on the Team. Both members of the team will be admitted into the AGBO Storyteller’s Collective.

i. Sponsors will enter into an agreement with the Winner(s) to acquire a limited, worldwide, non-exclusive license for two years in the winning Short Film in order to screen the Short Film at the AGBO Storyteller’s Collective (Winner’s “Submission Release Agreement”). Winner will retain all rights of ownership to the Short Film.

ii. If the Winner does not execute the Submission Release Agreement in a timely manner for any reason, the Winner will be deemed to have forfeited the Prize, and Sponsors reserve the right to award the Prize to the Top Three Participant with the next highest score as an alternate winner in their its sole an absolute discretion.

iii. The total Approximate Retail Value for the Prize is $10,000.

b. Winner may be required to sign and deliver additional documents to confirm Winner’s grant of rights to the Short Film, as well as a Winner Affidavit and Publicity Release, and other documentation (“Additional Documents”). If Winner does not complete and return any required Additional Documents within 5 business days after Producer’s (or its designee’s) request, Winner may be disqualified, and an alternative winner may be chosen in his/her place. The Prize will be awarded subject to the condition that the Winner is and remains in compliance with the Official Rules, Winner’s Submission Release Agreement, and Additional Documents.

c. Winner is solely responsible for all federal, state, and/or local taxes that may be come due as a result of Winner’s receipt of the Prize. An IRS Form 1099 may be issued in the name of the Winner for the value of the Prize directly received by Winner.

d. The Prize cannot be substituted, shared, assigned, transferred, or exchanged, except as provided herein. If the Winner is found to be ineligible or in violation of the representations and warranties in these Official Rules, Winner will forfeit her/his/their entitlement to the Prize. If the Winner engages in behavior that is obnoxious, inappropriate, threatening, or illegal or that is intended to abuse, threaten, or harass any other person, Producer reserves the right to terminate Participant’s right to receive the Prize. In either case, Sponsors will determine in Sponsors’ sole discretion whether to award the Prize to an alternate Participant.

e. If any Participant is a member of a collective bargaining organization, such Participant is solely responsible for determining whether Participant’s participation in the Competition complies with Participant’s obligations under collective bargaining agreements. Sponsors reserve the right to address any union or guild issues arising from this Competition in its absolute discretion, including disqualifying the Winner who would otherwise cause Producer to violate a union or guild agreement.

K. Consent to use Name and Likeness: Except where legally prohibited, each Participant grants permission to Sponsors and their respective agents, representatives, and designees to use Participant’s name, address, photograph, voice, likeness, and Prize information for advertising, promotional or other purposes in all forms of media, now known or developed later, worldwide, without further compensation, notice or permission.

L. Intellectual Property License: BY SUBMITTING A SIZZLE REEL/PITCH VIDEO AND/OR A SHORT FILM, PARTICIPANT AGREES THAT SUCH SIZZLE REEL/PITCH VIDEO AND/OR SHORT FILM AND OTHER REQUIRED ELEMENTS (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, BIO VIDEO AND SCENE, IF APPLICABLE, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER MATERIALS SUBMITTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMPETITION) THAT PARTICIPANT MAY SUBMIT TO SPONSORS OR OTHERWISE POST TO THE SITE IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMPETITION, INCLUDING ALL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS EMBODIED THEREIN, WHETHER SENT VIA THE SITE, ELECTRONIC MAIL, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, X, OR SOME OTHER MEANS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION, ARE DEEMED TO BE NON-CONFIDENTIAL AND SPONSORS SHALL HAVE NO OBLIGATION OF ANY KIND WITH RESPECT TO SUCH MATERIALS EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THESE OFFICIAL RULES. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THESE OFFICIAL RULES, PARTICIPANT HEREBY GRANTS TO SPONSORS AND their respective parents, SUBSIDIARIES, affiliates, successors and assigns, A NON-EXCLUSIVE IRREVOCABLE, AND WORLDWIDE LICENSE TO USE THE SUBMISSION MATERIALS, INCLUDING THE SIZZLE REEL/PITCH VIDEO AND SHORT FILM, AND ANY OTHER MATERIALS SUBMITTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMPETITION, IN ANY FORM OR FORMAT AND TO MODIFY THE SAME WITHOUT CONSIDERATION, NOTICE OR PAYMENTS OF ANY KIND.

“Intellectual Property Rights” means any and all intellectual property rights whether or not registered or capable of registration, including all copyrights, neighboring rights, trademarks, patents and any and all other ownership and exploitation rights in the Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video and/or Short Film now or hereafter recognized in any and all territories and jurisdictions, including by way of illustration, production, reproduction, distribution, adaptation, performance, fixation, rental and lending rights, exhibition, broadcast and all other rights of communication to the public, and the right to exploit any element of the Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video and/or Short Film throughout the universe in perpetuity in all media, markets and languages and in any manner now known or hereafter developed or devised.

M. No Obligation to Use:There is no guarantee that any Participant will actually appear in any materials or advertising campaigns created by Sponsors, or that the Short Film will be screened at any future events, including the AGBO Storyteller’s Collective. Producer reserves the right to adjust selection of Participants and/or to make further determinations as to which Participants will actually appear in any Sponsor-related materials after considering the overall creative needs of Sponsors. Moreover, Sponsors reserve the right not to screen, promote, or otherwise exhibit, distribute, or exploit the Short Film. Entrant acknowledges and agrees that Sponsors shall not be obligated to develop, produce, exhibit, distribute, advertise, or otherwise exploit the Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video or Short Film and/or any of the rights granted to Sponsor pursuant to this Competition.

N. Disclosure of Relationship: By participating in this Competition, Participant acknowledges and agrees that he or she will clearly and conspicuously disclose that he or she is participating in this Competition in any online social sharing interaction that references the Competition. At a minimum, the hashtag #RussoBrothersCompetitionEntry or some other hashtag or disclosure that identifies the post as associated with the Competition entry should be included in all social media communications sent pursuant to the Competition. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any Participant who does not adequately disclose his or her participation in this Competition while engaging in any online social sharing interaction during the Competition.

O. Conflicts of Interest. If at any time it appears that there may be a conflict of interest between an Entrant and the Competition Entities that may potentially require Entrant’s exclusion, Sponsors shall notify such Entrant and conduct an investigation into the potential conflict of interest. Entrant shall provide any documentation necessary to facilitate such investigation upon request, with the penalty for refusing to provide same being exclusion or disqualification from the Competition and/or forfeiting any prize(s), if applicable. Should it be necessary to disqualify or exclude an individual Entrant who submitted a Team Entry from participation in the Competition due to a conflict of interest, the Sponsors will determine, in their sole discretion, whether the full Team must be disqualified.

P. Representations and Warranties: By entering the Competition, Participant represents and warrants that: (a) except for elements that are in the public domain, all elements of the Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video and Short Film (as applicable) are wholly original and are not a copy or imitation of other material; (b) Participant has the right to grant all rights granted to Producer in these Official Rules and Producer may exercise such rights without obligation or liability to any third party; (c) the Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video and Short Film (as applicable) will not defame nor infringe the rights of any third party, including, without limitation, copyright, privacy rights, false light; (d) the Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video and Short Film (as applicable) is not the subject of any threatened litigation or dispute that could give rise to a litigation; (e) Participant has not previously optioned, sold or otherwise transferred rights to the Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video and Short Film (as applicable) to any third party; (f) Participant has satisfied all Eligibility Requirements in these Rules at the time of entry into the Competition and will notify Producer if circumstances change which would make Participant ineligible; and (g) Participant satisfies all Eligibility Requirements.

Q. Privacy: By entering this Competition, Participant consents to the use of information submitted in connection with the Competition in accordance with the Site’s Privacy Policy, [https://agbo.com/community/the-russo-brothers-italian-american-filmmaker-forum], and as described in these Official Rules.

R. Indemnification: Participant will indemnify and hold harmless the Released Parties from any third-party claims arising from Participant’s failure to comply with the Eligibility Requirements and/or breach of the representations, warranties, and covenants in these Official Rules.

S. Compliance with Rules: All determinations by Producer shall be in Producer's sole and absolute discretion and shall be final and binding on all By entering the Competition, each Participant agrees to be bound by these Rules and to accept all decisions regarding the Competition as binding, final and not subject to challenge, review or appeal.

T. Rule Modification: Producer may, in its sole discretion, amend, delete, suspend, change, supersede and/or otherwise modify or replace these Rules for any reason and at any time for any reason prior to or during development or production, whether in writing or orally, and Participants shall be bound thereby.

U. Governing Law: All disputes concerning the interpretation, validity and enforcement of these Rules or the rights and obligations of Participants, Sponsor, Producer, or the Released Parties in connection with the Competition will be resolved in accordance with the internal laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of any other laws.

V. No Rescission or Injunctive Relief: All rights granted to Sponsors under these Official Rules are irrevocably vested at the time of submission. To the maximum extent permitted by law, no breach by Sponsors of these Official Rules will entitle Participants to equitable relief, whether injunctive or otherwise; and Participant explicitly waives the right to seek or obtain any form of equitable relief. Participants’ sole remedy for any breach of these Official Rules or any other dispute related to this Competition shall be an action at law for solely for compensatory damages. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Participant expressly waives all rights to seek incidental, consequential, special, punitive damages, or lost profits.

W. Waiver. Sponsors’ failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

X. Severability: Should any provision in these Official Rules be deemed void, invalid, illegal, unenforceable, or inoperative, such invalid, illegal, unenforceable, or inoperative section or provision shall not affect any other section or provision hereof, and the remainder of these Official Rules shall be effective as though such void, invalid, illegal, unenforceable, or inoperative section or provision had not been contained herei

Y. Suspension / Termination: Sponsors have the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the Competition, if an event beyond Sponsors’ control prevents Sponsors from continuing with the Competition (e.g., fire, flood, labor dispute, war, terrorist threat, epidemic, pandemic, widespread illness) (each, a “force majeure event”). Additionally, Sponsors reserve the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the Competition, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures, or any other factor beyond Sponsors’ reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Competition, as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion. WARNING: ANY ATTEMPT BY A PARTICIPANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMPETITION OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE COMPETITION MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAW, AND, SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSORS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO PROSECUTE AND SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. Sponsors reserve the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be attempting to tamper with or undermine the entry process, any website associated with the Competition, and/or the legitimate operation of the Competition; to violate the Official Rules; or to act in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner or with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any other person. If, for any reason, the Competition is not capable of running as planned, Sponsors may, in their sole discretion, void any suspect entries and (a) modify the Competition or suspend the Competition to address the impairment and then resume the Competition in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules; or (b) terminate the Competition altogether and not award the Prize, or select the Winner based on the non-suspect Short Films submitted as of the effective termination date.

Z. Limitation Of Liability/Release: The Released Parties are not responsible for: (a) any injury or damage to persons or property that may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from Participant’s participation in the Competition or use or misuse of any prize; (b) technical failures of any kind; (c) technical or human error that may occur in the administration of the Competition or processing of submissions; (4) incorrect information, whether caused by Participants, printing errors or any equipment used in the Competition; or (5) any inability of the Winner to accept or use any prize for any reason.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Participant, on behalf of Participant and Participant’s heirs, next of kin, spouse or spousal equivalent, guardians, legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Releasing Parties”), irrevocably and unconditionally agrees not to sue and releases the Sponsors, Competition Entities, Meta Platforms, Inc. (including Facebook and Instagram), Byte Dance/TikTok, Inc., and X Corp. (THE “RELEASED PARTIES”) from all claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses of any kind (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) (collectively, “Claims”) using any legal theory (including, without limitation, intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, violation of privacy or publicity rights, defamation, false light, breach of implied or express contract, copyright infringement, etc.) arising from participation in the Competition, including, without limitation, the application of the Criteria, selection process, these Official Rules, references to Participant’s Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video or Short Film, production of a project similar to Participant’s Short Film, or the exhibition or use of the Sizzle Reel/Pitch Video or Short Film.  WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, THE RELEASED PARTIES WILL HAVE NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER FOR, AND SHALL BE HELD HARMLESS BY ENTRANTS AGAINST, ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY INJURIES, LOSSES OR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND TO PERSONS, INCLUDING PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH, OR PROPERTY RESULTING IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FROM PARTICIPATION IN THIS COMPETITION OR ANY COMPETITION-RELATED ACTIVITY, OR ANY CLAIMS BASED ON PUBLICITY RIGHTS, DEFAMATION OR INVASION OF PRIVACY.  THE RELEASED PARTIES ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE IF ANY PRIZE CANNOT BE AWARDED DUE TO CANCELLATIONS, DELAYS, OR INTERRUPTIONS DUE TO ACTS OF GOD, ACTS OF WAR, NATURAL DISASTERS, EPIDEMICS, PANDEMICS, WIDESPREAD ILLNESS, WEATHER, OR TERRORISM. BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS COMPETITION, ENTRANT AGREES THAT THE RELEASED PARTIES WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY INJURIES, DAMAGES, OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES TO PERSONS, INCLUDING DEATH, OR TO PROPERTY ARISING OUT OF ACCESS TO AND USE OF ANY WEBSITE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COMPETITION OR THE DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR PRINTING MATERIAL DOWNLOADED FROM SUCH SITE. 

AA. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

a. Informal Negotiations

 To expedite resolution and control the cost of any dispute, controversy, or claim related to these Legal Terms (each a "Dispute" and collectively, the "Disputes") brought by either you, the Participant or the Sponsors, or any Competition Entity (individually, a "Party" and collectively, the "Parties"), the Parties agree to first attempt to negotiate any Dispute (except those Disputes expressly provided below) informally for at least thirty (30) days before initiating arbitration. Such informal negotiations commence upon written notice from one Party to the other Party.

b. Binding Arbitration

If the Parties are unable to resolve a Dispute through informal negotiations, the Dispute (except those Disputes expressly excluded below) will be finally and exclusively resolved by binding arbitration. YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WITHOUT THIS PROVISION, YOU WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO SUE IN COURT AND HAVE A JURY TRIAL. The arbitration shall be commenced and conducted under the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") and, where appropriate, the AAA’s Supplementary Procedures for Consumer Related Disputes ("AAA Consumer Rules"), both of which are available at the American Arbitration Association (AAA) website. Your arbitration fees and your share of arbitrator compensation shall be governed by the AAA Consumer Rules and, where appropriate, limited by the AAA Consumer Rules. If such costs are determined by the arbitrator to be excessive, we will pay all arbitration fees and expenses. The arbitration may be conducted in person, through the submission of documents, by phone, or online. The arbitrator will make a decision in writing but need not provide a statement of reasons unless requested by either Party. The arbitrator must follow applicable law, and any award may be challenged if the arbitrator fails to do so. Except where otherwise required by the applicable AAA rules or applicable law, the arbitration will take place in Los Angeles, California. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Parties may litigate in court to compel arbitration, stay proceedings pending arbitration, or to confirm, modify, vacate, or enter judgment on the award entered by the arbitrator.

If for any reason, a Dispute proceeds in court rather than arbitration, the Dispute shall be commenced or prosecuted in the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, California, and the Parties hereby consent to, and waive all defenses of lack of personal jurisdiction, and forum non conveniens with respect to venue and jurisdiction in such state and federal courts. Application of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods and the Uniform Computer Information Transaction Act (UCITA) are excluded from these Legal Terms.

In no event shall any Dispute brought by either Party related in any way to the Services be commenced more than one (1) years after the cause of action arose. If this provision is found to be illegal or unenforceable, then neither Party will elect to arbitrate any Dispute falling within that portion of this provision found to be illegal or unenforceable and such Dispute shall be decided by a court of competent jurisdiction within the courts listed for jurisdiction above, and the Parties agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction of that court.

c. Restrictions

The Parties agree that any arbitration shall be limited to the Dispute between the Parties individually. To the full extent permitted by law, (a) no arbitration shall be joined with any other proceeding; (b) there is no right or authority for any Dispute to be arbitrated on a class-action basis or to utilize class action procedures; and (c) there is no right or authority for any Dispute to be brought in a purported representative capacity on behalf of the general public or any other persons.

d. Exceptions to Informal Negotiations and Arbitration

The Parties agree that the following Disputes are not subject to the above provisions concerning informal negotiations binding arbitration: (a) any Disputes seeking to enforce or protect, or concerning the validity of, any of the intellectual property rights of a Party; (b) any Dispute related to, or arising from, allegations of theft, piracy, invasion of privacy, or unauthorized use; and (c) any claim for injunctive relief. If this provision is found to be illegal or unenforceable, then neither Party will elect to arbitrate any Dispute falling within that portion of this provision found to be illegal or unenforceable and such Dispute shall be decided by a court of competent jurisdiction within the courts listed for jurisdiction above, and the Parties agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction of that court.

BB. Inquiries: All inquiries related to this Competition should be sent to: AGBO Marketing, at marketing@agbo.com.

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