HFF21 Participant FAQ

What happens if I paid a registration fee in 2020?

There are several options for your 2020 festival registration fee.

1. Rollover your registration to 2021 (or 2022, 2023, etc. — your registration fee does not expire). Please let us know by emailing [email protected] and let us know that you would like to produce your show this year (or any other), and we will credit your registration.

2. Donate your registration fee to the Hollywood Fringe, a 501©3 organization. We can provide proof of your donation for tax purposes.

3. Request a refund! Please have the Primary Contact for the registered show (the person who paid the registration fee) login to the Fringe website and visit https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/refund. Click “Request Check” to request your check. On the next screen, please verify your payee and address are correct,, and we will issue your check. Please allow 7-10 business days for your check to arrive via the U.S. Postal Service.

What is an official HFF venue? 

This year only: a venue refers to already established venues/theaters located in the Fringe zone. A list of eligible venues will be available in the May registration announcement, but all of our previous participating venues are eligible. Feel free to reach out to those venues here. 

Booking a venue would be the only way to register for the first registration type. A venue must be booked before registering under that registration type. 

Each venue will come with its own set of capabilities: from an empty stage that you can imagine and run your own livestream experience from, to fully livestream-equipped theatres where you might not touch a button, you’ll find a space that fits your creative and technical needs. Information on what each venue will offer this year will be provided on hollywoodfringe.org starting May 1.

This discounted registration seeks to make this year’s Fringe more financially viable for participants to return to the stages they know and love after a year of closed theaters. This will only be a part of the HFF model this year, and registration fees will return to normal for our in-person Festival in 2022. 

Can I livestream my show from a venue that is not an official HFF venue/ out of the zone? 

Yes! You can livestream your show from a theater outside of the Fringe zone, or any other location under our registration type “2. Livestream from any other location.” 

Please keep in mind public spaces or privately owned locations would need permission and or permitting depending on what city/state/country you are filming from. 

If I book an official HFF venue, can I have an audience during the festival if guidelines change? 

At this time, no. You should not register today if you only want to participate in hopes of live audiences. The decision to pivot to a hybrid model will be made if guidelines change, AND HFF staff and partners decide it is safe for our community. 

Why are all the registration types different costs? 

We discounted registration fees across the board because we know this has been a difficult year financially for everyone, and we want to do all we can to allow theatre artists to get back to their first love: the stage! 

Each registration type will take a different level of Fringe participation/interaction, and those levels have been priced accordingly. We have additionally lowered the venue registration costs to support our local venue economy, and ensure that artists have the opportunity to film there at a lower cost.

Is it safe to participate?

The Hollywood Fringe is working with local authorities, businesses and venues to ensure the safest procedures possible for a digital streaming fest.

That being said, if you’re worried about COVID-19 spread, or don’t feel safe enough yet to participate, we recommend that you submit your work from home or another environment that you feel safe in under our registration type “2. Livestream from any other location.”

How many livestream shows can I do from an HFF venue?

There is no limit to the number of shows you can submit. However, your venue will work with you on how many bookings are available in their space. Your venue is responsible for setting the time slots for your show, similarly to how venue spaces operate during an in-person Festival season. 

How many livestream shows can I do If I am not working with a venue?

There is no limit to the number of shows you can submit. However, we recommend that you honor your capacity for safety and marketing purposes and check in with your team about what’s best for your production.

Will there be a printed guide this year?

No. All shows will be listed on the website as in years past, and we will be (re)introducing the Hollywood Fringe app. While we will not have guide ads available this year for marketing, you can still purchase our online ads at a discounted rate. 

What if I have no idea how to livestream but want to participate?

We will have multiple pre-festival events designed to help you navigate this new platform. There will also be informational guides in this year’s participant packet. 

At the beginning of this process, our Fringe staff was in your shoes— we know how daunting this task can seem, but are uplifting our community’s amassed knowledge to walk you through this. The Fringe is a special place: you don’t have to pretend to be an expert. Our Festival supports artists from all walks of life and knowledge bases— come try something new with us!

Additionally, if you’re worried about technical aspects, there are people to hire! Please consider booking a venue where those aspects are taken into consideration or that is fully-equipped to tech your creative vision.

Can I submit a film? 

No. 

Although, just like a live production, you can incorporate filmed segments into your live show. We recommend that you consider those moments an addition to your show, and not the focus.

What’s next?

There will be more additions to this FAQ for the May 1 registration opening. Please email [email protected] if you have any further questions at this time.