Upstate New York-based Festival Cinema Invisible (FCI) is now accepting independent films for its 3-day festival (April 1–3, 2016) of Persian language and Middle Eastern films at Proctor’s GE Theatre.

Festival Cinema Invisible is an independent, not-for-profit venue dedicated to celebration of Middle Eastern arts and cinema. FCI is seeking “invisible” films for its 2016 film festival. Filmmakers of Middle Eastern origin regardless of their place of residence, as well as filmmakers making films about topics or subject matter related to the Middle East are encouraged to submit their films. FCI does not charge an entry fee for submission. All films submitted will be reviewed by the selection committee.

The FCI website (cinemainvisible.org) cites several categories of Invisible Cinema including Hidden Cinema (where themes or ideas are hidden, however unconsciously, in the works of one or more filmmakers), Censored Cinema (where the film is not permitted to screen within its country of production), and Unseen Cinema which includes films that have been forgotten or ignored.

During its previous four annual festivals, FCI Festivals featured over 100 Iranian and international films which were either world premiers, national premiers or regional premiers. As FCI President Mahmood Karimi-Hakak said, “What’s unique about FCI is that most of the films that are screened are not only world and/or US premiers, but have also never been screened officially in their home countries.”

Guidelines for submitting films to the festival (as well as the submission form) can be found on the FCI website: http://cinemainvisible.org/fci-2016. The deadline for submission is February 1, 2016. FCI cannot be held liable for the loss or damage of filmmakers print/video materials and will not return submitted works, so filmmakers are asked not to send original materials.

More information about FCI and the Film Festival can be found at their website, http://cinemainvisible.org/ or at their facebook page facebook.com/FestivalCinemaInvisible.

For further information please contact:

Scott Collins - 617.838.7835 - [email protected]