NWYFF Criteria 2026
Eligibility:
Students in grades 6–12, in Oregon or SW Washington. Graduating seniors eligible through the submission deadline. The Director(s) must be a student. Adult participation is allowed, but students must be the creative driving force of the film.
Length:
Films should not exceed 10 minutes in length. Credits are not included in runtime, but credits should not exceed 30 seconds.
Categories:
Submissions are accepted into two categories: Fiction and Non-Fiction (Documentary/Broadcast Journalism).
Submission Platform:
All films should be uploaded to FilmFreeway and made downloadable or they will not be considered for selection and screening. Ensure “Download Permissions” is set to “Festivals that I submit to may download my video". Any film submitted in any other way may not be considered.
Do not submit using a YouTube or Vimeo link as they cannot be easily downloaded. Any submissions with a YouTube or Vimeo link will not be considered for selection or screening.
Technical Aspects:
We accepted files in 1080p HD, 16:9, MP4 or MOV, under 2GB. Smartphone submissions welcome. Do not submit films in 4K. Any film files that are larger than 2GBs will not be accepted.
When uploading your submission, you must use the following file naming conventions: FirstNameLastName_FilmTitle.mp4
Examples:
JaneDoe_MyFilm.mov
JohnDoe_MyMovie.mp4
Content:
Films should be family friendly and suitable for all ages.
Music & Copyright:
All music content must be original or properly licensed, including Student Music Videos.
Fee:
Submissions are free.
Language:
Non-English films must include embedded English subtitles.
AI Usage:
AI usage is not permitted. Filmmakers must disclose any use of AI (generative text/image/video/audio, deepfakes, automated editing).
Multiple Submissions:
Students are allowed to submit up to three films for consideration.
Judging Criteria:
Films will be judged based on narrative strength, filmmaking skills, and creative storytelling.
