2021 SWAN Film Festival
Terms & Conditions
1. Introduction
The SWAN Film Festival (SWAN) is conducted by Students With A Narrative for the general purpose of encouraging and rewarding students who are either currently studying film making or have an interest in film making.
Information about the SWAN Film Festival is available at the Festival website www.swanfilmfestival.com or via email info@swanfilmfestival.com.
2. Who May Enter
Entry is open to students currently enrolled in:
β’ High School Years 11 and 12;
β’ Registered Training Colleges
Including Certificates, Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas;
β’ Universities at Bachelor level.
We also encourage students who are not currently studying arts or film but who have an interest in filmmaking or the film industry to apply.
The entrant must be a student or group of students who play a key role in the creative and production elements of the film, including writing, directing, producing and technically executing the film.
Parent, teacher, and other filmmaker assistance is permitted but must be limited to non-creative roles as much as possible (e.g. planning assistance, technical advice, funding, etc). Non-students may be used as actors and for voice-overs, however only enrolled students will be eligible for awards.
Students MUST provide the name of the school or educational facility they attend on the entry form and register using their student email address.
SWAN may request a studentβs proof of enrolment when an entry is submitted. Failure to provide proof of enrolment will automatically disqualify a submission from the festival.
3. Entry Dates
Entries Open on Tuesday 31 August 2021 and close Thursday 11 November 2021 (11:59pm).
4. Provisions of Entry
a. Not Previously Published
Films entered into the Festival must be original works, not previously screened publicly, for example on YouTube or other online media platforms or in other Film Festivals prior to release by SWAN.
b. Theme For 2021
The Theme for the 2021 festival is "Acceptance." This feature item must be visually interpreted, verbalised, or referenced in the film.
c. Running Time
The total running time for short films entered is ten (10) minutes or less, for documentary films is fifteen (15) minutes or less, and for animated films is three (3) minutes or less.
d. Submit via FilmFreeway
Entries to the Festival must be submitted via FilmFreeway no later than the closing date of Thursday 11 November 2021 (11:59pm). Entrants must allow enough time to upload their submission film file by the closing date and time.
e. Categories
The SWAN 2021 Festival Award Categories are:
Students must enter their film in one of four categories:
- Short Film β Australian High School Students
- Short film β Australian Higher Education Students
- Short film β International Students
- Animated Film β High School Students
- Animated Film β Higher Education Students
- Animated Film β International Students
- Documentary β High School Students
- Documentary β Higher Education Students
- Documentary β International Students
e. Prizes
Category High School Student Higher Education Student International Student
Best Film $100 $100 $100
Best Animation $100 $100 $100
Documentary $100 $100 $100
The following awards are open at all submissions
Best Overall $600
Best Theme $500
Viewerβs Choice $500
g. Number of Entries
There is no limit on the number of films a student or a school may submit.
h. Entry Classification
All entries must meet the PG Rating (Parental Guidance) as set out in the Guidelines for the Classification of Films (2012) - Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995.
The Guidelines are publicly available at the Australian Classification Board website (www.classification.gov.au).
Films that do not meet the PG Classification Guidelines will be disqualified and therefore will not be screened or judged in the Festival.
i. Submission Instructions
Entrants must follow the submission instructions on the entry submission page on the Festival website. An entry will be considered invalid if the submission is incomplete.
Students must provide the name of their school or educational institution on the online entry form for identification and eligibility purposes.
j. All film submissions that have any language other than English must include English subtitles.
Each film entry file submitted must be named in the following naming format:
5. Permissions
All necessary permissions, authorities, licences, consents, releases and waivers from third party owners of the copyright in all visual materials, music or other third party material and intellectual property must be obtained by the entrant.
Obtaining these permissions, authorities, licences, consents, releases and waivers is the sole responsibility of the students.
Participants indemnify SWAN, its officers and associated entities from any damages arising from the failure of obtaining the necessary authorities including but not limited to damages, legal fees and costs associated with reparations.
SWAN will not accept responsibility for consequences arising from films screened without copyright relating to all visual materials and music.
In instances where all necessary permissions, authorities, licences, consents, releases and waivers have not been met then any consequences will be the sole responsibility of the filmmakers and/or their education facility.
SWAN is not responsible for seeking or obtaining proof for such permissions, authorities, licences, consents, releases and waivers for the purpose of judging, distributing, or presenting films entered into the Festival.
It is deemed that, upon entry the entrant and their educational institution have obtained all necessary licences or permissions for any copyright material and the entrant assumes all responsibility for representing to SWAN that these have been suitably obtained.
By submitting this film all participants and/or as required their parent/guardian have consented to being filmed and consented for the film to be published in the public domain. Entrants also confirm that my school representative has reviewed this film prior to this submission.
6. Judging
SWANβs appointed judging panel will determine the category finalists and winning films. Finalist filmmakers will be notified prior to the Festivalβs Awards Event. Winners will be announced during December 2020. The Judging Panel and SWAN hold the authority to determine the winning films. No dispute will be entered into the Judging Panel and SWANβs final decision.
7. Publicity
Award Winners agree to participate in the publicity for the awards and other promotional events if required. SWAN reserves the right to use the entries for any purpose they choose.
Films may be screened to the public via a variety of media channels including but not limited to SWAN.com, YouTube, television, public film screenings and other channels. SWAN reserves the right to screen the films without seeking additional permission from entrants.
Any film submitted may be published on the SWAN Film Festival YouTube channel. All entrants must agree to YouTubeβs Terms of Service. Entrants agree to any other Terms of Service relative to a media or distribution channel film where SWAN may elect to distribute the material.
8. Royalties & Payments
SWAN will not provide payment to any entrant for the public or private screening of films entered into the competition.
SWAN does not receive payment from the organisers of public events where competition entries may be screened.
Entrants waive their rights relating to any royalties or fees which may be accumulated by SWAN for material subsequently published by SWAN.
9. Festival Screening
Entry to the Festival is not a guarantee that particular material will be screened and SWAN reserves the right to choose which films will be screened during the Festival.
10. Awards Event
The SWAN Film Festival will be screened at the awards event in December 2021. However, should circumstances prevent SWAN the screening at a physical location, an online screening and awards event will take the place of any physical event.
Films may be screened in part and/or in full at these events and award winners will be notified by email and/or by phone.
11. Liability
Except for any liability that cannot be excluded by law, SWAN is not liable and does not accept responsibility for any loss or damage whatsoever (including but not limited to direct, indirect or consequential loss) or personal injury suffered or sustained by a participant or Award Winner. A participant means anyone involved in making the film.
12. Privacy Policy
SWAN's Privacy Policy covers how we collect, use and handle your information, as well as how to make a complaint or provide feedback. To access the SWAN Privacy Policy visit www.SWAN.com
13. Prizes
Cash prizes will be awarded by deposit into the film maker's bank account.
