Please review Rules carefully. Failure to comply will result in disqualification of your film.
ELIGIBLE CATEGORIES
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 Monday, December 2, 2024.
The deadline to submit is 11:59 p.m. on March 7, 2025.
Notice of selected films will be made by email on April 11, 2025.
ENTRY DISQUALIFICATION - An entry may be disqualified if the student:
Broke a festival rule;
Failed to submit all forms by the deadline; or
Submitted incomplete or incorrect information.
Entry Fee: There is no entry fee.
NYCPSFF RULES
Please review the rules carefully. Staff may ask you to edit your film to comply with the rules. Failure to comply will result in disqualification of your film.
A) TECHNICAL RULES
1. The student filmmaker must play the major creative role on the production of the film as the director, writer, and/or editor. All scripts and stories must be original work made by the student. Student work must account for 85% or more of the final product.
2. Films must be 5 minutes or less.
3. Films must be submitted in .mp4 or .mov format.
4. All music must be either composed by the filmmaker, in the public domain, from an NYCPSFF-approved source listed on this website, or licensed from the songwriter, artist and/or their music label. NO OTHER MUSIC CAN BE USED.
5. Filmmakers must follow all rules listed on the website where they downloaded the music from about using another person’s music (for example, listing the composer’s name, song title, and music label properly in the credits).
6. Any original music composed by the filmmaker cannot include sampling from outside the public domain or the NYCPSFF-approved source list.
7. If artificial intelligence (“A.I.”) is used, the filmmaker must notify the DOE exactly when and where in the Film that A.I. was used. The filmmaker must also provide the website or program which was used.
8. Films may not contain nudity, sexual conduct, profanity/swear words, weapons, violence, drugs, tobacco, or alcohol.
9. Films may not promote or advertise any commercial product or service.
10. Use of branding within a Film must be incidental, avoiding close-ups or frequent verbal mentions of any brands.
11. Non-English language films must have English subtitles at the time of submission.
12. Submitted films should not include credits (i.e., the names of your producer, editor, actors, etc.). Please complete the Credit Sheet and the Festival will place the credits at the end of your film.
B) ELIGIBILITY AND SUBMISSION RULES
1. Films must have been completed after March 15, 2024 and have not been previously submitted to the NYC Public School Film Festival.
2. Filmmakers must be presently enrolled in a New York City public school.
3. Employees of the City of New York, as well as any sponsor or judge of the NYCPSFF, are not eligible to enter.
4. Forms (see section 5 below for more information)
i. NYCPSFF Application
ii. Filmmaker Release & Consent Form: This gives the Festival permission to use the film and the filmmaker’s name and/or image.
iii. On Camera-Release Form: This form states that a person appearing or having their voice used in the film (the “Actor”) gives permission to use their name, likeness and/or image in the film.
iv. Music Use Form: Lists all the music used in the film.
v. Credit Sheet: Lists all the people who worked on the film (i.e., director, producer, writer, editor etc.). The Festival will place the credits at the end of the film.
5. Submissions
i. Teachers submitting the film on behalf of the student:
1- The teacher must submit:
a- The film
b- NYCPSFF Application
c- Music Sheet Form
d- Credit Sheet Form
2- The Festival will contact the teacher about obtaining the Filmmaker Consent & Release Form.
3- Teachers can certify on the NYPSFF Application that all DOE students have a DOE Media Consent Form on file. For anyone appearing in the film that does not have a DOE Media Consent Form on file, the Festival will contact the teacher about obtaining the On-Camera Release Form(s).
ii. Students submitting a film directly to the Festival:
1-The student must submit:
a- The film
b- NYCPSFF Application
c- Music Sheet Form
d- Credit Sheet Form
2- The Festival will contact the student about submitting the Filmmaker Release & Consent Form and/or the On-Camera Release Form(s). If the filmmaker or Actor is under 18 years old, then the parent/guardian must also sign.
iii. After-school program or arts program (the “Film Program”) submitting the film on behalf of a student:
1-The Film Program must submit:
a- Film
b- NYCPSFF Submission Form
c- Music Sheet Form
d- Credit Sheet Form
2-The Festival will contact the filmmaker and/or the teacher for the Filmmaker Consent and Release Form and On-Camera Release Form(s).
TOOLKIT
Toolkit folder with all releases and forms, plus a checklist you may download, can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TpsdUlxa2cW3HcsjZB-FWid2VNeHI2-7?usp=sharing
