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    • How to Enter

    Rules are Simple

    Use any one of the provided music tracks – just don't modify it.
    Make it suitable for all ages.
    No copyrighted material.
    Download Soundtracks
    See FAQ Page

    Eligibility

    Filmmakers must be 22 or under as of April 15 of the year submitting.

    Select Your Submission Form

    Submission Guidelines

    Below are the submission guidelines for the Youth Silent Film Festival.

    Submission format: must follow Submission Form guidelines for your region, along with a signed Submission Form.

    All filmmakers must be twenty-two years old or younger as of April 15th of the competition year.

    For each submission, a filmmaker must choose one of the 10 pre recorded musical themes upon which to base the film. Themes are:

    Charmed
    Fantasy
    Shadows
    Slapstick
    Epic
    Science Fiction
    Reflections
    Western
    Noir
    Discovery

    Once you have chosen a musical theme from this website upload the theme music and include this with your submitted film. If selected as a finalist, your film will be screened with live musical accompaniment matching your chosen musical theme.

    Films that do not have a musical theme from the approved list dubbed to their film will be disqualified.

    Films may be submitted in black and white, or color.

    Films may be live action or animation.

    Films must use at least one title card with the film title, filmmaker(s) name(s), and age(s).

    Film running time should equal the soundtrack run time, approximately 3 minutes.

    Films must be family-friendly/appropriate for viewers of all ages.

    Jurors will select winning entries based on scoring films on five categories: Story, Cinematography, Editing, Directing and Production Design (see the jury scoring guidelines for further discussion on jury guidance).

    All decisions of the jury members are final.

    Filmmakers must use only original footage and no copyrighted material.

    Music Downloads

    Choose your music from below to accompany your film. Music may not be modified.

    To download music, click its 'Download' link. If your browser doesn't download the file, but instead views/plays the file, select the save option under your browser's file menu.

    Charmed
    Download

    Fantasy
    Download

    Shadows
    Download

    Slapstick
    Download

    Epic
    Download

    Science Fiction
    Download

    Reflections
    Download

    Western
    Download

    Noir
    Download

    Discovery
    Download

    © Avakian Creative Works, LLC

    All theatre pipe organ soundtracks composed by Nathan Avakian. Recording instruments generously provided by:
    Dickinson Theatre Organ Society, Dickinson High School – www.dtoskimball.org
    New York Theatre Organ Society, FDR High School – www.nytos.org
    Richard Lawson residence

    SUBMISSON FORMAT: Films are to be submitted as a .MP4 or .MOV using H.264 compression, and must be 2GB or less in size.

    View Previous Winners