Submission Terms

Who operates the Festival

I’Mpossible Film Festival is organised by Nima Media Ltd , a company registered in England and Wales under company number 14839470, with its registered office at 124 City Road, London, England, EC1V 2NX.

In these terms, “Festival” means I’Mpossible Film Festival, “Organiser” means Nima Media Ltd, “Submitter” means the person or organisation submitting a film, and “Film” means the work submitted.

By submitting a Film, the Submitter confirms that they have read, understood and accepted these Submission Terms.

1. Eligibility

The Festival accepts completed, human-led AI-generated and AI-assisted films. Eligible work may include cinematic short films, microfilms, documentary reconstructions, experimental films, music videos and films submitted to the Persian Carpet category.

The Film must demonstrate clear human intention, creative direction and editorial control. The Submitter must be at least 18 years old. A submission from a person under 18 must be made or expressly approved by a parent or legal guardian.

Each category may have its own runtime, style and eligibility requirements. The category information published on FilmFreeway forms part of these terms.

2. Human authorship

Every submitted Film must begin with a human idea, concept, script, treatment or creative direction.

AI may be used as an important part of writing, development, production or post-production, but the core storytelling, direction and editorial decisions must remain under meaningful human control.

A Film is not eligible where its script, direction and final creative decisions were produced automatically without meaningful human writing, adaptation, editing, selection or supervision.

3. Meaningful use of AI

AI must play an important creative role in making the Film or its story possible. It must not be used only for convenience, minor technical assistance or decoration.

For AI Microfilm, AI Short Film, AI Experimental Film and AI Music Video, the visual work should be predominantly AI-generated or substantially transformed using AI. Limited live-action, performance capture, photographs or archive footage may be incorporated. A conventionally filmed work containing only a few AI-generated shots, filters or effects is not eligible for these categories.

AI Doc Reconstruction and Persian Carpet may combine real-world filming with meaningful AI-generated material. In these categories, AI should make an important part of the story visible where conventional filming was unsafe, censored, inaccessible, historically impossible or otherwise impractical.

Subtitles, transcription, basic translation, routine image or sound cleanup, noise reduction, administrative research, promotional artwork, simple filters or isolated decorative AI shots are not sufficient by themselves.

The Festival does not impose a fixed percentage of AI-generated content. The importance of the AI contribution will be considered in relation to the Film as a whole.

4. Declaration of AI use

The Submitter must briefly explain which AI tools or processes were used, which principal elements were generated or significantly altered using AI, and why AI was important to making the Film or story possible.

The initial explanation should be concise. The Festival does not normally require detailed evidence or process files at the submission stage, but may request reasonable clarification where the declared AI use is unclear.

A submission may be moved, rejected or disqualified if its AI declaration is materially inaccurate or if its use of AI does not meet the selected category’s requirements.

5. Category suitability

AI Microfilm, AI Short Film, AI Doc Reconstruction and Persian Carpet are intended primarily for realistic or live-action-style cinematic work.

Animation, cartoon-style films, abstract work, surreal visual experiments, poetic visual pieces, music-led projects and strongly non-realistic work should normally be submitted to AI Experimental Film or AI Music Video.

The Festival does not accept submissions consisting solely of prompt demonstrations, trailers or fake trailers, mood reels, showreels, visual tests, random AI montages or unfinished experiments.

The Festival may move a Film to a more suitable category without charging an additional category fee. Where practical, the Submitter will be informed.

6. AI Doc Reconstruction

AI Doc Reconstruction welcomes documentary, essay, archive-based, journalism-inspired and reconstruction-led work.

Films may be fully AI-generated or may combine interviews, documentary footage, photographs, documents, archive material and AI-generated reconstruction.

AI must be used as an important and practical tool for reconstructing memories, events, locations, scenes or real experiences, particularly material that could not be filmed because it was unsafe, censored, inaccessible, historical, lost or otherwise impractical to capture.

Limited, incidental or purely decorative AI use is not sufficient.

7. Documentary transparency

Synthetic, reconstructed or AI-generated material must not deliberately be presented as authentic footage in a way that misleads audiences.

Reconstructions involving real people, testimonies, memories, locations, conflicts or historical events must be disclosed and handled transparently and responsibly. The Submitter must identify the principal scenes, voices, images or other elements generated or significantly altered using AI.

The Submitter is responsible for the reasonable accuracy and lawful presentation of factual statements and allegations in the Film. The Festival may request clarification or decline a Film containing serious unsupported allegations, deceptive reconstruction or unresolved legal or ethical concerns.

8. Rights and permissions

The Submitter confirms that they own, control or have obtained all rights, licences, consents and permissions required to submit, review, screen and promote the Film under these terms.

This includes, where applicable, rights relating to scripts, footage, photographs, artwork, archive material, music, lyrics, sound recordings, voices, performances, trademarks, confidential or personal information, and the names, images and likenesses of real people.

Music-video Submitters must own or have permission to use the music, lyrics, vocals and other protected material included in the Film.

The Submitter is responsible for complying with the applicable terms of any AI tools, models, platforms, datasets or services used in producing the Film. Nima Media Ltd does not independently verify every item of ownership, consent or legal clearance and is entitled to rely on the Submitter’s confirmations.

9. Living, deceased and public figures

Films may depict, criticise, satirise, reconstruct or artistically represent public figures, political leaders and historical figures where the use is lawful, relevant to the work and handled responsibly.

The consent of a public figure is not automatically required for documentary, journalistic, artistic, satirical, critical or public-interest treatment. However, the Submitter remains responsible for securing any copyright, archive, performance or other rights required for the source material used.

Where AI is used to generate or significantly alter the face, voice, actions or statements of a real person, the synthetic nature of the material must be clear from the Film or its context. It must not be presented as authentic evidence or genuine footage in a deliberately misleading way.

For private individuals, performers or contributors whose participation could reasonably imply consent or cooperation, the Submitter must obtain any permission required under applicable law.

Where a Film depicts, recreates or synthetically represents a deceased person, the Submitter is responsible for determining whether copyright, archive, contractual, estate, personality or publicity rights apply in the relevant jurisdiction and for obtaining any required permissions.

The Festival does not accept false endorsements, deceptive impersonation intended to mislead, fabricated statements presented as genuine quotations or evidence, defamatory manipulation, non-consensual exploitative use of private individuals, or unlawful use of copyrighted or confidential material.

The Festival may request clarification or decline, suspend or remove a Film where the treatment of a real person creates an unresolved legal, ethical or safety concern.

10. Submitter responsibility

The Submitter confirms that they are authorised to submit the Film, all information supplied is accurate, the Film does not knowingly infringe another person’s rights, and they have obtained the permissions reasonably required for the Film.

The Submitter must promptly notify the Festival if a rights dispute or relevant change arises. To the extent permitted by law, the Submitter accepts responsibility for reasonable direct losses or costs incurred by Nima Media Ltd as a result of a material breach of these confirmations.

Nothing in these terms requires the Submitter to accept responsibility for matters caused solely by the Organiser’s own unlawful actions.

11. Complaints and disputed material

Complaints concerning copyright, consent, privacy, factual allegations, defamation or other rights may be sent to hello@impossiblefilmfest.com .

The Festival may temporarily suspend the review, promotion or screening of a Film while a credible complaint is assessed. It may contact the Submitter and request clarification or evidence.

Following review, the Festival may restore the Film, amend promotional information, restrict access, withdraw or remove the Film, or disqualify the submission. The Festival will take reasonable steps to handle complaints fairly but is not required to determine complex legal disputes between third parties.

12. Subtitles and accessibility

Films not primarily in English must include accurate and reasonably understandable English subtitles. English-language Films are encouraged to include captions where possible.

A Film may be rejected if required subtitles are missing or substantially incomplete.

13. Submission fees and refunds

Submission fees cover the administrative and curatorial work involved in receiving, reviewing and considering the Film. Payment does not guarantee selection, nomination, screening, an award, written feedback, distribution, publicity or a future partnership opportunity.

Submission fees are normally non-refundable once a valid Film has been received and made available for review.

A refund may be considered for duplicate charges caused by a technical or payment error, cancellation of the relevant Festival edition without a substantially equivalent review or programme opportunity, a refund required by FilmFreeway policy, or where required by applicable law.

Non-selection, disqualification for failing eligibility rules, or the filmmaker’s decision to withdraw the Film does not normally create a right to a refund.

Fee waivers for filmmakers residing in Iran

Filmmakers who currently reside in Iran may request a full entry-fee waiver for any Festival category before submitting. The Festival may request reasonable confirmation of eligibility where necessary. False or misleading information may result in withdrawal of the waiver or disqualification of the submission.

Waiver requests are handled in accordance with the Privacy Notice .

14. Withdrawal

A Submitter may request withdrawal by contacting the Festival or using FilmFreeway’s withdrawal function. Withdrawal does not normally produce a refund.

After programme announcements or promotional publication, the Festival cannot guarantee immediate removal from every prepared graphic, programme, social-media post, press release or archived page, but will take reasonable steps to stop future use where appropriate.

15. Selection and disqualification

Selection and award decisions are made through the Festival’s curatorial and judging processes. Decisions are final, although the Festival may correct an administrative or factual error.

The Festival may reject, suspend, move or disqualify a Film where eligibility requirements are not met, information supplied is materially false or misleading, the declared AI use is inaccurate, required rights or permissions are not held, the Film creates an unresolved legal, ethical or safety concern, the Submitter attempts to improperly influence the selection process, or the Submitter engages in abusive or threatening behaviour.

16. Awards

Core awards may include the AI Microfilm Award, AI Short Film Award, AI Documentary Award, AI Experimental Film Award, AI Persian Carpet Award, AI Music Video Award, AI Unfilmable Story Award and I’Mpossible Special Mention.

Award titles may be reasonably adjusted before the Festival. Additional awards may be introduced in collaboration with sponsors or partners, provided they remain consistent with the Festival’s values and editorial independence.

Selected films and award recipients may receive official Festival laurels and digital certificates. A limited number of main winners may receive a physical trophy. Availability, design, delivery and recipients will be confirmed before the awards announcement. Awards, certificates and laurels have no guaranteed cash value.

17. Online screening licence

Copyright remains with the filmmaker or relevant rights holder.

If a Film is officially selected, the Submitter grants Nima Media Ltd a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to review and assess the Film, make it privately available to authorised judges, programmers and Festival personnel, screen it online as part of the relevant Festival edition and associated audience programme, and create technical copies reasonably required for delivery, captioning, judging, security and screening.

The principal online screening dates or availability period will be communicated before the public screening. This licence does not transfer ownership of the Film to Nima Media Ltd.

The Submitter should tell the Festival before selection if the Film is subject to a genuine premiere, territorial or distribution restriction. The Festival will consider reasonable geoblocking or access requests but cannot guarantee that every requested arrangement can be supported.

18. Promotional permission

The Submitter grants Nima Media Ltd a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use the Film’s title, synopsis, credited names, biographies, posters, submitted artwork, trailers, still images and reasonable short excerpts for Festival-related promotion and reporting.

These materials may be used on the Festival website, digital programme, social-media channels, press materials, newsletters, presentations, award announcements, interviews and Festival archives.

The Festival will not sell or commercially distribute the complete Film independently under this promotional permission.

19. Partner consideration and future screenings

The Festival may privately share a selected Film with a potential festival, venue, curator or screening partner for consideration where this could create a relevant opportunity for the filmmaker.

A separate public partner screening requires the filmmaker’s confirmation unless that screening has already been expressly authorised through the submission process or another agreement.

Submission or selection does not guarantee a partner screening, travel or accommodation, a screening fee, distribution, press coverage, an interview or any other future opportunity.

20. Filmmaker safety and public credits

A Submitter who may face censorship, persecution, personal danger or serious professional consequences may request use of a professional name or pseudonym, limited public credits, removal of sensitive location information or anonymous public presentation.

Requests should be made before the Festival programme is announced. The Festival will take reasonable care with sensitive identity information but cannot guarantee complete anonymity where information has already been published by the Submitter or must be disclosed by law.

21. Personal information

Personal information connected with submissions will be handled in accordance with the Festival’s Privacy Notice .

Submission information may be processed through FilmFreeway and other service providers used for administration, judging, communications and secure screening.

Operational messages concerning a submission are part of administering the Festival. Submitters will not automatically be added to an unrelated marketing list without an appropriate legal basis or separate choice where required.

22. Festival changes, postponement and cancellation

The Festival may make reasonable changes to dates and deadlines, categories, judges or selection arrangements, awards, screening methods, platforms, venues or programme details where operational, legal, safety, technical, financial or partner circumstances reasonably require them.

A material change will not be made solely to deprive Submitters of the central review or Festival opportunity for which they paid. Significant changes will be communicated through FilmFreeway, email, the Festival website or another reasonable channel.

If the Festival is postponed, submissions will normally remain valid for the rescheduled edition. If the relevant Festival edition is cancelled without a substantially equivalent review or programme opportunity, the Organiser will consider an appropriate refund, credit or other remedy according to the circumstances, FilmFreeway policy and applicable law.

23. Third-party platforms and events beyond reasonable control

The Festival may use third-party submission, payment, screening, video-hosting, email and website services. It will take reasonable steps to deliver its programme but cannot guarantee uninterrupted availability of every third-party service.

The Organiser is not responsible for delay or interruption caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including serious internet failure, platform outage, cyber incident, natural disaster, war, government restriction, public emergency or comparable event.

Nothing in this section excludes any responsibility that cannot legally be excluded.

24. Limitation of responsibility

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability where doing so would be unlawful, including liability for fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or death or personal injury caused by negligence.

To the extent permitted by law, Nima Media Ltd is not responsible for indirect or unforeseeable loss, loss of anticipated publicity, loss of opportunity, loss of distribution, loss of profit or reputational loss resulting from submission, non-selection, programme changes or participation in the Festival.

Where Nima Media Ltd is legally responsible for a direct and foreseeable loss connected with a submission, its total liability will not exceed the submission fees paid for that Film, except where a different remedy or limitation is required by law.

Nothing in these terms affects statutory consumer rights that cannot legally be excluded or restricted.

25. No guarantee of outcomes

Submission, selection, nomination or receipt of an award does not guarantee distribution, representation, employment, investment, sales, press coverage, audience figures, sponsorship, partner screenings or career advancement.

Any future opportunity depends on quality, programme fit, availability, rights clearance and the decisions of relevant third parties.

26. Changes to these terms

The terms applicable to a submission are normally the version published when that submission was made.

The Festival may update these terms for future submissions or where a change is reasonably required by law, platform policy or an important operational matter. Material changes affecting existing Submitters will be communicated where reasonably practicable.

The Festival will retain a dated copy of previous versions.

27. Governing law

These Submission Terms and disputes arising from them are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

The courts of England and Wales will have jurisdiction, except where applicable consumer law allows a Submitter to bring proceedings in another competent court.

28. Severability

If any provision of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply.

29. Contact

Questions concerning eligibility, rights, submissions or these terms may be sent to hello@impossiblefilmfest.com .

I’Mpossible Film Festival
Organised by Nima Media Ltd
Company number: 14839470
Registered office: 124 City Road, London, England, EC1V 2NX
Website: impossiblefilmfest.com

30. Submitter confirmation

By completing a submission, the Submitter confirms that they are authorised to submit the Film, the supplied information is accurate, they accept these Submission Terms, they have obtained the rights and permissions reasonably required for the Film, they understand that submission does not guarantee selection, screening or an award, and, if selected, they grant the screening and promotional permissions described above.