Launched in 2008 and presented by the New Hampshire Film Bureau, the New Hampshire High School Short Film Festival has become one of the marquee film festivals in the state, fostering interest in filmmaking, supporting media arts education in schools, and rewarding future members of the industry for their craft all throughout New Hampshire.

The festival screens a two-hour program of selected films. Films submitted for consideration are reviewed and scored by a festival selection committee. Originality, cinematic storytelling, and technical execution are the primary basis of the scoring. All films, regardless of type or genre, are judged on the filmmaker’s ability to effectively captivate an audience through cinematic expression. The festival places selections, beginning with the highest-ranked working downward, into the two-hour program block. The selections are cut off when the last film can begin prior to the two-hour mark.

As each film submitted to the High School Student Film Festival will be pre-screened by the festival selection committee, we will note in our program and promotional material those films that may have mature content and subject matter, and we reserve the right to refuse to screen any film with content deemed especially gratuitous.

The festival is free to submit, but entry into the final two-hour screening is not guaranteed.

Awards & Prizes

Films are judged by a panel of industry professionals including videographers, editors, graphic designers, sound designers, producers, writers, filmmakers, and surrounding similar fields. Judges determine four awards: Best of the Best, Best in Category: Fictional Narrative, Best in Category: Documentary, and Best in Category: Animation/Stop Motion. Judges reserve the right to award other accolades based on submissions.

Rules & Terms

ALL FILMS MUST BE PRODUCED BY A NEW HAMPSHIRE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ENROLLED IN PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOL IN THE STATE OR NH. OR A HOMESCHOOLED STUDENT AGES 14-18 IN THE STATE OF NH.

Eligible New Hampshire students must first submit three forms: a Film Submission Form, Parental Consent Form (if under 18), and Adult Supervisor form, all of which are available at the festival website at http://nhmediateachers.org.

A “Supervisor” is the one adult that assumes all responsibility for the safety of each cast and crew member. The Supervisor may be a faculty, staff, parent, or guardian. Each film must list one adult in the credits as, Supervisor. The Supervisor must fill out the adult supervision form. No film will be accepted without a supervisor.

(1) OPEN TO NH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ONLY. All films must be produced solely by students currently enrolled and attending a New Hampshire public or private high school (grades 9-12). Submitting students can be either New Hampshire residents or out-of-state residents attending school in-state. New Hampshire homeschooled students ages 14-18 are also eligible.
(2) Adult involvement in the project is limited to verbal educational support and guidance, on-screen talent and/or as Supervisor. Adults are there to supervise and guide students, not take part directly in any part of the production of the film.
(3) Films can be no longer than seven minutes (7:00) in length or less than one minute (1:00) in length, including titles and credits.
(4) Films must fall into one of three categories: Narrative Fiction, Documentary, or Animation/Stop Motion. Students are required to choose a submission category that their film falls under when submitting, as defined below:
Narrative Fiction: A scripted film that tells a fictional story, event, or narrative with a main goal of entertaining the audience.
Documentary: A film that aims to accurately represent a real event, people, and situations and often a main goal is to inform, instruct, and inspire the audience.
Animation/Stop Motion: A filmmaking technique that involves using motion graphics, drawings, stop motion, or any type of simiilar medium to tell a story. A film can be a narrative fiction as well as animation, but if you used animation or stop motion to make your film then put it under this category when submitting.
(5) Films must have been produced after June 30, 2023.
(6) Films can either be produced as part of a school project, group, independently, or as part of an after-school club. (Film Club/Media Club, etc.)
(7) Submitted films must be original works and filmmakers must be able to provide proof of licensing for any copyrighted material featured in the project to be eligible. Proper on-screen credit for licensed work is also required.
(8) Awards are given only to those listed on the submission packet. Award names will be listed as they have been submitted in the submission form. Please make sure all names are spelled correctly. Students may submit a project as the official applicant and still be listed in another project as crew.
(9) A high school student 18 years + may not act as the sole team member and adult supervisor.
SAFETY:
(1) Do not do anything that puts another person in danger.
(2) DO NOT BRING OR USE ANY WEAPONS (REAL OR FAKE) ON SCHOOL PROPERTY. If you have a story that uses a weapon, you MUST have full permission, consent, and supervision of the Adult Supervisor.
(3) No nudity.
(4) Swearing/fake blood/STAGED violence is allowed, but remember that the decision to use these tools MUST enhance the story. Any overly excessive or unnecessary use of these things will cause your film to be excluded from the festival. Speak to your Adult Supervisor if you are unsure what to include.