Welcome to Scout Film Festival 2023! We are excited to invite filmmakers and audiences to join us at the 2023 festival LIVE and in-person in Boston, Massachusetts October 27-29. We will also be incorporating a virtual program for our film family around the world.

Scout Film Festival (Scout) produces an annual international event that celebrates and empowers emerging filmmakers aged 24 and under, through short film. Scout presents an exciting and enriching festival of film screenings, workshops, an incubator series and talks/panels with industry professionals, networking events and receptions. Scout offers a platform for emerging voices and talent around the world, supporting young people who focus their energy on building meaningful connections through their art, through film and visual storytelling.

Scout is an international organization and annual festival celebrating emerging filmmakers from around the world in two age categories - 18 and under, and 19 to 24. Founded in 2014 by Anna Colavito (Cantabrigian, WIFVNE member and VT state chair, Cambridge Film Festival Board) and cofounder Adriana Teresa Letorney (Visura.co) - Scout serves to amplify emerging voices worldwide, build connections that lead to collaborations, provide educational opportunities, and foster an inclusive, merit-based, equitable pathway into the film, media, and journalism industries. A foundational part of Scout’s mission is to highlight creators, entrepreneurs, and thinkers aged 24 and under, who are contributing to the future of film, visual storytelling, and technology. Scout is more than a film festival for youth, it is a destination for audiences at large to learn about the incredible work that is being produced by youth in film, entrepreneurship, visual storytelling, and beyond.

Over 8000 filmmakers aged 24 and under from 109 countries have submitted their films.

Scout's Career Development Program offers grants, workshops, and mentorships with award-winning film industry leaders. The Emerging Filmmakers Grant is sponsored by Jurassic World's Writer and Director, Colin Trevorrow.

Scout has a meaningful impact on our community of international artists, not just in their storytelling abilities, but in their desire to take action in their communities, to be connected to like-minded peers, and to make a difference in the world. By collaborating with them in this way, we empower them to amplify the impact they are able to have. Scout offers a home where emerging storytellers become energized with access to resources, direction, opportunities, connectivity, support, and a community of like-minded peers.

The contest is open to filmmakers 24 years old or under worldwide. Please read and be aware of the age requirement for each category. We have separate categories for entry open to filmmakers 18 and under, or for filmmakers between 19 and 24. The film completion date must be no earlier than January 1, 2022, the film’s director(s) must have been 18 and under OR between 19 and 24 years old while filming the project and MUST COMPLETE THE custom submission form.

All films whether directly uploaded to FilmFreeway or with an embedded Vimeo link must be downloadable in order to be considered for selection and screening. In your project file's privacy settings “Download Permissions” should be set to “Festivals that I submit to may download my video.”

All music and other copyrighted material (images, videos, etc.) used in the films must be properly licensed. There are various resources that offer free music and images.

An Entry must be the original work of the Entrant, and must not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, rights of privacy, publicity or other intellectual property or other rights of any person or entity. If an Entry contains any material or elements that are not owned by the Entrant, and/or which are subject to the rights of third parties, the Entrant is responsible for obtaining, prior to submitting such Entry, any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the use and exhibition of the Entry by the Festival in the manner set forth in these Terms, including, without limitation, name and likeness permissions from any person who appears in or is identifiable in the Entry, music licenses and location releases.

All films must be in English or subtitled in English. All films that are selected are required to provide two film files for screening, one with embedded subtitles for accessibility (English SDH) during public exhibition.

By submitting an Entry, the Entrant acknowledges and agrees that the Festival may obtain many Entries in connection with this Contest, and that such Entries may be similar or identical in theme, idea, format or other respects to other Entries submitted in connection with this Contest. The Entrant waives any and all claims that any Entries and/or other works accepted, reviewed and/or used by the Festival may be similar to the Entrant’s Entry, or that any compensation is due to the Entrant in connection with such other Entry or other works used by the Festival.

By submitting your film, you agree to screen your film live at the festival, and online without a screening fee or any other compensation if selected.

If the entrant, for any reason, prefers NOT to have their film made available on the public Scout Film Festival Showcase (Vimeo, Visura, streaming), the entrant is responsible for notifying the competition administrators. Such a decision will not compromise that film’s eligibility to win in its category.

Selection of an entry to the Scout Film Festival grants Scout Film Festival the right to reproduce or utilize a portion of your entry, and your name and likeness for promotional purposes without compensation.

Submission of an entry to Scout Film Festival does not guarantee that a work will be shown at the Festival.

We will only except the file formats listed below:
.MOV
.MP4
Film files that are larger than 4GBs will not be accepted.

The winning films/filmmakers in each category will be announced online and/or at the awards reception during the Festival.

Participants and final winners will be chosen by the Festival on the merits of each entry in the Festival’s sole and absolute discretion.

NOTIFICATION OF OFFICIAL SELECTIONS AND WINNERS:
All official selections/filmmakers will be notified by the email address provided in the entry form. Changes in contact information may be made by contacting info@scoutfilmfestival.org. If an official selection or winner does not respond to our outreach notification within ten (10) business days, another will be chosen. Failure to respond within the time frames listed above shall mean that the provisional winner forfeits the award.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Hunter Adams

    Scout is the greatest thing to happen in my filmmaking career so far. I got to travel somewhere larger than I'd ever been, and made so many great connections both with filmmakers and festival organizers. Anna Colavito is a gem and made me feel so valued! I also had the opportunity to talk to Ethan Hawke, Colin Trevorrow, and Fanshen Cox! Every person on staff made me feel incredibly welcome and the festival was packed with great things to do. Amazing time.

    November 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Hunter! It was wonderful meeting you, getting to know you beyond your incredible film work. Thank you for being a part of the Scout Community, we hope to see you again and again!

  • Danielle Mannion

    It was extremely powerful and validating to be part of this outstanding film festival! We attended in person and truly enjoyed the experience of hearing from filmmakers and watching their films. I have screened some of the films we saw that were available online with my students back at school. Thank you Scout!

    November 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Danielle! Many thanks for attending the festival, for supporting emerging voices in storytelling through your work. It is great to hear you shared some films in the classroom. See you next time, if not sooner!

  • I had just the most fantastic experience at Scout! This team really cares about next-generation filmmakers and does everything they can to help them succeed.

    November 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Elyas! What fun meeting you, getting to know you better over the weekend in Boston. We are grateful to you for sharing your films with us over the years and expect to see more!

    We are always here. Can't wait til next time.

  • sajit warrier

    It was a Good experience at the festival
    .

    November 2021
  • Ava Bounds

    Very nice Festival and well organised.

    November 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Ava! We hope to see more of your work soon!