FiveMinuteFilmFEST

YOU MUST BE A STUDENT (or 2022 graduate) OF A BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, USA SCHOOL TO SUBMIT.

Questions email: info@readingfilm.org

The Five Minute FilmFEST is a FREE regional film challenge open to Berks County, Pennsylvania high school students ONLY! Students in Berks County, PA have the opportunity to create their best work and compete against other students in the region for trophies, prizes, and well-deserved recognition! Our mission is to encourage talented student filmmakers and media arts enthusiasts to explore the art of filmmaking. We want to empower our local youth to share their stories through digital media and develop the next generation of filmmakers!

Registration: Students and teachers fill out the short registration form ASAP at: https://readingfilm.org/five-minute-filmfest-entries-now-being-accepted/.

Your registration lets us know how many students and schools are participating this year, which enables us to plan better and provide the best experience for you. In addition, registering lets us keep in touch with you about film-related opportunities and announcements.

Submissions: The deadline to submit is March 31, 2023, and the late deadline is April 3, 2023. Films / videos should be submitted by uploading to FilmFreeway.
• Notifications will be sent April 10, 2023.
• Films will be screened in part or whole at the live award ceremony April 27th, 2023. Location and celebrity guest speaker to be announced!

*FiveMinute FilmFEST winning films will also screen during StudentFEST during the 2023 ReadingFilmFEST.

You must be a student or recent graduate (2022) of a Berks County, PA school to submit.

Submission must be an original short film/video project no more than 5 minutes in length. 3-5 minute total run time (TRT) video. Title slate, opening credits, and closing credits count as part of the TRT.

A film/video project can be part of a school assignment. Educators/teachers are encouraged to mentor/guide students through the film development process.

Students may submit on their own or educators may submit on behalf of the student(s).

All genres will be accepted, including original narrative/fiction, documentary/non-fiction, and music videos. All videos must utilize original or copyright-cleared music and images.

Categories to consider:

• Documentary: The boundaries of documentary film are expanding more than ever, find your subject matter and document it.

• Action Sports: Share your action packed, adrenaline-fueled sports adventures. No sport is off limits, as long as it has action you can submit it! Skiing, Skateboarding, Cheerleading, Ski diving, Cliff Jumping, Paintball!

• Commercial: This category is for advertisement or promotional pieces. Commercial can include school related actives or commercial products.

• News Stories: Interested in broadcast journalism? this is the category for you. Produce an in-depth story about a compelling, newsworthy topic that highlights creativity and makes an emotional connection with the audience.

• Sports News: Develop profile pieces or real-time reporting about athletes in action, are they making a difference on the field, off the field, or both?

• Comedy: It is entertaining and often makes us laugh, but it also can tell a story that moves us to want more. Comedy can be full of surprises that we don’t expect, it can make us smile, it can make us cringe. We encourage all types of comedic genres.

• Animation: Films that use computer graphics, can be computer animation, Flash, Stop-Motion

• Short Narrative: Think beginning, middle, end, conflict, rising action, climax and resolution. Bring on the characters and conflicts.

• Horror/Sci-Fi/Fantasy: Danger? Fights? Evil forces? We accept all genres, from sci-fi, thriller and horror.

• Music Video: Find a song and share its story. Original music or songs in which you have permission to use will be accepted. ALL copyrighted music MUST have explicit permission. Credits must recognize the musician or band.

• Special Influencer Category: Influencers, share your life, thoughts, opinions, or interests. Create a film that raises awareness or a "how to" video tutorial.

All submissions will be judged by independent jurors. Trophies and prizes will be awarded to the best films based on our judges scoring.

Students must reside in Berks County, PA or currently enrolled in a public, charter, cyber or private high school in Berks County. 2022 high school graduates are also eligible to submit.