8TH ANNUAL (2022) RTF & NJ HS MEDIA FESTIVAL DEFINITIONS & ELIGIBILITY STATEMENT (a.k.a., “The Fine Print”):
The RTF Media Festival is a juried exhibition of media works with recognition of accomplishments in writing and production. College festival eligibility is limited to students whose work was completed in an undergraduate course run by Rowan University’s Radio-TV-Film department (including transferrable RTF undergraduate courses from Rowan College of South Jersey & Rowan College Burlington County affiliate programs), or completed for a sanctioned, chartered student media club or student media organization at Rowan University. An alumni category is for works by or involving Rowan University RTF or Department of Communications (pre-1996) alumni in key creative or above-the-line roles on a project. High school festival eligibility is limited to students in New Jersey high schools whose work was completed while attending high school; projects can be for a class, club, or independent project with authentication by a high school teacher. ALL SUBMITTED WORKS must have been completed between January 1, 2021 and January 30, 2023, and not previously submitted for festival consideration. Awards are subject to change and not all categories may be included in the festival and/or awards recognition based on quality and quantity of submissions received. Some categories may be combined.
Media submitted for consideration must be original and any use of non-original media within a submitted work must have appropriate usage rights, licensing and permissions expressly detailed in the submission as required by the originator of such media content, including but not limited to all video, audio, images, animations, appearances and presented content. By submitting to the festival, submitters certify that they are the originator of the media being submitted or otherwise have the rights to submit on behalf of the originator. Submitters permit the RTF Media Festival to host, display and distribute their submitted work publicly. The RTF Media Festival is not responsible for licensing content or verifying licenses, releases, authorizations or other legal requirements that may prohibit public distribution of submitted work. The submitter is solely responsible for all legal terms and conditions for their submitted work. Media accepted into the festival that is longer than 12 minutes / 12 pages in duration may be required to be edited for inclusion in the festival showcase. If the submitter does not provide an edited version by the indicated deadline the festival may edit the work as necessary for festival inclusion. Submission does not guarantee acceptance into the festival showcase nor consideration for awards.
Category finalists may be invited to have their work featured in a virtual screening room. Linear media projects with a running time of 12 minutes or less will be made available in their entirety. Longer projects must be edited to run in under 12 minutes, or be otherwise made available by the submitter (such as via a redirect link) for viewing. Clip reels and trailers are permitted for longer projects. Screenplay submissions must not exceed 120 pages for feature films, 60 pages for TV pilots, and 25 pages for short films.
The preferred linear media format is Full High Definition (FHD) 1920x1080 using H.264 compression in MOV or MP4 format. Submissions must be compatible with the FilmFreeway platform in format, file size and other criteria as listed at the FilmFreeway.com website. YouTube & Vimeo hosting of media is acceptable; Google Drive hosting is preferred. Entrants must allow the festival and its agents to download any/all submitted media.
*HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS* should submit in the regular categories listed, and indicate that they are a HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT by checking the appropriate box when proceeding through the form submission, and complete all required fields.
