--CATEGORY REQUIREMENTS--
All works must have been completed AFTER December 1, 2023 for consideration.
SHORT FORM SERIES
A short-form series is any **episodic** work consisting of three or more episodes. You are submitting ONE episode only for the entry, and not all episodes. By short-form, we mean less than 30 minutes. However, the sweet spot is really under 15 minutes. If you have only a pilot, submit to the SERIES PILOT category.
- Must be a short-form series (episodes <30 minutes)
- You are submitting a SPECIFIC EPISODE of your series.
- You cannot submit a season or an episode that was previously accepted into Minnesota WebFest
- We accept any and all genres
- If selected, we will ask for a separate venue screener for the episode that will screen at the festival
SERIES PILOT
The Series Pilot category is for creators with a pilot for a series or season and are using that pilot in preparation for completing a full season.
- Must be a single episode of a short-form series for a season that has yet to be made
- The episode must be less than 30 minutes in length to qualify
- You cannot submit a pilot that has previously been accepted to Minnesota WebFest
HOW TO SUBMIT:
1. Select your category:
* SHORT FORM SERIES
* SERIES PILOT
2. If your work was made in Minnesota or by a Minnesota resident, indicate "Made in Minnesota" in the Narrative Section of the submission
3. FOR EPISODIC CONTENT (web series): Your screener should include only one episode
4. FOR PILOTS: Submit ONLY your pilot. You may not submit a pilot for a series that has been previously accepted unless the pilot is the only work from a new season.
5. Submit all required information and pay the required fee(s) in accordance with the relevant submission window.
6. ELIGIBLE CONTENT
All submitted content must satisfy the following requirements:
-The content must have been developed for online audiences. Non-exclusive development for online audiences is sufficient.
- The content must be submitted by a creator/producer aged 18 or older.
- If your content is unfinished or pending distribution, you may submit password-protected unreleased content or Works in Progress for consideration. You can add a password to protect your video uploads on your FilmFreeway project page.
- Selected projects will be required to upload additional information to assist with the promotional and screening processes. You agree to have all your information uploaded by the deadline which will be in late summer 2025.
- The content must include English subtitles to accompany any important dialogue or visual references that are not spoken or written in English.
7. IN-ELIGIBLE CONTENT
The following content formats are not eligible for screening during MN WebFest and will be rejected regardless of their adherence to any other requirements:
-Commercials
-Corporate videos promoting a product or service (does not include branded narratives)
-Product reviews
-Music videos
-Short or feature films
A note on branded narratives: Many web series and podcasts are "branded content" in that a brand has sponsored them and that brand has been incorporated into the narrative. Those series and podcasts ARE ELIGIBLE. What we are trying to exclude are "infomercial" like things where the subject matter is the brand itself.
RULES:
1. All submitters must submit their content to Minnesota WebFest through FilmFreeway.
2. All submitters must submit to at least 1 category.
3. Multiple projects (except for TikToks and Reels) may be submitted for consideration provided that an additional submission fee is paid for each entry.
4. All submission fees are non-refundable. It is up to you to understand the entry rules.
5. Submitting does not guarantee your series as an Official Selection of Minnesota WebFest.
6. The Festival prefers that the submitter is the creator/producer of the project; however, in order to submit content on the behalf of its creator/producer, the contact information of the primary creator/producer must be provided in order to document them as the festival’s main point of contact.
7. The submitter must have obtained legal copyright to publicly screen their submitted content and all intellectual property contained therein including, but not limited to, music, lyrics, written work, photos, video content, artwork, and media excerpts.
In order to be screened at MN WebFest and eligible for judging:
A. All non-English language series MUST provide English language subtitles.
B. All English language series MUST provide English language captions.
Subtitles and/or captions may be embedded in the video or provided as a separate file in SRT format.
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
-Minnesota WebFest reserves the right to amend these Guidelines at any time.
-Failure to meet the eligibility requirements will lead to disqualification.
-Disqualification will not entitle a submitter to a refund of the submission fee.
-By submitting your content, you represent that you have acquired all legal rights to publicly screen all content within your submission.
-Minnesota WebFest reserves the right to determine screening conditions for all Official Selections.
-Minnesota WebFest reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to add content advisory disclaimers to any content screened, if deemed necessary, for any reason.
-If a submitter’s content is selected, a Notice of Official Selection shall be emailed to the email address provided by the submitter in their FilmFreeway profile on the notification date.
-If you have any questions about your eligibility, contact us and we will assess your submission on a case-by-case basis.
-Minnesota WebFest participants agree to not hold Twin Cities Film Fest or Minnesota WebFest, its employees, directors and representatives responsible for any and all losses, damages, rights, claims and actions of any kind in connection with the event or resulting from acceptance, possession or use of any prize.
-All state & federal laws apply.
