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: Your project may originate on any film or video format (film, HD, Digital Video, VHS, etc.) However, you will need to submit two (2) copies of your project on a playable DVD. “Film Festival” is used in the broad sense. Any cinematic project, shot on any format, is typically considered a “film."
Q: Does the 7-minute time limit include my film's 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 be as entertaining as an animated comedy. 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: The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) both have helpful information on music licensing for student and independent filmmakers on their respective websites.
For information from ASCAP, click here.
For information from BMI, click here.
Or, you may want to consider, as other students have, composing your own original music for your project. There are also a number of websites that offer "Royalty Free" music for your production. Simply do an online search for "royalty free music."
Q: Should I have actors in my film sign a release form?
A: While it’s not a requirement for submission into the New Hampshire High School Short Film Festival, it is recommended that you have anyone appearing in your film sign a release form. 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 various film festivals, posted to the Internet, or having it broadcast on television.
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