The Top of the South Film Festival showcases great local and national short films of under 15 minutes running time. We've grown from a film festival that caters to a grassroots community of local filmmakers, to an event that filmmakers from the entire nation will want to attend.

One of our aims is to bring people together by providing an event were filmmakers can forge connections. So we invite filmmakers from throughout Aotearoa New Zealand to enter our Aotearoa Screening, while our Heartland Screenings continue to celebrate locally made film from the North of the South Island: Nelson, Marlborough, Tasman, Buller, Hurunui and Kaikōura.

Our festival is focused on giving back to the filmmaking community. It is the main annual fundraiser for Top of the South Filmmakers , a non-profit incorporated society founded in 2014 by Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman filmmakers. All profits support local filmmakers and help those in associated creative industries connect and develop professionally.

THE AOTEAROA SCREENING - Nelson, 4 November 2023
A screening that honours filmmakers from around New Zealand. Our awards are determined by independent judges who are industry professionals.

The Aotearoa Screening features the following awards:

Best Film
Best Screenplay
Best Cinematography
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress

THE HEARTLAND SCREENINGS - Blenheim, 28 October; Nelson 3 & 4 November
Celebrating our origins, this is a showcase of short films exclusively from the Top of the South Island (see Rules & Terms for eligibility). Our awards are determined by independent judges who are industry professionals.

The Heartland Screenings feature the following awards:

Best Narrative Film
Best Documentary
Best Music Video
Best Animated Film
Best Secondary Student Film
Best 48-hour Film
Best Screenplay
Best Cinematography
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Edit
Best Sound
Best Original Score
Best Special FX
Best Production Design

As an honour, the top TWO homegrown shorts will receive automatic entry into the Aotearoa Screening to play alongside national entries, in addition to being screened in the Heartland Screenings.

TOP OF THE SOUTH FILM FESTIVAL
ENTRY GUIDE, RULES AND REGULATIONS

We are thrilled you’re interested in entering the Top of the South Film Festival. Here are the rules and regulations to follow to ensure your entry is accepted.

We have two sections: The Aotearoa Screening and the Heartland Screenings.

THE AOTEAROA SCREENING
Nelson, 4 November 2023
A screening that honours filmmakers from around New Zealand and provides a chance for our local filmmakers to connect with those from other regions. Award winners will be invited to join us at the screening in Nelson.

Eligibility
The Aotearoa Screening is open to filmmakers who are New Zealand citizens or permanent residents, or to films that were shot in New Zealand. Edge cases will be admitted at the Film Festival Director’s sole discretion. All films must be fewer than 15 minutes duration.

Awards
• Best Film
• Best Screenplay
• Best Cinematography
• Best Director
• Best Actor
• Best Actress

THE HEARTLAND SCREENINGS
Blenheim, 28 October 2023
Nelson, 3 & 4 November 2023

Celebrating our origins, this is a showcase of short films exclusively from the Top of the South Island. Narrative shorts, animation, music video, documentary, secondary student-made film, and films made for the 48Hours film competition are all invited.

Eligibility
The Heartland Screenings are open to short films exclusively from the Top of the South, Aotearoa New Zealand - Nelson, Marlborough, Tasman, and the adjoining regions of Buller, Hurunui and Kaikōura. A unique aspect of the Top of the South Film Festival is that it has always exhibited locally-made film. If a film is NOT 100% locally written, produced, directed and crewed by Top of the South residents, then it must meet the following criteria:
• at least ONE individual among the positions of writer, director, or producer permanently resides in the Top of the South region, AND,
• the film has TWO MORE individuals fulfilling the functions of writer, director, producer, director of photography, editor, or lead actors who also permanently reside in the Top of the South region, AND,
• the majority of the film's running time (over 50%) was shot in the Top of the South region.
The discretion of the Film Festival Director may be called upon for determining the eligibility of edge cases (e.g. animations).

Awards
• Best Narrative Film
• Best Documentary
• Best Music Video
• Best Animated Film
• Best Secondary Student Film
• Best 48-hour Film
• Best Screenplay
• Best Cinematography
• Best Director
• Best Actor
• Best Actress
• Best Supporting Actor
• Best Supporting Actress
• Best Edit
• Best Sound
• Best Original Score
• Best Special FX
• Best Production Design

As an honour, the top TWO homegrown shorts will receive automatic entry into the Aotearoa Screening to play alongside national entries, in addition to being screened in the Heartland Screenings.

ENTRY GUIDE

SUBMISSION FEES

1. Submission to the Aotearoa Screening is $50.
2. Submission to the Heartland Screenings is $35. If you are a paid-up member of Top of the South Filmmakers your first entry is free using the specific discount code emailed to members. Each subsequent entry to the Heartland Screening is $35.
3. Registered Students: $15
4. Submission fees are non-refundable
5. The Festival Submission Fee must be paid via the FilmFreeway payment service (credit card, debit card or PayPal) after you have submitted your film via FilmFreeway. If none of the available payment methods work for you please contact us, per contact info above.

HOW TO ENTER
1. All submissions are accepted only via FilmFreeway.
2. You will be asked to sign up to create a free FilmFreeway account if you don’t already have one.
3. Once you have an account, you will need to create a project with your film in FilmFreeway. Go to My Projects, then Add a Project, and follow the instructions. Please create a new FilmFreeway project for each film submission.
4. Once you've created a project in FilmFreeway, you will see an option box. Click on Add Project File.
5. Be sure to upload all the press kit materials outlined below in your project file. These materials are all required.
6. In the Project File, you must either upload your film directly to FilmFreeway (only viewable by our judges) or you can provide a link to your film on YouTube or Vimeo, with a password, if required.
7. Under the Privacy menu button, please check these boxes: Visibility: Festivals Only and Download Permissions: Festivals that I submit to may download my video.
8. Please fill out a separate project for each film you want to submit.
9. Once you’ve completed creating your Project, then click on Browse Festivals and search for Top of the South Film Festival 2023. Click on Submit Now.
10. Then you must indicate your submission fee by clicking on either Standard or Student (if you qualify). You must click on one of these payment options even if you have a free discount code. If you have a TSF members or Student discount code, you will enter the code when you’re checking out.
11. Once you’ve selected the film category/genre and checked the standard or student fee, you must add your film’s logline (and additional cast/crew info if you're submitting a narrative film) in the box(es) at the bottom before you can add to cart and checkout.
12. You may also add a cover letter and backgrounder on your film at the cart summary page as you’re checking out.

ENTRY RULES
1. Entry deadline is midnight 15th July 2023. Films entered after this deadline will not be accepted.
2. Films must be submitted in one of the following categories: Narrative film (fictional), Documentary, Animation, Music Video, 48 Hour Film Festival film, Secondary School Student film (yr 9 -13), Aotearoa film (NZ short films created outside of the Top of the South region)
3. In addition to your film, you must submit a press kit. Details below.
4. Films must have been completed after January 1, 2020.
5. Films must be 15 minutes or less, including credits. Films of longer duration may be accepted if deemed significant to filmmakers based in the Top of the South at the sole discretion of the Festival Director.
6. Black screen credits must be no longer than 30 seconds.
7. Films are preferred to be submitted as MP4 files.
8. Films must be shot in 24 or 25fps and are preferred to be rendered in 16:9 aspect ratio either as in 2560×1440 (2K) or 1920×1080 (1080p Full-HD) (H264 codec). Frame rates of 30fps will not be accepted.
9. Films not submitted in the above formats will be rejected.
10. Films that may have been accepted to other festivals or have previously screened online are eligible.
11. Films must not contain copyright infringing content including music, video or photos. Any film identified as containing obvious copyright content without the appropriate license or written release will not be accepted.
12. By submitting your film, you grant the Top of the South Film Festival the right to screen, excerpt and post your film per the preceding directives at no cost to the Top of the South Film Festival.
13. The Film Festival Director and curators reserve the right to include or exclude your film from the Aotearoa and Heartland theatrical screening events; extract excerpts from your film for Top of the South Film Festival promotion; and use the excerpts for current and future film festival promotion.
14. Submitting your film is not a guarantee that it will be screened. All films are subject to quality control measures and will be viewed by a panel of judges made up of independent film industry professionals. To avoid conflict of interest, judges must be independent of the films on which they are making decisions. The curation team must declare if they are connected in any significant manner to the films entered.
15. Judges will rank order films and the curation team will fill the programme until the programme run time reaches capacity (105 to 120 minutes).
16. Films are rated (see below). Films that curators consider inappropriate for a mixed-age audience may not be screened, at the curators’ and director’s discretion.

PRESS KIT DETAILS
Along with your film, you must submit the following Press Kit elements. Failure to submit these materials may make your film ineligible for screening and awards, and your submission fee will not be refunded.
1. Logline: 30 words or less
2. Film Synopsis: 100 words or less
3. A full list of crew credits
4. Production Stills: up to 5 Screenshots or on-set photographs which best depict your film
5. Background story for your film: up to 250 words – who produced the film; how did the idea come about; who was on your team; interesting behind the scenes stories; obstacles you overcame.
6. Trailer – if you have one. Preferred 30 seconds. Longer trailers are acceptable.
7. If a Narrative film, please include:
- Names of the actor(s)/actress(es) you submit for consideration as Best Actor/Actress and Best Supporting Actor/Actress.
- Name(s) of the crew member(s) responsible for your Editing, Sound, Original Score, Special Effects and Production Design.
- Details and descriptions of what parts (in and out timecode points) of your film have original music and special effects. Without these notes, your film cannot be judged in these categories.

RATINGS
The screenings including selected films will be submitted for classification by the NZ Film and Video Labelling Body (FVLB). All films viewed by the public must have a FVLB rating.

For more information about NZ ratings please see: https://www.classificationoffice.govt.nz/find-ratings/new-zealands-classification-labels/

1. Films can be “G” or “PG” rated but must be no harder than “M” rated – “more suitable for mature audiences 16 years and over.” Failure to obtain this rating means your film is not eligible for TSFF public screening. Minimising content in the following areas will increase your chances of obtaining an “M” rating: Offensive Language, Gore & Violence, Explicit Nudity, Strong Themes.
2. If a film is rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body (FVLB) as harder than a “M”, a three-day extension to edit and resubmit may be granted. If you choose not to resubmit or miss the three-day deadline, your film will be removed from the festival. If you choose not to re-submit your film, you must let the Festival Director know immediately your intention to withdraw your film.
3. If a film is rejected for any reason, submission fees will not be refunded, with exception in hardship cases.

JUDGING AND AWARDS
1. For both the Aotearoa and Heartland Screenings, independent judges with industry experience will assess all films objectively, and given a score out of ten using the FilmFreeway rating system. Judge profiles can be found at: www.tsfilmfest.org/judges when festival entries close.
2. TThe cumulative scores across the judges will be averaged to determine an overall average score out of ten for each film in the areas of story/screenplay, ensemble cast/character engagement, cinematography, directing, and editing.
3. The average cumulative score of these creative categories will determine the BEST FILMS in the following: short narrative films, short documentary films, short animation films, music video, 48 Hour films, and student film.
4. In the Heartland Screenings, the film in each genre with the highest overall score will win the BEST FILM in that category.
5. The two short films with the highest overall score in the Heartland Screenings will receive automatic entry into the Aotearoa Screenings in addition to screening in the Heartland Screenings.
6. Awards for the following categories will be selected by judges whose expertise is in that particular field.
- Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress
- Best Edit
- Best Sound
- Best Original Score
- Best Special FX
- Best Production Design
7. Filmmakers must be sure to designate their submission as one of the following: Narrative, Documentary, Animation, Music Video, 48Hour, Secondary Student Film, Aotearoa
8. If your entry is a narrative film, please indicate:
- The names of: Lead Actor and Actress, Supporting Actor and Actress
- The name of name of the composer if the music is an Original Music Score
- The name(s) of the person(s) responsible for Production Design
- If the film has special effects and name(s) of the special effects artist(s)

JUDGING CRITERIA FOR FILMS

Screenplay
Story is original, creative, fresh, interesting and masterfully woven. Characters are compelling and distinctive. Dialogue is real and engaging. Has artistic merit. Story has a beginning, middle and end, a story arc, and a clear goal. The story resolves itself and pays off the premise it sets up.

Direction
Story is told in a cohesive, clear, distinctive style and tone. Acting is natural and believable. Combined elements of story, acting, visuals and music make for a rewarding experience.

Cinematography
Visually excellent; appropriate use of camera movement; lighting, composition and shot selection serve the story; colour grading enhances overall look and feel.

Editing
The organisation/pacing/structure/continuity of pictures and sound is rhythmic, moving, engaging and clear.

Acting
Acting performances are authentic, compelling, interesting and personify the story. Relational dynamics are strong and have emotional impact.

Sound
There is consistently clear dialogue recording; believable and creative use of sound effects; quality transitions between words and music. The music complements and enhances the story, tone and overall message.

Original Score
The originally scored music is creative, unique and suited to the film and helps tell the story as a character of its own.

Production Design
The look and feel of the locations and settings transports us to the world of the characters. Lighting, sets, scenery, wardrobe and props are used effectively and appropriately.

Special Effects
The Visual Effects are so realistic the viewer accepts what they are seeing, and their disbelief is momentarily suspended. Or the effects illustrate the vision and artistry of the Visual FX artist. In either case, the VFX support the narrative and capture the viewer.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Sebastian J. Lowe

    Thank you for including us in your festival! Hope to make it one year.

    December 2022
  • Great festival to be a part of. Warm, inviting and a very support environment to be in. Great to witness so many high quality films created by emerging and experienced film makers. Loved the experience and meeting fresh new faces and reconnecting with peers. A wonderful festival!

    May 2022