FILMMAKING RULES
On this page you’ll find all the rules in regards to the actual filmmaking process. Give them a read, the last thing that you or we want is to disqualify your film. They’re here to ensure fair competition and eligibility. Keep in mind, films that don’t follow the filmmaking rules and meet the basic criteria will be disqualified and no longer screened or considered for the award. So follow the directions carefully!
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REQUIRED CHARACTER
Must be included in the film!
Each of you have been assigned a Character Type to include in your film! Find the description of you character below and it's use requirements. This person does NOT have to be your main character!
Season 1 of the iCHALLENGED Film Festival will be hosting “THE BOX” category, competing for the Best Picture Award.
iCHALLENGED Film Festival Organizers may add to or amend these rules at any time prior to the beginning of the Official Time Period.
Timeline / Instructions for Competing
Season 1 of the iCHALLENGED Film Festival (iCHALLENGED S1) is a National Digital Film Festival competition officially running from September 2024 to January 2025.
REGISTRATIONS OPEN: iCHALLENGED S1 will officially start accepting registrations in July 2024.
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Each filmmaker must create a FilmFreeway Profile.
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Afterwards go to the project page and “Create a Project” All you have to do is name it, you will be able to update it later on.
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Finally submit this project to the festival page and fill out the requested information.
REGISTRATIONS CLOSE: Deadline to register will be September 27, 2024.
MATERIALS SHIP: Filmmaking packages for each category (THE BOX and THE ENVELOPE) will ship by the end of September 2024. Your shipping information will be requested at submission check out on FilmFreeway.
PRODUCTION STARTS: The official production block for iCHALLENGED will be October 1, 2024 to November 8, 2024.
Accounting for potential variation in shipping, we’ve structured the schedule accordingly so that everyone has roughly one month to produce their film. Ask a friend or family member to film some BTS! It will be used during your interviews.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Participating filmmakers must submit their completed film by end of day on November 22nd, 2024. You do so by “UPDATING” the original “PROJECT” you created on your FilmFreeway profile. Fill out all relevant information and upload your film to the Project you submitted. As stated before, you can make any changes you like to the project after it’s been made, however no changes can be made after the November 22nd, 2024 deadline.
NOTE: Only works that are received by this deadline will be reviewed and considered officially part of the competition.
INTERVIEWS: Starting mid-October through November 2024, one-on-one interviews with the Director will be conducted over Zoom chat with one of our Festival Hosts. Each interview will take roughly 5 - 10 mins. Once completed, they will be posted across all short form socials for Brave Queen Media (I.E, Instagram, TikTok & Shorts). Filmmakers will be given the option to have their Instagram post be a “Collaboration Post.”
PROMOTION PERIOD: All valid submissions will be uploaded to the Brave Queen YouTube channel on December 1, 2024 and each film will have the month of December 2024 to promote their films in any way they see fit. Submitted films may not be uploaded to any other channel or screened at other festivals until January 1, 2025. How well your film performs on our YouTube Channel is roughly 40% of your final score.
Best Picture Winners will be announced January 15, 2025!
Creative Process
All creativity must take place during the Official Time Period - October 1, 2024 - November 22nd, 2024. Any creative work done in advance of the competition period is prohibited.
Creative work includes, but is not limited to:
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Writing the script (All films must be submitted in English)
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Casting (of roles)
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Rehearsing
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Costume/Set Design
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Shooting
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Editing
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Sound Design
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Rendering
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Outputting to USB drive or other media
Preparation
The only work to begin prior to the Official Time Period is:
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Organizing Crew
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Organizing Cast
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Securing Equipment
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Scouting/Securing Locations
Language
All dialogue must be written and performed in English. Due to current limitations, it would be impossible at this time to verify and translate speech in any other language. In order to uphold the standard of our rules regarding offensive material, hate speech or inappropriate conduct, iCHALLENGED requires that all films submitted be in English. English subtitles, over any other spoken language, are also not acceptable.
Footage
Every frame of your film MUST contain footage shot or created in the Official Time Period. This is "core footage."
"Supporting footage," or footage shot or created BEFORE the Official Time Period (including stock footage that is part of a special effect) may be placed over or under the core footage, as long as every frame of your film contains some amount of core footage and the assembling of the core footage with the supporting footage occurs during the Official Time Period.
Animation, titles, and special effects can be considered core footage if it is created during the Official Time Period. (see Rule BB relating to footage created using Artificial Intelligence.)
Supporting footage MAY NOT include people or other performers unless the supporting footage was shot during a previous iCHALLENGED Official Time Period for a previously-submitted iCHALLENGED film.
Still photos are permitted as core footage. The still photos do not need to be created during the Official Time Period. NOTE: Still photos created outside of the Official Time Period being used in a sequence to create the illusion of motion are not acceptable as core footage, but are acceptable as supporting footage.
You must have rights to any footage or photos used in your film. iCHALLENGED & Brave Queen Media reserves the right to disqualify and remove any film flagged for Copyright infringement.
ONE-ON-ONE Interviews
Each filmmaker will be asked to participate in one-on-one interviews with a iCHALLENGED Host/Team Member over Zoom (Or other Available Option). This is your chance to introduce yourself to your potential audience and talk about the process and journey of making your film!
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Interviews will start mid-October and go through November as submissions are accepted into the screening phase.
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You must have filled out your iCHALLENGED release form in order to participate.
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Filmmakers will be asked to supply BTS footage from their shoot as well as relevant Social Media handles.
Required Elements
Each participant will be assigned required elements that must appear in each film such as genre, a character, a prop and a line of dialogue. As well as your Box or Envelope!
NOTE: Each of you will be assigned an ID number that will correspond with your Box or Envelope and the Project you submitted. We know what you received!
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Each film must have a title card in the opening 30 seconds that features the iCHALLENGED Box within the setting of their opening scene. This should be a simple B-roll shot of the Box in a key spot in your setting. EXAMPLE: Sitting on a desk, under a Christmas tree, in the passenger seat of a car, whatever works best for your film.
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The title card should read “iCHALLANGED Film Festival Season 1 by Brave Queen Media.”
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The required Character must be seen on-screen and it must be clear—either directly shown or by context—who the required Character is.
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The required Prop & Costume must be seen on-screen.
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The required Line of Dialogue must be used verbatim. It may be spoken, sung and/or written.
To qualify as an Official Entry, each film must be in the preselected genre/theme and must contain all required elements within the official time limit and prior to the credits.
Animal Safety
Animal safety, like cast and crew safety, is an important part of iCHALLENGED Film Festival. Films that result in the endangerment, death or mutilation of an animal will be disqualified.
Cameras
Any type of video or film camera may be used. There is no limit to the number of cameras. Same goes for any BTS footage. Use your Iphone, Grandma’s DVC Recorder, a Canon DSLR or a RED, it doesn’t matter as long as the story is good!
Music Rights
Participating filmmakers are encouraged to work with a composer and/or musicians to write and record original music for their films. It is permissible for filmmakers to use pre-recorded music; however, the you must have the rights to any music used in its film and must provide releases for all music used.
NOTE: Song parodies ( 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 US or international copyright law.
Participants may use songs from the YouTube Studio Catalog for creators OR from 3rd party music licensing sites like Epidemic Sound or Artlist.
Total Running Time
The finished film must be a minimum of 5 minutes in duration, and a maximum of 15 minutes—not including end credits. In other words, the official running time begins at the film's start and ends prior to the end credits. The required slates and the end credits do not count towards the minimum time of 5 minutes. iCHALLENGED reserves the right to shorten any film that exceeds the maximum length for screening purposes.
Keep in mind that your Audience Retention, otherwise known as your average view duration, makes up 20% of your final score. You want to make sure that your film does a good job of keeping your audience engaged. For example submitting a 15 minute film but only succeeding in keeping your audience's attention for 2 minutes will result in a very low Audience Retention score.
Credits
Pre-film Required Slates
Before the finished film begins, the media should have:
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Within the opening 30 seconds of your film, a B-Roll iCHALLENGED Title Card should appear. It should showcase your iCHALLENGED Box within the setting of your opening scene.
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This title card should read “iCHALLANGED Film Festival Season 1 by Brave Queen Media.”
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Also include a 5 second title card with the competing Filmmakers name and the title of your production.
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After that, some films include opening credits for Producers, Actors, Etc. These are not encouraged, but if you use them, opening credits are considered to be part of the film, and therefore count against the maximum time.
End Credits
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Credits at the end of each film are limited to a maximum of 60 seconds. The 60 seconds is considered additional to the length of the film, as stated above. That is, a film may be 7 minutes long, with an additional 60 seconds of credits, for a total running time of 8 minutes.
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iCHALLENGED reserves the right to shorten any end credits that exceed the maximum length for screening purposes.
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Bloopers and/or behind the scenes are permitted during or after the end credits adhering to the 60 second maximum length.
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The end credits must include the words: This film was made for iCHALLENGED Film Festival Season 1.
Submission Notes
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Films may not be screened or made available to the public on any other sites until after the festival has concluded and a winner has been announced.
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All films should be uploaded to the submitted project on the FilmFreeway website, as well as all updated relevant information (I.E name of your project, etc.).
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Maximum File Size is 10gbs.
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All films must be uploaded by November 22nd, 2024.
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Your film should be made available to download by iCHALLANGED Festival. You may receive a request to download. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
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All films received on the evening of the deadline will be screened, presuming they meet the eligibility requirements.
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Keep in mind that by participating, you are agreeing to allow Brave Queen Media to host your film on their YouTube Channel in perpetuity, as well as use of any footage obtained through this festival in future projects or promotional material for any iCHALLENGED related projects, shows, festivals or events. See iCHALLANGED release document for more information.
Production Agreement
By registering/participating, you are agreeing to allow Brave Queen Media to host your film on their YouTube Channel in perpetuity, as well as use of any footage obtained through this festival in future projects or promotional material for any iCHALLENGED related projects, shows, festivals or events. See iCHALLANGED release document for more information.
As a condition of entry, participants must agree to the iCHALLENGED Agreement, which sets forth the rights of Entrant and iCHALLENGED with respect to the use of Entries by iCHALLENGED. Entries that do not include all required information and/or do not adhere to the foregoing and following requirements will be considered void and will not be considered in this iCHALLENGED Film Festival.
It’s also the filmmakers responsibility to secure production releases for talent, crew, music and locations, as well as any other applicable releases.
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 obscene or 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; and may not contain any copyrighted elements (other than as owned by the Entrant and/or iCHALLENGED).
Entries containing prohibited or inappropriate content as determined by Brave Queen Media and iCHALLENGED, in its sole discretion, to be inappropriate will be disqualified. Brave Queen Media and iCHALLENGED reserves the right to make the final determination as to which Entries are eligible. Brave Queen Media and iCHALLENGED reserves the right to refuse to screen a film or to make an announcement at the screening regarding the content of the film. Brave Queen Media and iCHALLENGED reserves the right to alter a film in order to remove or delete offensive or defamatory content.
No Pre-Screening Distribution
The Entrant should not distribute their entry/video in any way prior to it receiving its official iCHALLENGED Festival premiere screening. This includes uploading the video to any website or screening the film for groups of anyone other than the team.
A large portion of the judging criteria is based on the performance of a video on the YouTube Platform for the month of December 2024. Filmmakers are encouraged to share their video in any way as often as possible to bolster the potential success of their video. Only data from the video posted on the Brave Queen Media Channel will be considered in the final judgment.
Pre-Screens in any other capacity before January 2025 will result in the immediate disqualification of the film.
Official Film Entry
To be certified as an Official Film Entry, each participating group's film/video production must follow all rules herein. iCHALLENGED Film Festival Organizers reserve the right to screen only certified Official Film Entries.
Entries Not Returned
No Entries (media or documents) will be returned.
Disqualification
iCHALLENGED and Project Parties may, in their sole discretion, disqualify Entries deemed to be inappropriate or otherwise non-compliant.
Official Winner
All certified "Official Film Entries" are eligible to compete for the title of "Best Picture" of iCHALLENGED Film Festival Season 1 in their perspective category. Furthermore, the Top 10 performing films in either category will be screened at the Season 2 iCHALLANGED Festival in Los Angeles, CA.
iCHALLANGED Series
Win or not, the top performing filmmakers will automatically qualify for pre-screening interviews and have the chance to compete in the upcoming iCHALLANGED series hosted by Brave Queen Media.
Using AI (Artificial Intelligence)
in Your Entry
You may use AI (Artificial Intelligence) in the creation of your film, subject to the following guidelines:
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You may only use AI in ways that are legal in your jurisdiction.
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You may not use AI to create any part of your entry prior to the Official Time Period.
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You must have the rights to all work including work created with AI. In other words, any AI generated material that uses copyrighted material for which the filmmaker does not have a release is not permitted.
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As an example, using a screenshot from the movie Pulp Fiction to create a new image is prohibited.
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Any footage created using AI is subject to both copyright requirements and the Footage Rule (above). That is, not only must the filmmaker have rights to the footage, but any footage shot prior to the competition weekend may only be used as outlined in the Footage Rule (above).