Student Environmental Short Film Festival : Submission Guidelines
American University's Center for Environmental Filmmaking and EarthEcho International
Student Environmental Short Film Festival
Short Film Open Call Rules and Guidelines
I. Eligibility
A. Filmmaker
- Age: Filmmaker must be 18 or more years of age as of February 1, 2008 or must submit entry in partnership with a parent/guardian.
- Student Status: Filmmaker must be enrolled as a student as of February 1, 2008. Both full and part time students at any grade level pursuing any course of study are eligible.
- Amateur: Filmmaker may have no experience in a professional capacity, such as being employed in any of the above positions on film/TV projects completed and distributed for public exhibition, either from established studio companies or through independent companies that have sold or licensed such projects into distribution.
B. Submissions
Film/video and Flash submissions are eligible. Entries may be live action or animated. Documentaries and fictional storylines are both eligible, but all factual content (statistics, scientific facts or figures, etc.) must be reasonably supported as accurate.
- Submission Length: While there are no length restrictions for submission, note that winning screenings will be limited to eight minutes maximum. Pieces longer than this will not be shown in their entirety, and the segment(s) shown will be at the discretion of the selection panel.
- Format: Submissions shot in any format will be eligible, but all will be shown digitally from the DVD submitted for consideration.
II. Prizes
Cash prizes of $500, $300 and $150 will be awarded to first, second, and third place overall winners respectively.
III. Deadline
All submissions must be received by February 1, 2008.
IV. Application Fee
Nonrefundable $10 application fee
V. Entry Form & Film Submissions
To be considered, we must receive by February 1, 2008:
- A completed and signed "Submission Release Form" (pdf)
- Two (2) DVD copies of the film — one as DVD+R and the other as DVD-R
- A copy of the film in MPEG format
- At least one (1) photo still and/or JPEG of the filmmakers, as well as publicity art related to the film
Please note that entry materials will not be returned.
VI. Shipping:
The cost of shipping to the festival of the selected films will be the responsibility of the entrant, unless otherwise indicated by the festival. Shipping must be prepaid.
Mail to:
EarthEcho International
Attn: Student Environmental Short Film Festival
888 16th Street NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202.349.9828
Email: info@earthecho.org
VII. Selection Criteria
All entries will be reviewed and evaluated by a selection panel based on the following criteria:
- Clarity of social-environmental theme and stewardship and/or conservation message
- Accuracy of information
- Originality
- Style
Selection of films to be screened will be solely at the discretion of the selection panel. The panel also reserves the discretion to reject a submission found to be pornographic or grossly offensive.
VIII. Release
By submitting your screening copy, and in exchange for being considered in this competition and the publicity attendant to the festival events, you grant permission to EarthEcho International and American University to allow your work to be promoted by EarthEcho International for the festival, screened during the festival in public theaters where admittance tickets may be sold without compensation to you, and posted online. You affirm that you hold sufficient rights in your work to make this submission and grant this release to EarthEcho International and American University, and you indemnify EarthEcho International and American University should the festival be claimed liable for such permitted use of the film. You also affirm the screen credits and billing on the film (and any other related materials you furnish) are accurate and reflect proper releases from those named. EarthEcho International and American University are also released and will not be held liable for any mistakes that may occur in the display or reprinting of the screen credits.
- Indemnity: You indemnify EarthEcho International and American University (and their respective officers, agents, employees and representatives) against all costs of defense and liability should the festival be made a defendant in any claim arising from the submission and/or exhibition of your film. You may withdraw your submission at any time, but this indemnity shall continue to apply from the date of submission through the life of the copyright of the film.
IX. Questions
Please direct all questions to EarthEcho International at 202.349.9828 or info@earthecho.org.