The Film Race will be taking place from Friday 4 October 2024 at 6 PM to Sunday 6 October 2024 at 7 PM. This is the official competition time. The participating individual/team must complete and upload their film within this time. The film must be no shorter than 3 minutes and no longer than 5 minutes. Only films that meet the deadline will be officially part of the competition.
The Film Race organizers may change these rules at any time before the beginning of the Race.
Early Bird Tickets
To Enter
First, create your account on our website. You will then receive a link to enter yourself / your team. Entries close at 12 PM of 30 September 2024.
If you already have an account, you can simply log in.
Footage
All footage must be shot within the official period of the project.
No stock footage is allowed – Not even your own.
You are allowed to use photographs that were shot during the film race.
Kick-off Event
The Kick-off Event will be streamed live via Facebook and YouTube on Friday 4 October 2024 where we will give some last-minute tips and announce the start of the event. The genre, prop, and line of dialogue will be sent to teams/individuals via email at 7 PM.
Element Assignment
Each team in the Amateur and Semi-Pro Category will receive 2 genres, 2 props, and one line of dialogue. They must choose one genre and one prop they prefer and include it in their film with the line of dialogue assigned to them.
Each team in the Pro Category will receive 2 genres, a prop and a line of dialogue. They must choose one genre they prefer and include it in their film with their prop and line of dialogue assigned to them.
To be eligible for the race you must include all elements assigned to you and they must appear before the credits roll.
Volunteers
All cast and crew must be volunteers.
Actors
You are allowed to use 3 Actors with dialogue, and there is no limit to the number of extras (no dialogue allowed from extras) for your film.
Cameras and gear
You are only allowed to use a mobile phone for filming and only use natural or existing light. You may use a microphone that is plugged into the phone. You are not allowed to use any type of grips other than a tripod. Editing can be done on the phone, a tablet, or a PC. You can ONLY use royalty-free music and SFX.
You are allowed to film with a DSLR or consumer-level handy cam. You are allowed to record audio with any type of microphone but recording must be done directly onto the camera while you shoot video. You are allowed to use lights, a tripod and a gimbal. NO DRONE footage allowed. You can edit on any device, but you are not allowed to make use of any visual effects that do not come standard with the editing program that you decide to use. You can ONLY use royalty-free music and SFX.
For this category, it is pretty much open season. You can shoot on any camera and use any grips, audio gear, and lighting. There is no limit on editing and visual effects. You are allowed to use a drone but ONLY if you can legally fly it within CAA rules. You are only allowed to use royalty-free music or music that is licensed to use for this event. Proof of license will be required.
Total Running Time
Each film must be between 3 – 5 minutes long, including opening and closing titles and credits.
Credits
The Film Race logo must appear before the start of your film. No other crew/cast info may appear on this timeframe, only the title of your movie. All team members and actors must be credited at the end of your film. The source of the music used in your film must appear at the end of your film.
Designated Team Leader
Each team must assign a team leader for the Film Race who will be responsible to sign the Official Rules. The team leader must ensure that all the documentation is completed and submitted.
Production Documents
The following documentation must be submitted with the film or emailed to us in advance.
The film will not be viewed by the judges before the Film Race organizers have received all required documents from the team leader.
Permits (Optional)
If you require any permits for your film you can get them on the Garden Route Film Commission website.
No Pre-Screening Distribution
No teams or individuals may share their films on any platform before the official Film Race premiere screening during the live winners announcement event on Friday, 18 October 2024.
Disqualification
If the Film Race and Project Parties deemed a film to be inappropriate or otherwise non-compliant they may disqualify entries at their sole discretion.
Production Costs
The participants will be solely responsible for all costs relating to the production.
Winners
The winners will be announced on Friday, 18 October 2024, during a live stream event.
Selection of Winners
A panel of judges will evaluate the eligible entries based on the following criteria:
Awards
The following will also be awarded for each category:
Upload of Films:
Films must be sent to submissions@filmrace.co.za via Wetransfer (www.wetransfer.com)
The film must be supplied in Full HD 1920 x 1080p at 24 or 25 frames per second in H.264 or H.265 format. Audio must be 256Kb/s or better.
You are allowed to send in a low-resolution preview before the deadline but the final film MUST reach us before 12 PM on 7 October 2024. You are not allowed to make ANY changes to the film before uploading the full resolution film.
Follow these steps:
Step 1 – Go to www.wetransfer.com
Step 2 – Click on the blue plus sign and upload your film from your computer/device, add your documents as requested on the rules page under production documents.
Step 3 – Click on email to and put in the following email address submissions@filmrace.co.za
Step 4 – Click on email from and enter the team leader’s email address
Step 5 – Click on Title and enter your team’s name and film name
Step 6 – Click on Message and enter a short synopsis of your film (20 words)
Liability
The Film Race accepts no responsibility or liability from any participant of the Film Race who can’t upload or download any information regarding the Film Race. The Film Race and their partners will not take any responsibility or liability for any technical problems, technical malfunctions, personal injury, property damage or losses of any kind which may be sustained by participants or any other third party’s computer equipment resulting from participation in the race. All participants use the online platforms (websites and social media pages) at their own risk. Participants agree to fully indemnify the Film Race from any claims by a third party and sign all release forms for their films. The Film Race takes no responsibility for any typographical errors or inaccuracies that may be on the website or social media pages managed by the Film Race.
Youtube
The Film Race Youtube channel is not monetised. By taking part in the Film Race you agree that your video may be hosted on the Film Race Youtube channel and website (www.filmrace.co.za).