» One Earth Our Earth Young Filmmakers Contest

Event Info
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Presented by One Earth Film Festival and Green Community Connections

The 3^rd annual One Earth Film Festival — taking place Fri-Sun March 7-9, 2014 – is proud to announce the “One Earth . . . Our Earth!” Young Filmmakers Contest for students from 3rd grade through college.

Students are invited to submit environmental film entries that meet the contest guidelines and criteria (see Contest Details below). The contest runs from through Sunday, January 12, 2014. Winners will be notified prior to the 2014 One Earth Film Festival, and winning films will be screened at the One Earth Film Festival 2014 in early March. Winners in each grade level category will also receive cash prizes and matching grants for a non-profit organization or community sustainability project of their choice.

ELIGIBILITY: To enter, contestants must be in one of the following eligible grade level categories at the time of submission.

GRADE LEVEL CATEGORIES: There will be one winner per each of the following four grade level categories.

Elementary (grades 3, 4, 5)
Middle School (grades 6, 7, 8)
High School (grades 9, 10, 11, 12)
College (active, enrolled college or university student)

Contest officials reserve the right not to name a winner in any given category, pending volume and quality of entries.

Contest entries may be by an individual, or by a group of any size (for example — a group of friends, an afterschool program, an entire class).

Film length. Films by entrants in the 3rd-8^th grade level categories may submit a film of no shorter than 3 minutes, and no longer than 8 minutes. Films by entrants in 9^th grade through college level may submit a film of no shorter than 5 minutes, and no longer than 8 minutes.

In 2014, the YFC will accept and consider short animated films. Minimum film length for animated submissions is 45 seconds. However, animated films must still meet the general judging criteria.

TOPIC CATEGORIES:

Each film submission should choose one (or a couple) of the following areas on which to clearly focus its theme

Water
Waste
Food
Transportation
Energy

Filmmakers will be judged on their ability to address their chosen topic/s by being engaging, informative, inspiring, and creative in the execution of their film. Submissions must show a strong (research-supported) understanding of the topic/s and related, key issues. Submissions must share/highlight solutions to issues within the entrants’ chosen sustainability topic/s.

PRIZES:

Winners (one in each grade level category) will receive the following –

Screening of their film at the One Earth Film Festival, and at other related, subsequent events.
Posting of their film at the One Earth Film Festival and Green Community Connections website. The films may also be posted on additional websites related to sustainability causes. Websites will be chosen by One Earth Film Festival and Green Community Connections. Submission of film will automatically grant the associated organizations the right to post/share your film. Winning films will only be shared with other organizations after the completion of the 2014 One Earth Film Festival.
Cash prize and matching grant
Each winner will receive a cash prize and matching grant. Matching grants must be donated to a non-profit organization or community sustainability project that the winner chooses (pending contest officials’ approval). The selected organization will have proven its ability to raise sustainability awareness, and will have demonstrated a commitment to creating solutions in the subject matter area of the winning film maker’s film.
- Elementary (grades 3, 4, 5): $75 cash prize + $75 matching grant
- Middle School (grades 6, 7, 8): $75 cash prize + $75 matching grant
- High School (grades 9, 10, 11, 12): $125 cash prize + $125 matching grant
- College (active, enrolled college or university student): $200 cash prize + $200 matching grant

JUDGING CRITERIA:

Judges will check for adherence to submission rules and guidelines (including film length, film formats, etc. as described above). They will seek entries that cover the assigned sustainability topics (water, waste, food, transportation, energy) with an engaging, informative, inspiring, creative execution. Submissions must show a strong (research-supported) understanding of the topic/s and related, key issues. Submissions must share/highlight solutions to issues within the entrants’ chosen sustainability topic/s.

Adult guidance is accepted, but all submissions must be student led, and all hands-on work (e.g., creative idea generation, script writing, filming, etc.) is intended for students. No adult implementation will be allowed (adult technical guidance and some editing help are acceptable). Age-appropriate “errors” are admitted (e.g., unintentional spelling errors for younger students).

SUBMISSION RULES/GUIDELINES:

Digital file, a high quality digital file (.Mov Apple Quicktime Movie, .WMV Windows Media Video, MPEG/MPEG-4, Flash video)
Standard DVD (2 DVD copies), playable on a standard DVD player, as well as on Mac or Windows platforms.

Please test the DVDs before submitting them; if they are unable to be viewed by judges, they will be ineligible for consideration in the contest.

Place film copies in a sealed manila envelope. Make sure to label your submission with your film name, entrant name, and contact phone number number (phone number for an adult over age 18).

Additionally, the Entrant oath & permission* form must be completed, and included with submission.

The final deadline for submissions is Sunday, January 12, 2014 at 5P. Location for dropping off DVD submissions and paperwork is: 807 Forest Avenue, River Forest, IL, 60305 (NE corner of Forest and Chicago Ave.). Please drop your envelope into the mail slot. *Note that your submissionDVD copies will not be returned to you.

*In submitting a film, and signing the application form, all entrants agree to the terms and conditions of the contest and that Green Community Connections is not liable for any unauthorized or inappropriate sharing of films. Please note that violence, profanity or direct attacks on individuals or organizations will not be accepted. All films must adhere to copyright laws. Any film utilizing copyrighted material (including music, images, film etc.) will not be considered.