SCINEMA International Science Film Festival

Keywords

student, science, amateur, natural history, professional

Genre

Documentary, Animation, Drama, Experimental

Adelaide, SA, Australia, Oceania

Is this your festival?

General Information

edition

18th

organizer

Katherine Roberts

Contact details

General and Film Maker Enquiries

PO Box 3652 Rundle Mall Adelaide, SA 5000 Australia

5000

scinema@riaus.org.au

+61 (8) 7120 8600

Web & social

About the festival

TIMELINE UPDATE
We are opening entries to the SCINEMA Junior award category early this year on 1st September 2020. We want to provide all young science film makers as much time as possible to create their films. All other categories will open up for film entries 1st November 2020

If you have produced a film, television series, documentary, short, educational video or animation that has a science theme, then we would love to hear from you.

By science, we include: technology, engineering, mathematics, health and medicine, social and natural sciences.

SCINEMA is a celebration of the power of the moving image to tell stories about the world, how it works, and our place in it. Whether it’s the long slog and occasional thrill of discovery, the awesome scale of our universe, the beauty of nature, environmental challenges that we face on our planet, or how technology will shape our future, there are hundreds of science stories we want to see on screen.

SCINEMA, pronounced with a long ‘i’ to emphasize the science behind the cinema, is an international science film festival, providing a platform on which filmmakers, professional, amateur and student, can showcase their science films, from dramas to documentaries, animations or epic natural history.

SCINEMA, established in 2000, attracts entries from across the world, including some of the world’s most respected science factual programs, producers and directors.

SCINEMA International Film Festival will take place in June 2021 with screenings (COVID-19 restrictions permitting). This will be followed by the community program, giving community groups, schools and other organisations the chance to host their own SCINEMA screening during National Science Week in August 2021. In 2020 over 3000 people hosted at home screenings as part of the community program to an audience of over 97,000.

Best documentary/Film
Trophy

Best Short Film
Trophy

Best Experimental/Animation
Trophy

Indigenous / First Nations Award
Trophy

Award for Scientific Merit
Trophy

Best Online Format
Trophy

SCINEMA JUnior
Trophy

Social Impact Award
Trophy

About

If you have produced a film, television series, documentary, short, educational video or animation that has a science theme, then we would love to hear from you.

By science, we include: technology, engineering, mathematics, health and medicine, social and natural sciences.

SCINEMA, established in 2000, attracts entries from across the world, including some of the world’s most respected science factual programs, producers and directors.

Best documentary/Film
Trophy

Best Short Film
Trophy

Best Experimental/Animation
Trophy

Indigenous / First Nations Award
Trophy

Award for Scientific Merit
Trophy

Best Online Format
Trophy

SCINEMA JUnior
Trophy

Social Impact Award
Trophy

Awards & Winners

2020

SCINEMA JUINOR AWARD (Winner)

Animal Therapy (2020) Director(s):

SCINEMA BEST FILM (Winner)

My Year of Living Mindfully (2020) Director(s):

Best Short Film (Winner)

Scratching the Surface (2020) Director(s):

Award for Scientific Merit (Winner)

She Walks With Apes (2020) Director(s):

Best Online Format (Winner)

Reconnexion (2020) Director(s):

Best Experimental / Animation (Winner)

Bugbottle (2020) Director(s):

Social Impact Award (Winner)

#NatureNow (2020) Director(s):

Terms and rules

SCINEMA International Science Film Festival
2021 Terms and Conditions of Entry

SCINEMA International Science Film Festival (the Festival) is a project of The Royal Institution of Australia.
All films accepted into the Festival will be included in the SCINEMA Community Screening Program available online through the SCINEMA VOD platform. Community Screening playlists are password protected and only issued to those that register. A selection of finalists and winning films will also be chosen to be screened at live events in June 2021.
Following the festival program all films have the option to be included on the SCINEMA website for a license period of 12 months for a non-exclusive free VOD license for Australia and New Zealand.
Entry Instructions
1. Entries will be accepted through FilmFreeway.
2. Entries must not exceed 90 mins in length
3. All media must be clearly marked with the title of the entry, the entrant’s name, contact email, phone and address. It is the responsibility of the entrant to update any changes of address or contact details post submission.
4. All films with dialogue must be in English or English narrated or subtitled.
5. All entries must have been produced after 1 September 2019.
6. All entries must be fully completed works - do not submit works in progress.
7. Confirmation of receipt of entry will be emailed.
8. The Royal Institution of Australia accepts no responsibility for entries lost, delayed or not received for any reason.

Judging & Selection
1. A film review panel will be selected by The Royal Institution of Australia, and this panel shall decide which entries make it to the final judging round and select award winners.
2. A selection of films reaching the final judging round will screen as part of the 2021 Festival.
3. All films accepted into the SCINEMA festival will be curated into a community film program to screen by free VOD under the SCINEMA banner in August 2021.
4. By submitting your film for the Festival you are agreeing it can be screened at all of the above.
5. If selected, entrants agree and understand, that their film shall screen in either or both, our live festival event and/or our online festival event that utilizes VOD.
6. The jury’s decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
7. Only one prize or trophy will be produced per category - if a winning production(s) is a group entry, the group will have to split or share their prize.

Copyright & Permissions
1. Copyright resides entirely with the artist(s). By submitting your entry to the Festival you confirm that have obtained all releases necessary for the public exhibition of your work including internet.
2. In the case of student works, you must ensure you have obtained permission from students and/or their parents to use their image in your films. By submitting your entry to the festival you confirm you have received all required permissions.
3. The Royal Institution of Australia will not be held responsible for any breach of copyright or permissions arising from any entries submitted.

Promotional Use
Entrants shall allow clips or images from their works, to be reproduced by radio, newspaper, television and the Internet for promotional purposes only. Please provide a 300dpi image for this purpose.

Withdrawal from Festival
Entrants wishing to withdraw from SCINEMA must inform the festival in writing by 2 April 2021 by contacting the SCINEMA team on scinema@riaus.org.au

Entry Statement
By submitting an entry in the Festival, you declare your understanding, compliance and acceptance of all terms included in this application.

Copyright release
I grant permission for the film entered to be included in the SCINEMA program. If my film is accepted, I will nominate how my film may be screened from the following 2 options:

1. Have your film shown at the screenings if selected by the Jury, and then made available online for both community screening playlists and general public viewing via SCINEMA website for license period of 12 months for a non-exclusive free VOD license.

2. Have your film shown at the screenings if selected by the Jury, and then made available online for COMMUNITY SCREENINGS (from Aug 1st 2021 - 31st Aug 2021 only) Community screening playlists are password protected and only issued to registered venues.

Declaration
I declare that :
• I have the authority to convey that all copyright and permissions necessary are secured.
• the exhibition of this work will not violate or infringe upon the rights of any person, firm or corporation.
• I have read and agree to the TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ENTRY, and give permission for The Royal Institution of Australia to transfer sections from the above titled production for use as required in relation to the Festival for screening and promotional purposes.
• the entry is an original production completed after 1 September 2019.
*If you are under the age of 18, please have an authorised adult complete and submit this form on your behalf.

Ratings & Reviews

Categories and fees

SCINEMA Junior

Entry fees

Early Bird (1st September, 2020) $0

Regular (31st May, 2021) $0

Late (1st June, 2021) $0

Description

Content created and produced by those 17 years of age or younger.

Best Documentary / Film

Entry fees

Regular (15th February, 2021) $10

Age restriction No age restriction

Country Any country

Director's age No restriction

Director's gender Any gender

Student films No

First films No

Description

The judges will be looking for how the framework of the film unfolds, pacing and structure. The uniqueness of the premise or story. Professional execution, quality of all aspects of the production including, sound, dialogue, lighting and editing. Does the piece capture the audiences attention?

Indigenous / First Nations Award

Entry fees

Regular (15th February, 2021) $10

Age restriction No age restriction

Country Any country

Director's age No restriction

Director's gender Any gender

Student films No

First films No

Description

An award to advocate and celebrate the scientific endeavours and stories centred around, featuring or created by First Nations people. Category includes films that are crafted, filmed, written and/or produced by First Nations people, or those that feature Indigenous science.

Best Short Film

Entry fees

Regular (15th February, 2021) $10

Runtime - 30 minutes

Age restriction No age restriction

Country Any country

Director's age No restriction

Director's gender Any gender

Student films No

First films No

Description

The running length of a short film must be no longer than 30 minutes including credits. Concise storytelling at its best.

Best Experimental / Animation

Entry fees

Regular (15th February, 2021) $10

Age restriction No age restriction

Country Any country

Director's age No restriction

Director's gender Any gender

Student films No

First films No

Description

Artistic and technical skills in techniques used. Camera techniques or use of animation including but not limited to clay, computer, cell and pixalation. Does the visual effect enhance the story, engage viewers and complement the film?

Award for Scientific Merit

Entry fees

Regular (15th February, 2021) $10

Age restriction No age restriction

Country Any country

Director's age No restriction

Director's gender Any gender

Student films No

First films No

Description

Does the film best exemplify science with narrative film making in a compelling, credible, engaging and inspiring manner.

Best Online Format

Entry fees

Regular (15th February, 2021) $10

Age restriction No age restriction

Country Any country

Director's age No restriction

Director's gender Any gender

Student films No

First films No

Description

Recognising the impact of this content including real-time short form across all social media outlets. Looking at quality and originality of content as well as effective storytelling unique to the style of content.

Social Impact Award

Entry fees

Regular (15th February, 2021) $10

Age restriction No age restriction

Country Any country

Director's age No restriction

Director's gender Any gender

Student films No

First films No

Description

Does the film inspire compassion or social transformation about current or pressing issues? Through storytelling is there a call to action? Is the story compelling, creatively explored with the ability to inspire awareness?

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SCINEMA International Science Film Festival

General Information

About the festival

Awards & Winners

2020

Terms and rules

Web & Social

Ratings & Reviews

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Categories and fees

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