Contest Rules 📝
Contest explainer video 📼
Each year I create a set of 5 rules that every short film must follow to be eligible to place in the short film contest. The reason for these rules is to not only challenge you creatively, but create a level of consistency between films to score and judge based on how creative you follow and implement the rules into your film.
Rule 1️⃣
Your short film must be 5 minutes or less in total run time (including credits). Your film can be shorter than 5 minutes, but CAN NOT EXCEED 5 minutes.
Rule 2️⃣
Your short film can not contain any CGI or VFX. The reason for this rule is to challenge you all to to focus on telling a creative story while using practical filmmaking elements instead of leaning on CGI as a crutch.
We encourage you all to shoot with and use practical camera tricks & FX amongst the many other practical ways of doing everything on & in camera.
Editing techniques like masking, are allowed. I just don’t want people creating full on CGI worlds and characters/creatures etc.
For any questions/clarity regarding this rule please DM or email me.
Rule 3️⃣
Your short film must implement WATER into your film in a creative way.
For additional clarity on this rule, please watch the video at the top of this page!
Rule 4️⃣
Your film must contain the dialogue line “I’ve never drank alcohol before”. It must be exact, missing a word or any parts of this audible dialogue line will disqualify your short film from the contest. Get creative with this!
For additional clarity on this rule, please watch the video at the top of this page.
Rule 5️⃣
Your film must contain or reference a mythical or folklore creature, monster, or character.
For additional clarity on this rule, please watch the video at the top of this page!
Judging criteria 🗒️
The way the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place films will be awarded is via a point system based on the judging criteria below.
1st and foremost I will personally watch & narrow down all of the short film submissions into my Top 25 favorites (with consideration of all judging criteria), from there those top 25 films will be scored by a panel 5 judges based on the criteria listed below…the top 10 highest scoring films will become the “Top 10” films which will screened & awarded at this years “Top 10 Screening Party”
Each criteria (listed below) will be scored out of 10 points (10 being the highest score). The top 3 films with the highest combined point total aggregated from all 5 judges scores will win the 1st / 2nd / & 3rd place prizes.
Story 📚
We want to see original short films that explore new ideas. A higher point total will be awarded for films that have a uniquely compelling & creative story.
scare / Creep factor 🫣
This is a horror film contest after all. We want to be scared! If your film scares us or creeps us out, you will score a higher point total.
Creative use of water 💧
We want to see your creativity in how you implement water into your film. If water is just a throw a way element in the film, you will score lower. We want to see you creatively implement this rule into your short film!
For further explanation / examples / context, please watch the explainer video at the top of this page.
Creative use of mythical / folklore creature 🐉
We want to see how you creatively implement a mythical / folklore creature, monster, or character into your short film.
This needs to be a reference to an actual folklore creature, monster, or character…not something that you made up or created.
This can be a physical creature that appears in your film, or it can be spoken dialogue talking about a mythical creature / folklore creature, this is where you get to be creative (and where you will score higher for being more creative)
For further explanation / examples / context, please watch the explainer video at the top of this page.
Production Value 🎬
We don't care what camera you shoot on, this criteria is based on how cohesive and polished your film feels.
Directing / Editing / Cinematography / Production Design / Acting / Sound Design / Color Grading etc… = YOUR OVERAL PRODUCTION VALUE
Thank You 🙏
Lastly, I just want to give a major shoutout to this year's sponsors. They all play an important role in my workflow as a filmmaker, creative, and business owner...so I can't thank them enough for being a part of this contest and providing you all with the opportunity to walk away with some really cool and amazing prizes.
