1. Eligibility –
a. Any person between the ages of 13-25 living in Flint, Genesee County, Michigan, and/or the United States may enter a film. Entrants must have been in this age range when the film was made and completed.
b. ANY AND ALLK SUBMISSIONS FROM OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
c. For 2025 we are accepting films made in the last two years. Group projects, as well as individual works, are acceptable. All submissions must be produced by entrants.
d. No films previously submitted to this festival may be entered again.
e. Adult guidance and instruction are permissible, but the primary hands-on creative work and point-of-view must be by the entrant(s). If you are submitting for a student or other multiple individuals please make sure you note it when you submit.
2. Submission
a. The Submission deadline is Monday, March 10, 2025, 11:59 PM EST (postmarked, electronic dating).
b. Sumbissions are free. If over the age of 18 and/or submitting for multiple people as an organization/school please contact us so we don't automatically disqualify the entries.
c. Multiple category submissions are acceptable. Only one film per entrant will be accepted.
d. Entrants may submit as individuals, teams, or classes. If you are submitting for a group of students/entrants please contact us at flintyouthfilmfestival@gmail.com
3. Rules
a. Only original work may be submitted. The FYFF board reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any submission.
b. Ratings Apply - We are a family-friendly festival. No nudity. Limited offensive language/cursing and violence are permitted. The FYFF uses the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) film rating system for submissions. Participants should follow the guidelines. We reserve the right to make minor edits for screening purposes.
c. Language Requirement - All films must be in English and/or subtitled in English.
d. Disqualification - Any international entries are automatically disqualified. Additional disqualification may result from but is not limited to language/content and/or copyright infringement.
e. Copyright - If copyright-protected sources are used, you must obtain the necessary permissions and include them with this application. If using material under Creative Commons (Fair Use Doctrine), make sure the necessary requirements are met in order to submit your work to a third party. For more information on copyrighted material and what constitutes fair use material, please visit:
www.centerforsocialmedia.org/fair-use
www.copyrightkids.org
There are many options for copyright-free music. One option is: www.mobygratis.com
The FYFF is not responsible for the accuracy of the information on these websites. Please do your research and try to find material that is royalty/license-free and/or falls under Creative Commons. Copyright is a complicated issue. When in doubt, do not use material you did not create. We are interested in what you can create, not what you can borrow.
f. Film Running Time Limits
Age 13-15: 5 min. max
Age 16-18: 10 min. max
Age 19-21: 15 min. max
Age 22-25: 15 min. max
g. Entry Categories
Age 13-15: Achievement
Age 16-18: Fiction or Non-Fiction
Age 19-21: Fiction or Non-Fiction
Age 22-25: Fiction or Non-Fiction
All ages (13-25): Animation
All ages (13-25): Experimental
h. The Flint Youth Film Festival reserves the right to copy and distribute the works submitted for exhibition and promotional purposes only.
i. Once accepted, films must be available to download within 10 days either through Filmfreeway or other means. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
j. Jury Process - A jury panel of media professionals will select entries for recognition in all categories. Criteria for selection include:
Storytelling
Quality of Overall Production
Freshness & Originality
Persuasive Point of View
Emotional Impact
Technical Proficiency
