14th Annual Lander Film Festival Short Film Competition
For the past 14 years, Lander’s Short Film Competition has inspired filmmakers of all ages by connecting them with professional screenwriters and directors. The competition is divided into three divisions: Open, College, and High School.
Teams will have 8 days to write, shoot and deliver a 5-minute short film using the provided dialogue line. The dialogue line will be revealed Tuesday, March 12 at 4:00 p.m. All films must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 20.
Registration deadline is 8 p.m. March 12. Registration fee is $20 for College and High School entrants and $25 for Open division filmmakers.
Division Awards will be given to first place, second place, and third place in the following categories:
- Open Division- open to any and all filmmakers.
- College Division- must be enrolled in a 2 or 4 year college.
- High School Division – Must be enrolled in high school.
We encourage all levels of participation (from novice to professional)
General Guidelines
Format
The required submission format is 1080p HD H.264.
Total Run Time
Narratives must be exactly 5 Minutes (5:00) including opening titles and credits. You are required to include full cast and crew credits as well as a title card describing the dialogue assigned.
Explicit Content
Use a movie rating of PG-13 as your guideline when considering language, elements of humor, violence, references to sexual activity, etc.
Clearances
In order for your production to qualify, you must have written clearances and/or releases for all actors, extras, passersby, etc. If you choose to use music, it must be original music or royalty free music for which you have signed permissions to use. This also applies to footage of locations, storefronts, etc. Any person or place for which you do not have a signed release must be “pixeled” out of the final production.
Likeness Waiver
A likeness waiver can be downloaded HERE. A location permission form can be downloaded HERE.
Judging Criteria
Late entries will not be accepted. Each entry will be judged upon:
- Originality: The writing, acting, directing and editing will be judged on the originality and creativity they exhibit.
- Storytelling: Entries will be judged on their use of structure to communicate the story to an uninitiated audience. Is the message intent of the film clear on the first viewing?
- Use of Dialogue Line: This line must be spoken onscreen and should be used creatively to tell your story.
- Production Values: The proper use of lighting, sound, music, visual and sound effects to enhance an audience’s viewing experience.
Competition Rules
(1) Applications for the Lander Film Festival Short Film Competition will be received through March 12. Due to a limited number of slots available for the Short Film Competition, applications received after this date may not be accepted. The festival reserves the right to extend the deadline for submissions or grant late registration.
(2) Applicants should use a PG-13 rating as a guideline.
(3) Applicants are required to use their own cameras and editing equipment.
(4) The running time for an entered short film must be exactly 5 minutes including titles and credits.
(5) Films that have participated in other competitions cannot compete in this competition.
(6) Films must be shot and edited from Tuesday, March 12 to Wednesday, March. 20, 2024. NO STOCK FOOTAGE IS ALLOWED. All visual effects must be created/completed during the competition window. The completed short film must be uploaded in H.246 format no later than 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 20 to be eligible for competition. An online portal will be provided for uploading of film for judging.
(7) Each applicant may submit only one film.
(8) Applications can be obtained on the Film Festival website, www.landerfilmfestival.com, from the Lander University Department of Media and Communication or via Festival director Dr. Robert Stevenson rstevenson@lander.edu
- The application package must include a completed and signed Competition Entry/Application Form.
(9) The Selection Committee will review the applications. The announcement of finalists in the competition will be made via the website. Submitted applications will not be returned to the applicants.
(10) Those applicants selected for the competition will be given specific lines of dialogue that MUST be included in the finished, edited film. This material will be made public on Tuesday, March 12 at the kickoff workshop.
(11) The Festival Judges will decide and award the following (subject to change):
(12) Winning entries of the Short Film Competition may be re-screened or shown on the Lander website, LUX newscasts and other media produced by the Lander University and the Department of Mass Communication and Media Studies without additional approval of the winning contestants.
(13) The members of the Short Film Competition jury will be appointed by the festival director and will consist of three to five members from the film community.
(14) By entering a film, applicants signify their willingness to abide by these regulations. Any issues not clarified by these regulations shall be adjudicated by the festival administration.
(15) Applicants must be 18 years of age to enter. Application for minors must be completed by Parent or Legal Guardian.
- application must be submitted by March 12, 2024
After submitting Application, visit the Entry Fee page to submit your entry fee.
By submitting this application, you confirm that you have ownership or legal right to submit on behalf of the owner/creator to this juried competition. You agree that all content is original and, to the best of your knowledge, free of copyright or likeness infringement. You also agree to allow Lander University and Lander Film Festival to use submitted work for promotional use. You agree to release Lander University employees, representatives, or students of liability.
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