2025 FESTIVAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Louisiana

Published July 31, 2024

Film Prize Junior is a unique film education program and student film festival for 5th – 12th grade students. To begin, Teacher Producers register their Organization to join the program. After registration, a Film Prize Junior team member will reach out to establish communication, review key dates, and introduce our educational resources, including the new Learning Management System (LMS), workshops, and webinars.

Next, the Teacher Producer works closely with their Student Filmmakers to develop a script. They then submit their script to the Film Prize Junior staff and mentors for approval. Once the script receives the “thumbs up,” students can begin production of their film.

Filmmakers must follow the Festival Entry Requirements and Content Rules and Guidelines to compete in the festival and for awards. Compliance with these rules is crucial to avoid disqualification and ensure a smooth entry process.

To compete in the 2025 Film Prize Junior Film Festival, Teacher Producers must complete the following:

Based in Shreveport, the competition is now open to any and all middle and high school students whether enrolled at a public, private, charter or home school. Students compete for equipment grants for their schools as well as rewards for teachers and the students themselves.

In addition to the submission process, it is essential to be aware of the following sections to ensure your film plays at this year’s festival:

REGISTRATION

[ REGISTRATION CLOSES DECEMBER 31, 2024 ]
Registration confirms interest in participating in the 2025 Film Prize Junior Film Festival. Each entry must designate the Teacher Producer and Organization responsible for completing tasks required for the competition.

THE TEACHER PRODUCER MUST COMMUNICATE ANY CHANGES AFTER REGISTRATION.

Teacher Producer

Much like a school club sponsor, a Teacher Producer supervises, motivates, supports, activates, and communicates with students on behalf of Film Prize Junior to complete a short film for screening at the Film Prize Junior Festival. Upon registration, the system creates an account for the Teacher Producer to use the Filmmaker Portal on the Film Prize Junior website.

Who is a Teacher Producer? A Teacher Producer is typically an educator or administrator employed by an Organization who manages a Film Prize Junior Festival Entry. They can teach any subject and do not require any prior filmmaking experience to compete in our festival.
What does a Teacher Producer Do? A Teacher Producer is responsible for providing progress updates regarding their students’ entry and communicating news, guidelines and rules, deadlines, and resource provisions to their Student Filmmakers. They will also be responsible for submitting their film entries on the Filmmaker Portal.

Why are Teacher Producers Important? Film Prize Junior cannot communicate directly with students, so Teacher Producers are necessary links in communication and advocates for their Student Filmmakers. As Student Filmmakers operate under the management of their Teacher Producer, the Teacher Producer may provide guidance and facilitate learning and development of skills by demonstrating or coaching (e.g., a teacher showing students how to use functions on a camera).
Help for Teacher Producers Exists! In addition to one-on-one support, upon registration, the Teacher Producer will be invited to virtual workshops, webinars, and the Film Prize Junior Learning Management System (LMS). These are supplemental learning environments and are not required for the competition.

Organization

An Organization hosts an entry for the Film Prize Junior Film Festival. It must facilitate communication and learning between the Teacher Producer and Student Filmmakers and serve as the employment source for the Teacher Producer and the enrollment source for the Student Filmmakers. Participation does not require previous filmmaking experience, a dedicated media class, or prior film-focused education and resources.

For Awards purposes, all entries must designate whether the affiliated Organization is a School or a Community Organization.

What is a School? A School is an Organization accredited by the state department of education with a site based in-state, such as a public school, private school, charter school, OR any homeschool group offering comparable education.
What is an example of a Community Organization? A Community Organization is an extra-curricular Organization that does NOT seek accreditation by the state department of education and functions independently of a school or accredited institution. Examples of Community Organizations, as defined by our competition, include theater troupes, nonprofit associations, professional interest or job training initiatives, academic assistance cooperatives, regional or neighborhood after-school operations, and so on.

Student Filmmakers

Only students are allowed to make films for the Film Prize Junior Film Festival. They must attend the same school or Community Organization as their Teacher Producer. Students are responsible for every part of the filmmaking process, from Story Development to Post-Production and Promotion. While Teacher Producers and adult mentors can contribute, encourage, and guide, they CANNOT work on any part of the film production without student collaboration.

Who are Student Filmmakers? Any 5th – 12th grade student actively involved in creating a Film Prize Junior film. Film Prize Junior does not enforce any academic eligibility requirements for students participating in our competition. Students are not required to have any filmmaking or leadership experience before participating in Film Prize Junior.
How Many Students Can Participate Per Entry? There is no limit to the number of students who may participate. Students may be from different schools are encouraged to collaborate.

NOTE: In previous years, projects designated a Student Lead to track progress and represent the project. This year, the Writer and Director will represent the project. See notes on Credits.

SCRIPT SUBMISSION

[ FILM SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MARCH 18, 2025]

The Film Submission consists of two components: Final Cut and Press Kit. Teacher Producers must complete these sections in the Filmmaker Portal and click the ‘SUBMIT’ button before the deadline. Teacher Producers should only SUBMIT once the Festival Entry has been checked for errors. The Film Prize Junior team then reviews Film Submissions for content and quality. Entries are then approved and considered finalists that move on to juroring or rejected and sent back to the Teacher Producer for resubmission.

NO CHANGES TO THE ENTRY MAY BE MADE AFTER FINAL CUT SUBMISSION UNLESS REQUESTED BY THE FILM PRIZE JUNIOR TEAM. THE FINAL CUT SUBMITTED WILL BE THE VERSION PLAYED AT THE FESTIVAL.

Production, Post-Production & Promotion

Once the Film Prize Junior team approves a Script Submission, Student Filmmakers may proceed with Production, adhering to the Content Rules And Guidelines. During production, Student Filmmakers create, gather, and prepare assets for post-production and promotion of their films, with the Teacher Producer or other mentors facilitating this process.

NOTE: Teacher Producers are encouraged to join the Film Prize Junior LMS for more information about how to make a film for Film Prize Junior.

Pre-Production and Script Submission

All festival entries must prepare a script submission before submitting their film to compete in the Film Prize Junior Festival. To be eligible to compete, the Film Prize Junior Review Team must approve all content in a Script Submission, ensuring it adheres to our content rules and guidelines.

What is Pre-Production? Pre-production is the phase of filmmaking where all planning, scripting, casting, location scouting, scheduling, and budgeting happen before actual filming begins. During Story Development, you’ll write your Script.

What is a Script Submission? Script Submissions document the plans and intentions of a Festival Entry created by the affiliated Student Lead and Filmmakers. Only Screenplays and Documentary Outlines will be considered acceptable documentation for a Script Submission. Refer to our examples and style guide for further details and reference.

Screenplay — The Script must include all dialogue featured in the film and all significant actions taken by characters on screen during the runtime.
Documentary Outline — An Outline detailing a documentary film’s content and production plans. This document must include a summary paragraph of the documentary’s intent and information, a list of proposed locations, a list of potential interviewees, and a list of information sources that will be referenced, similar to a bibliography for a paper.

How Does One Prepare a Script Submission? In addition to Script Submission, entries must provide their Division, Technique, Genre, and a supporting statement to provide context for the Film Prize Junior review team.

The Film Prize Junior review team must approve any props that appear lethal before production. Props that act as weapons must not present any obvious threat or danger to the safety and well-being of any participants. Entries may upload supporting documentation before requesting that their Script Submission be reviewed.

NOTE: Any use of weapons in the script will be subject to our policy regarding violence, and that particular weapon will play a role in the ruling. See Content Rules And Guidelines.

Filmmakers are not required but are encouraged to create supporting documents such as storyboards, shot lists, film treatments, and other planning documents to plan their production. However, Film Prize Junior will NOT officially accept these as Script Submissions.

NOTE: We recommend filmmakers provide ample documentation with their script upon submission. The review team will only have what you provide to understand your film concept – include any details you hope to achieve the vision for your film (e.g., camera angles, a prop list, sounds, resource needs, animation styles, etc.).

Where to Submit Script? After the Teacher Producer has an account on the Filmmaker Portal, they will register each Festival Entry and complete the Script Submission section. Once all documents have been uploaded to the portal, the Teacher Producer will request approval, and the Film Prize Junior staff will assign a mentor for review.
How Many Scripts May Be Submitted? Each Organization may submit seven (7) total scripts for review and approval, but they may submit only five (5) films for consideration in the Film Prize Junior Festival.
What if We Have More Than Seven Scripts to Submit? We recommend conducting Peer Reviews and submitting the top scripts chosen by a class vote. Click here to download our Peer Review sheet.

Script Review and Approval for Production

Upon submission, each Script Submission will be reviewed by the Film Prize Junior review team, consisting of administrative members and rotating professional filmmakers, to ensure it meets festival standards and Content Rules & Guidelines. Feedback will be featured on the Filmmaker Portal and emailed to the Teacher Producer to share with Student Filmmakers.

Script Submissions must receive approval from the Film Prize Junior team BEFORE Filmmakers proceed to Production. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO SUBMIT YOUR SCRIPTS.

The script review team’s primary objective is to ensure the submission meets the Script Submission requirements and provide feedback to improve producibility and the likelihood of completing the film.

What is the Script Review Team Reviewing? Feedback from the script review team will provide constructive feedback on the following:

Formatting & Clarity – How does the formatting communicate plans for production to its film crew?
Narrative & Creativity – How do the creativity and structure of the story engage the audience?
Characters & Dialogue – How do the characters or dialogue support the narrative?
Content and Theme – How closely does the screenplay adhere to the Content Rules and Guidelines?
Scope of Production – How does this screenplay make it easy for filmmakers to produce the film?

Questions About a Script Review? If a Student Filmmaker has concerns about the feedback provided for their Script Submission, the Teacher Producer should contact our administrative team directly.
What Happens After Approval? If the Script Submission receives production approval, the Student Filmmakers may proceed with planning and move forward with filming.
What If Your Concept Isn’t Approved? If the script review team does not approve a Script Submission for production, the Student Filmmakers affiliated with that submission must make all requested changes and resubmit to the Filmmaker Portal. They must also produce any requested documentation before beginning production.

NOTE: If a proposed Screenplay or Documentary Outline is not immediately granted production approval upon the first review, do not give up on your script! Once Student Filmmakers make all requested revisions, Teacher Producers should resubmit for approval.

What If I Change My Concept? Any major change made from the approved Script Submission may risk disqualification. Teacher Producers should communicate these changes to the Film Prize Junior Team immediately.

FILM SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED UNTIL THEIR SCRIPTS ARE APPROVED.

FILM SUBMISSION

[ FILM SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MARCH 18, 2025]

The Film Submission consists of two components: Final Cut and Press Kit. Teacher Producers must complete these sections in the Filmmaker Portal and click the ‘SUBMIT’ button before the deadline. Teacher Producers should only SUBMIT once the Festival Entry has been checked for errors. The Film Prize Junior team then reviews Film Submissions for content and quality. Entries are then approved and considered finalists that move on to juroring or rejected and sent back to the Teacher Producer for resubmission.

NO CHANGES TO THE ENTRY MAY BE MADE AFTER FINAL CUT SUBMISSION UNLESS REQUESTED BY THE FILM PRIZE JUNIOR TEAM. THE FINAL CUT SUBMITTED WILL BE THE VERSION PLAYED AT THE FESTIVAL.

Production, Post-Production & Promotion

Once the Film Prize Junior team approves a Script Submission, Student Filmmakers may proceed with Production, adhering to the Content Rules And Guidelines. During production, Student Filmmakers create, gather, and prepare assets for post-production and promotion of their films, with the Teacher Producer or other mentors facilitating this process.

NOTE: Teacher Producers are encouraged to join the Film Prize Junior LMS for more information about how to make a film for Film Prize Junior.

Final Cut Requirements

What is a Final Cut? A Final Cut is the finished product, filmed, edited, and exported by Student Filmmakers for the Film Prize Junior Festival.
Who Submits/Uploads the Final Cut? The Teacher Producer uploads the Final Cut to the Filmmaker Portal to maintain the accuracy of the Film Entry. This information is crucial to communicating about your submission. Entries found to be submitted without the Teacher Producer’s permission may risk disqualification.
How Many Films May Be Submitted? Organizations may submit five (5) total Film Submissions from their approved Script Submissions.

NOTE: If a Community Organization designates a School Beneficiary with five submissions submitted, this will not count against the total count for the School as an Organization.

What If My Submission Isn’t Approved? If the Film Prize Junior team rejects a submission, they will notify the Teacher Producer of the reasons and provide guidance on addressing any issues and resubmission. They will also give a deadline for resubmitting the corrected entry to ensure its inclusion in the festival.

The Final Cut of the Festival Entry must be submitted as follows:

Final Cut submissions must be fully rendered and ready to screen at the virtual and in-person festivals. Considering the inclusive nature of our festival and the curation of viewing slates ahead of festival screenings, all entries must abide by the following restrictions regarding presentation, time constraints, and film credits. The Film Prize Junior team reserves the right to edit content as necessary regarding time and format, including but not limited to the following examples: display aspect ratio, opening credits, closing credits, sound quality, resolution, inclusion of title cards, etc.
Static Title Card (Example) static_title_card_example.png	For review by the festival team, a static title card: 5 seconds at the beginning of the film (doesn’t count toward Total Run Time) Black background, simple white text Must include Film Title School State & Division Total Run Time
Title Card (Example) title_card_example.png	Title & Organization must be present within the first 10 seconds of the Final Cut to indicate the Title of the short film to the audience
Total Run Time (TRT) (Incld. All Credits)	Live-Action: 3 – 8 minutes Animation: 1 – 5 minutes Note: The Total Run Time is shorter than that of previous years.
Film Credits (Example)	< 30 seconds No Bloopers Opening Credits are not required, but if included count against TRT Static Title card not included Closed Credits are highly recommended. Must follow this format.
File Type & Size	.MP4 is preferred, but .MOV, .WMV, and .AVI are also accepted < 10 GB
Naming Conventions	DIVISION_SCHOOLNAME_FILMTITLE ex) HIGH_RiverwoodHighSchool_TheDiscovery.mp4
Render Format & Size	Video Encoding – H.264 or Apple Prores 422 HQ (Recommended)
Aspect Ratio	Widescreen Format (16:9) for landscape viewing Entries submitted with inconsistent aspect ratios will be scaled to fit within a 16:9 aspect ratio with black to fill the negative space. Entries produced entirely in portrait orientation will NOT be accepted.
Resolution	1080p or 720p
Frame Rate	24 (23.976) or 30 (29.97) frames per second NOTE: These settings are recommended to maintain reasonable file sizes during export. Filmmakers must not provide files in higher quality (e.g. 4K resolution or 60 FPS) as they will not be accepted. Click here for other file size management tips.
Language (Example)	Entries submitted with spoken dialogue in languages other than English must include English subtitles or closed captions to translate the dialogue. See recommendations.

Press Kit Requirements

What is a Press Kit? A Press Kit is a collection of assets and information produced by a Festival Entry’s Student Filmmakers to promote and publicize the release and distribution of their short film ahead of festival screenings.
Who Submits/Uploads Press Kit items? All Press Kit items will be uploaded by the Teacher Producer to the Press Kit section of the Filmmaker Portal.
Why is a Press Kit Important to FPJR? Assets provided by Filmmakers for their Press Kit will be utilized to produce a landing page to facilitate the promotion of their entry during the Festival. These landing pages will be available to view on our website for the following year until the beginning of the next festival.

The following assets are requested to assemble the Press Kit for each Festival Entry:

The primary use is for the Film Prize Junior Team to create a webpage about your film. The use of these assets by the Student Filmmakers is an important part of the promotional process when producing a film and can greatly improve a film’s performance in the festival. *All items are Required.*
Film Title	Must be five (5) words or less Working titles must describe the production and must be finalized in FILM SUBMISSION The title may not be changed after the Film Submission has been submitted Each title must be unique to other entries per festival year. If multiple entries share the same title, the first entry to complete Film Submission through the Filmmaker Portal will reserve the right to use the title and subsequent entries will be asked to provide an alternate.
Film Division	Middle School (grades 5th – 8th) High School (grades 9th – 12th)
Film Technique (See CONTENT RULES AND GUIDELINES)	Live-Action Animation
Film Genre (See CONTENT RULES AND GUIDELINES)	Comedy Drama Sci-Fi/Fantasy Thriller Documentary
Film Logline	Each entry must provide a logline of 50 words or less to represent their short film. Click here to learn how to write a Logline.
Film Credits (Example)	Each entry must provide the names of students who participated in their short film as Director, Writer, Cinematographer, Editor, Cast, Crew and Producers (Teacher Producer and Organization).
Filmmaker Interview (Example)	Teacher Producers will provide Student Filmmakers with interview questions about their films based on the collective experiences of the Student Filmmakers responsible for their production. The Teacher Producer will then upload their responses via the Filmmaker Portal. Those questions include the following: Tell us about this short film. What do you want the audience to take away from your film? What obstacles challenged you and your Student Filmmakers the most when completing this film? Tell us about a scene you had an absolute blast filming. What did you learn from making this short film? Why are opportunities like Film Prize Junior important to students today? What advice would you give to future participants in Film Prize Junior?
Movie Poster (Example)	27” x 40” – (8100 x 12000 pixels) – portrait-oriented, 5 MB MAX JPG or PNG
Film Still(s) (Example)	Film Stills will be published to fit a 16:9 aspect ratio on the Film Prize Junior Website At Least 1 Still Frame from the Final Cut No Text 1920p x 1080p JPG or PNG 5 MB MAX
Behind the Scenes (BTS) Photos (Example)	Three (3) total pictures taken on set during film production Consider taking lots of pictures during production so your BTS photos are varied and highlight different aspects of your entry. Each image should be no larger than 5 MB JPG or PNG

PERMISSIONS AND CONSENT

The Film Prize Junior team is committed to a safe, educational, and supportive environment. Organizations participating in FPJR must

Submit the Organization Authorization form signed by the Teacher Producer and administration.
Share the Parental Consent with legal guardians, collect and submit signed forms of every child participating in the Film Prize Junior program. Teachers are to keep these forms on file until the next school year.

For more information about what Personal Information is collected and published, refer to the Film Prize Junior Privacy Policy at http://filmprizejr.com/privacy

FESTIVAL PREMIERE AND AWARDS

Each Film Entry approved by the Film Prize Junior Review Team is showcased at the Film Prize Junior Student Film Festival, both online on the Film Prize Junior website and in person. These films compete for various awards, including Juried Awards chosen by Mentor Judges and Audience Choice Awards voted on by festival attendees. Winners receive a Film Prize Junior Diploma in recognition of their achievements. Awards can be either monetary or non-monetary. Some awards offer cash prizes for Teacher Producers or Schools/School Beneficiaries with film equipment grants.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL HERE.

Monetary Awards include:

Student Celebration Fund: This is given to the Organization to celebrate the success of their Student Filmmakers.
Film Equipment Grants: Awarded to the School/School Beneficiary based on current inventory and desired program outcomes.
Teacher Awards: Cash stipends awarded to the Teacher Producer of the winning films.
Founders Circle Awards: Awarded to Schools/School Beneficiaries as a reimbursement after this year’s film submission.

Juried Awards

BEST of GENRE

Film Prize Junior films must be submitted in one of five (5) genres: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller, or Documentary. Our Mentor Judges select films as they represent the best of their chosen genre in their Division.

BEST ANIMATION

Along with Live-Action short films, Student Filmmakers have the option to submit Animations to the festival. Films in this technique are selected by our Mentor Judges as the best representatives of this technique in their division.

FOUNDERS CIRCLE AWARDS

These films are selected both by our Mentor Judges and our Film Prize Junior team for their passion and dedication to their films demonstrated during the 2025 Film Prize Junior Film Festival. Each of these films is awarded a $250 grant to reimburse costs towards the production of short films for Film Prize Junior 2026. The award is accepted by the School or School Beneficiary.

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

One film from each division is selected by the panel of Mentor Judges as it represents the best of the submissions to this year’s festival. The winning film is awarded a $1,500 Film Equipment Grant for the School or School Beneficiary, $1,000 is awarded to the Teacher Producer and $500 in Celebration Funds accepted by the Organization on behalf of their Student Filmmakers.

Audience Choice Winners

TROUBLED MUSE POSTER COMPETITION AUDIENCE CHOICE

This Film Poster is selected solely by the in-person audience who view the poster gallery and vote during the Film Prize Junior Film Festival. The winning Film Poster will be awarded a MacMini and accessories valued at $1,500 for their School or School Beneficiary, and $250 awarded to the Teacher Producer.

FESTIVAL AUDIENCE CHOICE

This film is selected solely by the in-person audience who watch films and vote during the Film Prize Junior Film Festival. The winning film is awarded a $1,500 Film Equipment Grant for the School or School Beneficiary, $500 to the Teacher Producer, and $250 in Celebration Funds accepted by the Organization on behalf of their Student Filmmakers.

VIRTUAL AUDIENCE CHOICE

This film is selected solely by the audience who watch films and vote during the Film Prize Junior Virtual Film Festival. The winning film was awarded $500 in celebration funds to the student filmmakers.

CONTENT RULES & GUIDELINES

For each Festival Entry to qualify as a finalist, the Teacher Producer and Student Filmmakers must submit a Script that documents the plans and intentions for their short film. You can learn more about the review process under Script Submission in the 2025 Festival Entry Requirements. The Film Prize Junior team must approve Scripts before Student Filmmakers may begin production of their films.

The Film Prize Junior team designed the following Content Rules & Guidelines to guide Student Filmmakers through the filmmaking process and to keep production safe and legal for all participants of Film Prize Junior.

Reminder: With consideration for the inclusive nature of our festival and the curation of viewing slates ahead of festival screenings, all entries must abide by the following restrictions regarding presentation, time constraints, and film credits. The Film Prize Junior team reserves the right to edit content as necessary regarding time and format, including but not limited to the following examples: display aspect ratio, opening credits, closing credits, sound quality, resolution, inclusion of title cards, etc.

To qualify as a finalist, concepts for each Festival Entry must adhere to the following terms:

DIVISION, TECHNIQUE, AND GENRE

Submissions must indicate a DIVISION:

Middle School (5th – 8th Grade)

High School (9th – 12th Grade)

and TECHNIQUE:

Live-Action – a submission composed of video recording of still or moving objects (must be 3 to 8 minutes Total Run Time with credits)
Animation – a submission composed of elements such as stop-motion, claymation, frame animation, computer-generated imagery (CGI), puppetry, or any other visual style of film that creates the illusion of movement when shown as a sequence (must be 1 to 5 minutes Total Run Time with credits)

The Student Filmmakers must create these elements (no stock assets or third-party renders).
Animation must be on screen for at least 50% of the film’s Total Run Time.
Visual Effects (VFX) such as CGI, motion capture, and compositing are not considered animation unless the above conditions are met.

Note: The Total Run Times for Live-Action and Animation are shorter than in previous years.

and one of the following GENRE:

Comedy – work of fiction consisting of jokes or satirical elements intended to inspire laughter and joy
Drama – work of fiction consisting of conflict among characters intended to evoke thought or feeling
Thriller – work of fiction consisting of suspense and mystery intended to build intrigue, interest, or fright
Sci-Fi/Fantasy – work of fiction depicting the impact of real or imagined science OR work of fiction depicting an alternate reality inspired by myth or folklore
Documentary – work of nonfiction consisting of documentation, records, and interviews intended to educate on a chosen topic

LANGUAGE AND THEME

Film Prize Junior encourages stories of all kinds to be shared at the festival; as this is an all-ages program, we PROHIBIT the following content:

Slurs, language, or gestures targeting any group based on race, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, nationality, or any other identity.
Profanity, sex, nudity, innuendo, or sexual content of any kind.
Religious ideas can be engaged and can be included in submissions to this festival as long as the intent is neither to proselytize nor to disparage.
Abuse (verbal, physical, emotional, or sexual) can be implied or discussed sensitively with educational intent but cannot be depicted.
Mental health struggles can similarly be referenced if presented sensitively with a narrative that features a positive and productive resolution and intent to educate and inform viewers.

Any acts of harming one’s self or others (e.g., cutting, purging, abuse, etc.) or any other unhealthy replicable behaviors CANNOT be depicted in submissions to this festival.

Violence, Drugs, and Bodily Harm

In general, producing unsafe scenarios for film is both dangerous and illegal. Filmmakers cannot break any local, state, or federal laws in the name of a Festival Entry. It is suggested to always film with adult supervision.

The permissibility of Violence in narratives will be subject to arbitration by the Script and Film Submission Review Teams. Any use of Violence considered inappropriate for the festival will be REJECTED by the Film Prize Junior team during the Script Review. The Script Review Team will consider these factors specifically:

Safety of the actors in producing the scene.

What is the thematic and narrative purpose of the scene?

What is the intent of the antagonist, and what are they using to commit an act of violence?

How closely does the act of violence translate into real-world scenarios?

The level of harm experienced by the target of any violent acts.

Compliance with other rules regarding content.

Further violent depictions are PROHIBITED from the festival:

Sexual or physical violence that results in blood or gore
REAL weapons of any kind

Lethal weapons include but are not limited to firearms, swords, knives, axes, nunchucks, ninja stars, grenades, bombs, rockets, missiles, and any object that appears capable of inducing bodily harm either on or off-screen. The portrayal of weapons on screen is allowed if no other rules regarding the content or prop safety are broken.
All props that appear lethal MUST BE APPROVED by the Film Prize Junior team prior to Production. Props that act as weapons must not present any obvious threat or danger to the safety and well-being of any participants.

Portrayal of firearms: any device used like a firearm or prop clearly meant to stand in for a firearm, including non-weapon objects like guns. This includes gunshot noises and threats involving guns offscreen.
Distribution of, use of, or jokes about illicit drugs may NOT be depicted in a work of fiction or a documentary. This includes the use of drugs (real or fictional) to alter a character’s perception for the purpose of abuse or manipulation.

Exception: Portrayals of addiction that feature a realistic depiction of the experience and adhere to the mental health portrayal policy of having a positive and productive outcome to the narrative.

NOTE: Educational content on these topics is allowed in documentaries if they don’t depict replicable dangerous or harmful situations. For additional guidance, contact the Film Prize Junior team.

SET SAFETY AND STUNTS

It is important to conduct your Productions under adult supervision when required, and Set Safety is taken into consideration at all times. The following guidelines cover Set Safety and Stunts, including Street Filming and Filming in Cars and Prohibited Stunts and Practical Effects.

Street Filming and Filming in Cars

Do NOT produce scenes requiring cast or crew on a street unless it is a residential area or enclosed with little to no traffic, and lookouts are posted at both ends to watch for traffic during production.
NO dangerous vehicle maneuvers, high speeds, car chases, or POV filming that endangers actors are allowed. Green screens or simulated driving, like stationary vehicles with green screen effects, are permitted.
NO jumping off or out of moving vehicles.

Prohibited Stunts and Practical Effects

NO non-staged fighting or other physical acts or feats that would likely endanger your film’s cast or crew or your affiliates can be depicted in a submission.
NO use of fire or campfires, jumping from high places, simulated drowning, or anything that has the potential to endanger members of your film’s cast or crew or your affiliates can be depicted in a submission.
Sports that pose an obvious danger to the well-being of participants may be shown in a setting under the supervision of trained professionals and medical personnel, such as an official competition or event. Any concept involving these elements should specify the location and supervisors of the event or shoot.

Involvement in Extreme sports (skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, water sports) without direct adult supervision in production is not allowed.

NOTE: Any Festival Entry that includes elements in conflict with any of the rules above may request approval from the Film Prize Junior Concept review team by showing legal permits or proof of professional consultation during production. However, this does not guarantee approval of prohibited content.

COPYRIGHT, FAIR USE CASES, AND PROHIBITED MEDIA

Using media responsibly is essential to respect creators’ rights and ensure legal compliance. Film Prize Junior’s Copyright and Fair Use Cases help establish when Student Filmmakers can and cannot use assets created by someone other than themselves, ensuring proper attribution and permissions while prohibiting unlicensed and AI-generated content. Film Prize Junior reserves the right to request acceptable proof of the licensee’s authorization to use Copyrighted media.

Copyright – Copyright legally protects the creators of original works and intellectual property (IP), like films, music, literature, and artwork. It gives them exclusive rights to use, distribute, and license their creations. Using copyrighted material without permission or proper attribution is illegal and can lead to serious consequences, including disqualification from the competition.

Fair Use – Fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, or research. Specific criteria must be met for the use of copyrighted material to be considered fair use.

Purpose and Character of Use: Non-commercial, educational, or transformative uses are more likely to be considered fair use.
Nature of Copyrighted Work: Non-fictional work is more likely to be considered fair use than purely creative works (e.g., novels, music, movies). However, student
Amount and Substantiality: Using smaller portions of the work is more likely to be considered fair use, especially if the portion used is not the “heart” of the work.
Effect on Market Value: If your use of the work could replace the original work and harm its market value, it is less likely to be considered fair use.

NOTE: DO NOT RELY ON FAIR USE. Most Film Prize Junior Films will not meet this criteria.

Music and Other Recordings – Always consider the environment in which you are filming to ensure that you do not have any incidental occurrences of copyrighted material. It is important to note that it is unlikely that Filmmakers will receive permission to use popular music, etc.

Original Music/Videos/Photos: Use original music or media created by you or someone who gives you permission. Must receive written permission for Film Prize Junior use.
Licensed Music/Videos/Photos: Use music licensed under Creative Commons or other licenses that allow free use, ensuring you follow the license terms. A license is typically purchased from online sites. See recommendations here.
Public Domain or Copyright-Free Music/Videos/Photos: Use music that is in the public domain or on free music sites. See recommendations here.
Performing a Song or Scene from a Play: If you perform a copyrighted song or scene in your film, you need permission or a license from the copyright holder. You may not perform or recite any popular media without permission.
Background Music or TV: Regardless of whether you are filming in a public or private space, narrative films will need to obtain permission if a copyrighted song or TV show is audible in the background.

NOTE: Fair use might apply more leniently to Documentaries, especially if used for commentary or critique; HOWEVER, attribution is ALWAYS required for Film Prize Junior.

Attribution and Citing Sources – Filmmakers MUST obtain permission from the license holder and submit proof of authorized use for any licensed media in their Festival Entry. Assume that any content not from a royalty-free site or marketplace is licensed and cannot be used without proper authorization. Always provide proper attribution for any copyrighted material you use, even if it falls under fair use. This includes citing the source and giving credit to the original creator. See examples here.

Films Without Citation – Using unlicensed media is PROHIBITED and illegal. Filmmakers must remove any improperly used licensed media upon request or face disqualification. Filmmakers are responsible for determining media ownership and obtaining necessary permissions.

Artificial Intelligence or A.I. Generated Content – A.I.GENERATED CONTENT (images, documents, video, audio, scripts) is PROHIBITED in final film submission but may be used in the brainstorming/story-development phase of pre-production.

DISQUALIFICATION

The Film Prize Junior team reserves the right to disqualify a Festival Entry if incomplete or its contents violate our Rules & Guidelines. Filmmakers will be notified of issues and given a deadline to correct them. Failure to comply will result in disqualification.

ALL DECISIONS REGARDING DISQUALIFICATION FROM THE COMPETITION ARE FINAL.

Any entry disqualified from the festival will no longer be eligible for the following privileges:

In-person festival screening
Streaming on the Film Prize Junior website
Participating in the Virtual Red Carpet
Competing for available awards and prizes

Entries failing to meet Festival Requirements will be disqualified.
Any Festival Entry submitted without the Teacher Producer’s permission risks disqualification from the festival.
Any entry whose Final Cut submitted for our festival is found to have debuted prior to our festival on a public viewing platform, including broadcast media channels or social media platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, TikTok, etc., will be disqualified from the festival.

Screenings at Schools and Community Organizations for private audiences are allowed. Promoting a Festival Entry via press releases and sharing promotional materials such as teaser trailers, posters, behind-the-scenes pictures, or film stills is encouraged.

Any Festival Entry using uncredited or unauthorized Licensed Media, having over 50% borrowed visual media exceeding Total Run Time in films, or violating AI content guidelines will be disqualified from the festival.
Any entry found in violation of the aforementioned rules regarding Language, Theme, Violence, or Safety will be disqualified from the festival.

Glossary

FILM PRIZE FOUNDATION, INC.

Film Prize Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2012. Our mission is to promote economic development, workforce development, youth job training, art-based and entrepreneurial business development through film production, education, live and recorded music events, conferences, competitions, and festivals in the Shreveport-Bossier area. We operate six major initiatives year-round: Louisiana Film Prize, Startup Prize, Film Prize Junior, Food Prize, Music Prize, and Fashion Prize.

LOUISIANA FILM AND ENTERTAINMENT ASSOCIATION (LFEA)

LFEA is a 501(c) 6 non-profit that exists to support and promote the Louisiana film entertainment industry. Founded in 2010, LFEA has played a major role in shaping the film and television industry in the state of Louisiana. With its primary role focused on the legislative process and access to the state’s motion picture tax credit program for all levels of filmmakers, LFEA has also fostered within it’s organization an educational component focused on high school students. In 2018, LFEA created the Louisiana Student Film Festival aimed to invest in the voices of Louisiana students by empowering them to share their stories through film. The winners of the 2020 competition were announced in a live online ceremony. And in partnership with WYES-New Orleans, the winning films were broadcast on PBS and PBS-Kids.