SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

~ filmmakers must be 14-22 years old and living in the Rockford area (high school students and post-high school students will be split up into two separate voting categories)
~ film must be written, directed, and edited by students 14-22 years old and living in the Rockford area (entries with adult involvement in any capacity besides acting are not eligible)
~ each filmmaker may submit up to and no more than three films
~ films may be of any nature (documentary, drama, comedy, animation, silent, narrative, etc.)
~ film duration must be between 30 seconds and 15 minutes (including credits and opening sequences)
~ filmmakers should stay away from profanity, crude jokes, sexual content, excessive violence, etc., keeping in mind that the festival is an all ages event. Doing so will increase the chances of your film being shown in the festival.
~ films must be G or PG rated in content (www.MPAA.org) or they will be disqualified (though final decisions on content are at the ultimate discretion of the preliminary judges who will be previewing the films before the event)
~ entrants must obtain the rights to any other film, song, or composition used in the film*
~ films should either be in English or have English subtitles
~ all editing must be done before submitting the film
~ films must be submitted via DVD or MiniDV (DO NOT SEND YOUR MASTER COPY – the copy you submit will not be returned)
~ once films have been received, no substitutions or newer versions will be accepted

*Submissions that have copyrighted material in them (i.e. music) must have usage rights from the publisher a/o composer, including that which you or a friend may have composed for the film. As a student filmmaker, publishers and composers will often work with you to allow you to use their song in your film free of charge, but require a formal release. This is a process that all filmmakers must go through when obtaining rights for their films, and it’s also a healthy exercise in networking and creating connections that may open doors for you in the future. MSFF is not responsible for ensuring you’ve obtained all copyright permissions.

NOTE: Submitting a film does not ensure its spot in the festival. Once your film has been submitted, it will be presented to the MSFF preliminary judges who will judge the films on content and excellence. The jury will determine the best short films to be shown in the festival, from which they will then choose award winners. You will be notified of whether your film has been accepted or not in the week before the festival. All awards will be presented the night of the festival.

Once you think you're ready, download the submission form and send in your film!