By-laws.

ARTICLE I - PURPOSE

The North Dakota Film Society is a not-for-profit, volunteer association dedicated to the celebration and preservation of film. The Society announces its annual year-end awards each January 15th following the previous year’s eligibility period. The Society was organized and will operate exclusively for professional and educational purposes.

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

To be considered for membership in the Society, applicants must meet the guidelines set forth below, be invited by a current member, or sponsored in good faith by a current, full-time member in good standing. Membership categories are as follows: Founding Members, Members, and Student Members.

All members must reside within North Dakota, or the metropolitan Fargo or Grand Forks areas, and work regularly as a filmmaker, educator, exhibitor or theater owner, or member of the press. Members of the press must adhere to studio-imposed embargoes and have their work distributed to the movie-going public via a mass medium (print, radio, TV, or online) nationally, regionally, or locally.

• Founding Members represent full-status members who joined the North Dakota Film Society during its inaugural season (2019); these members maintain lifetime status, unless deemed unable to perform their duties

• Members represent full-status members who meet all membership criteria; these members may serve as officers in the Society’s Board of Directors; these members are eligible to vote for the NDFS Awards nominations and winners; these members must meet eligibility requirements each year to maintain membership status

• Student Members represent students currently enrolled in higher education in North Dakota or the metropolitan Fargo or Grand Forks areas and are actively seeking education in film, communications, journalism, or similar areas of study; these members may receive promotion for current work published; these members are eligible to vote for the NDFS Awards winners with express approval from the Society’s Board of Directors

Members should be considered ‘active’ in the film communities within North Dakota, including consistent work as a filmmaker, educator, exhibitor or theater owner, or journalist with a concentration in film and entertainment.

Ideal members will have seen at least 35 full first-run feature-length motion pictures in the 12-month period of January 1st through December 31st of each eligibility period. Full first-run feature-length motion pictures include theatrical releases and films released strictly to streaming formats.

Filmmakers must maintain a regular body of work. Filmmakers’ permanent addresses must be in North Dakota or the metropolitan Fargo or Grand Forks areas. Filmmakers’ work may take place outside North Dakota.

Educators must facilitate regularly scheduled courses during at least one semester of the year of eligibility. Educators must maintain good standing at their respective schools, colleges, or universities throughout the year of eligibility. Educators’ places of employment must be within North Dakota or the metropolitan Fargo or Grand Forks areas.

Exhibitors and theater owners must preside over the exhibition schedules of a local film festival and/or cinema in any of North Dakota’s cities. Cinemas can include major movie houses or local, historic theaters. Cinemas must show at least one first-run full feature-length motion picture each month of the eligible year.

Members of the press must cover at least one film-related topic each month of the eligible year. Film reviews must be professional and published in a print or online publication based in North Dakota.

Membership

Membership is determined based on the following:

• Applicants must submit proof of eligibility (writing samples, proof of employment, letter of recommendation, etc.)

• All members are subject to an audit, annually, by the Board of Directors

• All members are obligated to notify the Board of any change in eligibility (change of profession/employment, relocation outside of North Dakota or eligible territories, etc.).

• Members who violate common standards of eligibility may be relieved of membership. This includes unprofessional behavior (illegal activity, plagiarism, falsifying credentials, misrepresenting their outlet, theft, discrimination) that could result in negative press for the Society or is deemed harmful to any one person in membership or in the general population. The process of removal includes notification from a member of the Board of Directors. The accused member will have 30 days to submit documents or other written rebuttal. The Board may request an in-person appearance of the accused. The Board will determine, after 30 days, the eligibility of the accused person by voting. The Board will notify the accused by writing of their decision. Suspension or expulsion shall be effective immediately upon receipt of the written decision by the accused member.

ARTICLE III - AWARDS VOTING

The annual NDFS Awards nominations are determined during a two-session process. All current members in good standing will receive a digital ballot on January 1st of the year following the eligible year. Members will have one week to fill in the digital ballot, noting their Top Five choices in order of preference for each category (Best Picture, Director, Actress, Actor, Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor, Screenplay, Cinematography, Production Design, Original Score, Original Song, International Film, Documentary Feature, and Animation Feature). All votes will be tallied as ranked. The top choice will receive 5 points, the second choice will receive 4 points, etc. After all votes are tallied, new digital ballots featuring the nominations will be distributed to all current members in good standing. Members will have one week to fill in the digital ballot. All votes will be tallied, with each choice counting as 1 point. Winners will be determined based on most votes. Ties are allowed.

To be eligible, a film must be released in at least one of the three major North Dakota markets (Fargo, Grand Forks, Bismarck) between January 1 and December 31 of the eligible calendar year. Films released to streaming formats will be considered on a case-by-case basis. A list of eligible films may be requested after December 31 by emailing info@northdakotafilmsociety.com.

ARTICLE IV - AMENDMENTS

The by-laws may be adopted, amended, or repealed by vote from the general membership at the annual members meeting. By-laws may also be adopted, amended, or repealed by the Board of Directors, but the general membership may amend the vote upon receipt of notification of the new, adopted, amended , or repealed by-laws.

For media requests, email info@northdakotafilmsociety.com.