Official Loss Fest Rules

Larry Rutledge

Fest Master

lossfest_2009_lg.jpg

DVXUSER.COM PRESENTS LossFest



Theme: Loss

Something or someone is gone; maybe a loved one, a family heirloom, a pet, innocence, your favorite toy, a memory, your way, or your own self. What is born of this loss? Hopelessness, a new beginning, or something else.

You might look to the stages of the grieving process for inspiration, maybe pick one to explore, or don't. Perhaps your characters are better off without the thing they've lost, though it may take some time for them to realize. Or, perhaps life is now unlivable.

Will they find what's been lost or remain without it forever? Who knows? Only you.

But remember, characters that actively pursue a goal are usually much more interesting than those who just sit around feeling sorry for themselves.




Rules (please read carefully, we HAVE MODIFIED the rules)

  • Films can be in any genre as long as they adhere to the above theme. If you have any questions about whether your film conforms to the theme please ask.
  • Films may not exceed six minutes and ten seconds (6:10) total. This includes the DVXuser Leader (approx. 10 seconds), the film and any credits.
  • Minimum of one frame of ending credits required
  • The following elements must be included:
    • Film Title - any format and can appear anywhere in the film
    • Credits - at least one frame of complete credits must appear at the end of the film.
    • DVXuser leader -- this must be at the beginning of your film--no exceptions! (the runtime of the leader does not count against your six minutes).
      UPDATE 02/28/09
      You may modify the leader in the following ways:
      • Sound - You may discard the supplied audio and instead have silence, music, ambient noise, dialogue from your film, or any other audio that more appropriately sets the tone of your film or helps you tell your story.
      • Black and White - You may change the leader to black and white (only, not green or red, etc.) if doing so helps set the mood of your film or helps you tell your story
      • "Made For" Text - you can, and are encouraged to actually, add "made for DV/Xuser Loss fest", "made for" "Official Selection DVXuser Loss Fest" "Official Selection" or text along those lines to the leader.

        Ask if you plan to modify the leader in any other way.

        YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE LEADER HERE:
        http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=163532
    • REQUIRED ELEMENT: In the spirit of Loss Fest you've already lost one thing ... the required element. There is no required element for this film.
  • All cameras are eligible to participate for prizes.
  • Content must be "R" rated or lower. If you are unsure; ASK.
  • No copyright violations, you *must* use licensed or royalty-free music.
  • All filmmakers agree to grant DVXuser.com and its agents non-exclusive rights for their films to appear on a DVD or for DVXuser-sanctioned public screenings.
  • Deliverables must be provided as an h.264 compressed file (either .mov or .mp4) with a maximum size of 50 MB.
  • No actual footage from the final entry may be published in any form prior to March 13, 2009.
  • All aspect ratios are acceptable.
  • Contest open to every country and films may be in any language. Non-English films must have English subtitles.
  • All films must be made between November 17, 2008 and March 9, 2009 and must not have been publicly screened prior to the start of viewing. The entry deadline is 11:00am Pacific Time on March 9, 2009 (The upload system will be open from March 2, 2009 - March 9, 2009)
  • Rating is limited to members with a minimum of 50 posts on the site. Other restrictions may be announced when rating is opened.
  • Films may be entered in other festivals as long as they aren’t screened prior to March 13, 2009.
  • All films will be prescreened by DVXFest staff for compliance with festival rules. Entries that aren't approved will be notified by a moderator and may be re-submitted with corrections up until the deadline. The festival moderators have sole and final say, on a case by case basis if necessary.
  • No entry fee.
  • You may enter up to two films as the primary filmmaker. There is no limitation to how many films you may work on.
  • Prizes, if any, will be announced.
  • Uploading details will be provided on Monday, March 2, 2009. When screening opens, films will be listed for viewing in the order received, not alphabetically.
  • DVXuser Moderators and Festival staff members are welcome to enter a film and have it rated by the fest viewers. However they are not eligible to receive prizes.
  • You are encouraged to promote the DVXfest outside of DVXuser.
  • You may also promote your individual entry outside of DVXuser for the purpose of drawing attention to the fest and to let people know about the work you are involved in. This promotion is not to include vote begging. You may talk about the project you are involved in with the intention of garnering interest in both your film and in the festival, not to drum up voter support. You must also include mention of the DVXFest (including a direct link to the fest - not just your individual entry).
  • DVXuser and DVXfest does not condone spam - these allowances for external promotion do not give license to spam on their behalf. Any sign of distribution of spam will be ground for immediate disqualification.


* DVXuser reserves the right to modify, clarify and/or otherwise alter the rules for DVXfest until December 7, 2008. Be sure to occasionally check for any updates.


 
Last edited by a moderator:
REQUIRED ELEMENT: In the spirit of Loss Fest you've already lost one thing ... the required element. There is no required element for this film.
WOW! That's a surprise.

Outside promotion is nice as well. And here I am not entering this time around... oh well. :)

Good luck, guys!

Sounds like it's going to be an interesting fest. Can't wait to see all the entries.

Cheers,

Mike
 
Cool - looking forward to seeing what outside promotion does for the fest. Should be pretty cool - and no required element... hmmmm... Time to go back to idea churning!
 
Nice, I'm hoping this time to enter-will by my first!--

I agree outside promotion is good--can we cut trailers and provide links? or just posters/synopsis?
 
Yeah I didnt notice a statement regarding footage either from the movie or BTS as well as stills both from the final product or BTS. THanks Larry!
 
Well, this is going to be very interesting...looks like I'm coming back in this one with Robbie! Definitely going to be taking our time this fest.

-Kegan
 
This sounds like a great concept. I can't wait to see what people bring to this fest!

Not sure if there is an official "who's in" thread started yet but... I am soooo in.

:beer:
 
All films must be made between November 17, 2008 and March 9, 2009 and must not have been publicly screened prior to the start of viewing. The entry deadline is 11:00am Pacific Time on March 9, 2008

Thanks for the info, just saw a typo here... entry deadline is March 9, 2009 right?
 
Agreed, but it could double as depressing Fest. :huh:
I wonder how many comedies we will see?

Depressing Fest! Lol. Hopefully not.

For Twilight Fest there was the comedic entry about the lost button. Quite funny I thought. I bet we'll see several comedies.

If I had the time, I would like to do one of each (light comedy and dark depressing drama)... or maybe combine them... hmmmm... off to the brainstorming facility (pub).

:beer:
 
Thanks guys for the fast work in getting this up already. I like the theme and, I think, the rule changes too. Now we need to see if we can come up with an idea - time to put our thinking caps on :)
Jason
 
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