Official Rules:
All short films must be written, directed and edited by teens in grades 6-12, or ages 11-18
Filmmakers must be NYC affiliated in some way (eg. go to school there, live there, attend or attended a program there). If you are confused as to what NYC affiliated means or if you are NYC affiliated, please email nycteenfilmfestival@gmail.com.
Films must be primarily produced in NY state (this could mean it was filmed somewhere else but edited in NY). If you would like to protest this rule, please email nycteenfilmfestival@gmail.com with a brief note and your movie as an attachment.
All entries must be mainly teen-produced. Note, however, that adults are permitted to assist with your film and encouraged to act!
Title pages and credits should be included in your film.
Unless relevant to the plot, please do not include bloopers in your submitted film.
Films must be under 30 minutes including title pages and credits, but please note that finalist films over 10 minutes are subject to being shortened if screened at the festival. The judges will, of course, be viewing the full-length films.
There is no limit to how many films each submitter may submit to the festival.
Format and Submission Requirements:
Films must be submitted in .mov, .wma or .mp4 format and submitted online at https://www.nycteenfilmfestival.org. Note that contestants must complete all three steps (agreeing to the submission rules and guidelines, filling out the submission form, and submitting a film) in order to have their entries considered.
All films will be previewed by a jury made up of select individuals for festival selection. All entrants will be notified via email by a date TBD over the summer of 2016 as to whether or not their film has been selected as a finalist in the competition.
Films that do not meet the submission rules and guidelines will be disqualified.
Forms and videos must be submitted by June 20th, 2016, but exceptions will be made for films submitted within a few days after the deadline.
Judging and Awards
All films will be viewed and judged by a jury made up of select individuals (see the "Judges" page)
Legal Disclaimers:
By clicking the agree button and entering the NYC Teen Film Festival, the applicant agrees to all rules and regulations as defined in the official festival rules.
The applicant also grants a non-exclusive license, throughout the world and in perpetuity, to the NYC Teen Film Festival to:
Show their film to a paying or non-paying public at a future NYC Teen Film Festival.
Display the film, in part or in its entirety, on the NYC Teen Film Festival website and other video streaming websites.
Have the film listed in the NYC Teen Film Festival’s list of entries, in the festival credits, and in the program.
Copyrighted Music:
We allow the use of copyrighted music in films, but original music is encouraged!