ABOUT THE COMPETITION:
In conjunction with the Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival, we are very excited to announce the Short Film Competition. Our annual competition event unites young filmmakers with professionals as well as in-house audiences. We will shine the spotlight on competitors who have a unique vision and who can stimulate meaningful conversation through their films.
AWARDS:
• Grand Prize*: $1,000
• Second Prize*: $500
• Audience Prize: $250
• Shot-on-a-cellphone Prize: $250
• High School Judges Prize: $250
• High School Audience Prize: $250
*The Grand and Second Prize will be given to films selected by a panel of four respected filmmakers and scholars, as based on quality and merit of the submissions.
*The Audience Prize will be determined through voting on Eventive during the screening period of the Short Film Competition. The winner of the Audience Prize will be announced together with the winners of the Grand Prize and Second Prize.
*The Shot-on-a-Cellphone Prize will award short films shot, either partially or entirely, in any smartphone device, and will be selected by the panel of judges.
*The High School Judge Prize will be given to films selected by a panel of five respected filmmakers and scholars, as based on quality and merit of the submissions. The Audience High School Prize will be determined through voting on Eventive, open a week prior to the screening period of the Short Film Competition.
REQUIREMENTS:
Criteria
• Films must be submitted before March 24th, 2024.
• Filmmakers should be at least 15 years old and must be based in the United States.
• Each director can submit a maximum of 2 short films .
• The film must not have been submitted to CMU IFF Short Film Competition before 2023
Format:
1. MP4 or MOV formats
2. Use H.264 codec
3. Code Rate: 5M per second
4. Video size: 720P (1280x720)
5. Duration:
-General competition 5 to 15 min
-Smart film category 3-10 min
Submission Deadline:
All the films must be submitted prior to March 24th, 2024. Failure to submit prior to the due date may result in rejection. Filmmakers will be notified about acceptance by March 30th.
Screenings:
Ten selected submissions will be screened virtually and at the festival’s Short Film Competition night. The date of the showing of the top ten films will be announced on our website, social media channels, and by e-mail.
Submission Process:
The submission fee for this year’s short film competition is $15.
*Discounts are available for student submissions
Warranties/Representations, Right of Use and Indemnity
By making a submission:
(1) The filmmaker warrants and represents that the film is the filmmaker’s original work and that the filmmaker has obtained any and all rights and permissions needed for the Carnegie Mellon University Film Festival and/or Carnegie Mellon University to show the film in public and to use the film, or portions thereof, in educational, advertising and promotional materials in any medium.
(2) The filmmaker grants to the Carnegie Mellon University International Film Festival and/or
Carnegie Mellon University the right to use the filmmaker’s name, image and likeness and biographical information, in educational, advertising and promotional materials in any medium.
(3) The filmmaker agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Carnegie Mellon University International Film Festival and Carnegie Mellon University, and each of their trustees, officers, employees and agents, from and against any and all claims, suits, actions, demands, liabilities, injuries, losses, costs, damages or arising from or connected with the filmmaker’s submission.
CONTACT:
Please email cmuiffsfc@gmail.com for other payment methods, submission details, or any other questions concerning the Short Film Competition.
Main Site: https://www.cmu.edu/faces/
Sponsors: Steiner Film
First Prize: $1000
Second Prize: $500
Third Prize: $250
Shot-on-a-cellphone Prize: $250
High School Judges Prize: $250
High School Audience Prize: $250
