The 5th Annual NYC DOE/MOME Public School Film Festival (NYCPSFF) is open to all NYC public middle and high school students. A panel of educators and media professionals will select approximately 20 films for recognition. Each film selected will receive a certificate of official selection.

Filmmakers of selected films will be invited to a special Screening Day and Career Development event tentatively scheduled for April 25, 2023.
All applicants will be invited to special outdoor screenings as part of MOME’s “Movies Under the Stars” series with the NYC Parks Department, tentatively scheduled for May 2023.*

Submissions will be accepted between December 8, 2022 and March 7, 2023. Films will be selected and notification given by March 31, 2023.

*Dates subject to change and will be confirmed in early 2023.

Please review Rules carefully. Failure to comply will result in film disqualification.

Films must be 5 minutes or less in any of these categories:
Animation
Short Feature/Narrative
Documentary
Experimental
Public Service Announcement (P.S.A.)/Advocacy

TIMELINE/DEADLINE

Films will be accepted starting Thursday, December 8, 2022.

The deadline to submit is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 13, 2023.

Notice of selected films will be made by email in early April 2023.

Selected films will be listed on the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment’s webpage (https://www1.nyc.gov/site/mome/industries/nyc-public-school-film-festival.page) by June 30, 2023.

RULES

Filmmakers must comply with all rules as follows:

1- Filmmakers must be presently enrolled in a New York City public school.

2- Student filmmakers must play the major creative role on the production of the submitted films—as directors, writers, and/or editors.

3- Films must be 5 minutes or less and in .mp4 or .mov format.

4- Films must have been completed after March 17, 2022 and have not been previously submitted to the NYC Public School Film Festival.

5- All scripts and stories must be original work made by the student.

6- If music is used, the filmmaker must submit a completed Music Use Form. All music must be either composed by the filmmaker or from an NYCPSFF-approved source, listed on this website (https://sites.google.com/schools.nyc.gov/nycdoe-oasp/arts-instructional-resources/moving-image-dashboard). NO OTHER MUSIC CAN BE USED. Filmmakers must also follow all rules about using another person’s music (for example, listing the composer’s name properly in the credits).

7- Films may not contain nudity, profanity/swear words, violence, drugs, tobacco, or alcohol.

8- Films may not promote or advertise any commercial product or service.

9- Non-English language films must have English subtitles at the time of submission.

10- Filmmakers must inform their NYCDOE teacher or administrator and include that teacher/administrator’s name on their NYC Public School Film Festival application.

11- Filmmakers under the age of 18 must have an adult submit an NYC Public School Film Festival application.

12- Filmmakers must submit a filmmaker release form and on-camera release forms for all persons appearing in their film. The filmmaker release forms and the on-camera release forms must be completed by a parent/guardian if the person is under 18 (https://filmfreeway.com/NYCPublicSchoolFilmFestival).

13- Filmmakers selected to participate in the special screening days must comply with all health and safety guidelines requiring vaccination, masking, and/or any other measures to reduce the transmission of COIVD-19.

14- Employees of the City of New York as well as any sponsor or judge of the NYCPSFF are not eligible to enter.

ENTRY MATERIALS

Entries must include all of the following:

1- Completed NYC Public School Film Festival application

2- The film (submit to filmfreeway.com)

3- Completed Filmmaker Release Form
(https://tinyurl.com/5c5mf3k7)
for the filmmaker

4- A parent/guardian must complete the form if the student is under 18

5- Completed On-Camera Release Form
(https://tinyurl.com/5c5mf3k7)
for all persons appearing in the film

6- If a person appearing in the film is under 18, their parent/guardian must complete the form.

7- Completed music list
(https://tinyurl.com/5c5mf3k7)
(if music is used in the film)

8- If the teacher is submitting on behalf of a student under age 18, the teacher must certify that all persons participating in the film submitted a Release and Consent Form or an On-Camera Release Form, as applicable.

ENTRY FEE

There is no entry fee.

ENTRY DISQUALIFICATION

An entry may be disqualified if the student:

1- Broke a festival rule;

2- Failed to submit all entry materials by the deadline; or

3- Submitted incomplete or incorrect information.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Michael Bridenstine

    A great Festival that is still young, but getting better every year. As a parent, educator and storyteller myself, I know firsthand the potential this Film Festival has to establish itself as a premiere destination for top-notch up and coming young filmmakers. Proud to play a very small part in it!

    May 2021