Rules and Regulations

The 25th edition of the Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois (RVCQ) will take place in Montreal from February 15 to 25, 2006 at the Cinémathèque québécoise, the ONF Theatre, and the Beaubien Theatre.

An Exceptional Showcase of Quebec Cinema

For the last 25 years, the Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois has been promoting Quebec cinema in all its variations and has allowed artists, creators, professionals, and the public to meet and exchange in a festive atmosphere.

In their program selection, the RVCQ favours works which are intellectually and artistically charged and issue from an original and relevant standpoint. The selection puts forward works that represent mainstream movements (thematic, aesthetic, or social) as well as more marginal works, or works that have not received appropriate diffusion.

Aside from the year’s selection, the RVCQ features a variety of special events, tributes, retrospectives, programming series, forums, and professional workshops.

In its concern for the world of cinema and for the viewing public, the RVCQ offers a unique launching opportunity for many previously unreleased Quebec productions.

As a veritable SHOWCASE of Quebec cinema, the Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois hopes to promote international recognition of the work produced here by inviting foreign professionals interested in Quebec cinema and willing to distribute it within their established networks.

Cinema and video are artistic, cultural, and social forms of expression that play a capital role in our society. The RVCQ bears witness to this fact.

1. Jutra

The JUTRA finalists for ANIMATION, FICTION SHORT AND FEATURE FILMS, as well as DOCUMENTARY are chosen among the RVCQ’s year’s selection by the RVCQ programming committee.

2. Awards

The Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois is pleased to offer (in collaboration with its partners) a number of prizes and grants aimed at supporting and promoting creativity, quality, and perseverance. The prizes are awarded to works chosen from the year’s selection. Awards description coming soon…

3. Rules, Criteria of Eligibility, and Criteria of Selection for the 2007 RVCQ Regular Programming

3.1 Eligible Works

All Quebec-based* professional audio-visual works produced between January 1 and December 31, 2006 are eligible for inclusion in one of the 5 categories described below.

There is a specific category covering works produced in conjunction with a university or a film school. All such works not submitted under this category will be disqualified.

In the case of a work in a language other than French or English, a copy subtitled or dubbed in French is required.

The directors of the RVCQ reserve the right to reclassify a given work within a category deemed more appropriate than the one under which it was initially submitted.

A work that has been refused by the Rendez-vous in the past may not be submitted again, unless it has been substantially modified.

The only projection formats accepted are the following: 35mm, Digital Beta, Beta SP.

* A work is considered Quebec-based if it meets at least three of the five following requirements, one of which must necessarily be either number 2 or 3:

1. It is produced or co-produced by a Quebec enterprise;
2. It is directed or co-directed by a resident of Quebec;
3. It is written by a resident of Quebec;
4. At least one of the leading roles is played by a resident of Quebec;
5. A resident of Quebec has held one of the following key creative roles: director of photography, art director, editing, film score, and sound. For animated films, director of animation and character design.

In accordance with JUTRA criteria, a resident of Quebec is anyone who resides in Quebec for at least six months plus one day per year.

3.2 Categories

Feature Films

Works of fiction at least 70 minutes long. Movies or plays for television are not eligible.

Short and Medium-Length Films

Works of fiction less than 70 minutes long. Corporate films and videos are not eligible.

Feature-Length Documentaries

Documentary works at least 70 minutes in length. News reports, television series, and corporate films and videos are not eligible.

Short and Medium-Length Documentaries

Documentary works less than 70 minutes long. News reports, television series, and corporate films and videos are not eligible.

Experimental Films or Videos

Film or video works employing a non-narrative artistic approach, or integrating an art form other than cinema.

Animation

Film or video works integrating an image by image animation technique (drawings, puppets, paper cut-outs, pixilation, computer-generated animation, etc.). Corporate animation and animation series for television are not eligible.

Student Productions

Works falling under any of the above categories and produced in conjunction with a university or a film school.

3.3 Programming

Films are selected by a programming committee composed of professional members of the RVCQ team. The goal is to showcase a variety of points of view in Quebec cinema and to generate debate on the movies between filmmakers and the general public. Programming choices do not constitute a judgement on the quality of submitted works, but are rather an attempt to find the right balance between different genres, artistic approaches, and production techniques, while paying particular attention to emerging talents and newly released features.

3.4 Registration

All submissions must be received before October 20, 2006*. The registration form is available on the RVCQ website. The selection results will be communicated to the applicants after January 2, 2006.

Works in progress will be accepted as long as they are clearly identified as such on the screening copy and if the anticipated date of completion is indicated. All films must be completed before January 1, 2006.

3.5 Registration Requirements

A submission fee is required to cover administrative costs.Des frais d’inscription sont exigés afin de couvrir les coûts administratifs. All submissions must include a $10.00 fee, payable by cheque or money order to Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois.

Required documents

Submissions must include the following:

• A completed registration form
• 1 DVD or VHS copy of the work
• 1 or 2 photographs of the work: digital photos on cd (EPS or TIFF format, 300 DPI, 7 L x 5 H inches minimum)
• 1 photograph of the director (same format as above)
• Press clippings (if available)

INCOMPLETE SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

4. Selected Films

Those in charge of registering the films with the RVCQ thereby authorize the latter to distribute excerpts or segments of the submitted works for promotional purposes.

4.1 Premieres

For films premiering at the RVCQ, the following promotional material will be required: 5 press kits, 5 posters, 5 sets of 3 different photographs of the work, 1 to 5 VHS cassettes or dvds of the work, 1 to 5 Betacam SP cassettes of excerpts (for television).

4.2 Liability

The RVCQ will cover the costs of insuring the projection copies between the dates of their reception and their return to the producers. In case of loss or damage during this period, the RVCQ is liable only for the cost of replacing the copy of the work.

THE DIRECTORS OF THE RVCQ RESERVE THE RIGHT TO RULE UPON ANY MATTER NOT COVERED IN THE PRESENT DOCUMENT.