We're thrilled you're considering submitting your film to our first Weaving Light Film Festival (WLFF) with Navajo Technical University under the New Media Department! This festival is a celebration of student and non-student film making and the powerful impact of visual storytelling. We encourage you to explore your creativity and share your unique vision.
Please read these Rules & Terms carefully before you submit your film.
There is no fee to submit your film.
By submitting your film into Weaving Light Film Festival (WLFF), you expressly acknowledge and agree that you shall be bound by the terms of these Rules & Terms.
Filmmaker's Rights & Responsibilities:
The submitting filmmaker is fully responsible for all content within their film, including obtaining all necessary copyrights and clearances. By submitting, you affirm that you own/have all rights required for your film's usage as per our festival regulations. The Festival Committee is not liable for any third-party claims related to your film.
Technical & Viewing Requirements:
The Festival Committee may reject films based on content or technical quality that do not meet our festival conditions. We do not review films via external links unless emailed.
The participation in the Weaving Light Film Festival (WLFF) is subjected to agreement with these conditions and keeping to these terms.
General Submission Requirements:
Article 1-15 or Section 1-15:
1. Selected films will be publicly screened during the festival on November 6th and/or 7th, 2025. In an exciting initiative to broaden your film's reach and showcase the talent fostered within our institution, all accepted submissions will also be uploaded to YouTube under the official Navajo Technical University New Media Program channel. This live broadcast from Navajo Technical University will allow your work to reach a global audience, expanding its impact far beyond the festival walls
2. Eligibility:
a) Submissions are open to any currently enrolled college student from Navajo Technical University or any other accredited college or university. Non-students are welcome to submit.
b) Films that are submitted must be appropriate for all viewers.
c) Navajo Technical University Alumni’s are welcome to participate in this event.
3. Originality: All submitted films must be original works by the applicant(s). There is no restriction on the date of the production of the films.
4. Submission Deadline: All entries must be received by November 5, 2025 at 11:59 PM MST.
5. Submission Format: Films should be submitted via FilmFreeway. Please ensure your submission is of high visual and audio quality.
6. Runtime:
a) Short Films should not exceed 60 minutes in length.
b) Ultra Short Film should not exceed 50 minutes in length, including credits.
7. Weaving Light Film Festival (WLFF) categories include Comedy, Drama, Horror, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Musical, Sci-Fi, Narrative, Indie, Student, Children, Animation, Documentary, Experimental, Music Video, Mini Short, Mobile Phone, Amateur, Series (Web/TV), Fashion, Commercial, Ad, TVC, Stop-Motion, Time-Lapse, Trailer.
8. Each short film must be entered for one of the competitions named above. In some cases, though, the selection committees reserve the right to assign it to another competition or special program.
9. Each Ultra short film must be entered for one of the competitions named above. In some cases, though, the selection committees reserve the right to assign it to another competition or special program.
10. The official language of the WLFF is English. Films must be subtitled in English. However, if your film is in a different language, please add captions/subtitles for those who may not know the language e.g. Navajo, Hopi, Laguna, Zuni, Apache, and so forth.
11. The Weaving Light Film Festival's Executive Committee has final authority over all programming decisions, including the complete Festival schedule and the sequence in which films are screened. The Committee also reserves the right to exclude any participant or film for any breach of these conditions. Any unforeseen issues not covered in these Regulations but pertaining to the festival’s organization will be resolved at the sole discretion of the Executive Committee.
12. The directors of submitted films that are accepted will be notified via e-mail and or phone number if provided.
13. WLFF has no festival premiere eligibility requirements. If your film has been screened at other events, it is still eligible. If your film has been screened on Vimeo etc, it is still eligible.
a) IF you want to submit a second film: you are required to submit separately
b) Or if you request to change your film, please let us know before November 5.
The decision of the selection committee is final.
There is no fee to submit your film.
14. By submitting your film, you grant the Weaving Light Film Festival (WLFF) permission to use stills and film excerpts (up to a specified duration, if you want to add one, e.g., 30 seconds) for promotional purposes on our website, in press releases, brochures, and other festival materials. You also confirm that you have secured all necessary rights and permissions for your film's content. WLFF reserves the right to refuse any entry and to update these terms at any time.
15. The submitter is solely responsible for clearing all rights related to their film's content and its use by the Weaving Light Film Festival (WLFF). By submitting, you warrant that you are authorized to commit the film for screening and that its use by WLFF will not infringe on any third-party rights (e.g., copyrights, personality, or trademark rights). You also agree to indemnify WLFF against any third-party claims and to cover any associated legal costs that may arise from the film's use during the festival
16. If you are submitting under the age of 18 ***2025 Teen Short Film Competition Guidelines***
***SUBMISSION REGULATIONS***
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.
By submitting an Entry, the Entrant warrants and represents that he/she and any persons appearing or who are identifiable in the Entry consent to the submission and use of the Entry in the Contest and to its use as otherwise set forth herein. Any Entry not in English must contain English subtitles. By submitting an Entry, you hereby grant to the Festival a royalty-free, fully paid up, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive and fully sub-licensable right and license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, combine with other works, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, edit and display such Entry (in whole or part) including, without limitation, the names and likenesses of any persons or locations embodied therein, and/or to incorporate it in other works in any form,
media, or technology now known or later developed.
Entrants must be enrolled in middle or high school.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Video files must be of projection quality and must be submitted through an online video-sharing platform such as filmfreeway. Please DO NOT send films from personal storage like iCloud or Google Drive.
FILE FORMATS:
● Quicktime
● MPEG-4 (Note: We do not support MPEG-1 or MPEG-2)
CODECS:
● H.264
● ProRes 4.2.2
● ProRes 4.2.2 HQ
RESOLUTIONS AND FRAME RATES:
● Up to 1080p resolution (1920 x 1080)
AUDIO:
● Stereo right/left audio only
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
● No menus
● No watermarks
● Your film must be no longer than 120 minutes.
● Your film must be acceptable for a PG-13 audience.
--- The film cannot depict sex and nudity.
● The first 5 seconds of your film must be a black screen.
● Filmmakers can use their own original music in their film, or they may use music that is
copyright-free or public domain.
● Each filmmaker may submit a film.
● Must be 12 to 18 years of age and in middle school or high school to enter.
● Other than being used as actors, adults cannot be involved in significant phases of the film’s
production.
● The film must include teen actors and some adults but should not over shadow the teens.
● The film must not be plagiarized from other works.
