Frequently Asked Questions

1. Eligibility - Any person older than 13 and younger than 25 living in Flint or Genesee County, the state of Michigan, or the United States may enter a film. For 2021 we are allowing entries that were made anytime in the last five years so long as it wasn't submitted to the Flint Youth Film Festival before and the filmmakers were between 13-25 when it was made. Group projects, as well as individual works, are acceptable. All submissions must be produced by entrants. Adult guidance and instruction are permissible, but the primary hands-on creative work and point-of-view must be by the entrant(s).

2. The Submission deadline is June 1, 2021 (postmarked, electronic dating). Free.

1. Minors must receive guardian/parental consent to enter the competition.
2. Entrants are strongly encouraged to attend the filmmaking workshops provided by the festival.Entrants are strongly encouraged to attend the filmmaking workshops provided by the festival.
3. Entrants may submit as individuals, teams, or classes.

3. Rules

1. Original Work Only - Only original work may be submitted. The FYFF board reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any submission.
2. Ratings Apply - The FYFF uses the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) film rating system for submissions. Participants should follow the guidelines --- no nudity, offensive language, or violence. http://www.mpaa.org/film-ratings
3. Language Requirement - All films must be in English or subtitled in English.
4. Copyright - If copyright-protected sources are used, you must obtain the necessary permissions and include them with this application. If using material under creative commons (fair use doctrine), make sure the necessary requirements are met in order to submit your work to a third party. For more information on copyrighted material and what constitutes fair use material, please visit: www.centerforsocialmedia.org/fair-usewww.copyrightkids.org
   For copyright-free music, please visit: www.mobygratis.com
   The FYFF is not responsible for the accuracy of the information on these websites. Please do your research and try to find material that is royalty/license-free and/or falls under creative commons. Copyright is a complicated issue. When in doubt, do not use material you did not create. We are interested in what you can create, not what you can borrow.
5. Film Running Time Limits
   Age 13-15: 5 minutes max
   Age 16-19: 10 minutes max
   Age 20-25: 20 minutes max
6. Entry Categories
   Age 13-15: Achievement
   Age 16-19: Fiction or Non-Fiction
   Age 20-25: Fiction or Non-Fiction
7. Screenplay Details
   Age 13-15: 5 pages max
   Age 16-19: 10 pages max
   Age 20-25: 20 pages max
8. The Flint Youth Film Festival reserves the right to copy and distribute the works submitted for exhibition and promotional purposes and to benefit the Michigan communities represented.
9. Jury Process - A jury panel of media professionals and educators will select entries for recognition in all categories. Criteria for selection include:
   Storytelling
   Quality of Overall Production
   Freshness & Originality
   Persuasive Point of View
   Emotional Impact
   Technical Proficiency
   Successful Risk-Taking
   
   The use of original music (not copyrighted) is strongly encouraged.

4. Awards

1. The 13-15 entrants receive Achievement Awards. All other awards are split between Fiction and Non-Fiction categories. Each selected film is eligible to win a first place or runner-up award in each of the age groups as well as craft awards in Directing, Writing, and Cinematography for the 16-19 and 20-25 categories.
   Additional Awards Determined by Judges
2. The Heart Award: Passion of the entrant(s) outshines all others
3. Audience Choice Award: Film festival audiences will vote.

All awards will be presented at the Awards Ceremony Thursday, July 22, 2021, online on our YouTube channel.*

*Subject to change depending on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic