Montclair Film’s EMERGING FILMMAKER COMPETITION celebrates the work of filmmakers who are in the 6th through 12th grades. These films, adjudicated by a jury of film professionals, represent a wide range of styles and voices that showcase the diverse talents of young people who are using cinema to tell their stories. Categories include drama, comedy, documentary, animated, horror, experimental, social impact plus a special Children's Resilience in Film category!

This event is for New Jersey Filmmakers only! Anyone submitting from outside of NJ will be disqualified. Please fill out all the fields- not filling out a field may disqualify you from the competition.

Awards & Prizes

Thanks to our sponsor, Shine Global, we will award the EFC Grand Prize winner a $500 prize. Additionally Shine Global is presenting the Shine Global Children's Resilience in Film award. Films about resilience in the face of adversity can submit to this category. The winner of the Resilience in Film award will also receive $500, and will be invited to attend Shine Global's NYC award ceremony as well (not including travel and accommodations)

Past EFC Prizes have included:
EFC Grand Prize
Comedy - Grand Prize & Special Jury Prize
Drama- Grand Prize & Special Jury Prize
Documentary - Grand Prize & Special Jury Prize
Horror - Grand Prize & Special Jury Prize
Experimental - Grand Prize & Special Jury Prize
Social Impact - Grand Prize & Special Jury Prize
Animation - Grand Prize & Special Jury Prize
Storytellers (Grades 6-9) - Grand Prize & Special Jury Prize

Categories may change from year to year.

Rules & Terms

We are only accepting submissions made via FilmFreeway

Emerging Filmmaker Rules:
Students’ films can be entered into one of the following divisions:
Storytellers: Grades 6 – 9
Visionaries: Grades 10 – 12

Filmmakers in the Storyteller division may submit a film up to 4 minutes in length.
Filmmakers in the Visionaries division may submit a film up to 5 minutes in length.
Award categories include:
Drama
Comedy
Documentary
Horror
Animation
Experimental
Social Impact

- Awards are determined by the EFC Committee. Not all categories may receive awards, and the MF reserves the right to add awards for outstanding achievement.
- Illegal use of copyrighted material is prohibited and may disqualify your submission. By submitting to this contest you agree that no copyright material has been included in your film.
- No film will be accepted if it has been submitted to our previous EFC program.
- Montclair Film reserves the right to show and use stills from all submissions and EFC events for promotional purposes.
- By submitting a film to the Emerging Filmmaker Competition, the filmmaker agrees to and is aware of these policies and general rules.
- Filmmakers must be in Grades 6 - 12 and reside in New Jersey

Film Specs
If your film is chosen to be viewed during the Montclair Film Festival, it needs to be compatible with our screens. Films can be shot on any format (smart phone, video, digital video, etc.).

Filming Specs: (iMovie, Final Cut Pro are programs that meet these requirements)
1998 x 1080 Pro Res 422(HQ) for Flat or 2048 x 858 Pro Res 422(HQ) for Scope
Frame rate should be 23.98fps or 24fps (progressive only, NO INTERLACE)
Stereo or 5.1 Linear PCM

Submissions Open: 11/22/2024
Submissions Deadline: 4/25/2025
Ceremony: 5/31/2025

Teachers: If you would like to set up a meeting with someone from our Education team, reach out to Education@Montclairfilm.org.