It’s so hard defining just what an independent film is in this day and age. For the purposes of awards eligibility, Chlotrudis has elected to focus on number of screens a film is released on as a determining factor on whether it is overlooked or underseen. Currently, Chlotrudis considers any film released on fewer than 1,000 screens during its theatrical run as eligible. A film must have a theatrical release in the U.S. to be eligible as well. The one exception being any film that screens at a major or Boston-area film festival that is also available streaming or on DVD is eligible. Eligible films can be nominated for award consideration.
**2020 and Covid-19 pandemic. Due to the challenges around film festivals and theatrical screenings, the Chlotrudis Board will be working on a different form of eligibility for independent films. The list posted is subject to change as we move through this challenging year.
The Buried Treasure category comes with an additional set of eligibility requirements due to the very nature of the category. As the signature award for the Chlotrudis Society, the Buried Treasure shines a spotlight on films that the members consider deserves another look. A film that was overlooked, even by the film community. To be eligible for a Buried Treasure nomination, a film must have made less than $250,000 at the domestic box office.