Entries sought for NH High School Short Film Festival

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2014 NHHSSFF Winning film, “Fragaria.” 

MANCHESTER, NH – OK, folks. Here’s one for you high school kids looking for a creative outlet – especially with some more snow days in their future.

The NH High School Short Film Festival is looking for entries for its 2015 competition.

You can click here to see some of the past winners, including the 2014 winning entry by Noah Levin and Nick Auger of Pinkerton Academy.

Winning entries from 2015 will screen winning entries on May 23, 12 p.m., at Red River Theatres in Concord. Entry deadline for this year is March 31.

The purpose of the NHHSSFF is to provide New Hampshire students with the opportunity to explore cinematic storytelling and create films that reflect the voice and vision of the filmmaker and his/her collaborators.

While students are encouraged to think outside of the box and produce works unique unto themselves, the NH Film Office understands that student filmmakers begin their artistic journeys by emulating themes and styles of directors and works that especially appeal to them. Filmmaking can be a raw and heartfelt artistic outlet, not only for students, but also for filmmakers at the professional level, and an earnest approach to any art can occasionally yield subject matter that may not be suitable for all audiences.

As each film submitted to the High School Student Film Festival will be pre-screened by the Festival organizers, there will be program and promotional material for those films that may have mature content and subject matter and organizers reserve the right to refuse screening any film with content deemed especially gratuitous by the Festival screening committee.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q:  If I submit my film, am I guaranteed to screen at the Festival?
A:  Unfortunately, no. Your film is submitted for consideration to screen at the Festival. We will be receiving entries from around the state and each film will be previewed and ranked by our Festival Selection Committee. Top-ranked films will be placed in our two-hour screening block. Films selected to screen at the Festival will be announced on this website.

Q:  When you say “Film Festival,” does that mean my project can only be shot on film?
A:  You can produce your project in any film or video format (film, HD, Digital Video, VHS, etc.) Any cinematic project, shot on any format, is typically considered a “film.”

Q:  Does the 7-minute time limit include my film’s title/end credits?
A:  Yes. A film’s run time is counted from frame one to frame last. Your beginning and end credits are a part of the film’s content and are included in the time limit.

Q:  Why are submissions not judged by category/genre?
A:  The New Hampshire High School Short Film Festival believes that all projects, regardless of genre, are intended to apply cinematic storytelling that is inherently engaging and should be appreciated on their own merit without being defined and judged by category. For instance, a dramatic narrative can be just as compelling as a documentary. An experimental film can evoke as much emotion as an animated piece. How the filmmaker works with the medium to achieve an overall reaction from the viewer is ultimately the foundation upon which our judging is based.

Q:  How do I get permission to use a piece of music in my film?
A:  We have a whole page of information on using music (popular music, Creative Commons licensing, royalty-free music) in our Filmmaker Resources section. You will find the Music Licensing & Copyright page here.

Q:  Should I have actors in my film sign a release form?
A:  While the New Hampshire High School Short Film Festival does not require copies of signed release forms for film consideration, it is recommended that you keep signed release forms for your actors on file. If you have anyone under the age of 18 appearing in your film, you will also want to have a release form signed by their parent(s) or guardian(s). It may be added paperwork for you, but this is good practice to protect yourself if you are interested in showing your project in other film festivals, posted to the Internet, or having it broadcast on television. Visit our Release Forms & Agreements page for samples.

 

About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!