Film Submission Requirements

DEADLINE

Films submitted after 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, December 8, 2024 are not guaranteed a place in the program of public screening.

CONTENT

Any violation of federal copyright law disqualifies a film for public screening.  Student filmmakers should take particular care to avoid the use of copyrighted music, including cover versions of popular and classical songs.  Any materials which were not created by the producers (e.g., photos, stock footage, sound effects, [even royalty free] music) must be credited.  Student filmmakers may be asked to produce documentation which supports any claim of permission.  Students found to be in violation of the PennWest Academic Integrity Policy may also face other sanctions, up to and including dismissal from the University.

LOCATION

Animated films film must be submitted to
anim-stor1.dc1.pennwest.edu > Student_Storage > Film Festivals > Fall 2024 > appropriate class subfolder as shown:

Live action films must be submitted to
anim-stor1.dc1.pennwest.edu > cinema > appropriate class subfolder as designated by your professor.

VIDEO

Codec

Frame Size & Rate
1920 x 1080p, 23.976 fps

Video Level
The Vectorscope in Adobe Premiere’s Lumetri Color Workspace advises students to avoid over-saturated colors which are apt to “bleed” on older televisions.  Levels (Y, Cb, Cr) should be between 0-700mv.  Digital equivalent 8-bit values are 16-235.  Colors which exceed these values are broadcast illegal.

Protected Areas
Filmmakers are advised to keep important visual information away from the edge of the frame.  Otherwise, it may be obscured by closed captions, progress bars, streaming control buttons, or identifying logos.

Safe Title = 90% of image area;
Safe Action = 93% of image area

AUDIO

Codec
All submissions must be in stereo.

Level
True peak level cannot exceed -2dBFS
Loudness integrated over duration of entire program must be within -24 LKFS ±2
As a guide, the producers of student films should aim for an average target loudness of -12dBFS (deciBels on the full scale).

HEADS & TAILS

Each film must begin with a standard leader.  Each film must conclude with two seconds of end card (for live action or animated films as appropriate) and 30 seconds of silent black.

PUBLIC SCREENING

Yes, you may (and should) invite friends and family to the Pogue Multipurpose Room.  Doors will open at 7:15 p.m, Thursday December 12, 2024.  The show will begin at 8:00 p.m.

Take note of audience response to your film.  Did people react when and how you thought they might?  Talk to people afterward.  Think of it as an opportunity to rehearse professional comportment for networking social occasions.  Make eye contact.  Start conversations.  Demonstrate your interest in the films of others. 

If someone asks for your contact information, do you have a business card handy?  Resources like Blinq, Dot Card, and Moo may help you make the most of chance encounters.

Wear what you might wear to a job interview.  Not a prom.  Not a masquerade.  Not cosplay.  Here’s some help defining the term “business casual.