Teen Film Contest & Festival

6th Annual KDL Teen Filmmaking Contest

 
All Kent County teens, grades 6-12, are invited to enter films in the 6th annual KDL teen filmmaking contest. Films selected from the contest will be screened at the KDL Teen Film Festival from 10:30 am – 1:00 pm on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at Celebration! Cinema North. Prizes will be awarded for the best films in various categories.

Application and submission deadline: Monday, January 9, 2012

 

KDL Teen Film Festival
Saturday, February 11, 2012, 10:30 am – 1:00 pm


Join us for a free special screening of short films, documentaries, music videos,
and animation created by talented Kent County teens. For all ages!
At Celebration! Cinema North, 2121 Celebration Dr. NE.

 

Contest/Festival Rules: (See FAQs)

Participants:

  • The movies must be directed, filmed and edited by teens, grades 6-12.
  • The filmmaker/director must be a resident of Kent County.
  • All entries must be student produced, and may be either a group project or individual work.
  • Adult guidance and instruction is permissible, but the planning, production, and selection of the subject matter must reflect student effort.

Work:

  • Film, video, or computer-generated multimedia must have been created after January 1, 2011.
  • 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.
  • All editing must be done before submitting the film.
  • Title pages and credits should be included in your film.
  • Films may be up to 10 minutes in length including credits.
  • Accepted formats include but are not limited to:  DVD, QuickTime, MP4, DivX, Mpeg-2, and AVI. Video and audio quality should be as high as possible to ensure a solid screening of the final product.
  • Videos may be submitted on DVD media or USB "thumb" drives.  Please be aware that KDL is not responsible for lost or misdirected media.
  • Each filmmaker may submit up to and no more than two films.
  • Obtaining permission to use copyrighted music or using your own original music or copyright-free, public domain, trade-friendly, or creative commons copyright music will ensure the greatest broadcast of your film by KDL marketing. For suggestions of places to find such music, please refer to the end of this rules/information sheet.

Submission:

  • Entry Forms are available for download here, and photocopies of the entry form are acceptable. 
  • Entrants must sign a release form. If under 18, a parent or legal guardian must also sign the release.
  • DVD / USB drive(s) must be labeled with your name, address, telephone number, and title of work.
  • Send completed Entry Form, Release Form, and DVD or other digital media, either by mail or in person, to:

Kentwood Branch
Kent District Library
4950 Breton SE
Kentwood, MI 49508
Attn: Greg Lewis

ENTRIES AND FORMS MUST BE POSTMARKED OR RECEIVED AT THE ADDRESS ABOVE BY MIDNIGHT, JANUARY 9, 2012.

DO NOT SEND YOUR ONLY COPY: The Kent District Library may not be held responsible for any damage that might occur to submissions.

Judging & Awards:

  • All films will be previewed by select members of Kent District Library branches.
  • Every attempt will be made to show all entries at the public festival screening event, but due to time constraints, Kent District Library reserves the right to limit the number of films shown. Kent District Library will notify all entrants in advance whether their film will be shown.
  • Entries will be judged by a panel of judges at the KDL festival screening event held on Saturday, February 11, 2012 from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm.

Copyrighted Music:
KDL strongly encourages all filmmakers to use original or copyright free music for their soundtracks. While films using copyrighted music will be accepted for the KDL Teen Film Festival, copyright law prohibits us from broadcasting your film on the KDL website or in other venues.

Sources for copyright free music may be found at:
WKTV (local television station with an on-site copyright-free music library for public use)
Internet Archive Community Audio
Creative Commons Music

If you have any questions, please email glewis@kdl.org

 

Lights, Camera, Action!