TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Format
Films must be submitted as a digital video file in either .MOV or .MP4 format.
Resolution
1920 × 1080 (1080p) required. A 3840 × 2160 (4K) version may also be provided.
Frame Rate
24 fps preferred. 23.976 fps and 29.97 fps are also accepted.
Video Codec
H.264 (H.265 accepted for 4K files).
Bit Rate
1080p: 20–40 Mbps VBR
4K: 80–150 Mbps VBR
Audio
48k, 16 bit. AAC or PCM, 48 kHz, 2.0 channel stereo mix or 5.1 surround.
Aspect Ratio
Any aspect ratio is accepted. Films should be delivered in their native aspect ratio without cropping or stretching.
Duration
Films of all lengths are welcome, though shorter films are more likely to be accepted (with 3–5 minutes being a suggested length).
Language
All non-English speaking films must have hard-coded English subtitles.
Deadline: September 15 for final, high resolution download link.
SUBMISSION CRITERIA
We aim to create a thoughtfully curated cinematic experience where fungi are clearly and consistently celebrated (even if via abstract or highly creative ways), while also providing the viewer with a program that is richly engaging. We welcome and encourage films of all styles and from filmmakers of all backgrounds, but advise creators of several recurring causes for a film to not be selected. Please read the following before submitting your film for consideration:
FUNGI
If fungi are only a minor component of a film and not more-or-less central to the overarching narrative or creative intent, the piece will likely not be selected.
DURATION
Many films are declined because their excessive duration reduces viewer engagement. Be sure to show your film to several people of various backgrounds for feedback on the pacing of your piece before submitting. Shorter films are more likely to be accepted – especially if the content is very abstract – with a 3–5 minute duration often being a good length.
INTENT
Films are not accepted if they lack a sense of completeness. For narratives and non-fiction films, this implies structure, a sense of conclusion, an arc to the through-story, or a “message” of some sort (even if it’s not blatantly expressed). For abstract or experimental films, completeness suggests consistency and intention in the piece, regardless of the creative styling.
AUDIO
Films with poor audio quality (i.e. clipping or muffled dialogue) will likely be declined as audio is equally important to the imagery of a film when creating an entertaining experience.
ROUGH CUTS
We consider rough cuts as they are, and base our determinations on the quality of that submission – not on a described final version. We strongly recommend submitting the final, fully edited version of your film. If selected, you will then need to send a final, high-resolution version of the film. If the final file varies notably from the original submission, the film may be removed from the program.
AI
The FFF is not currently rejecting submissions that include AI-generated scenes or effects, though we are critical of films that rely largely or entirely on AI images without any sense of direction or intent on the part of the filmmaker. The policy may change as the cultural impacts of AI continue to evolve.
