Next call for entries will begin Summer 2020 to compete in the 2021 Kids with S.T.E.A.M. short film competition!

Now sponsored by Cartoon Network, The Multicultural Sci-fi Organization (organizers of The Atlanta Sci-fi Film Festival), is proud to announce this exciting and unique science fiction short film festival for children! Cartoon Network will be part of the screening process!

This festival of short films will be part of local school and community center programs for S.T.E.M Education. We're looking for films that target the following categories: Elementary School ages 5 - 10, and Middle School ages 11-13. All films, must be rated G – General Audiences, all ages admitted. Nothing that would offend parents or cause concern. NO Nudity, Sex, Violence or Profanity will be permitted in this festival! The main character(s) should be someone who is underrepresented in the field of S.T.E.A.M. - Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. (ie, girls and people of color)

The goal for each film is to inspire and encourage underrepresented students such as, Girls, African American and Hispanic boys & girls, and other people of color, to study these fields and pursue them as a career. They can also be from underrepresented countries like Pakistan, where women are not expected or encouraged to enter S.T.E.M. or S.T.E.A.M. fields. Here are some example ads, https://youtu.be/sucKTktHYA8 and https://youtu.be/u5axnIY7rHo

*Please Note - this festival is a PRIVATE Screening - and is part of a school program for the children of that school, and will not be open to the general public. Due to strict school policy, filmmakers will not be allowed at the screenings. Students who happen to attend the school that is having the KWS festival will definitely be allowed to attend.

Here's a short list of the guidelines:
1. CGI/Animation or Live Action are accepted

2. Length of film short is a Maximum of 15 minutes WITH Credits! (minimum time of 3 min)
And credits should be 1 Minute or Less!

3. There is NO AGE Requirement for filmmakers, you can be ANY age! Adult filmmakers
have the option to work with children to create this film, (behind the camera!!) If the
filmmaker is a minor (under 18), or is working with a minor to create the film , they
must provide a short, 1-2 min Behind the Scenes video of the child filmmaker. This
can be folded into the credits or after.

4. In keeping with the theme, the main protagonist(s) should be women and/or minority
studying or working in the field of S.T.E.A.M.

5. All ages accepted. If the filmmaker is under the age of 18, she or he can create a 30 sec
spot at the end of the movie stating why they made the film. Please add 1 behind the
scenes photo of them shooting a scene in the film. This will inspire young kids to pursue
filmmaking as a career in the arts!

Shorts will be judged by Cartoon Network, Toon Boom, Educators, and MCSFO
Annual Licenses from Toon Boom
Written reviews from Kids (see example at theatlantascififilmfestival.com/kws)
Short screened and promoted at all KWS events in the US
Podcast Interview
More Prizes TBA

This is a Short film competition, so ONLY short films should be submitted, NO Features, Full Lengths or Documentaries. DURATION UPDATE: We're now accepting films between 3 and 15 min, EXCLUDING the beginning and end credits. With beginning and end Credits No More than 1 min Long. Due to the flexible schedules, we are lenient on the film length, so just send us an email if you would like to submit a film no more than 30 min long. The minimum length should be 3 minutes, Excluding credits.

Student Filmmakers - We are now accepting short films from school aged kids - ES, MS and HS this year. Films must be works directed and/or produced by elementary school, middle school, high school or college students. Adult supervision must be limited to an advisory capacity only.

All films, (national and international) may be submitted into only one category, but film makers may submit additional entries with separate forms and entry fees.

FORMAT: MP4 Media Files Only, with maximum file size of 3GB. (please send an email first if your film exceeds this limit)

Language:
All films must be in English ONLY!

A press kit is required, but ONLY After Acceptance.
> Production Still Photos - Digital
> Photo of the Director - Digital
> Biography/Filmography - Director
> Biography/Filmography - Producer
> Biography/Filmography - Writer

Screening or Rental Fees:
MCSFO does NOT CONSIDER films that require SCREENING/RENTAL FEES.

Prior Screenings are OK! Theatrical runs (commercial release) or broadcast (TV) anywhere in the U.S.A. and Online, previous screenings at other film festivals, as well as private, industry, and press screenings are all OK!

RIGHT TO SCREEN: The participants grant the organizers (The Multicultural Sci-fi Organization – MCSFO) the non-exclusive rights to screen your (non – commercial) film / entry at this and all Kids with STEAM (KWS) and MCSFO film festivals and events.

COPYRIGHT: The Film must not contain any copyrighted work(s) belonging to third parties unless (1) Participants have a license to use such works in the Film; or (2) the use participants’ Film makes of such works is a fair one under the copyright laws. Participants will retain any licenses and provide them to organizers upon request.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The entry should be submitted by the Participant, who should be the rights holder of the film, or the person authorized to participate in the contest, and accept the terms and conditions. For the purposes of this contest and subsequent distribution of the participating film, the Participant hereby confirms that he/she/it has the necessary rights to submit the entry and accept the terms.

This festival is a PRIVATE Screening - and is part of a school program for the children of that school, and will not be open to the general public. Due to strict school policy, filmmakers will not be allowed at the screenings.

Only two persons who submit the entry will be considered as the “Participants”. All communications from our end will be directed only to the Participants.

Transfer, assignment or substitution of the prizes / benefits to a person other than the participants, will not be permitted. However, in exceptional cases the organizers reserve the right to entertain such request at their discretion.

The participants agree that the organizers, partners and sponsors, shall not be held responsible for any unauthorized use of the content by any third party, and The Multicultural Sci-fi Organization, does not guarantee the posting or screening of any content.

The Organizers bring this offer on a best effort basis. The winning participant hereby confirms that it will not hold the Organizers or it’s employees, representatives or partners responsible for any untoward incident he/she may endure in relation with fulfillment of this prize. The decision of the jury and audience choice shall be final, unquestionable and binding on all participants.

Once submitted, the entries cannot be withdrawn for any reason whatsoever.

The Multicultural Sci-fi Organization may reject any film without assigning any reason whatsoever and the same cannot be challenged.

The organizers reserve the right to modify the terms and conditions of the contest without any intimation to the participants at any time after the launch of the contest.
Entry and participation of films implies unconditional acceptance of these terms and regulations.

The organizers of the STEM Kids Sci-fi Film Festival's decision in all matters pertaining to this contest and screening terms herein shall be final and binding in all respects.

Please Note: The Multicultural Sci-fi Organization (MCSFO) DOES NOT Waive Entry fees! MCSFO believes waiving entry fees hurts the integrity of the competition. The same rules and entry fees should apply to all applicants so no one film is favored over another. In a similar respect, MCSFO does not invite films to be in competition. Only films that are submitted will be considered for competition.