Frequently Asked Questions

Is this contest open to students as well as inexperienced amateur filmmakers?

Can people outside of York Region submit films?

Are there age categories?

Yes—for the most part! There are two age related submission categories and an All Inclusive Category (no age restrictions). The age specific categories are: Elementary/Children (ages 6-13) and Secondary/Youth (ages 14-18).

It is up to you to determine whether you want to enter your film in the All Inclusive Category if indeed you are of the age to enter one of the age specific categories. For instance, if you are a 14-year-old filmmaker you can choose to enter your film in either the Secondary/Youth (14-18) Category or the All Inclusive Category (all can make a submission regardless of age and experience in this category). Multimedia/film submissions can only be submitted in one category.

Note: Age categories are exclusive to the Adjudication (General) Stream.  The Adjudication (Professional) Stream is open to all, however applicants are forewarned that if their submission is not of professional grade as self-identified by the applicant and beyond 16 minutes for films or 5 minutes for photo-voices and animations- -the submission will be excluded from the festival. In other words, only enter your submission in this category if you are certain that it meets professional standards! 

Are there prizes/awards for winners?

Winners will receive a beautifully crafted award on behalf of the Multimedia Film Development Council of York Region. Award winners, will also be given the opportunity to further their multimedia development skills via exclusive workshops created by York University, Film Department.

The Film Development Council is also exploring opportunities for relevant product donations from corporate bodies in the multimedia industry.

How long do submissions have to be?

Documentaries, dramas and docu-dramas can be anywhere from seconds long to 30 minutes in length for those entering the Adjudication (Professional) Stream while photo-voices and animations can be anywhere from seconds in length to 8 minutes.  Other films are required to be no more than 16 minutes in length while photo-voices and animations can be anywhere from seconds in length to 5 minutes.

Do you always need to list who appears in the film in the credits?

If your film is a documentary, there is no need to list principal individuals. However, if your documentary includes an acted or dramatized piece, the names of the actors would be helpful in terms of providing credit for their role. Anchors and voice actors can also be included in this group to be credited.

Where will the films be shown?

During the course of the May/2012 multimedia film festival, selected submissions will be shown in a venue/s in one or more of the eight following municipalities: Georgina, Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Whitchurch-Stouffville, Newmarket, King Township and Aurora.

Other venues may also include art-centred schools within the Region. School-based screenings will also be streamed to other schools across the Region via York University’s Broadband Network.

Films/multimedia submissions not selected to be formally shown at official venues will be screened on the festival’s website and/or other alternative mediums. In other words, if the film/multimedia submission is deemed appropriate for viewing but is not selected to be shown at the official festival venues, alternative avenues will be used to screen these submissions.

Some submissions may go on to be televised after the multimedia film festival concludes (e.g. OMNI Television, CBC, TVO, Rogers etc.)

Scheduled screenings and associated events will be provided in the “Festival Schedule” section beginning March 31st, 2012.

What is the difference between the Adjudication (Professional) Stream and the Adjudication (General) Stream and the Open Stream and what does it mean for my submission?

Adjudicated Stream (Professional): Applicants are required to self-identify their submission for this particular stream. All other submissions will be sorted into one of the two latter streams as per the Program Committee’s decision.

Adjudication (General) & Open Stream: All films/multimedia submissions that are not self-identified for the "Adjudication (Professional) Stream" and are of the proper/legal duration will be sorted into either the Adjudication (General) Stream or the Open Stream by the Programming Committee.

When will I know if my submission was selected for the festival?

In April 2012, all applicants will be notified if their submission was selected for the Adjudicated Stream or the Open Stream.

Who is going to view my submission?

All submissions will be viewed and evaluated by three adjudicators who sit on the Programming Committee. Submissions selected to be screened at festival venues, will be viewed by festival attendees. Submissions that are appropriate for viewing but were not selected to be a part of the multimedia film festival can be potentially screened at alternative venues (non-festival venues).

What is going to happen to my submission after the festival?

DVDs and CDs will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed--stamped envelope.

Will some films have nudity in it?

There may just be, as long as it is relevant to the content of the submission and feature subjects who are over the age of consent. It is noteworthy however that such content may limit the viewership.

What cannot be shown in my film?

Submissions that promote/contain: gratuitous violence, excessive coarse language, explicit sexual content, or hate/discriminatory practices will not be considered.

Do submissions have to be restricted to the given submission themes?

Submissions are required to include the broad subject matters detailed in the submission themes: matters/experiences of diversity from either an individual prospective or communal viewpoint as they unfold within our Region; matters concerning social issues within our borders (e.g. poverty/homeless among youth, partner violence within teenaged relationships, substance misuse among youth, cyber bullying, and so forth); environmental concerns and successes within our Region; and finally, subject matters that explore local, provincial, national and international challenges or experiences through the lens of those within our borders. All mentioned options can explore successes or challenges.

Note: All submission themes are open to most genres: comedy, satire, drama, documentary forms, quirky treatments, musicals, animation and film noir. Make it interesting, provocative and eye-catching with the undercurrent of a good story. When all is said and done, it is all about story telling!

If my organization (e.g. Big Brothers & Big Sisters of York Region) wants to make a film but have no access to equipment and expertise, who can we turn to?

• The Youth Philanthropy Initiative (an externally funded school based multimedia youth initiative) provides an award incentive for high school students to make multimedia submissions on community based nonprofit organizations within our Region. If the student's submission wins---the organization that the submission portrays--is awarded $5,000.00.

• The Council is currently consolidating a partnership with York University in relation to their film development facilities. Specifically, York University would make their film development facilities available to filmmakers in our Region as well as provide instruction and support.

Schools with multimedia development programs may be interested in developing installations for non-profit organizations (e.g. Unionville High School, Bur Oak Secondary School, Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School, Huron Heights High School, Stouffville Secondary School etc.).

NOTE: Films/Multimedia entries that were submitted to the multimedia film festival in a previous year cannot be resubmitted in subsequent years.