MFA WINTER FILM CHALLENGE RULES AND FAQ

WHAT IS IT?

The MFA Winter Film Challenge is a competition where teams of filmmakers have 72 hours to write, shoot and edit a short film. The goal is to invigorate the local film community by providing people with the opportunity to create and share their work. 

WHO IS THE EVENT FOR?

The Winter Film Challenge is a competition for anyone looking to challenge themselves creatively and is  accessible to teams across the state. Teams of filmmakers will have 72 hours to write, shoot, and edit a  short film. All events associated with the competition will accommodate in-person (as COVID allows) and  virtual attendees through a hybrid format. We hope this will enable interested creatives from Fort Kent to  Kittery to participate and make a film in their hometowns.  

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Those wishing to participate must REGISTER A TEAM. 

  • There are no rules for team size. 

  • Each team decides on a team captain. This person must register the team and will be the point of contact for the competition.

At a Kickoff Ceremony on February 29, each team will be given the same line of dialogue and prop that must be included in the final film. Films submitted without any of these elements will not be considered for awards. Additionally each team will draw their own genre out of a hat. Teams that registered early will be given first priority. Once every team has their genre the race is on!

Teams will write, shoot and edit their film over the next 72 hours. Final movies must play between 4-6 min long. Films over this time length will be disqualified from the event.  Final films must be sent to the MFA by 8pm on the Sunday after Kickoff. If a team is late their film will still be shown at the screening but it is disqualified from the awards ceremony. 

The MFA reserves the right to disqualify any film that is deemed offensive. Guidelines will be agreed to by the MFA before the kickoff and be presented to teams when they register. 

The final films will be judged by a panel of film professionals. The final films will be screened at a local movie theater in Portland, ME followed by an awards ceremony. Click here for a full list of awards and judging criteria.

ADDITIONAL RULES & GUIDELINES

  • All film production must happen during the “Production Period”

  • Teams are responsible for all costs and expenses associated with the film and challenge.

  • All teams are responsible to acquire necessary permissions for any filming locations, actor participation, music, and general visual assets. 

  • Team Leaders are responsible for the safety and well-being of crew and talent. 

  • All films produced for the Winter Film Challenge must be suitable for publication and public display. Films cannot contain obscene or pornographic material. Films cannot contain defamatory statements about any person, company, organization, or entity. Films cannot contain any unauthorized copyrighted elements.

    • Any film deemed inappropriate by the MFA will be removed from public screening and disqualified from awards without refund of any or all registration fees.

2024 Judging Criteria

“BEST DAMN FILM”

This award is presented to the film that tells the most entertaining story, showcases the filmmaker's creativity, and demonstrates technical skill in the movie making process. The judges will base their decision on a 3-part criteria: Creativity (50%), Technical (30%) and Challenge Requirements (20%). 

CREATIVITY

●  First and foremost, this competition is judging filmmakers’ creativity and originality:

○  Did the filmmakers showcase imagination in their storytelling and interpretation of their selected genre?

○  Did they use available resources in interesting and unexpected ways?

○  Is the plot, structure, characters engaging and holds your attention?

TECHNICAL

●  Secondary consideration will be given based on how well the final film looked and sounded:

○  Visuals - the images are in-focus, well-lit and visually interesting

○  Sound quality - sound levels are consistent throughout the film (ex. the dialogue is clear, music and sound effects are well mixed, etc.)

○  Edit - the final edit has good pacing, smooth transitions and follows continuity

CHALLENGE REQUIREMENTS

●  Final consideration will be given to how well the film followed the rules and aligned with the spirit of the challenge:

○  Genre - the filmmakers used appropriate form, style and subject matter to tell a story in the genre they are assigned 

○  Prop - the prop played an interesting and significant role without distracting from the scene or story

○  Line of Dialogue - the line of dialogue is used in a unique and unexpected way that did not distract from the scene or story

“FAN FAVORITE”

At the Official Screener, the MFA will pass out a link where people will vote for their favorite film (virtual viewers are eligible to vote as well). Filmmakers are allowed to choose the film they worked on but are not allowed to submit more than one ballot. At the end of the screener, a representative from the MFA will tally the ballots and announce the winner. 

“BEST DIRECTION”

This award is presented to the film that delivers the most distinctive and consistent style and tone. The filmmaker(s) achieve this by creatively using all the elements of the movie making process, including on-screen talent, to support their vision and tell a cohesive, clear, and engaging story.

“BEST WRITING” 

This award is presented to the film with the most engaging and well-written script. The writer(s) create characters that are multidimensional, their interpretation of the genre is original and breaks conventions, the story has a clear structure, and the plot keeps the audience entertained.

“BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY”

This award is presented to the film that displayed the most impressive and interesting visuals. The cinematography must be in the style that supports the required genre. The shots are in focus, well-lit and the filmmaker used camera angles and shot sizes in deliberate ways to add meaning to the story.

Best cinematography does not necessarily mean best camera. This award is celebrating how the film is shot NOT what the film is shot on.

“BEST ACTING”

This award is presented to the film that showcases believable and entertaining performances from the actors. The judges can make their selection based on a single actor’s performance or the performance of an ensemble.

“BEST EDITING”

This award is presented to the film that has the smoothest and most technically proficient edit. The final film has good pacing, follows appropriate continuity (such as eye-line), and uses transitions and cuts that are not distracting or confusing. The editor uses creative techniques to enhance the style of the genre and director’s vision.

Extra consideration will be given to films that have excellent color grading and sound design.

 “BEST MUSIC”

This award is presented to the film that best uses music to complement the story and tone. The music enhances the themes, visuals and genre of the film, and never distracts the audience. Extra consideration will be given to films with original music.

“BEST USE OF PROP”

This award is presented to the film that uses the required prop in a clever and/or unique way. The appearance of the prop can be unexpected, but does not feel random or out of place in the film. In fact, it fits seamlessly into the overall story.

“BEST USE OF LINE OF DIALOGUE”

 This award is presented to the film that uses the required line of dialogue in the most unique and interesting context. The line exists as part of a larger conversation, drives the narrative and is not a throwaway.