The Virginia Environmental Film Contest (VEFC) is an important part of the annual Richmond Environmental Film Festival (RVA EFF). This contest is open to new and experienced Virginia filmmakers submitting films on environmental topics focusing on Virginia. The RVA EFF intends to screen the First Prize Winner in a Richmond theater in the Spring of 2023

Please carefully read the Rules and Terms for submission requirements. Films that do not meet the Rules and Terms will not be considered for the Film Contest. If you have specific questions about submitting a film, contact a contest director.

Virginia Environmental Film Contest

First Prize - $800 + laurel logo
Best Youth Submission (Under 18 yrs. of age) - $100 + laurel logo
Best "Call to Action” - $100 + laurel logo

General Rules & Terms
1. The VEFC committee reserves the right to extend the entry period. Any extension and new deadline for entries will be announced via FilmFreeway and the RVA EFF website.

2. Entries containing immoral, defamatory, obscene or scandalous content, or any other content which, at the sole discretion of the VEFC committee, is not in the keeping with the VEFC, will be deemed ineligible.

3. The VEFC committee is not responsible for entries that are not received or not received properly, or for any technical problems with corrupt digital files, invalid links, internet outages, computer failures, and the like. The VEFC committee is not responsible for lost, late, or misdirected entries. The VEFC committee is not obligated to acknowledge receipt of entries.

4. No fees will be refunded.

Film Contest Rules & Terms

1. The VAEFC committee does not grant entrants the right or access to film private property or use of its name to secure access.

2. Filmmakers retain ownership rights to the submitted film. However, the winning entrants grant to the RVA EFF the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and license to use the winning films and the winners’ names and likenesses in perpetuity without compensation, notification, or other limitation or condition, both in conjunction with the competition and promotion of the competition and in promotion of the RVA EFF generally.

3. All forms of footage, including audio, video, graphics and still photos that are not produced by the entrant must be credited to the original producer. Any entry suspected, in the discretion of the VEFC committee, to be in violation will be rejected immediately from the competition. By submitting an entry, each filmmaker represents that the video submitted is an original work that does not infringe on the copyright or intellectual property right of another party, and each filmmaker agrees to indemnify the VEFC committee, its committee members, and judges from all liability arising from any alleged infringement in this regard.

4. Entries may have multiple co-producers, but one should be listed as the primary contact upon entry. The fair dissemination of any prize winnings will be the responsibility of the primary contact. If there are multiple producers or directors, at least one of the directors or producers must currently reside at a valid Virginia address.

5. AAll films must be original works - filmed and produced within the last two years. Entries must be original compositions, not infringe on the copyrights of any other parties, and produced within two years of the Extended Submission Date

6. Entries will be judged by the VEFC committee and/or individuals selected by the VEFC committee. The Judges’ decisions will be final and binding. To facilitate judging, entries will be assessed using the following criteria:

A. Coherent environmental message
B. Originality
C. Creative presentation (setting, narration, etc.)
D. Composition (quality of cinematography and audio)
E. Strong "Call to Action" for viewers

7. Filmmakers that are 18 years of age or younger at the Extended Submission Date, must submit a signed parental consent form to the Contest Director with the submission.