****THERE IS NO LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF FILMS ONE PROGRAM CAN SUBMIT.****
ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES
Any submission that does not meet these guidelines will not be considered for judging and will not be selected to screen at the DYCD Film Festival.
• This competition is open to ALL DYCD-funded programs (COMPASS, SONYC, Beacon, Cornerstone, NDA, RHY, etc.).
• If the film's director(s) were high school seniors at the time of creation, but are now in college, the film is eligible to be submitted.
• We are a city-wide film festival and thus accept films from anywhere in New York City as long as the story and creative decisions are all student-made.
• Adults are encouraged to help students improve their production quality by helping them with photography, sound recording, and editing technology.
• Student films must be produced after September 1, 2020.
TECHNICAL GUIDELINES
Your submission’s total runtime (TRT) must NOT exceed the specified time limit for the category you are submitting (See categories and time limits on the FilmFreeway submission page). Credits are included in your TRT and credit runtime must NOT exceed 30 seconds.
We strongly recommend that you triple check your audio levels and that your audio is NOT limited to one channel (ie: right or left).
Any film that includes main dialogue that is not English must be submitted with English subtitles.
If your film has subtitles please make sure they are "Title Safe". For a detailed explanation of "Title Safe" please click here.
When uploading your submission, you must use the following file naming conventions:
MyFilmTitle_ProgramName.mov
Examples:
OneChanceToWin_PS129.mov or GhostsAreComing_TWYLSBronx.mp4
• We will only except the file formats listed below:
o .MOV
o .MP4
• Do not submit films in 4K. Please submit your film in 1080 HD or lower. Any film files that are larger than 4GBs will not be accepted.
• Films that are accepted into the festival will be screened in 16:9 aspect ratio. If your film is submitted in a different ratio, your film will be letterboxed to display on the 16:9 screen.
CONTENT FAQs
• One film can be produced either by an individual or a group.
• One DYCD program may submit more than one film for review.
• You must have permission and/or the proper rights to all images, titles, footage and other copyrighted material used in your submission.
• We strongly encourage you to use original music. There are various resources that offer royalty free music and images.
• DYCD reserves the right to switch your submission to a different category as they see fit.
FILM CONTEST RULES & TERMS
• DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: Entries for DYCD Festival Film Contest (the “Contest”) can be submitted between Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at 12:00:01 a.m. Eastern Time and April 23, 2021 at 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
• HOW TO ENTER: The festival requires that all projects be submitted via the password-protected streaming URL at filmfreeway.com/DYCDFilmFestival. Create a film of (6) minutes or less in length (unless otherwise specified). Visit and follow the instructions to complete the entry form to submit your Film. The submission password is DYCD20.
• PERSONAL INFORMATION: To submit your Film, you will be required to provide first and last name; agency/program information; email address; and Film details. The information you provide will be used only for contest administration and to contact contest nominees and winners. Your information will not be used for any other purpose or shared with any party not affiliated with the Festival and the Competition.
• SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION OF WINNERS: Festival winners will be announced in May while award winners will be announced at the awards show in June. Winners will be chosen by the Festival on the merits of each entry in the Festival’s sole and absolute discretion. All festival winners will be notified by the email address provided in the entry form. If a festival winner does not respond to the notification within five (5) business days, another winner will be chosen. Failure to respond within the time frames listed above shall mean that the provisional winner forfeits the prize.
• RULES FOR ENTRY: Entries may not contain, as determined by the Festival, in its sole discretion, any content that:
• By submitting an Entry, the Entrant acknowledges and agrees that the Festival may obtain many Entries in connection with this Contest, and that such Entries may be similar or identical in theme, idea, format or other respects to other Entries submitted in connection with this Contest. The Entrant waives any and all claims that any Entries and/or other works accepted, reviewed and/or used by the Festival may be similar to the Entrant’s Entry, or that any compensation is due to the Entrant in connection with such other Entry or other works used by the Festival.
