Film Festival
2012 Student Film Festival
- When:
- Thursday, April 12 — Saturday, April 14
- Where:
- Coffman Memorial Union Theater
Submission Deadline: March 21, 2012 at 5pm
Eligibility
What is a film? Any student-produced media ranging from 1 second to 20 minutes (including credits).
- Each film must be directed, edited, or written by a student currently enrolled at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
- Fifty percent of the production crew must consist of currently-enrolled University of Minnesota-Twin Cities students.
Judging Criteria
- Films will be judged based on overall picture, performance, writing, editing, quality, cinematography, and audio.
Awards
Awards will be handed out for:
- Judges Favorite
- Short Film (under 5 minutes)
- Long Film (20 minute maximum including credits)
- Audience Favorite
- Short Film
- Long Film
- Program Board Favorite
- Best Parody
- Best Special Effects
- Best Chase Scene
Technical Requirements
We are able to accept a wide variety of data formats, including MOV, DV, AVI, DIVX, MP4, WMV, FLV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, etc. However, the preferred file format listed below will produce the best results with our system. If you have questions about how to save, format, or submit your video, please contact David Hill for more information.
- File Format
- H.264 Quicktime 7, 720
Bitrate: 2000
Dimensions: 1280 x 720 (MOV) with AAC audio at 44.1kHz - Frame Size
- 720x540 (or equivalent) for 4:3 aspect ratio
1280x720 (or equivalent) for 16:9 aspect ratio - Frame Rate
- 29.97 fps
Instructions
We prefer that you submit your movie via Media Mill. Media Mill is the University online video sharing site. Submitting your film is as easy as uploading your video to the Media Mill site and sharing it with us from there.
- First, you will need a Media Mill account. (This can take a couple of days, so make sure that you have an account well before the submission due date.) To get a Media Mill account, send an email to mmhelp@cla.umn.edu. Let them know that you are interested in an account so that you can submit your video to the U of M Student Film Fest.
- Once you have your account, upload your video. If your video is under 200MB, you can use the web interface to upload your video. If your video is larger than 200MB, you will need to use the Media Mill upload utility.
- Once your video is uploaded, share your video with David Hill (hillx075). From there, your video will be downloaded and processed to be shown for the Film Fest.
The Media Mill site has an extensive help page. If you have trouble uploading or sharing your video, please visit this site. If you still cannot solve your problem, contact us and we can try to help you out.
If you are not able to use Media Mill, or prefer not to, you can also submit your video in person on CD, DVD, portable hard drive, or flash drive. Drives can be returned, CD or DVD media will not. Entries will not be accepted on playable video DVDs. All videos must be submitted as data files. We cannot "rip" videos from your DVD.
Copyright Information
Even though this is a student competition and Fair Use guidelines can allow copyright material for educational purposes, those rights do not extend to public performances of the copyright material. Consequently, all submitted materials (images, music, etc.) must be original work, work used with the copyright holder's permission, or work that is in the public domain. Previously submitted films are not eligible. Films that violate copyright law cannot be shown in the festival. By submitting your video, you are agreeing that the material is clear of all copyright concerns and that you allow Student Unions & Activities to screen your video for the public.
By entering your work, you give Student Unions & Activities unlimited rights to use your film or images from your film for various screenings and use in promotional materials in part or in their entirety at any time, and to publish in print, electronic, or digital form in perpetuity.
If you have questions, comments, or concerns please email suafilm@umn.edu.