2015 Future Film Festival
Short Film Submission Pack
Background
The Future Film Festival is the British Film Institute's annual film festival for young people and is held
at BFI Southbank in London.
We now invite young filmmakers to submit their work to be considered for inclusion in the 8th Future
Film Festival in February 2015. Selected films will be given a public screening at BFI Southbank
during the Festival and could go on to be nominated and win one of the awards below:
Future Film Festival Awards
We screen films in three categories: Fiction, Documentary and our new Animation+ category (which
will include experimental films, music videos, trailers and animated game sequences), and nominate a
selection of films to go forward for the Future Film Awards below, each carrying prize money of £500:
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Best Fiction Film Award (15-18 year old category)
Best Fiction Film Award (19-25 year old category)
Best Documentary Film Award (15-18 year old category)
Best Documentary Film Award (19-25 year old category)
Best Animation+ Award (15-18 year old category)
Best Animation+ Award (19-25 year old category)
Supported by The Chapman Charitable Trust.
This year we are also delighted to announce some new prizes at the BFI Future Film Festival:
BFI Raw
 All of our winners in the short film award categories (see above) will be nominated for BFI
Raw. This is a talent development prize for the best filmmaker or filmmaking team that are
deemed by our panel of industry judges to have demonstrated the most raw filmmaking
potential. The winners of BFI Raw will win £5000 towards the making of a new short film,
industry mentoring, and talent development support. There will be one winner (individual
filmmaker or filmmaking team) in the 15-18 age category, and one in the 19-25 age category.
As this is a UK talent development prize the winner of the Best International Film Award (see
below) will not be eligible for this prize.
Supported by Charlie Morgan, BFI Raw Concept Founder and Supporter.
Best International Film Award
 £500 and financial support to attend the Future Film Festival from overseas. One winner will
be chosen from across all Future Film Festival Award categories and age groups.
Supported by London School of English/Londonschool Trust.
The filmmakers of all the films selected to be screened at the BFI Future Film Festival will receive a
delegate day pass to the festival.
2014/15 Important Dates
Aug ‘14
Call for entries
31st Oct ’14
Early submissions deadline
14th Nov ’14
Extended submissions deadline
1st Dec ‘14
Longlisted Filmmakers contacted by email
19th Dec ’14
Shortlisted filmmakers and nominees contacted by email.
19th Dec ’14
Winner of the Best International Film Award contacted.
20-22 February ‘15
8th Future Film Festival & Future Film Awards ceremonies
BFI Southbank, London
Regulations
Before you send us your film please make sure you have read the following:
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The director, producer and the majority of the production crew should be aged 25 or under at
the time the film was made. For the avoidance of doubt this does not include the actors who
can be of any age.
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Films must not have been completed earlier than 31 August 2012.
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Films can be any style or genre, but must be no more than 10 minutes in length
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All the images and soundtracks used in your film must be your own or you must have
permission of the copyright holder to use their music/images in your film
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Films in a language other than English must be subtitled in English, unless dialogue or
commentary is unnecessary for comprehension and appreciation
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To be eligible for the Best International Short Film Award the filmmaker/submitter must be a
non-UK passport holder whose normal domicile is outside the UK. (‘Normal domicile outside
the UK’ meaning that the person has lived in the UK for less than 2 years and does not intend
to stay permanently).
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If your film is not clearly Fiction or Documentary you should submit it to our Animation+
category. This can include music videos, experimental films, trailers and animated game
sequences or films made using gaming software.
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By submitting your film to the Future Film Festival you give us permission to screen your film
at screening(s) during the Festival and at special preview screenings or at spin off screenings
such as BFI Raw Shorts events. You are also giving us permission to acquire the rights to put
your film into the BFI National Film and Television Archive, to screen through BFI Player
and other BFI Future Film Festival channels including online platforms and BFI partner
platforms
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Please send us a digital copy of your application with a working link (and password) to your
film online (Youtube, Vimeo etc) or via your Ideastap profile. Please note – we no longer
accept DVD submissions.
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Please submit two still images from your film, any poster artwork and press materials that can
be used for promotional purposes (Hi resolution JPEG – no more than 3MB in size)
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Films submitted for consideration must be clearly marked with the film title,
director/filmmaker name, age, running time and a contact telephone number. Please ensure
you have included everything you need requested in the pack and on the form
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We do not guarantee films will be selected for the Future Film Festival and we are only able to
notify successful short-listed applicants.
Selected Films
Not all selected films will be nominated for an award but all films will be screened during the festival.
If your film is longlisted:
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We will contact you by email or Phone in December 2014 to inform you and request a
downloadable high quality copy of your film from you; preferred formats are high quality
Quicktime File, DCP or DigiBeta
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You will need to provide a detailed list of contributors
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You may be asked to provide proof of age
If your film is selected from the longlist (i.e shortlisted):
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You will be invited to attend the Future Film Festival and will receive a free delegate day pass
each and 4 additional allocated seats (for cast/crew or friends/family) for the screening selection
that your film will feature in. We hope that, where possible, all filmmakers showcased at the
festival are able to attend
Good luck!
Please sign and date the following form and send it with your film to:
Email: Futurefilm@bfi.org.uk
Or respond to the Ideastap Brief at www.ideastap.com/bfi
If you have any questions about submitting a film to the Future Film Festival please first read our FAQ
sheet. If that does not answer your query please drop us a line at futurefilm@bfi.org.uk with the subject
“Future Film Festival submission query”
ENTRY FORM
Please ensure you complete all sections and return with two copies of your film clearly marked with the
film title, director/filmmaker name, running time and a contact telephone number. Please use block
capitals if handwritten.
Film Title:
Running length:
Date film completed:
Is your film a :
(please select)
Aspect ratio:
Fiction
Documentary
Animation+
Weblink and password to film:
Name of person submitting film:
Email address:
Address:
Telephone number(s):
Please provide a list of people who made the film. Include their full name, age and role in the
filmmaking process:
Please provide us with a synopsis of your film (150 words or less):
Have you included two still images from your film with your application?
Please tell us about your filmmaking process including the total budget and whether you received any
funding (150 words or less):
Please tell us about your filmmaking/career ambitions. What kind of support do you need to develop
your filmmaking skills/career in film?
Please read the below and sign to confirm you agree with the terms of entry:
 Your film can be screened at the 8th BFI Future Film Festival and at related BFI Future Film
Festival screenings (such as press previews or BFI Future Film Festival on tour and at special
preview screenings, or spin off screenings such as BFI Raw Shorts events
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You are also giving us permission to acquire the rights to put your film into the BFI National Film
and Television Archive, to screen through BFI Player and other BFI Future Film Festival channels
including online platforms and BFI Partner platforms
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Clips from your film can be used for promotional purposes such as trailers
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Your film can be used for the 8th BFI Future Film Festival DVD
Parental signature (if under 16 years of age)
Print Name:
Signed:
Date: