Rules and Guidelines
Please review the rules and guidelines prior to submitting your film. We also encourage you to read the Frequently Asked Questions page for additional information.
No student will be excluded from participation in this program on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, personal identification, or national origin.
Rules
All films must be produced solely by students currently enrolled and attending a New Hampshire public or private high school (grades 9-12).
Homeschooled students residing in New Hampshire ages 14-18 are eligible.
Adult Supervision is required. A "Supervisor" is the one adult that assumes all responsibility for the safety of each cast and crew member. A Supervisor may be a faculty, staff, parent, or guardian. Each film must list one adult in the credits as, Supervisor. The Supervisor must fill out the Adult supervision form. No film will be accepted without a supervisor.
A film is produced by a "Team." A Team consists of all cast and crew members. A Team may consist of one person or several people. A Team must include a minimum of one team member and one Supervisor.
A high school student 18 years+ may not act as the sole team member and adult supervisor.
A Team may submit one or more films for consideration.
Adult involvement in the project is limited to educational support and guidance, on-screen talent, and/or supervisor. Adults are not allowed to contribute to the production of the film (i.e. write, film, edit, etc.). An adult may help in the uploading process.
Films can be no longer than seven minutes (7:00) in length, including titles and credits. There is no minimum time limit.
Films must be formatted consistently with the requirements of the festival. A checklist will be provided to ensure quality and consistency.
Films must have been produced after June of the previous year.
Films can either be produced as part of a school project or independently.
A Parent/Guardian Consent Form must accompany all team members under the age of 18.
Once a project has been submitted for consideration, no revisions will be accepted.
Guidelines
Do not do anything that puts another person in danger.
DO NOT BRING OR USE ANY WEAPONS (REAL OR FAKE) ON SCHOOL PROPERTY. If you have a story that uses a weapon YOU MUST have full permission, consent, and supervision of the Adult Supervisor.
No nudity.
Keep the foul language to a minimum. Remember, your dialog is a tool for storytelling. Using the F-bomb should enhance the story. Think of the flat tire seen in A Christmas Story.
See guideline #1
Content Philosophy
The purpose of the New Hampshire High School Short Film Festival 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 we encourage students to think outside of the box and produce works unique unto themselves, we understand that student filmmakers begin their artistic journeys by emulating themes and styles of directors and works that especially appeal to them. We understand that filmmaking can be a raw and heartfelt artistic outlet, not only for students, but also for filmmakers at any skill level, and we realize that 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 selection committee, we will note in our program and promotional material those films that may have mature content and subject matter, and we reserve the right to refuse to screen any film with content deemed especially gratuitous.
