The Makers’ Film Festival (MFF) is an international short film festival with a focus on craft – makers, making and materials.
The craftspeople and crafts skills demonstrated within the moving picture stories muse on the sustainable use of materials, express cultural heritage, explore social and political change, and also make us laugh.
The film-making and story-telling approaches are as varied as the craft disciplines presented. Ranging from interviews, documentaries, to animated music videos each uncover traditions, skills, and consequences in a glorious survey of making – furniture, public art, textiles, baskets, ceramics, glass, jewellery, puppet-making, and more.
Each edition of the MFF presents a Peoples Choice Award of AU$1000, supported by the producers Maker & Smith.
We are a new festival looking for sponsors to come on board and support this niche festival and encourage new approaches to this genre.
THE MAKERS’ FILM FESTIVAL ‘TERMS AND CONDITIONS’ & ‘TECHNICAL SPECS’ FOR SUBMISSION OF SHORT FILMS
Here are the standard Terms & Conditions for submissions. Please scroll down further for information about Technical Specifications and advice.
1) ELIGIBILITY:
The Makers’ Film Festival screens short films that demonstrate the creativity, skills, lives and stories of craftspeople and makers. For MFF21 this applied to those who live and work in the regions of Australia, New Zealand, and countries of the Indian Ocean Rim. For MFF23, we have opened this up to the world.
Please note submission requirements and T&Cs. If you are unsure about eligibility please contact maryellen@makerandsmith.com.au
2) GENRE:
The Makers’ Film Festival accepts all film genres, e.g. from documentaries, to story-led films to hand-made animation. If your film explores making, skills and materials, in the broadest sense, the selection panel would like to see it.
3) DATE OF CREATION:
All productions entered for the Makers’ Film Festival 2023 must [preferably] have been made since 1 January 2020.
4) DURATION:
Films submitted must be no longer than 10 minutes, inclusive of credits. Films can be as short as you like. [If selected, we reserve the right to request an edit of your film to better suit the parameters of the Festival.]
5) SUB-TITLES:
If your film has narration or spoken language not in English, it will only be accepted if submitted with English subtitles. For the purposes of initial submission, you may submit a translation in a separate document, however if your film is selected for the final reels, we will request that you arrange sub-titles.
(If there is no spoken language in your film, there is no need for sub-titles. Some films only use a soundscape of music.)
6) LICENSE:
The producer/creator grants the Makers’ Film Festival the rights to:
a) Exhibit the film in the Makers’ Film Festival 2023 and as part of the Australian tour of the Makers’ Film Festival 2023; and for up to two years for potential international and encore screenings.
b) Include a section of the production for promotional purposes and related stills, to publicise the Festival.
7) PERMISSIONS:
This must be your own work and/or warrant that all necessary permissions have been obtained to enter this film and the film does not infringe the rights, including copyright and moral, of any third party. This includes the work of musicians, writers, editors i.e. all creative content producers, authors and collaborators.
(The film-maker and, if appropriate, the maker/subject of the film will be credited when stills or clips are used; and whenever possible the full credits, as you supplied.)
8) DATES:
(Please note: dates are subject to change due to global disruptions re COVID-19, Omicron etc.)
a) Entry deadline 30 SEPTEMBER 2022.
b) If your film is selected you will be sent an email confirmation (DATE TBC) and expected to deliver pro res files that meet the technical specifications (see below) by DATE TBC.
c) If selected, your film will be screened as part of the compiled Festival program, toured around Australia in 2023-24, and internationally.
9) EXCLUSIVITY:
If selected for the festival we’d prefer if your film is not widely available on the internet until the conclusion of the Australian tour.
(We are reasonable people and understand the importance of films for your online presence and promotion of your activities. The collated program and Festival screenings offer a different experience and reach – your film will sit alongside quality peers and viewed at cinema scale.)
10) SUBMISSION ROUTE:
Entries must be submitted via the online form with a payment of AU$55 (inc GST, via PayPal) per submission with a Vimeo or YouTube link.
11) NO NEGOTIATION:
No discussion will be entered into regarding the final selection of films.
THE MAKERS’ FILM FESTIVAL
TECHNICAL INFORMATION SHEET
Here are some handy specs and advice for your submissions to the Makers’ Film Festival.
1) Recommended file formats (if selected)
Although your initial submission will be via Vimeo or YouTube link, if selected, you will be asked to supply the Pro Res files of your film for conversion to high quality DCP* (digital cinema package).
To ensure the highest quality possible, we recommend you comply with these specifications.
ProRes 422
2048 x 1080 (scope) or 1920 x 1080 or 1998 x 1080
24fps (if your film is currently 25fps, please submit for initial selection.)
Preferably embedded 5.1 LPCM audio (L, R, C, LFE, LS, RS) OR stereo audio
Supplied on an exFAT or NTFS formatted USB or hard drive.
Send your USB or Hard Drive to:
Maker & Smith, PO BOX 6196, Swanbourne, WA 6010.
*Maker&Smith will be responsible for the conversion of your files to DCP and into the festival compilation.
2) Craft on the Big Screen
The ‘Makers’ Film Festival’, and its predecessor ‘Real to Reel: The Craft Film Festival’, showcase craft on the big screen. It is this cinematic experience that makes these festivals so unique, as well as their limited screening season.
So, although we will select films based on their content, creativity and formal qualities – we will also consider how well your film will screen at cinema scale, even if it was not your initial intention.
The post production of the selected films will result in a compilation of films suitable for screening in the highest quality cinemas, as well as community halls. In Australia, this is limited to four screenings per State – as registered with the Australian Department of Communications and the Arts.
With this in mind, we recommend that you work to an aspect ratio, as above detailed, to make the most of the screen. The smaller aspect ratios will be projected with black bands, but this will not affect their impact. Please ensure, though, that your title, credits and/or sponsors card is in the same ratio.
We reserve the right to request an edit of your film to better suit the parameters of the Festival.
3) On-Screen Text
During your post-production, do not place text and graphics too close to the edges of your frame, as some cinema screens may lose some image – due to skewed projection or the curvature of screens used to enhance 3D films.
4) Sound
It’s best to go for optimum audio channel mapping of 5.1, especially if your film includes dialogue, as cinema mixers generally separate speech from the other channels. 5.1 provides the cleanest sound.
5) Useful Resources & Tips for Short Film Makers
John Collee (Juror MFF): Basic principles of scriptwriting and telling your story (this is geared to feature films but has some nuggets for short film story telling)
Arts Law Centre of Australia, Information Sheets:
– Short Film Competition: Producers’ Guide
– Contracts: An Introduction
– Low Budget and Video Pack
– Copyright & Moral Rights
Screen Australia
Screenwest
Maker&Smith operates on a non-commercial/cover-costs basis; we do not profit, and invest our time voluntarily, to run this initiative.
Maker&Smith gratefully acknowledges Jasmine Rose Productions, the Crafts Council, Picturehouse Central and Sandbox for their assistance and advice.
Maker & Smith, PO BOX 6196, Swanbourne, WA 6010 www.makerandsmith.com.au