Fountain Valley School of Colorado is proud to present the Dominique Dunne Film Competition. The competition, formerly named the Dominique Dunne Film Festival, began in 1967 and was the country's first high school-sponsored showcase for young filmmakers. Originally called the FVS Film Festival, it was renamed after the death of Dominique, a promising actress and 1977 FVS graduate.

QUICK FACTS

What: Dominique Dunne Film Competition presented by Fountain Valley School of Colorado
For: Students who are currently enrolled in grades 9-12 at schools that have been invited to participate in the competition and whose entries have been endorsed by their teacher.
Categories: Dramatic and documentary; films are limited to a length of 20 minutes
Submission deadline: January 1, 2017
Cost: $11 for first entry; $6 for each additional entry per person (see discount code)
Winners announced: Late January 2017
Competition screening: January 28, 2017

Awards & Prizes

First place in each category receives $300, second place receives $100; honorable mention prizes of $50 may be awarded.

Rules & Terms

-Entry Fee: $11 for first entry and $6 for each additional entry per individual (see discount code). U.S. dollars only.

-No fee waivers are available.

-There is a limit of six entries per school (three per each category), and all six could come from the same individual.

-Entries are limited to 20-minute maximum running time.

-Students must be currently registered in a public or independent high school and in grades 9-12.

-Entries submitted must be pre-screened and endorsed as the school's official entries by a teacher at the school—preferably a film teacher. All of the school's entries (up to six) must be screened by the same teacher.

-Films not in English language should have English subtitles.

-Films must be the work of the student or student group–no major contributions from teachers, parents, professionals, or others.

-Entries must be received by January 1, 2017. No late entries will be accepted.

-Winners will be notified and posted on the competition website by late January 2017.

-The competition screening will be on January 28, 2017.

Categories
Dramatic: Tells a fictional story, is narrative

Documentary: Nonfiction content, interviews and voice-over narration, still photographs, footage of actual events to explore a chosen subject

Judging
Finalists for first- and second-place awards will be decided by a screening committee. Finalists will be sent on to a panel of judges who are recognized professionals with established careers in the film industry. Each winner may receive a written personal critique from one of the competition judges or a member of the competition advisory panel. Honorable mention awards will be chosen by the screening committee.

Judging criteria is based on the technical and artistic merit in the quality and use of lighting, composition, editing, audio quality, camera technique, originality, writing, pacing, structure and overall impact.