CELEBRATE AGING WITH TIMELESS FILMS

The 3rd Virtual, 12th Annual Legacy Film Festival on Aging will be presented Friday, January 17th – Sunday, January 26th, 2025.

The festival celebrates the aging process as profound and meaningful, often challenging, and always courageous. We seek submissions from filmmakers that portray the full range of later life in all its humanity, complexities, challenges, richness.

One in six Americans is 65 or older, reflecting the aging of the large number of Baby Boomers. Included is the population 95 years and older that is experiencing a 50% increase in growth.

Since 2011 the Legacy Film Festival on Aging has presented an annual event whose mission is to inspire, entertain and educate intergenerational audiences about the variety of later life experiences, ranging from triumphs to challenges.

Through the years, we have immersed viewers in the talents of filmmakers who created global dramas and documentaries, with soundtracks from operas and blues, to tender local shorts where 3-year-olds in a child care center greet old people with Alzheimer’s as their good friends.

As Sheila Malkind, the Founder and Executive Director, approaches her 86th year, she advises, “Let’s explore how to age meaningfully, not fearfully. Long life is a gift.”

Moviegoers’ written evaluations of our festivals are overwhelmingly positive:

“The films are impactful. They are soul- stirring, and so intensely poignant and beautiful.”

“Eye-opening, Exquisite.” “The world needs this; A privilege to watch.” “Changed my life.”

Please see our website for more information: www.legacyfilmfestivalonaging.org

Awards & Prizes

AWARDS

All filmmakers whose films have been accepted and screened at the 12th Annual Legacy Film Festival on Aging will receive a laurel logo.

All screened films will be eligible for a $100 award in the following three categories:
* Best Short
* Best Narrative
* Best Documentary

Rules & Terms

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

. We require that all films have closed captions.

• Film must portray people 55+ years of age and older.

• Intergenerational stories with one key subject 55 + years are welcomed.

• Both foreign and American short and feature-length narrative, documentary, experimental and animation films are welcome.

• Films should dispel stereotypes about aging and older adults, and educate viewers
about aging in an entertaining and compelling manner.

• All foreign language films must have English subtitles, including their songs, that are clearly and boldly differentiated from the background.
• All English- language films require closed captions.

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SUBMISSION FORMATS ACCEPTED:

File size: 1920 x 1080p H.264 @ 10 Mbps

Recommended size is under 10 GB (a 90 minute film is approximately 5GB)

File type: .mp4 and/or .mov

DCPs and ProRes files are not accepted

Audio Channels: Stereo AAC

5.1 surround is not accepted. Learn more about audio specs here.

Please provide closed captions: .SRT and/or .VTT files

For trailers please provide link to video on YouTube or Vimeo. Trailer should include Closed Captioning. Otherwise please provide a trailer file and accompanying SRT or VTT file for closed captioning. Video should be compliant with the YouTube specs here: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/4603579?hl=en

Note: We won't be able to accept any downloading DCP file from link.
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• All entries will be notified before or by September 1, 2022.

• If chosen, final film must be sent by October 1.

• Final film format: See specs above under "SUBMISSION FORMATS ACCEPTED".

• Films may be eligible for future Legacy Film Series and distribution: see www.legacyfilmseries.com.

ONCE YOUR FILM HAS BEEN ACCEPTED, IT MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

- JPGS will be requested for reproduction on website and in program book. Resolution requirements: for website resolution, 72ppi; for print, program and flyers 300ppi.

- Trailers will be required as well (See note above in SUBMISSION FORMATS ACCEPTED).

Every care will be taken to safeguard films and publicity materials while they are in the possession of the Festival. However, if loss or damage occurs, the Festival cannot accept or assume responsibility.

- If student, please send proof of student i.d.

We look forward to seeing your films, and thank you for submitting to the Legacy Film Festival on Aging.

If you have any questions, you can email us at: info@legacyfilmfestivalonaging.org
2 Reviews
Overall Rating
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  • Emeline Mann Sanchez

    In addition to the meaningful premise of the Legacy Film Festival on Aging, kudos to how they promoted their festival. This year's festival was online, and they made the most of it — there were online filmmaker interviews as well as interviews with an online magazine focused on the aging population — all seemingly orchestrated by the festival’s founder, Sheila Malkind, who maintained a good level of communication before, during, and after the festival. So glad "caring for mom" was a part of the event. Thank you all: Sheila, Jessica, Dave, Kyle, Susan, Jason, and all the others working behind the scenes!

    March 2025
    Helpful
  • Steven Kovacs

    It was an honor to have my film HIGH AS A KITE included in the festival.
    I enjoyed the wide variety of films, particularly TRADITION, about the making of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. An excellent film.
    This festival fills a very important function. I was happy that it was extended a week.

    Steve Kovacs

    January 2023
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    So glad. Thank you. What else do you have for us?
    Sheila Malkind,
    Founder & Executive Director
    Legacy Film Festival on Aging