RULES FOR SUBMISSIONS
1. All entries must be submitted online via FilmFreeway. Email us if you need assistance at lowellffff@gmail.com
2. Subtitles are REQUIRED for all films, for accessibility purposes.
3. Submissions are open to high school students (juniors and seniors only), undergraduate and graduate college students. Films can be completed no later than two years after graduation, between September 1, 2024 and March 20, 2026.
4. Any submissions that do not meet these requirements will not be refunded their fee and considered a donation.
5. There are five categories for award eligibility:
Narrative
Documentary
Animation
High School
Honorable Mention
6. The LFF Selection Committee, which will screen and evaluate all submissions, includes peers and professional judges from the film and television industry.
7. The number of selections for each category is at the Committee’s discretion.
8. Criteria for judging is based on creativity of visual images, visual and audio production quality (irrespective of the cost of production), and the originality of the storytelling in any genre.
9. All Official Selections for each of the five categories will be announced on the LFF website and social media platforms. Directors will also be notified regarding their film’s acceptance by email by March 23rd.
TERMS
1. Submissions for the Lowell Film Festival For Future Filmmakers (LFF) is open to high school students (juniors and seniors only), undergraduate and graduate college students.
2. Films can be completed no later than two years after graduation, between September 1, 2024 and March 20, 2026.
3. The film must be registered on FilmFreeway.com as a student project.
4. Directors must submit proper documentation from their academic institution. Examples include an academic ID of the director/producer or documents from an academic adviser or institution. We must be able to see and identify the date or graduation or anticipated date. Any films submitted as a student film without proper identification will not be judged or considered for exhibition.
5. Submissions will be checked for their eligibility and judged only in their appropriate categories.
6. All films must be presented in their original language with English subtitles if they are in a language other than English.
7. If your film is selected for the festival, the filmmakers and/or production companies must provide LFF a subtitled copy of their film for exhibition at least 15 business days (3 weeks) before the festival.
8. Running time, including credits, should not exceed 25 minutes.
9. Premiere status on FilmFreeway is not required.
10. All accepted films will be featured in an LFF program book that will be available at the festival. Requests can be made by the director or producer for a copy of the book to be mailed to the them.
11. Entry fees are non-refundable in the event that the submission is withdrawn.
12. Changes to the rules are at the discretion of LFF.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Can I request a waiver or fee reduction for the submission fee?
Of course. Please see SUBMIT YOUR FILM on our website (linked on the FilmFreeway Home Page). Fill out the Assistance Request Form and submit it us. Or, email us at lowellffff@gmail.com
2. How do I submit captions/subtitles file to FilmFreeway?
If you have uploaded your film directly to FilmFreeway, Go to 'My Projects' > 'Project File', find the sub-section titled 'Subtitles and Captions', use the dropdown menu to select your language, then click 'Choose File' to upload your subtitle / caption file. You can also replace the video file with a version that includes superimposed subtitles/captions.
If your submission is an embedded file from Vimeo or YouTube, you are required to manage the subtitle files on those respective platforms since they technically host the video.
3. Do I need to submit a finished film for judging?
No. You do not have to meet our Technical Requirements (below) until your film is accepted by the festival. However, we expect the entire will be film submitted. It can be a fine cut without final credits, final mix or final color grading. But we expect to see a version that's very close to the length of the finished production. We will review the final version that you submit to check that there are no substantial changes.
4. Can I request an extension past the submissions late deadline?
Yes, but only if you submitted a version that meets the requirements in Step 3, above. Fill out the Assistance Request Form submit it us or email us directly at lowellffff@gmail.com. The March deadline is the final deadline, however.
5. How will I be notified?
All filmmakers whose film will be screened at the festival will be notified regarding their film’s acceptance by email by March 23rd.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR EXHIBITION
1. The filmmakers and/or production companies must provide LFF a digital copy of their film for exhibition at least 10 working days (no later than March 30th) before the festival, so that the festival can decide whether these submitted formats will be acceptable.
2. A site will be provided to post the finished film.
3. All films must be of standard cinema aspect ratio and resolution (Square Pixels 1.0). Flat:1.85:1 2K (1980×1080) or 4K (3960×2160) Scope: 2.39:1 2K (2048×858) or 4K (4096×2160) and/or HD quality digital copy of the film in QuickTime (Pro Res 422) if applicable.
4. H264 (MP4) files are accepted, provided the images are of excellent quality.
5. We will accept films with varying frame rates, but we ask that you identify if your work is 24fps, 30fps, or 25fps (or an international standard) upon submission. Generally, most films submit at 24fps as opposed to 30fps.
6. Other formats may be possible to submit, but are not required. This includes a DCP. But the filmmakers/producer must give our projectionist the rights to re-format a film for screening purposes.
RIGHTS
1. The submission of any films to the festival means that the filmmakers and/or the production company agree without any reservation to all the rules and regulations of LFF.
2. LFF is hereby granted the rights to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted for promotional purposes of the festival. This includes trailers on our website.
3. All music and other copyrighted material used in the film must be properly licensed and attributed. This includes student-produced music videos. LFF may require a release form or letter proving the film has the right to use the media.
4. The filmmakers and/or the production company allow LFF to use their film’s Press Kit or promotional materials for promotional purposes.
5. LFF may request a photo or digital image from the film to post online and include in the program book, as needed. Tiff, AI, or png files are preferred. JPG might be acceptable, depending on the size of the file.
