Theme:
Lights. Camera. Action! For the Love of Film
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Overview
The American Youth Film Festival™ is an opportunity for the youth to showcase their movie making skills. Many young people regularly produce movies that are then posted on websites such as YouTube and Facebook. We want to capture that interest and channel it to understand the “love of film or film making” through the eyes of youth filmmakers.

Who Can Participate?
The American Youth Film Festival™ is open to ALL YOUTH regardless of race, creed, or national origin that are currently enrolled in elementary school, middle school, high school or college. Suggested film submissions and EARLY BIRD entry fees will be in one of four categories, elementary school ($20.00), middle school ($30.00), high school ($40.00) or college ($50.00). Film must be works directed and/or produced by elementary school, middle school, high school or college students. Adult supervision must be limited to an advisory capacity only. Also, recent trailers or self-tapes may be submitted for Best Actor/Actress, Best Young Actor/Actress and Best Supporting Actor/Actress categories.

All film (national and international) may be submitted into only one category, however, film makers may submit additional entries with separate forms and entry fees. All entries have specific time limits including titles and credits unless otherwise noted. The American Youth Film Festival is a family event therefore, NO ENTRIES MAY CONTAIN NUDITY, PROFANITY or EXCESSIVE VIOLENCE. Failure to adhere to these requirements will immediately disqualify entry and NO REFUNDS WILL BE AWARDED.

By submitting your entry to The American Youth Film Festival you give us full permission to download a digital copy of your video as well as playing it during the festival week via projector and online.

All films must be in the following format:

What format does FilmFreeway recommend for video uploads?

FilmFreeway accepts all major video formats. We transcode videos for playback compatibility and performance, and recommend that you use settings close to our output settings:

Maximum video bitrate: 2200 Kbps, H.264, mp4
Audio bitrate: 128 Kbps, AAC
Aspect ratio preserved; maximum video width of 1280 pixels

"Official Selections" or film chosen for screening will be required to mail (2) FLASH DRIVE copies of their video for viewing during the festival to:

American Youth Film Festival
352 University Ave. SW #S102
Atlanta, GA 30310

Animation – any animated movie, not more than 10 minutes
Comedy - any comedy film, not more than 10 minutes
Commercials – any 60 second commercial of local businesses*
Documentary – any documentary not more than 15 minutes
Feature – any narrative film not more than 30 minutes
Horror - any horror film not more than 10 minutes
Music Video – any music video not more than 5 minutes
Public Service Announcements – any 60 second PSA*
Science Fiction – any sci-fi film not more than 10 minutes

*NOTE: The American Youth Film Festival suggests that all filmmakers submitting in the Commercial & Public Service Announcement categories partner with a local business or a non-profit entity to produce their submission. In cities and towns across America there are small businesses or groups that will support student filmmakers in exchange for a 60 second commercial. Additionally, it is strongly suggested that filmmakers research people, places, monuments and special-interest causes in their local area and consider subjects with historical significance for documentary submissions.

NOTE: Film trailers are eligible for consideration in the Best Actor/Actress and Best Supporting Actor/Actress category.

The American Youth Film Festival Movie Poster Contest:
The American Youth Film Festival Movie Poster Contest is open to all elementary school, middle school, high school and college students.

Movie posters must be based on an official American Youth Film Festival entry. Photographers, graphic designers, animators, multimedia artists, etc...partner with student film maker to create a movie poster based on the film maker's AYFF submission. The poster may be based on movie stills or may be a caricature design.

Each American Youth Film Festival Movie Poster entry must be:
1. Digital submission only.
2. 1275 x 1800 pixels (18 in. x 24 in.) with one half inch white border.
3. Saved as .jpg (JPEG) in RBG format not to exceed 3MB.

All American Youth Film Festival Movie Poster "Official Selections" will be displayed in a slideshow on the American Youth Film Festival website. A select number of posters will be selected for exhibition and featured in a separate exhibit at the American Youth Film Festival.

Remember to "Be creative, use props and let your imagination run wild, but most of all have fun!"

The American entertainment industry annually presents awards to recognize outstanding achievement in television (#Emmy), music (#Grammy), film (#Oscar) and theater (#Tony). Since 1929 the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has annually presented the Academy Award of Merit or “The Oscar” to recognize excellence in cinematic achievement. To recognize outstanding achievement and excellence in the American youth film industry and honor the first child actor ever nominated for an Academy Award of Merit, the American Youth Film Festival will present the American Youth Film Festival Award of Merit or “The Jackie” award, in honor of American child actor, John “Jackie” Cooper, Jr., who was nominated for his role in Skippy in 1931. Jackie Cooper went on to star in the Our Gang children series, win an Emmy as a director of episodes of M*A*S*H and The White Shadow, but most will remember him as Perry White, owner of The Daily Planet in Superman, starring Christopher Reeve. “The Jackie” will be presented annually in the following Film Categories:

Best Georgia Film - Georgia On My Mind Award
Best Foreign Film
Best Animation
Best Comedy
Best Commercial
Best Documentary
Best Feature
Best Narrative
Best Music Video
Best Music Score/Soundtrack
Best Sci-Fi
Best Post-production
Best Special F/X
Best Cinematography
Best Photography
Most Inspirational
Best Short Film
Best in Show (Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College)
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress

Movie Poster Categories:

Film Division - (Middle School, High School, College)
Best Overall Design
Most Original Design

Film, movie posters and/or Best Actress/Best Actor submissions must be submitted via FilmFreeway.com, by the specified deadline.

Submissions will be screened by a qualified panel of judges. If your entry is chosen for screening or an award, we will contact you by email only and request (2) FLASH DRIVE copies of the video for viewing during the festival screening.

More than one film or movie poster may be submitted in the appropriate category, however, each film or movie poster must be entered with a separate submission form and entry fee.

American Youth Film Festival Best Actress/Best Actor Award Rules:
1. To be considered for the 2019 Jackie Award for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor or Best Supporting Actress, the actor or actress must appear in a film produced within the past 24-months.
2. The actor or actress must be an elementary, middle school, high school or college student.
3. The actor must submit the accompanying movie trailer, 3-minutes or less.
4. Winners will be chosen by the AYFF Grand Jury, all judge’s decisions are final.

All film and/or movie posters will be accepted for review and may be used at the discretion of the festival for promotional purposes, including but not limited to, screenings, workshops or in print for the sole purpose of promoting the festival.

This is a family event and the use of NUDITY, PROFANITY and VIOLENCE is strictly prohibited.

Participation in the festival, including the submission of film and/or movie posters via FilmFreeway.com, implies acceptance of all festival rules and regulations.

All submission fees are non-refundable. You can't alter your entries after the payment. Please review your work carefully before finalizing payment.