Official Rules & Guidelines

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PLEASE READ EVERYTHING BELOW

Please read through our submission criteria carefully -- we do not provide refunds to disqualified submissions. Feel free to contact us at info@nffty.org if you have a question or need clarification.

Submission Deadlines + Entry Fees:

  • Early Deadline: $30 | November 8, 2024

  • Mid Deadline: $40 | November 29, 2024

  • Regular Deadline: $50 | December 20, 2024

  • Final Deadline: $60 | January 10, 2025

*NOTE: 10% Discount available for FilmFreeway Gold members


Eligibility

  • The film’s director(s) must have been 24 years of age or younger at the time of production.

  • To be considered for a Jury Award in the Student category or any Middle/High School-specific Awards, films must be conceived, produced, and finished by filmmakers 24 years old or younger with teachers and other mentors acting in advisory roles only.

  • Films must have been completed no earlier than January 2024.

  • All music and other copyrighted material used in the film must be properly licensed and attributed. This includes Student Music Videos.

  • All films must be in English or subtitled in English. All films that are selected are required to provide an .srt file or open captions for accessibility (English SDH) during public exhibition.

Categories

All films (national and international) may be submitted into only one of the following categories:

  • NARRATIVE: Any narrative live-action film under 40 minutes in length.

  • DOCUMENTARY: Documentary under 40 minutes in length.

  • MUSIC VIDEO: Music video under 40 minutes in length. Music must be used with permission of artist and properly licensed -- see Rules & Terms.

  • ANIMATION: Any form of animation, under 40 minutes in length.

  • EXPERIMENTAL: Any film under 40 minutes that does not fit the mold of typical filmmaking.

  • EPISODIC: Any project presented in or intended to be presented in a multi-episode series, individual episodes of which are under 40 minutes. Minimum one episode submitted. You may submit multiple episodes of the same project as long as all episodes play continuously in one single video file under 40 minutes.

Note: public service announcements, commercials, and film trailers are not eligible for consideration in any category.

Awards & Opportunities

  • Jury Awards - We are committed to awarding the best short films created by filmmakers 24 and under from around the world, and we will be awarding prizes to both student and non-student films in Narrative Short, Documentary Short, Animated Short, Experimental Short, and Music Video categories, as well as best overall Episodic.

  • Audience Awards - Each showcase, or screening block, is eligible for its own Audience Award, and our festival features about 25 official selection showcases at each edition. Showcases are programmed based on the submissions we receive to NFFTY curatorial sensibilities, organized by themes, moods, subject matter, genres, social issues, and more.

  • All NFFTY official selections are eligible for distribution deals. We prioritize working with some of the most prestigious shorts platforms in a variety of first look deals and work closely to pair with curatorial sensibilities which will best grow an audience. NFFTY involves curators and buyers from these platforms as workshop leaders, panelists, jury members, and more, so getting selected for and attending NFFTY can net you valuable industry contacts!

  • Other Festival Prizes & Awards - We announce additional Special Achievement Awards and Special Awards closer to the festival. We'll also have awards and recognition for notable films in the age categories of "14 and Under" and "15-18".

  • At The Festival – When you attend NFFTY as a Filmmaker, you get to meet fellow young filmmakers from around the world, network with industry leaders and grow as a filmmaker. It’s truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Film Submission Process

Online Application: Must be completed no later than 11:59pm PT January 10, 2025

Preferred Methods:

  • Digital Upload: You will have the option of uploading your film to a secure website as part of the application process. All films will be watched by our judges via this secure screening process.

  • Online Link: FilmFreeway, our submission site, will accept links to Vimeo and or YouTube videos for your submission.

Payment: We encourage you to pay entry fees online during the online application process.

International Submissions: International entrants who do not pay online must use an international money order payable to NFFTY.

Film Stills: If your film is accepted, you must be able to provide a film still that is a minimum 300dpi and high quality. A film still should be from the film itself and draw viewers in and make your film look appealing. Still must be submitted in .jpeg or .png format.

Subtitles: All films must be in English or subtitled in English. All films that are selected are required to provide an .srt file or open captions (English SDH) for accessibility during public exhibition.

Synopsis: The 3-line synopsis you submit when filling out your online application will be used in the festival guide, on the NFFTY website and for other promotions, so write an interesting, compelling description of your film. NFFTY reserves the right to edit the synopsis for length and grammar.

Notification: If your film is selected to be part of NFFTY 2025, you will be notified via email on February 7, 2025. You will also be notified by email if your film is not selected. Please make sure that you notify us if your email changes, and add filmmakers@nffty.org to your safe sender email list. We often have problems getting emails through to school email addresses (e.g. .edu, .gov.), so if you have a personal email address, that is preferable for your entry.

Feedback: If your film isn’t selected into NFFTY, the programmers are happy to provide feedback if inquired. Please note, due to festival preparations, response time in the month before the festival may be delayed. The need for additional editing is the most common factor making the difference between a film that is selected and a film that is not. But we also receive many more worthy films than we have programming space to screen, so don’t be discouraged if your film does is not accepted.

Submission Fees: All submission fees are non-refundable, even if we do not select your film. Any film submitted in previous years must be a significantly different version to be re-considered. Re-submitted, previously rejected films will not be considered.

Exhibition Requirements:Films selected for NFFTY 2025 must send in an exhibition copy of the film as a Full resolution QuickTime file (ProRes 422 is best). The exhibition copy of film must be received no later than February 7, 2025. Exhibition copies will NOT be returned. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.


Filmmaker/Guardian/Representative Release

I acknowledge and agree that to the best of my knowledge, I am duly authorized to submit this film to NFFTY and to grant permissions related to its use and distribution.

I grant permission to NFFTY to use film clips/stills for promotional use. I allow NFFTY and any third parties at NFFTY the right to film, videotape and photograph my appearance and voice for any and all marketing and promotion of the festival and The Talented Youth.

I understand I will be added to the NFFTY email newsletter lists and receive email updates from NFFTY. My name and email may also be shared with 3rd party partners. In both cases, I can always unsubscribe via the email footer.

If this film is accepted into NFFTY, I grant NFFTY the non-exclusive right to right to show, distribute and market my film in its entirety as NFFTY sees fit, including but not limited to packaging and inclusion in sponsorship deals and other business related activities related to NFFTY. This also includes but is not limited to presenting films as part of the NFFTY online festival component, Best of NFFTY at other film festivals and other screenings, showcases or distribution with 3rd party partners. Exceptions and requests to opt out will be granted only by written request and must be made prior to acceptance into festival or when film obtains other distribution outside of NFFTY.

NFFTY may actively pursue other distribution opportunities for the film. I acknowledge that I may be asked to complete and sign additional distribution agreements. It is always my choice to accept or reject these offers. NFFTY does not take any copyright of my film, but may control my film for a duration of time or geographic region, per terms and conditions or any distribution agreement.

Submitting a film to NFFTY constitutes an agreement by and between the filmmaker/representative, and/or applicable Parent/Guardian of a minor aged Filmmaker, and NFFTY. By submitting, I agree to all of these rules, terms and conditions. I acknowledge that no submission fee refunds are given once this application has been submitted. I also acknowledge that I will not receive any compensation for the use of my film by NFFTY in accordance with the rules, terms and conditions.

I understand and acknowledge that, if I am under 18 years of age, my parent or guardian must agree to the terms of this Filmmaker/Guardian/Representative Release on my behalf. As a Parent or Guardian of a minor filmmaker if applicable, I understand and acknowledge that I am agreeing to the terms of this Filmmaker/Guardian/Representative Release on behalf of my child or a child for whom I am a legally designated Guardian.