Submissions are now open for the inaugural
Northwest Youth Film Festival
Presented by Northwest Children’s Theater and The Judy Kafoury Center for Youth Arts
Film Submission Deadline: Friday, June 19
There is no fee to submit.
The Northwest Youth Film Festival is a new film festival celebrating young filmmakers in Oregon and SW Washington*. Produced through Northwest Children’s Theater and The Judy Kafoury Center for Youth Arts, NWYFF is looking for original films under 10 minutes from youth filmmakers in grades 6-12.
NWYFF will screen it’s selected final films in person, August 15th and 16th, at The Judy.
We are looking for family friends films that showcase exceptional storytelling and filmmaking skills from a diverse array of filmmakers.
*Washington Entrants must reside in one of the following counties: Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Lewis, Pacific, Skamania, and Wahkiakum.
AWARDS & PRIZES
Jury Awards:
Best in Fiction: $300
Runner Up Fiction: 2 awards of $150
Best in Non-Fiction: $300
Runner Up Non-Fiction: 2 awards of $150
Other Festival Awards – We will announce additional Special Achievement Awards and Special Awards closer to the festival.
RULES & TERMS
Eligibility:
Students in grades 6–12, in Oregon or SW Washington. Graduating seniors eligible through the submission deadline. The Director(s) must be a student. Adult participation is allowed, but students must be the creative driving force of the film.
Length:
Films should not exceed 10 minutes in length. Credits are not included in runtime, but credits should not exceed 30 seconds.
Categories:
Submissions are accepted into two categories: Fiction and Non-Fiction (Documentary/Broadcast Journalism).
Submission Platform:
All films should be uploaded to FilmFreeway and made downloadable or they will not be considered for selection and screening. Ensure “Download Permissions” is set to “Festivals that I submit to may download my video”. Any film submitted in any other way may not be considered.
Do not submit using a YouTube or Vimeo link as they cannot be easily downloaded. Any submissions with a YouTube or Vimeo link will not be considered for selection or screening.
Technical Aspects:
We accepted files in 1080p HD, 16:9, MP4 or MOV, under 2GB. Smartphone submissions welcome. Do not submit films in 4K. Any film files that are larger than 2GBs will not be accepted.
When uploading your submission, you must use the following file naming conventions: FirstNameLastName_FilmTitle.mp4
Examples:
JaneDoe_MyFilm.mov
JohnDoe_MyMovie.mp4
Content:
We are looking for family-friends films that showcase exceptional storytelling and filmmaking skills from a diverse array of filmmakers.
Films must be suitable for All Age Audiences and adhere to all guidelines listed on filmfreeway.com/NorthwestYouthFilmFestival
Music & Copyright:
All music content must be original or properly licensed, including Student Music Videos.
Fee:
Submissions are free.
Language:
Non-English films must include embedded English subtitles.
AI Usage:
AI usage is not permitted. Filmmakers must disclose any use of AI (generative text/image/video/audio, deepfakes, automated editing).
Multiple Submissions:
Students are allowed to submit up to three films for consideration.
Judging Criteria:
Films will be judged based on narrative strength, filmmaking skills, and creative storytelling.
