A Town Teen Film Festival

ATown Teen Film Festival is the Arlington area’s only homegrown festival for teen videographers. Last year’s contestants came from Arlington, Lexington, Cambridge, Somerville, and Lowell, and beyond. Cash prizes will be awarded in a number of categories, and in addition to a virtual screening in May, the films will be showcased on ACMi’s channels for weeks thereafter.

GEneral Information

Submit your films by May 1st 2024

Application here

Screening: Tuesday May 21st at the Regent Theatre

Format

Digital HD .mov files are preferred, but most files other than .wmv will be considered.
Note: if you are submitting more than one video, each additional video will require a $10 fee. For example, if you are submitting one video, there is no fee; two videos would be $10; three videos $20, etc.

Submissions

Submit videos and applications to Arlington Community Media, Inc :

(1) At the following address:

Arlington Community Media, Inc.
Attn: Jasper Hamilton
85 Park Avenue, Arlington, MA 02476

OR

(2) Send completed application and final video electronically (i.e. Google Drive, DropBox) to Jasper at jasper@acmi.tv.

In previous years, prizes have been awarded for $300 Best Overall Film and other categories as $100

Please check back for updates on this year’s festival.

Awards

Categories TBD
* Crowd Favorite to be chosen by crowd vote following film viewings — so invite your friends! Invite grandma! Invite anyone you know who believes in your dreams!

Contest Details and Rules

  1. To be eligible for the ATown Teen Film Festival (herein known as ATFF) you must:
    • Be a teen between 12 and 19 or a student in the 6th to 12th grade
    • Have your parent/legal guardian sign the consent and release form if you are under 18 years of age.
  2. Videos featuring or produced by employees of ATFF sponsors or their family members will not be eligible for first prize.
  3. Videos should be approximately 1 to 15 minutes in length.
  4. To enter, complete the official entry form and submit your video as described in the contest application & video submissions info above. There is NO FEE for the first video. Additional videos will be $10 each.
  5. Provide a separate official entry consent form – completed and signed – by each person participating in the video (either as producer or actor/actress)
  6. USE ROYALTY-FREE  OR ORIGINAL MUSIC!
    • If your submitted video contains music, video clips, photos, drawings, icons, logos etc., these  items must be of your own creation or music available for free download on a site such as www.jamendo.com or freesound.org.
    • Cite program used to create original music included in your production (e.g. Garage Band).
    • Provide artistic credit for free music from a downloaded source.
    • If in doubt about the copyright of any and all items, please do not use them.
    • All videos thought to be in violation and/or infringement of copyright will be immediately disqualified.
  7. All video entries will be judged by individuals designated by ATFF.
  8. ATFF and/or its designated agent reserves any and all rights to use or broadcast any and all video submissions via media outlets and to distribute any or all video submissions to third parties.
  9. ATFF and/or its agents’ employees, directors, and officers take no responsibility and assume no liability in the video creation or its content. Be creative, but be respectful. Judges will only consider content that is suitable for general audiences when selecting winners.
  10. Participants are expected, but not required, to attend the screening event where winners are announced.

Help is Available!

I’d love to make a video! But I need help! Looking for help creating your film? ACMi is here to help! Contact Youth Coordinator Jasper Hamilton for training on preproduction, camera, audio equipment, lighting, editing, special effects, and more. We can also help connect you to your local media station.

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