A festival EXCLUSIVELY for teens in Kent County, Michigan, USA. All other entries will be disqualified. For teens in Kent County, appropriate paperwork must be sent to the festival. Information below.

You MUST fill out and submit an entry form. Please make sure your handwriting is legible. Get the entry form here: https://www.kdl.org/sites/default/files/teen-film-festival-entry-form.pdf

Education. Collaboration. Celebration. All Kent County teens in grades 6-12 are invited to enter films in the Kent County Teen Film Festival. A jury will review all submitted entries and select films to be screened at the Festival.

The Kent County Teen Film Festival is free and open to the public, so please join us at 10:30 AM on February 23, 2019 at Celebration! Cinema North (2121 Celebration Dr. NE).

Sponsored by CompuCraft, Kent District Library, Grand Valley State University and Celebration Cinema.

View previous selected films by visiting: http://www.youtube.com/user/KCTeenFilmFestival/playlists

Prizes will be awarded for the best films in various categories. In the past, these prizes included a Macbook Pro, Celebration Cinema and Apple gift cards and film camp scholarships.

OFFICIAL RULES

All short films must be written, directed and edited by teens in grades 6-12.

The filmmaker/director must be a resident of Kent County, Michigan.

All entries must be teen-produced, and may be either a group project or individual work.

Adult guidance and instruction are permissible, but the planning and production must reflect teen effort. Note, however, that adults are permitted to act in and assist with your film.

Films may be on any topic, but must be G or PG-rated in language and subject matter or they will be disqualified. Films will be previewed for content.

Title pages and credits should be included in your film.

Unless relevant to the plot, please do not include bloopers in your submitted film.

Films may be no more than 10 minutes in length including credits.

Use of sound or video clips from other films, television shows, music videos, etc. within your submitted work is not permitted unless those clips are in the public domain or you have received written permission from the copyright holder.

The Kent County Teen Film Festival requires all filmmakers to obtain permission to use copyrighted music in their films. Filmmakers can also use their own original music. Additionally, copyright-free, public domain, trade-friendly or creative commons copyright music can be used. For suggestions of places to find such music, please refer to the Copyrighted Music section of our webpage http://www.kdl.org/kctff

Each filmmaker may submit up to, and no more than, two films.

FORMAT AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Entry Form: https://www.kdl.org/sites/default/files/teen-film-festival-entry-form.pdf

Films submitted on USB flash drives must be submitted in .mov, .wma, or .mp4 format. Each film should be submitted on a separate USB flash drive with the entry form. USB flash drives submitted without these forms will not be considered.

Alternately, films can be uploaded on FilmFreeway, but filmmakers must still submit the entry form via a drop off point, mail, or by emailing a scanned copy to teenfilmfestival@kdl.org.

You must fill out an entry form for every film you submit to the festival.

Forms must be dropped off by January 18, 2019 to any KDL branch or mailed to:
KDL Cascade Township Branch
Attn: Tricia Kannegieter
2870 Jacksmith Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

All films will be previewed by a jury made up of select individuals for festival selection. Library staff will notify all entrants via email by February 8, 2019 as to whether or not their film will be shown.

All submissions (including completed forms) must be postmarked, uploaded or delivered in person by FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2019.

DO NOT SEND YOUR ONLY COPY: The library cannot be held responsible for any damage that might occur to submissions.

LEGAL DISCLAIMERS

By signing the entry form and entering the Kent County Teen Film Festival, the applicant agrees to all rules and regulations as defined in the official festival rules.

The applicant also grants a non-exclusive license, throughout the world and in perpetuity, to the Libraries to:
• Show their film to a non-paying public at a future Kent County Teen Film Festival, other partner festivals and promotional events.
• Display the film, in part or in its entirety, on KDL.org, video streaming websites, and/or Kent County Teen Film Festival website and Facebook page (not for profit).
• Have the film listed in the Libraries’ catalog of entries.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Kelly Taylor

    A wonderful opportunity for student film makers to showcase their talent and hard work. The prizes given are extremely generous which helps generate excitement to my future students. Thank you so much for this festival and keep in going for years to come! :)

    March 2018
  • An amazing festival. It's really cool as a teen filmmaker who rarely gets professional recognition to see your work in a movie theater judged by industry professionals. It's also fun when you're just starting out, to get advice and tips from the pros as well as seeing what you made on the big screen. The festival is very generous with prizes, with gift cards to both the Apple Store and Celebration! Cinema.

    February 2017