WATERVILLE — The 2025 Maine Student Film + Video Festival, previously scheduled for March, is moving to July 19 as part of the 28th Maine International Film Festival.
Student filmmakers have the chance to see their films screen before an international audience, meet with professional filmmakers from around the world, and win prizes.
All Maine students in grades K-12 are eligible to submit short films in the Narrative, Documentary, and Creative categories, according to a news release from Waterville Creates.
Students could win filmmaking gear or a $500 Grand Prize.
Films will be judged by category: Narrative, Documentary, and Creative (animated, experimental, etc.). Works are selected on the basis of originality, content, style and technique. Submitted films are reviewed by a committee consisting of educators, media arts professionals, and MSFVF alumni.
In addition to prizes for winners, finalists and honorable mentions receive a certificate of merit. Prizes vary annually but have included filmmaking gear, cash prizes and subscriptions to Adobe Creative Cloud.
There is no entry fee to submit a film.
Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. June 15. Maximum length for entries is 10 minutes.
Submissions are considered and judged by three age groups: Grades K-6, 7-8 and 9-12.
The entire production must be the work of the person or persons entering the competition. For group productions, choose the age of the oldest authoring member of the group. There is no age limit for actors, documentary subjects, or musicians who may appear in the production.
Whenever possible, students are urged to use original music, copyright-free music, or music they have obtained permission to use. See the Creative Commons website for more information about types of permissions and resources for royalty-free music.
The festival is an educational event; teachers, artists and advisers are encouraged to work with their students. But the actual video production and editorial decisions must be made by students.
To submit a film or video, visit watervillecreates.org.
Check out other upcoming area events!
Send questions/comments to the editors.
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