The Atlanta Student Film Festival is an annual film festival that will serve as an opportunity for filmmakers around the country to celebrate cinema at a student level. By presenting students with a platform to introduce themselves and display their work, we want to serve as a vessel for student filmmakers to promote and recognize their accomplishments and establish connections with other filmmakers in and out of the industry.

This festival is run and organized by Filmmakers @ GT, a film organization at The Georgia Institute of Technology. As a student-run film festival, we aim to establish a community of student filmmakers that can come together to share and exhibit their work. Showcasing the top short films submitted by college students across the country, The Atlanta Student Film Festival aspires to give these talented students an opportunity to get a headstart in the film industry and recognize their achievements, capabilities, and craft.

PRIZE POOL TBD

Best Picture
The Best Picture Award is the most prestigious accolade of the festival and recognizes the best overall student short film.

Best Direction
The Best Direction Award honors the student director that has displayed excellence in expressing their vision.

Best Original Score
The Best Original Score Award recognizes the student composer whose music creates a unique listening experience and elevates the film as a whole.

Best Original Screenplay
The Best Original Screenplay Award honors the student film that has an outstanding and compelling story.

Best Cinematography
The Best Cinematography Award recognizes the student film that contains beautiful and stylized composition and framing and elevates the film as a whole.

Best Performance
The Best Performance Award honors the actor/actress who portrays their character in an authentic and compelling way.

Best Editing
The Best Editing Award recognizes the student film that seamlessly cuts together scenes and elevates the film as a whole.

Audience Choice
The Audience Choice Award is voted by the festival audience and recognizes the student film that was the most receptive at the event.

Helluva Filmmaker Award
The Helluva Filmmaker Award honors the best overall film made by a student filmmaker who attends school in Georgia.

ELIGIBILITY

1. All films submitted must comply with these entry rules and regulations in order to be considered eligible for acceptance into the Atlanta Student Film Festival 2020.
2. Eligible films must have been completed after January 15th, 2018 with no exceptions.
3. Eligible films must have been created by at least one(1) active undergraduate/graduate student with a major contributing role (director, director of photography, editor). The acceptance of films with participating undergraduate/graduate students who do not have a role listed explicitly above will be decided on a case to case basis and at the full discretion of the Atlanta Student Film Festival.
4. Films with ongoing online distribution or availability (YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, etc.) are not eligible for juried awards. Films with finite or limited availability (i.e. an online-only film festival remain eligible for juried awards.
5. Films that have been submitted to previous editions of the Atlanta Student Film Festival are not eligible for selection.
6. Work in progress films will not be accepted. Anything that is submitted will be accepted and judged as though it is complete.
7. All entries must be in the English language or contain English subtitles.
8. Eligibility for the Helluva Filmmaker award is at the discretion of the Atlanta Student Film Festival. Considerations include student filmmaker ties to Georgia such as long-term or current residence in Georgia.

SUBMISSION POLICIES AND SELECTION PROCESSES

1. All films must be submitted via FilmFreeway.
2. Entries without payment will not be considered. Failure to pay proper submission fees with your entry may result in disqualification. You will be notified of failure to pay via email and will be disqualified if payment has not been submitted within 5 business days. No refunds will be granted to any submission.
3. Submission of entry is considered legal permission to screen your film during the festival upon acceptance.
4. All submissions will be evaluated by at least two members of our screening team or one programmer. We reserve the right to stop watching after 20 minutes if we determine that the film does not meet minimal technical quality levels.
5. All Filmmakers will be notified on or around April 9, 2020. This is subject to change, we ask for your patience. Do not email the festival before April 9 to check the status of your film. Everyone will be notified in a timely fashion.

POLICIES UPON ACCEPTANCE

1. Accepted films will be notified via email at the submitter or contact address included in the submission form.
2. Filmmakers (or primary contact) will be required to submit a consent form ensuring an absence of any legal or rights issues, and indemnifying the Atlanta Film Festival of any liabilities that may arise out of screening with the festival.
3. Consent form contractually confirms the film for screening at the Atlanta Student Film Festival.
4. Upon acceptance, filmmakers (or primary contact) will provide the following by the dates specified by festival organizers:
○ Required: An exhibition version of the film in Quicktime with a resolution of at least 1080p, encoded using H.264, H.265, or ProRes.
○ Optional: A backup copy on Blu-ray or DVD is requested but not required.
○ Backup disc copies will not be returned. Format used for exhibition will be determined by the festival, potentially including the backup or submission format. Completed film may be archived by the Atlanta Student Film Festival.
5. Filmmakers are responsible for shipping costs associated with delivering all materials to the Atlanta Student Film Festival.
6. The Atlanta Student Film Festival reserves the right to rescind acceptance of any film for any reason. Film presentations are scheduled at the discretion of the Atlanta Student Film Festival and are subject to change.

JUDGING

Films chosen for competition are judged by a select panel of jurors. Awards are left to the sole discretion of the judges, and a committee selected by the director of the Atlanta Student Film Festival will make any necessary rulings. Awards are announced at the end of the Atlanta Student Film Festival, and all competition films are strongly encouraged to have a film representative in attendance.

Should you have any questions regarding this process or your film’s eligibility, please email programming.asff@gmail.com.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

I, the authorized representative of the project being submitted (hereafter called the "Project") for consideration for the 2020 Atlanta Student Film Festival (hereafter called the “Festival”), hereby acknowledge the following:

1. I represent and warrant to the Festival that: (a) I am duly authorized, on my own behalf and on behalf of all other persons or entities who have any ownership rights or interests (including, without limitation, intellectual property rights) in or relating to the Project (hereafter called the “Project’s Owners”), to exhibit this Project at the Festival, (b) exhibition of the Project at the Festival will not violate any law or any right or consent of any person or entity; and (c) the Project is not subject to any litigation, arbitration, or other adversarial claim or proceeding, nor is the Project the subject of any threat of litigation, arbitration, or other adverse claim or proceeding.

2. I further represent and warrant, on behalf of myself and the Project’s Owners, that the exhibition of the Project at the Festival will not violate or infringe any copyright, patent, privacy right, publicity right, trademark, service mark or any other personal or property right of any person or entity, and that the Project does not constitute or include a defamation of any person or entity. I have paid and will pay in full all license fees, clearance fees, and other obligations, of any kind, arising from or associated with the exhibition of the Project at or in connection with the Festival.

3. In the event that the Project is accepted for inclusion in the Festival, I acknowledge, on behalf of myself and the Project’s Owners, that the exhibition or presentation of the Project at the Festival does not and will not create any confidential or fiduciary relationship between the Institute on the one hand and myself and/or the Project’s Owners on the other. I further acknowledge, on behalf of myself and the Project’s Owners, that I and we understand that neither I nor any of the Project’s Owners will receive any compensation for such exploitation, although some prizes at the Festival may include cash awards. I acknowledge that no obligation of any kind is assumed by, or may be implied against, the the Festival in the event of, by virtue of, or as a result of the selection of the Project for the Festival. I and the Project’s Owners understand and acknowledge that the selection of the Project for inclusion in the Festival does not and will not in any way constitute an express or implied endorsement or approval by the Festival of the content of the Project or any opinion expressed therein.

4. I agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, to indemnify and hold harmless the Festival, together with each of their parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, employees, attorneys, creative advisors, agents and representatives (collectively, “ASFF Related Parties”), from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, fees and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs) that may be asserted by any person or entity, or may be incurred by the Festival or any ASFF Related Parties, at any time in connection with the Project or the Festival's use, handling, consideration or exhibition thereof, and/or arising from any breach or alleged breach of any representation made by me to the Festival or any ASFF Related Parties, including, without limitation, any express or implied representation in these Terms and Conditions.

5. I warrant and agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, that the Project is being submitted to the Festival voluntarily and without promise or inducement, and that the submission of the Project neither imposes nor creates any obligation or responsibility on the part of the the Festival or any ASFF Related Parties to accept the Project for inclusion in the Festival, to exhibit the Project at the Festival, to acknowledge the submission of the Project, or to return the Project to me or others. I further agree, on my own behalf and on behalf of the Project’s Owners, that I and the Project’s Owners, and any other representative or person affiliated with the Project, in submitting the Project for consideration, are waiving, forfeiting, forgoing and relinquishing any right that I or we might otherwise have to assert any claim or commence any proceeding in any forum or tribunal against the Festival or any ASFF Related Parties, based upon, arising out of or otherwise relating to the submission, exhibition or failure to exhibit the Project (including, without limitation, claims relating to any failure or refusal to exhibit the Project at the Festival, the exhibition or marketing of the Project at or in connection with the Festival, alleged oral or written representations by the Festival or its representatives relating to the submission or exhibition of the Project, and any other matters arising from or relating to the submission of the Project), whether such claims may be based on theories of contract, implied contract, tort, statute, or other legal theory (hereinafter, “Claim”). In the event that any Claim is asserted, or any action, arbitration or other proceeding is brought or commenced, in violation of the agreement set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, I agree, on my own behalf and on behalf of each of the Project’s Owners, to indemnify the Festival from any and all Claims, losses, liabilities, damages, fees and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs) that are incurred by the Festival, the Festival and any ASFF Related Parties as a result of or in connection with any such Claim or any action, arbitration or other proceeding brought in violation of the representations and agreements set forth in this paragraph.

6. Without in any way limiting the provisions or scope of the agreements set forth in paragraph 5 above and paragraph 10 below, I further agree and accept that, in the event that any Claim is asserted, or any action, arbitration or other proceeding is brought or commenced, by me, any of the Project’s Owners, or any other representative of or person affiliated with the Project, in violation of the agreements set forth in paragraph 5 above, and in the further event that an arbitrator or other tribunal should permit such Claim to proceed despite the waiver language set forth in paragraph 5 above, the sole and maximum remedy that could be awarded to me or any other person or entity asserting any Claim shall be a refund of the submission fee paid in connection with the submission of the Project to the Institute for consideration for the Festival. Under no circumstances shall any other remedy, including without limitation actual, expectancy, reliance, consequential, special, punitive or exemplary damages, or any other damages, or injunctive, declaratory, provisional or other relief, be available to me, the Project’s Owners, or any other person or entity representing or affiliated with the Project.

7. In the event that the Project is accepted by the Institute for inclusion in and exhibition at the Festival, I hereby grant, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, each of the following rights to the Festival and any ASFF Related Parties without reservations, conditions or qualifications: (a) the right to use footage, stills and/or titles, and information from or relating to the Project for promotional purposes; and (b) the right to issue and authorize publicity concerning the filmmakers and the Project and to use all associated names, likenesses and biographical information. I also agree to provide up-to-date contact information pertaining to the director(s) and producer(s) of the Project, and to grant the Festival, at their sole and absolute discretion, the right to provide this information to film industry organizations that sponsor Festival events.

8. In the event that the Project is accepted by the Institute for inclusion in and exhibition at the Festival, and I or the Project’s Owners have contractual obligations to any producers, distributors, creators, cast or crew regarding "festival benefits" (which may include but are not limited to production credits, screening tickets, Festival credentials or monetary compensation), I agree and accept that those “festival benefits” must be administered and distributed by myself and/or the Project’s Owners, and do not impact the nature or quantity of benefits provided by the Festival.

9. I warrant and agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, that the Festival has made no claims, representations or guarantees, and has provided no assurances, in relation to the internal process utilized by the Festival with respect to selection of projects for inclusion in the Festival, and that the submission of the Project neither imposes nor creates any obligation or responsibility on the part of the Festival or any ASFF Related Parties to provide me, the Project’s Owners, or my or their related parties with comments, feedback or other information pertaining to the viewing or consideration of the Project for possible inclusion in the Festival.

10. I warrant and agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, that by submitting the Project to the Festival, I hereby grant the Festival and all persons employed by, contracted by, or otherwise directly associated with the Festival the irrevocable right to view and/or download all digital assets associated with the Project, including, but not limited to, any representation of the Project in the form of video files, still images, assets streamed via the Internet, and/or all other assets and information provided by the Applicant on the application. All digital assets referenced above shall remain active and accessible by the Festival until the conclusion of the Festival on April 18th, 2020. Any dissemination of these materials, incidental or otherwise, shall not be the responsibility of the Festival or any ASFF Related Parties.

11. I represent that I am 18 years of age or older, or that, if I am younger than the legal age to enter into contracts in my state, I have provided the Festival with signed, written consent from my parent or legal guardian.

12. Without in any way limiting the provisions or scope of the agreements set forth in paragraph 5 above, I further agree, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, that any claim, dispute or controversy arising out of, in connection with, or otherwise related to the Project, the Festival, or these Terms and Conditions, including, without limitation, any Claim (as this term is defined above) and any other claim or cause of action of any nature arising from the actual or alleged breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation or validity of these Terms and Conditions, as well as the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, will be governed by the internal, substantive laws of the State of Georgia and will be subject to and submitted to exclusive, binding arbitration before a single arbitrator in Atlanta, Georgia, which shall be the sole and exclusive forum for determination of such claim, dispute or controversy. The arbitrator shall issue a written award and, subject to the terms of paragraph 6 hereof, shall have the right to award monetary relief. I specifically agree and acknowledge, however, that the arbitrator shall not have the power to award punitive or exemplary damages, nor shall the arbitrator have the power to order the Institute to include the Project in the Festival or to award other injunctive or non-monetary relief. The arbitrator shall have the power to award, and shall be required to award, to the substantially prevailing party in any such arbitration, its reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the arbitration (including, without limitation and reimbursement of that party’s share of the arbitrator’s fees). The arbitrator’s award shall be final, binding and non-appealable. Judgment on the arbitrator’s award may be entered in any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction in the United States. In agreeing to this exclusive arbitration provision, I hereby waive, forfeit and relinquish, on behalf of myself and each of the Project’s Owners, any right or entitlement that I or the Project’s Owners might otherwise have had to bring or litigate any claim or claims encompassed by this paragraph in any federal or state court against the Festival or any ASFF Related Party, and further waive, forfeit and relinquish any right to a trial by jury with respect to such claim or claims.

13. I hereby acknowledge that I have the right to consult with an attorney of my own choosing with respect to these Terms and Conditions and with respect to the Rules and Regulations for submitting a project to the Festival. By completing my submission application for 2020 Atlanta Student Film Festival consideration, I agree that I am doing so after having consulted with an attorney or after I freely or voluntarily elected not to do so without coercion or duress.

14. I hereby acknowledge that I have read and understood the Rules and Regulations for submitting a project to the Festival and that the information contained in said Rules and Regulations does and shall supersede any information obtained elsewhere.

15. By completing my submission application for 2020 Atlanta Student Film Festival consideration via FilmFreeway, I freely and voluntarily give and express my full and complete acceptance of all of the terms and provisions set forth in these Terms and Conditions. I acknowledge that no oral representations, inducements, promises or assurances of any kind, and no representations, inducements, promises or assurances not set forth in these Terms and Conditions, have been made to me or the Project’s Owners by the Festival, or any ASFF Related Parties.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • McKinley Benson

    Great festival with great people!

    March 2021