Eligibility Requirements
Ratings Guidelines

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY
For your film to be judged and for possible selection for screening and awards at Scene First, you must:

• Have been enrolled in an accredited high school, college or university when you completed your film (this can include graduate or extension/night courses).
• Have a teacher/instructor from your school sign your WAB entry confirmation form OR send an e-mail to katieb@campusentertainment.net certifying your enrollment at your school and that your entry was completed during your enrollment. The submitted film does not have to be part of the formal school curriculum.
• By submitting your entry you certify ownership of your entry and that you have obtained releases for all music, all footage, talent and locations used and that it meets Scene First's ratings.
• If you are under 18 years of age, you must have authorization from your parent or legal guardian.
• Scene First assumes that all filmmakers have received permission to use all material within a film and will not be held liable for any legal action that may occur by posting a film that has copyrighted content that was used without permission.
• A separate entry and a separate fee must be submitted for each film. Submission preview copy must be DVD (preferred), or VHS only. One entry per disc or tape. PLEASE SUBMIT TWO (2) COPIES OF EACH ENTRY.
• Students listed on the entry must have been enrolled at the school(s) listed during the film's completion. A teacher/instructor authorization is required.
• PG-13 rating for high school entries, unrated for college entries.
• Foreign films must have English subtitles.

Submission of entries to The Scene First Student Film Festival allows the use of entrant's name or school name and entry footage, in total or in part, in print, or on our website. Upon acceptance to the Festival, you may be contacted to approve usage of your entry online and/or in a compilation DVD to promote The Scene First Student Film Festival.

Preview tapes and DVDs must be labeled with title, WAB entry confirmation number, running time and contact information. Please do not send master tapes, film prints, or any originals. Films will not be returned. All submitted tapes and DVDs become property of The Scene First Student Film Festival and cannot be returned.  No refunds. If your entry is accepted, you acknowledge Scene First's right to copy the submitted material for Scene First's promotional and non-commercial use only.

Judging of Films
A panel of judges reviews all entries. Judges focus on four major criteria for each entry:

• Scriptwriting: How engaging, compelling, believable are the characters, story/plot, and dialogue/narration in layout, motion, and perspective?
• Creativity: How well do production elements utilize imaginative and creative ways to support the story in direction, camera, acting, sound/music, art direction, graphics, and editing?
• Technique: How did technical aspects of the production enhance the story through lighting, sound (sound design, balance/levels, ambient, foley, looping), camera, and editing?
• Entertainment: How strongly did this entry affect you and elicit and emotional and intellectual response (NOT how well did you like the content or subject matter).

Judges’ Qualifications

SCENE FIRST uses industry-knowledgeable professionals who give of their time to judge student films. These are people who are passionate about filmmaking and typically have written, directed, filmed and produced an array of films, shorts, commercials, documentaries, and instructional and promotional films/videos. SCENE FIRST judges also go through an orientation of SCENE FIRST judging forms and criteria and are well-versed in providing directed, meaningful insight, feedback and comments.

Official Selection Notification

All selected entries will be shown in their entirety at the SCENE FIRST Student Film Festival with the filmmaker(s) introducing their entry and receiving awards. Selections will be posted on our Web site as they are made. In addition, selected filmmakers will be notified by e-mail that their film has been selected for the SCENE FIRST Student Film Festival. Please do not call the festival, as we will not give out the information over the phone.

Festival Screenings

Students whose entries are selected for screening at the SCENE FIRST Student Film Festival receive complimentary passes to the Festival in Wilmington, NC. Transportation and lodging are not included.