Films

• Films considered for the open short film showcase competition should be films that have been completed within the last few years.

Total Running Time

• To be considered, short films can have a maximum running time of 12 minutes in duration, including opening and closing credits.

Music Rights

• Participating groups may work with a composer and/or musicians to write and record music for the films.
• Free music sites such as Mobygratis, Vimeo Music Store, Free Music Archive and others are permissible.
• It is permissible for a participating group to use pre-recorded music; however the participating group must have the rights to any music used in its film and must provide releases for all music used. As with music, pre-recorded sound effects are allowed, but you must have rights to use them.
• Note: Song parodies (i.e., use of identifiable pre-existing compositions with new or altered lyrics or music) may not be included in the film without a signed release from the composition’s rights holder. This rule applies without regard to whether the song parody arguably constitutes fair use under U.S. or international copyright law.

Credits

• Filmmaker’s Name
• Participants
• Credits for music

Submitting Film

To submit your film, use Film Freeway link at the bottom of this page.

Eligibility

• To be eligible for the project, entries must be the original work of the entrant; must not infringe third-party’s rights; must be suitable for publication (i.e., may not be obscene or indecent); must not contain pornographic material; may not contain defamatory statements about any person, company, organization or entity; may not invade privacy or other rights of any person, company or entity; may not in any other way violate applicable laws and regulations.
• It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to clear all content from any and all actual or potential legal claims including but not limited to claims based on libel, defamation, invasion of privacy, breach of contract, and theft of trade secrets.
• The Maumee Film Festival expressly disavows any responsibility for and will not be held responsible for the inclusion of any content that becomes the subject of a third party claim.
• The Maumee Film Festival expressly disavows any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible for any unauthorized inclusion of any copyrighted/trademarked content or materials including content that may become the basis for third party claims for copyright/trademark infringement.
• Real firearms cannot be used in the creation of a film for the Maumee Film Festival.
• Filming at dangerous sites such as train tracks, highways, bridges or other potentially hazardous locations is prohibited.
• Films must not harm or exploit children or animals.
• Films must not contain material that the Maumee Film Festival, in its sole discretion, deems offensive, including but not limited to explicit and gratuitous violence, nudity, language or sexual content.
• Entries containing prohibited or inappropriate content as determined by the Maumee Film Festival, in its sole discretion, to be inappropriate will be disqualified.
• Registration fees will not be refunded if a film is disqualified.
• Maumee Film Festival reserves the right to make the final determination as to which Entries are eligible. Maumee Film Festival also reserves the right to refuse to screen a film or to make an announcement at the screening regarding the content of the film.

Judging

• The films will be judged by a panel according to the following criteria.
• Overall creativity and originality of the film
• Use of elements including cinematography, editing, sound, writing and acting.