Premiere is the annual student film festival hosted by DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts. Now in its 19th year, the festival showcases the best of DePaul University student work in cinema and animation with awards presented in over 20 categories covering all facets of filmmaking from screenwriting to post-production. Jury members include industry insiders, festival programmers, and filmmakers from around the country. Held in the historic Music Box Theatre, the festival provides an opportunity for student work to be showcased in one of the oldest theaters in the nation.

***Premiere is ONLY OPEN TO ALL CURRENT DEPAUL STUDENTS and ALUMNI who graduated in 2023.***

Awards & Prizes

Award list is subject to change.

Animated Film
Best Music Video
Cinematography Graduate
Cinematography Undergraduate
Directing Graduate
Directing Undergraduate
Documentary Film
Editing
Ensemble Cast
Experimental Film
First Look Screenwriting Contest Feature Length Screenplay
First Look Screenwriting Contest Television Pilot
Media for Social Change
MFA Thesis TV Pilot
MFA Thesis Feature Screenplay
Production Design
Short Film Writing
Sound Design
Visual Effects
Story Board
Classic Cinemas Award
Helmut P. Epp Vanguard Award
Voice and Vision Award Undergraduate
Voice and Vision Award Graduate
Jury Award Undergraduate
Jury Award Graduate
Audience Choice
Judge’s Choice
Jury Award

Rules & Terms

***Premiere is ONLY OPEN TO ALL CURRENT DEPAUL STUDENTS and ALUMNI who graduated in 2023.***

To submit a film for consideration:
- Submit your movie directly to FilmFreeway
- In your submissions please provide:
- AT LEAST ONE STILL FRAME FROM MOVIE (JPEG) - MORE THE BETTER
- AT LEAST ONE PRODUCTION BTS PHOTO (JPEG)
- MUST INCLUDE A DIRECTOR STATEMENT THAT INCLUDES YOUR VISION AND
INTENTIONS FOR THE FILM.

IF SELECTED or NOMINATED for an award, you must submit a QuickTime screener (instructions below*)

Please Note: Rights must be attained and documented for copyrighted music. If rights cannot be proven, the movie will not be considered.

Specs if selected or nominated:
Quicktime Video file THAT IS SMALLER THAN 100GIGS!!
• Compression: Apple Pro Res 422 (Not HQ)
• Frame rate: 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97, or 30 only
• Frame size HD: 2K, 1920x1080
• All projects must have a title near the beginning and credits at the end

Audio specifications:
• Mono, Stereo or 5.1 Surround mix embedded into QuickTime, No 7.1 (do not send a separate audio file)
• Linear PCM preferred or uncompressed audio format. No AC3, AAC or other lossy codecs accepted
• This should be film standard, .wav 24bit, 48k
• Loudness target average should be between -12db to -6db. Peaks should not exceed -1db

*You must provide your Festival screener or award nominated movie in the Quicktime & Audio Format specified above within 48 hours of being selected. The video of your Quicktime submission must be according to the specification described above – or your film will not be accepted.

***IF ALL RULES FOR SUBMISSION ARE NOT FOLLOWED AS LISTED ABOVE YOUR FILM WILL NOT BE QUALIFIED FOR THE FESTIVAL***