NINETY-SECOND
FILM FESTIVAL
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
This year introduces the 3rd Annual Ninety-Second Film Festival in which student filmmakers create short movies that focus on storytelling and cinematography. We believe in your voices and invest in the stories you have to tell. We empower young artists to share these stories and transform their world through digital media. Going into our third year, we are astounded by the exceptional quality of the films screened. Your narratives provide fresh perspectives and introspection, inspired by our ever-changing world and elevated by your incredible talent in harnessing the elements of film. To view the world through your lens is to witness the power of a collective voice that is both intimate and universal. We are humbled and inspired to explore your creativity, grateful to be present in your growth, and honored to be a part of your artistic journey. Our festival is a celebration of your dedication and effort, as unique and talented as its creators.
Rules
Submission Deadline
Submissions Open: Friday, 1 September 2024
Final Deadline: CLOSED FOR 2025.
Technical Guidelines
Your submission’s total runtime (TRT) must be at least 75 seconds and must NOT exceed 90 seconds with an additional 10 seconds allowed for title and credits treatments.
We strongly recommend that you triple check your audio levels and that your audio is NOT limited to one channel (ie: right or left).
Any film that includes main dialogue that is not English must be submitted with English subtitles packaged into the submitted video file. Standalone .srt or .vtt files are not accepted.
When uploading your submission, you must use the following file naming conventions:
FirstNameLastName_FilmTitle_Category.mp4
Examples: SueDNymm_TheFishmonger_Documentary.mov, NDGuerre_DistractedDriving_PSA.mp4
We will only except the file formats .mp4, .mov.
Do not submit films in 4K. Please submit your film in 1080 HD resolution. Any film files that are larger than 2GB will not be accepted.
Do not submit using a YouTube link as they cannot be downloaded. Any submissions with a YouTube link will not be considered for selection or screening.
Films that are accepted into the festival will be screened in the 16:9 aspect ratio. If your film is submitted in a different ratio (not recommended), your film will be letterboxed to display on the 16:9 screen.
Content Guidelines
Submitted Films must be the original work of the applicant. If a film is based upon another person's life or upon a book or other underlying work, applicant(s) must secure any necessary rights to make such adaptations. However, it is not necessary to submit the adaptation rights agreements to the Festival. Neither the Festival nor its jurists investigates or attests to the authenticity of an applicant's statement of authorship or rights secured. By entering the competition, you represent that you have secured all necessary rights.
Applicants are solely responsible for obtaining all necessary rights and permissions for third-party materials included in their films, including but not limited to music, trademarks, logos, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights. The Ninety-Second Film Festival expressly disclaims all liability or responsibility for any violations of the foregoing.
The NSFF organizers/judges may, in their sole discretion, DISQUALIFY entries deemed to be inappropriate (including but not limited to the use of alcohol, tobacco, firearms, knives wielded as weapons, profanity, or sexual content not appropriate for school viewing) or otherwise non-compliant as per ANY of the rules of the festival.
The Festival has no obligation (other than as stated in these rules or on our website) to disclose any of the following information: i) Identities of judges; ii) Notes, feedback, or information relating to the submitted projects; and/or iii) Details regarding the submission review or selection process.
The Ninety-Second Film Festival team reserves the right to switch your submission to a different category as we see fit. Films that have not received a full color edit or sound edit are eligible for submission. Although the Ninety-Second Film Festival prefers picture-locked submissions for the consideration process, our focus is on story. Technical changes such as color or sound will not affect the final decision of any film. The student filmmaker will have the opportunity to supply the Festival with their most recent version prior to publication on the website.
Eligibility Guidelines
The film’s director(s) must have been in high school or younger while filming the project. Middle school students are eligible to submit in the Middle School category.
Any submission that does not meet these guidelines will NOT be considered for judging and will NOT be selected to screen at the Ninety-Second Film Festival.
Film / Genre Awards
Best Picture
Best picture is a very subjective recognition but the judging panel will do its best to determine this award based on execution, ambition, degree of difficulty, originality of approach, and deeper cultural resonance to name a few. Additional consideration but not limited to will include which movie the judges are most held by while watching, which movie stays with us the longest, and which movie we most want to view again.
Drama
Films in the drama genre often include realistic settings and defining conflict between one or more characters and themselves, others or forces of nature. Dramas usually have the intention to provoke powerful emotions in the audience by including societal ills, such as addiction, poverty, racial prejudice, sexual inequality, classism or corruption. There are several subgenres within drama, including melodramas, docudramas and medical, legal and philosophical dramas.
Student Representation through Storytelling
The best work that reflects the diverse world we live in and highlights the stories of historically excluded voices.
Student Voice(s)
Work that best demonstrates the sharing of personal stories, perspectives, and passions.
Comedy
Sure comedies make you laugh, but they also tell stories that move the audience and make them want more. There are so many comedic genres to choose from, and we welcome them all. Make us smile, make us cringe, make us laugh… This is your chance to share your comedy.
Public Service Announcement (PSA)
Any work of a Public Service Announcement nature. A PSA is the work that communicates a message for the public interest. PSAs are intended to modify public attitudes by raising awareness about specific issues.
Horror / Suspense
A work or film that causes an audience to feel frightened or have a sense of dread. They usually center their stories on unsettling situations, alarming events or the audience's fears. Many include elements that alert primal fears, like nightmares, vulnerability, alienation and fear of death or injury, which aim to attract and repulse the audience. Some subgenres of horror include supernatural, found footage, slasher, occult, vampire and monster films. These can have a variety of settings, ranging from realistic to wildly imaginative.
Animation
A work that employs traditional, stop-motion, computer-generated, 2D, 3D, Claymation, etc. style of animation.
Experimental
A non-traditional, non-narrative or otherwise hard to define work. Get weird, break the rules, and express your style.
Middle School
This category is open to all entries from 6th - 8th grade.
Documentary Short
The boundaries of documentary filmmaking continue to expand and we accept all forms and styles as long as they are nonfiction and document an aspect of reality. Find your subject, document it, and submit!
Stock Footage
Best work created from public domain stock footage with or without attribution (as required by the original author). Any films submitted in this category are not considered for Best Picture.
Music Video
Find or create a song and share its story or essence through visual imagery. All forms of music videos are accepted though we do NOT accept music videos with copyrighted music (without explicit permission). Rights-cleared music is available and we are happy to lend assistance in providing access to available music.
Broadcast Journalism: Feature Story
Share an in-depth story about a compelling, newsworthy subject that highlights creativity and subjectivity and makes an emotional connection with the viewer.
Sports Feature
Share profile pieces, real-time reporting, highlights or events illuminating athletes in action, whether they’re making a difference on the field, off the field, or both! No sport is off limits! Pickle Ball, motocross, skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, surfing, cheerleading, paintball, cheer, badminton.... as long as it includes athletes, doing what they love.
Audience Award
This work will be voted on by the staff and students of MIHS.
Jury Award
The selection is subjective and is separate from Best Picture.
Technical Awards
Best Cinematography
Cinematography is a language seen, not spoken. At its core, it is the visuals that support the story being told, involving many elements. Effective composition, thoughtful camera movement, precise lighting, color palette that complements the story, depth of field usage to highlight key elements, and a visual style that enhances the narrative and evokes emotion, all while seamlessly serving the story and not drawing undue attention to itself; essentially, using the visual elements to powerfully convey the film's themes and mood without being overly showy.
Best Direction
Strong visual storytelling, effective character development through directing choices, masterful use of cinematography and editing techniques, a clear understanding of the narrative's tone and pacing, ability to elicit emotional responses from the audience, and adept management of performances from actors; all while considering the film's genre and intended message.
Best Editing
Strong narrative clarity, seamless transitions, effective pacing and rhythm, enhancing the story's emotional impact, creative use of cuts and techniques, seamless integration with sound design, and overall contribution to the film's impact and style; often following the "Rule of Six" which prioritizes emotion, story, rhythm, eye-line, 2D plane of the screen, and 3D space, with emotion considered the most important factor.
Best Sound
Clear dialogue, a realistic soundscape, and a balance of music, sound effects, and ambience. Clear and impactful dialogue (if present) is essential to the narrative. Dialogue provides direct context. Background noises like wind or falling leaves provide information without overloading the audio. Music and sound effects work together to establish a mood and sense of reality. Effective use of effects to fill gaps that aren't captured on the set. Solid sound design produces a film's unique soundscape by combining all of its audio elements. Sound design enhances the narrative, evokes emotions, and provides a rich auditory environment for the audience.
Best Production Design
Production design is the art of creating a film's aesthetic through its set. Production designers work with the art department, costume, lighting, visual and special effects, and graphic design.
