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Definitions (as they apply to the Festival):
Motion Picture...A visual presentation which uses photo/chemical or electronic analog/digital imaging combined with the phenomena of persistence of vision to create communication with images which have movement.
Filmmaker...A person who exercises creative control over any visual presentation which uses Motion Pictures (as defined above).
Professional...A Filmmaker who receives compensation for their work in the production of any Motion Picture (see above).
Amateur...A person who has not received any personal compensation or profit for their work as a Filmmaker on any project.
Middle School Student...A person enrolled in a school program between the levels of grade 6 and grade 8 as of Aug. 7, 2005.
High School Student...A person enrolled in a school program between the levels of grade 9 and grade 12 as of Aug. 7, 2005.
College Level Student...A person enrolled at an accredited institution of learning designed for post-High School education as of Aug. 7, 2005.
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General Rules
1.) Entries must be motion pictures (as defined above) which are original, undistributed works produced, written and/or directed by the submitting filmmaker. Entry of works submitted previously in the Hot Shops Film Festival is not permitted.
2.) The submitting filmmaker must be directly responsible for the creative control and direction of the project. Collaborative efforts may be recognized and acknowledged, but only the submitting filmmaker will be awarded any applicable prize.
3.) All entries using copyrighted material (sound or picture) must obtain proper clearances and permission to use the material. Documentation showing this clearance and permission must be submitted with the application. Examples of copyrighted material may include: popular music, stock footage and still photographs. It is the Filmmakers responsibility to obtain rights, clearances and permission. The Hot Shops Film Festival assumes no responsibility for violation of copyright law.
4.) Entries submitted to any of the three student categories must show proof of enrollment. This may be a copy of a student I.D., a letter from an instructor, a copy of an official class schedule or a copy of a report card.
5.) Obscene, pornographic or violent material is not allowed under any circumstance. The enforcement of this rule will be at the discretion of the Film Festival advisory board.
6.) Submission of an entry automatically transfers unlimited exhibition, duplication and distribution rights for the entry to The Hot Shops Film Festival. The media and the contents contained on the media becomes the property of The Hot Shops Film Festival. Entries will not be used in any way for commercial purposes. The intent is to allow the Festival to use your entry for promotional or educational purposes. By submitting and entry to the Hot Shops Film Festival, each entrant expressly grants permission to use their name, likeness, hometown, etc...
7.) Entries will be returned to entrants only under the following conditions:
a) The entrant has included self-addressed packaging appropriate to entry type.
b) The entrant has included appropriate postage and postal instructions.
c) At least 60 days have elapsed from the end of the festival. |
The Hot Shops Film Festival in no way guarantees the return of any entry and no guarantee is therefore expressed.
8.) No entry will be considered unless the entire entry form is completed. A single entry may be entered in only one category and level. If you are entering more than one project, you must submit a separate, completed entry form for each one.
9.) Each entry must be accompanied by the following:
a.) entry fee
b.) a 25-50 word synopsis of the filmmakers intent
c.) the filmmakers biography or resume
d.) a photocopy of the filmmakers student identification, if appropriate
e.) appropriate clearances or rights
f.) a detailed description of the production method used including a complete list of credits |
10.) Entrants shall indemnify, defend and hold the Festival, its agents and its representatives harmless from and against any and all claims, damages, costs, liabilities and expenses which may be incurred by reason of any breach of these representations, or arising out of any matter contained in the media or otherwise by the Festival’s use of the media.
11.) Entries may be disqualified for the following reasons:
a.) inappropriate material
b.) incomplete application materials and documentation
c.) submissions on unacceptable media
d.) entries which are submitted at incorrect entry levels or categories
e.) entries which have been submitted previously to the Hot Shops Film Festival
f.) no application fee enclosed with the entry |
In the case of disqualification, an attempt will be made by the festival staff to contact the entrant. This will allow an opportunity for the disqualification to be remedied.
12.) In case of questions, disputes or misunderstandings the decisions of the Directors of the Festival are final.
13.) The contest is limited to US residents only. Entry is void where prohibited by law. Entry by members of the Film Festival Board of Advisors, the Operating Staff of the Hot Shops Film Festival and the staff of the Hot Shops Art Center is expressly prohibited.
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Eligibility
Students (as noted in the definitions section) are eligible to enter the respective student levels.
Persons who are not students and are not working professionals are eligible to submit entries in the Amateur level categories.
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Entry formats
Projects submitted to the Panel of Judges are limited to 10 minutes. If your project is longer than this limit, please consider re-editing the program in order to meet the entry requirments. If a submission is longer than the 10 minute limit, only the first 10 minutes of the project will be screened. AT THE JUDGES DISCRETION, longer versions of submitted entries may be requested for presentation at the public screenings. Only the versions which meet the festival competition criteria will be judged in the festival competition.
Entries can originate on any motion picture (image) medium (as defined above). All entries must submitted as electronic media. They must conform to the National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) specifications.
Only the following videotape and disc formats are acceptable for submission:
a) VHS (standard size cassette, Standard Play mode only)
b) SVHS (standard size cassette, Standard Play mode only)
c) miniDV (Standard Play mode only)
d) DVD (video mode only)
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Entries with soundtracks must be in English or have English sub-titles. Soundtracks may be mixed in any manner the filmmaker wishes. All entries will be presented as two-channel, conventional stereo soundtracks.
DO NOT SEND THE MASTER COPY OF YOU PRODUCTION. DO, HOWEVER, SEND A HIGH QUALITY COPY.
Get your  Entry Form here.
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Entry Levels (as defined above)
| MIDDLE SCHOOL: |
| Entry level for students in grade 6 through grade 8. |
| HIGH SCHOOL: |
| Entry level for students in grade 9 through grade 12. |
| COLLEGE: |
| Entry level for post grade 12 students. |
| AMATEUR: |
| Entry level for non-academic filmmakers, hobbyists and enthusiasts who are not Professionals. |
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Categories
| DRAMATIC FEATURE: |
| Drama Films are serious presentations or stories with settings or life situations that portray realistic characters in conflict with either themselves, others, or forces of nature. A dramatic film shows us human beings at their best, their worst, and everything in-between. |
| COMEDIC FEATURE: |
| Comedies are light-hearted dramas, crafted to amuse, entertain, and provoke enjoyment. The comedy film humorously exaggerates the situation, the language, action, and characters. Comedies observe the deficiencies, foibles, and frustrations of life, providing merriment and a momentary escape from day-to-day life. |
| DOCUMENTARY: |
| A recording or visual transcript of an issue, idea, event or person or persons. Either unbiased or told from the perspective of the subject or the filmmaker. |
| MUSIC VIDEO: |
| A visual presentation or interpretation of a musical selection which reflects the message of the musician/composer or the filmmaker or both. |
| ANIMATION: |
| A presentation using visuals other than photo-realistic images. Animated Films are ones in which individual drawings, paintings, or illustrations are photographed frame by frame (stop-frame cinematography). Usually, each frame differs slightly from the one preceding it, giving the illusion of movement when frames are projected in rapid succession at 24 frames per second. |
| SCREENPLAY: |
| A screenplay or script is a blueprint for producing a motion picture. It can be adapted from a previous work such as a novel, play or short story, or it may be an original work in and of itself. |
| SADDLECREEK MUSIC VIDEO: |
| As defined in the Music Video category above, only using one of the two songs supplied by Saddlecreek Records. The winning entry will be placed on Saddlecreek's website. |
| SCI-FI / HORROR: |
| Traditionally makes imaginative literary use of paranormal phenomena, occult elements, futuristic, and psychological motifs. |
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Screenwriting Competition
- Entry fee per screenplay is $50 (U.S.) for college/university and amateur screenwriters.
- Entry fee is $30 (U.S.) for high school students.
- Deadline for entry submission must be postmarked by December 31, 2005
- This contest is open to anyone (world wide) except all employees, directors, associates, the immediate families of Hot Shops Film Festival.
- ONLY THE TITLE OF THE SCREENPLAY SHOULD APPEAR ON THE FRONT COVER! As all reading is anonymous the writer's name should not appear anywhere on the script. You must include a SEPARATE cover sheet with TITLE, WRITER'S NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER and EMAIL ADDRESS.
- Submissions must be full-length film scripts in any genre, over 80 pages, but not to exceed 130 pages, and conform to standard industry format. [See online example here]
- Multiple entries are permissible, but each entry must be accompanied by the Screenwriter's Screenwriter's Entry Form, signed, and an entry fee.
- Adaptations from other works are permissible provided you have the writer's written permission to adapt the work.
- All writer's must sign the Screenwriter's Entry Form.
- Writers under the age of 18 years old must have a parent or guardian sign the Screenwriter's Entry Form.
- High school and college/university students must submit Xerox copies of student identification
- Contest applicants must accept without reservation the decisions rendered by the jurors.
- Collaborative work is eligible, but each must fill and sign the Screenwriter's Entry Form individually. The writers are responsible for the distribution of the contest prize(s).
- The screenplay must not have been previously optioned, sold, or produced.
- You have retained at least one copy of the submitted material, and you understand that all material we receive will not be returned.
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