GIBRALTAR SONG FESTIVAL 2009/2010 RULES

Songwriters worldwide are invited to submit entries for the Gibraltar Song Festival 2009/2010 (hereafter referred to as the GSF) which will be held at the Tercentenary Sports Hall, Gibraltar, on Saturday, 27 March, 2010, and will be governed by the following Rules:

1. Entries may be submitted in any language and may originate from any country
   
   
2. Both the music and the lyrics of each entry must be the original works of the author(s)/composer(s) attributed to the entry. To this effect, the author(s)/ composer(s) indemnify the Organising Committee of GSF 2009/2010 against all legal responsibilities that could arise through violation of the rights of any third parties, author(s)/composer(s) assuming this responsibility and agreeing to indemnify the above-mentioned Organising Committee against all consequences and costs which might arise as a result of any judgement and/or action taken by third parties who may claim authors’ rights over the work entered in the competition.
   
   
3. Songs entered for the GSF must be unpublished and remain so until the selection of the finalists and reserves (see Rules 11 to 13) has been completed. Finalists and reserve entries must, additionally, remain unpublished until the Finals Gala has taken place.
   
   
4. Entries must be submitted via the GSF website (Click here for full details – www.gibraltarsongfestival.com)
   
   
5. Entries must not contain lyrics – or require a performance – that may be considered immoral and/or offensive to our society.
   
   
6. Composers/authors may submit any number of entries, each with a maximum duration of 4 minutes and 30 seconds. However, should more than one entry ascribed to a composer/author be pre-selected as one of the finalists, the GSF Organising Committee will nominate the entry with the highest score to go forward to the Finals Gala.
   
   
7. Composers/authors will be responsible for providing a singer, or singers, of theirchoice or, where this is not possible, must authorise the GSF Committee to choose a local singer, or singers, to perform their song at the Finals Gala.
   
   
8. The closing date for receipt of entries is 10 January, 2010.
   
   NB: Once the closing date for entries has expired, no changes to the original soundtrack will be permitted.
   
   
9. After the closing date, entries will be assessed by an invited panel of judges who will select the 12 finalists, plus a number of reserves.
   
   
10. Once the final 12 songs and reserves have been selected, all composers/authors concerned will be informed without delay.
    
    
11. Finalists must confirm their participation in the Finals Gala within ten (10) daysof receiving the official notification referred to in Rule 10, above. Should anyfinalist fail to provide this confirmation within the allocated time, the GSFCommittee reserves the right to allocate his/her slot to a reserve entry.
    
    
12. Following submission of their confirmation, composers/authors will be required to submit the following via the GSF website by 10 February, 2010:, at the very latest:
    ●Brief biography of the interpreter, accompanied by a head-and-shoulders photograph of same.
    
    ●One copy (in mp3 format) of the backing track (playback) of the selected song. Backing voices may be included. Alternatively, participants may provide their own vocal backing group to perform live at the Finals Gala.
    
    NOTE: As it may prove necessary to edit biographical submissions in duecourse, participants are requested to make biographies as brief as possible.
    
    
13. In order to assist with expenses involved in connection with the GSF, finalists will be granted one night’s free accommodation at the Iberostar (the GSF official hotel) in a double/twin-bedded room with full buffet breakfast.
    
    
14. It is the finalists’ responsibility to ensure that their travelling documents (e.g. passports, visas), are fully in order. Full details of documents required for travelling to Gibraltar may be obtained by clicking here www.gibraltar.gov.uk/visa.php
    
    
15. The order in which entries will be performed at the Finals Gala will be drawn by the GSF Committee.
    
    
16. Judging at the Finals Gala will be the responsibility of an international panel of experts from the music industry.
    
    
17. All entrants must accept the decisions of the judges as being final.
    
    
18. Entries in the GSF must not be broadcast by any of the participants in any waybefore the results of the contest have been announced.
    
    
19. GSF reserves the right to include the complete Finals Gala, or part thereof, in GSF promotional material via any medium of communication, including DVDs, CDs and the GSF website.
    
    
20. Submission of entries for the GSF 2009/2010 will be taken as acceptance to abide by the above Rules. Failure to abide by any of these Rules will result in automatic disqualification from the contest.
    
    
21. The GSF reserves the right to modify the above Rules if this is deemed necessary. Any such modification will be brought to the attention of registered entrants and will be posted on the GSF website.