A FILM FESTIVAL AT FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY!
IN ASSOCIATION WITH FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY AND THE ENGAGED LEARNING INITIATIVE, WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THIS JOINT STUDENT/FACULTY PROJECT TO PRESENT THE FIRST EVER CAMPUS FILM FESTIVAL. THIS INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE MOTIVATION AND INSPIRATION FOR FILM MAKERS ACROSS CAMPUS TO COMPETE FOR CASH AWARDS FOR THE BEST VIDEOS.
Zenith Film Festival
Rules: We hate them but must have them
Short Film Competition Rules and Guidelines
1. Eligibility
Open to filmmakers of all ages and nationalities, but must be an FHU student.
Films must be original works created after August 1, 2024.
- Films that have been commercially distributed or broadcast on television or online prior to the competition are not eligible.
2. Film Requirements
- Maximum runtime: 10 minutes, including credits.
- All genres are accepted.
- Films must be submitted in MP4 or MOV with a minimum resolution of 720p
- Non-English films must include English subtitles.
- All films must be composed in a landscape position
- No nudity or foul language will be accepted.
3. Submission
- Submission deadline: Nov 1, 2024.
- Entry fee: 0$
- Submissions must include:
- Completed entry form.
- Digital copy of the film.
- Brief synopsis of the film (maximum 150 words).
- Director’s biography (maximum 100 words).
- Submit entries via Canvas
.
4. Judging Criteria
- Storytelling and originality.
- Directing and acting performance.
- Cinematography and visual appeal.
- Sound design and score.
- Special effects and editing.
- Audience engagement and entertainment value.
5. Awards
- Cash Awards:
- First Place: $500
- Second Place: $200
- Third Place: $100
- Non-Cash Awards:
- Best Actress
- Best Actor
- Best Director
- Best Supporting Actress
- Best Supporting Actor
- Best Special Effects
- Best Sound
- Best Original Score (if applicable)
- Audience Favorite
6. Notification and Prizes
- Winners will be notified live during the Zenith Film Festival.
- Prizes will be awarded during the Zenith Film Festival.
7. Rights and Clearances
- Filmmakers must have all necessary rights and permissions for music, images, and other content used in their film.
- By submitting, filmmakers grant the competition organizers the right to screen their film at the event and use clips or stills for promotional purposes.
8. General Conditions
- The competition organizers reserve the right to disqualify any film that does not adhere to the rules or that they deem inappropriate.
- Decisions of the jury are final.
- The organizers are not responsible for any lost, stolen, or damaged submissions.
9. Contact Information
- For any inquiries, please contact Jud Davis.
10. Agreement
- By submitting a film, the entrant agrees to all the rules and conditions of the competition.
AWARD CATEGORIES WILL INCLUDE:
BEST PICTURE
Could we be seeing the next Godfather or Avatar? We won't know until you submit it.
BEST ACTOR
Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Tom Holland, Chris Pine or Neil Patrick Harris -who is your favorite Spiderman? It's not relevant here but we will be selecting a best actor.
BEST ACTRESS
Meryl Streep has not submitted a film so best actress is completely up in the air. With that said, the early odds on favorite is Jenny Johnson.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christoph Waltz and Mahershala Ali probably will not be taking part in the film festival unfortunately, however, you never know.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Lets play 5 degrees of separation with Thanos using Charlie Chaplin. He was in the film "The Kid" alongside Jackie Coogan. Coogan went on to play Uncle Fester in the original Addams Family television show alongeside Ted Cassidy as Lurch. Cassidy went on to play an uncredited role as the demon Balzaroth in the '78 Doctor Strange film. In that film, Morgan LeFay was played by the hysterical Jessica Walters, who much later went on to play Malory Archer in the show Archer. And guess who had a guest role on Archer? Michael Rooker, known now for his roles as Merle in The Walking Dead, and... Yondu in Guardians of the Galaxy. Charlie Chaplin is 5 degrees from Thanos.
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS
Shakespeare used cannon balls to simulate thunder. A candle, a cauldron and a severed head would have been used as props in Macbeth, and rapiers, a book and a skull would have been used in Hamlet. Lets not use severed heads.
BEST SOUND
Roxette said, "Listen to your Heart" and then never had another hit record. So, be sure, when making sound, that its the right sound.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
We encourage everyone to work to create your own music. Our music department is top notch and can provide some assistance with this.
ZENITH FILM FESTIVAL, LUEZ THEATRE, NOVEMBER 11, 2024 (tentative)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can enter?
The competition is open to filmmakers of all ages that are enrolled at Freed-Hardeman University.
What are the film requirements?
Films must be original works created after August 1. The maximum runtime for each film is 10 minutes, including credits. All genres are accepted. Films must be submitted in MP4, MOV with a minimum resolution of 1080p. Non-English films must include English subtitles.
How do I submit my film?
All entries will be provided access to a special canvas course where your movie can uploaded.
What is the submission deadline?
Nov. 1, 2024. Additional questions can be directed to Jud Davis via email: jdavis@fhu.edu
Is there an entry fee?
No! We encourage all submissions!
What awards are available?
Cash Awards:
First Place:$500
Second Place: $200
Third Place: $100
Prizes could increase should we receive additional sponsorships.
Non-Cash Awards:
Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Director
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Special Effects
Best Sound
Best Original Score (if applicable)
Audience Favorite
How will I be notified if I win?
Winners will be announced on November 11 at the Zenith Film Festival.
What are the judging criteria?
Films will be judged based on:
Storytelling and originality
Directing and acting performance
Cinematography and visual appeal
Sound design and score
Special effects and editing
Audience engagement and entertainment value
Can I be disqualified?
Yes. If your film contains nudity or profanity it will be dis qualified.
The Zenith Film Festival Staff
Jud Davis
Jud has been a photographer for 35 years specializing in portrait photography. Jud is an associate professor of art at Freed-Hardeman University and holds advanced degrees including an MA and MFA in photography from Savannah College of Art and Design.
Instagram: @juddavis
Delaney Steward
Delaney of Corinth, Mississippi, is a 2023 graduate of Freed-Hardeman University holding degrees in photography and public relations. She will work with the film festival as program coordinator.
instagram: @delaneysteward
