FBAFF 2024: June 28 & 29 UAM NMSU

Free & Open to the Public

The 2024 edition of the Feminist Border Arts Film Festival (FBAFF) celebrates its 9th annual season and is accepting submissions. This two-day festival and screening exhibition is dedicated to showcasing film, video, and media arts that focus on women, gender, LGBTQ+ communities, BIPOC, and themes of positive social change.

Through film, video, and media arts projects, we foster engagement that spans both U.S. and global contexts. Situated in southern New Mexico, less than 50 miles from the U.S./Mexico border, the Feminist Border Arts Film Festival (FBAFF) is deeply committed to examining and crossing boundaries.

The festival defines “feminist border arts” as a practice that challenges the limits of conventional representation through telling stories from the edge; threshold works that introduce different perspectives and ways of knowing. Selected pieces revive the promise of cinema and video as mediums of expression and creativity as well as social thought and intellectual awakening.

Our curatorial practice values both content and form, seeking works that push the boundaries of storytelling. We focus on the narratives, the methodologies of their telling, and consider the storytellers themselves.

We invite a wide range of submissions in the following categories:

• Animation and Mixed Media: Traditional or computer-generated animated films and multidisciplinary projects combining animation and other methods.

• Documentary: Non-fiction films that document reality.

• Essay Film: Films that explore topics from a personal or subjective perspective.

• Live-Action Narrative: Fictional films featuring live actors.

• Video and Performance Art: Arts performance videos or experimental video pieces.

• Experimental Film: Films that push the boundaries of traditional storytelling and filmmaking.

• Digital Storytelling: Narratives that utilize digital platforms and technologies, including narrative-centered techniques, focusing on personal and community storytelling, to create impactful digital stories.

• Video Zines, Zinema, Zine Cinema, New Media Zines: Digital zine projects in video and media arts

• Digital Zines: We also welcome submissions of digital zines that align with the festival's themes and objectives.

Other aspects of the zine fest, such as zine tabling, will be announced through a separate call in the early Spring.

Day 1 - June 28: Immerse yourself in the world of film, from the US and around the globe. They educate, challenge norms, rebel against conventions, delight the senses, and demand change.

Day 2 - June 29: It's a zine revolution. Explore zines and zinema (video zines) that defy authority, journeys that break boundaries, comics that will change your life, and tales that celebrate community, social change, and creative expression.

We welcome submissions from student, independent, collaborative, and professional filmmakers, thinkers, and creators. FBA24 specializes in pieces 15 minutes or under and screens a select number of full-length features that are 40 to 90 minutes in duration during the festival. Additionally, we explore opportunities for programming leading up to and supporting the festival. If selected, your film could be showcased in such programming as an official selection.

Submission Categories:

• Feature Films: Any genre, must be between 40-90 minutes.

• Documentary, Video Essays, Digital Storytelling Shorts: Non-fiction films, personal or subjective films, and digital narratives under 15 minutes.

• Animation and Mixed Media Shorts: Traditional or computer-generated animated films, as well as works that incorporate animation and other elements, under 15 minutes.

• Experimental, Performance, and Video Art: Films that push the boundaries of traditional storytelling and filmmaking, including performance-based works and artistic video pieces, under 15 minutes.

• Video Zines, Zinema, Zine Cinema, New Media Zines (film, video, gif)

• Digital Zines: PDFs or links to digital zines that align with the festival's themes and objectives should be submitted to gensxprof@gmail.com.

Selection Process: Submissions to FBA24 undergo a rigorous selection process. Our selection committee and reviewers are comprised of filmmakers, scholars, artists, activists, interested persons with expertise in film, media arts, gender and sexuality studies, and social justice. Their collective insights ensure that the works chosen for the festival meet our high standards for artistic innovation, social relevance, creative and critical thinking.

Judging Criteria: Submissions are evaluated based on a set of criteria that align with the mission and objectives of Feminist Border Arts and NMSU's Gender & Sexuality Studies. These criteria include but are not limited to:

• Innovation: Originality in form and content.

• Social Relevance: Significance in addressing issues related to gender, sexuality, social justice, and transformation.

• Storytelling Technique: Skill in the craft of storytelling, whether through film, digital media, or other forms.

• Thoughtful Exploration: Depth and nuance in exploring the subject matter, showing a well-considered approach and meaningful inquiry or narrative.

• Audience Engagement: Potential for fostering critical thought and dialogue among festival attendees.

Location and Dates: The 2024 season will be held at the New Mexico State University Art Museum during Pride Day weekend, on June 28th and 29th, in honor of the Stonewall Riots and in solidarity with other movements for positive social change.

Filmmaker and Creator Participation: While FBA24 is unable to provide room, board, or travel accommodations for filmmakers, we highly encourage and value your presence and active participation in the festival. Your involvement enriches the dialogue and experience for all attendees. If your film has been selected for screening and you plan to attend, please let us know in advance so we can make the most of your presence at the event.

Note: Festival and exhibition dates and the venue are subject to change under compelling circumstances.

We are committed to providing a high-quality experience and will communicate any changes as soon as possible.

Stay updated by following us on Instagram & Threads (@genxprof), Twitter/X (@gensxprof), and Tiktok (@genxprof).

FBA24 is a highly selective festival and exhibition, with less than 1% of submissions making it to our curated program. Being featured in FBA24 is itself a recognition of your work's significance and its contribution to pushing boundaries in storytelling, representation, and social engagement.

Dynamic Categories

Our awards are not monetary but are deeply meaningful within the context of our festival's mission and the broader fields of feminist, queer, and social justice arts and scholarship. The categories of honors are dynamic and may vary each year to reflect the unique focus and ethos of that season's festival.

Categories of Honors

Director's Choice Awards: Selected by festival co-directors, these awards exemplify artistic innovation and social impact.

Audience Choice Awards: Selected by festival attendees, recognizing works that resonate with our diverse and engaged audiences.

Advisory Board Awards: Our advisory board selects winners based on criteria such as social relevance, artistic merit, and boundary-pushing creativity.

Special Recognition

In addition to these categories, special recognitions may be given for:

• Outstanding Student Work
• Innovative Storytelling Award
• Social Impact Award

Note: The awards and categories are subject to change each year as we continually adapt and respond to the evolving landscape of feminist, queer, and social justice current issues, film & media arts, and research.

Before submitting your film, review these conditions:

1. Film directly addresses topics associated with women, genders, LGBTQIA+, social justice and transformation, disability, intersectionality, the environment, and/or transnational and global understanding.

2. Film is an original work by filmmaker and can be legally shown by FBA and NMSU Gender and Sexuality Studies at the festival and its exhibition. As a note, make especially sure you are licensed or allowed to use all music, trademarks, and literary material in your film.

3. The submitter shall indemnify and hold harmless Feminist Border Arts, its organizers, and partners from any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees and court costs) that may be incurred due to any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, or screening of the submitted work.

4. Accepted lengths are 60 seconds to 15 minutes and accepted production timeframe is post January 1, 2022 or within the last 2 years.

5. Entry fees are non-refundable. They are used to support the festival and its programming.

6. If you are unable to pay the submission fee, please email us at gensxprof@gmail.com to inquire about a possible fee waiver.

7. If your film is selected, it must be in digital format, and we will need to download a copy ASAP (MP4 or MOV).

8. Entries may have or suggest violence, sexual content, and language, but no people, animals, or creatures can or should be harmed in the making of your film.

9. If your film is selected, you maintain all your rights. However, you grant us permission to include it in the festival and exhibition programming, to archive it, and to use images and brief clips for promotional purposes, as well as for possible additional FBA screenings or festival tours for a period of 12 months or longer for “best of” style programming.

10. We welcome films in any language, but all films must include embedded English language captions, including films in English. We want to make sure films are as accessible as possible. We will request for filmmakers to add subtitles to their work if selected.

11. Multiple entries are welcome, but each must be submitted separately and is subject to its own submission fee.

12. Acceptance of your film does not automatically mean it will be exhibited. However, it remains an official selection of the festival. The festival and exhibition are only two days, which means we have limited screen time. But we also have satellite and showcase programming that offer the opportunity to screen more pieces for FBA24. 

13. By submitting a film, the filmmaker(s), copyright, and distribution rights owners agree to have the film screened by FBA, if selected.

14. Provide a biography of the artist/filmmaker, along with details about the work, which should include the title, duration, production date, country of filming, a brief synopsis, and stills for promotional use.

15. FBA24 does not offer screening fees. By submitting through FilmFreeway you are agreeing to NOT request a screening fee as a requirement for your film's participation in FBA, if your film is selected.

16. Films that are publicly available online (without password protection or being unlisted) are not eligible for FBA24 live audience festival exhibition. However, a limited number of such works may be considered for online or other screenings supporting FBA programing. 

17. Films in commercial distribution are not eligible for submission. However, such works may be considered for invited screenings and special events; please contact festival organizers at gensxprof@gmail.com with details. 

18. Educational Use: By submitting your film, you grant FBA24 the non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, and unlimited right to use the archived copies of your work for non-commercial educational purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, workshops, lectures, classroom use, and academic research. Please note that this is not guaranteed, and you may opt-out of this possibility by contacting the festival organizers at gensxprof@gmail.com.

19. Final Selection: The selection of films and other works by FBA24 is final and not subject to appeal. By submitting your work, you acknowledge and agree that you accept this condition.

FBA24 Makes Use of a Set of Rolling Deadlines

• October 9, 2023 Opening Date
• November 15, 2023 Early Bird Deadline
• March 15, 2024 Regular Deadline
• April 15, 2024 Late Deadline
• May 15, 2024 Extended Deadline
• June 06, 2024 Notification Date
• June 28 & 29, 2024 Event Dates