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Filmmaking Rules

Filmmaking Rules

The Neptune Cinema: 53-Hour Film Festival Filmmaking Rules

On this page, you’ll find all the rules regarding the filmmaking process for The Neptune Cinema: 53-Hour Film Festival. Please read them carefully to avoid disqualification of your film. These rules ensure fair competition and eligibility.

 

These rules focus on the creative aspects of the Festival. For additional rules, refer to the Competition Rules at https://neptunefilmfest.wixsite.com/the-neptune-theater.

The Neptune Cinema: 53-Hour Film Festival Organizers may add to or amend these rules at any time prior to the beginning of the Official Time Period.

 

Times

The Neptune Cinema: 53-Hour Film Festival (N53HFF) will occur in Memphis, TN, from Friday, September 19, 2025, at 7:00 PM local time to Sunday, September 21, 2025, at midnight. This is the Official Time Period.

The participating group/team must complete its film/video work in time to submit it by Sunday, September 21, 2025, at midnight. Check the Festival website for exact drop-off details.

Only works that meet the deadline will be officially part of the competition. All films received on Sunday (on-time and late) will be screened.

 

Creative Process

All creativity must take place during the Official Time Period. Any creative work in advance of the competition weekend is prohibited. Creative work includes, but is not limited to:

 

• Writing the script
• Casting (of roles)
• Rehearsing
• Costume/Set Design • Shooting

• Editing
• Sound Design
• Rendering
• Outputting to USB drive or other media

Preparation
The only work permitted prior to the Official Time Period is:

• Organizing Crew

• Organizing Cast
• Securing Equipment
• Scouting/Securing Locations

 

Footage

Every frame of your film MUST contain footage shot or created during the Official Time Period. This is ”core footage.”

 

”Supporting footage,” or footage shot or created BEFORE the Official Time Period (including stock footage that is part of a special effect), may be placed over or under the core footage, as long as every frame of your film contains some amount of core footage and the assembling of the core footage with the supporting footage occurs during the Official Time Period.

 

Animation, titles, and special effects can be considered core footage if created during the Official Time Period. (See Rule Y relating to footage created using Artificial Intelligence.)

 

Supporting footage MAY NOT include people or other performers unless the supporting footage was shot during a previous N53HFF Official Time Period for a previously-submitted N53HFF film.

 

Still photos are permitted as core footage. The still photos do not need to be created during the Official Time Period. Note: Still photos created outside of the Official Time Period being used in a sequence to create the illusion of motion are not acceptable as core footage but are acceptable as supporting footage.

 

You must have rights to any footage or photos used in your film. An N53HFF Materials Release is required for all materials, photos, and/or footage not created in the Official Time Period.

 

Kickoff Event

Each participating team must have a representative at the official Kickoff Event of The Neptune Cinema: 53-Hour Film Festival on September 19, 2025, at 7:00 PM, as listed on the Festival website.

 

Prior to the Kickoff Event, each group must submit a completed Team Captain’s Agreement, signed by its Team Captain. A team may not participate without submitting this agreement.

 

Each group will receive the genre of its film in a random drawing.

 

Required Elements

Each participating group will be assigned required elements that must appear in its film: a genre, a prop, and a line of dialogue.

 

The required Prop must be seen on-screen. A picture of the required prop is also allowed.

 

The required Line of Dialogue must be used verbatim. It may be spoken, sung, and/or written. It may be in any language, though if it is unclear that it is the required Line, a translation must be provided.

 

To qualify as an Official Entry, each group’s film must be in the genre it selects and must contain all required elements within the official time limit and prior to the credits.

 

Volunteers
All cast and crew must be volunteers.

 

Animal Safety

Animal safety, like cast and crew safety, is an important part of 53-Hour Filmmaking. Films that result in the death or mutilation of an animal may be disqualified.

 

Cameras
Any type of video or film camera may be used. There is no limit to the number of cameras.

 

Landmark Requirement

As this is the first time the N53HFF is occurring in Memphis, TN, each film must include a landmark (building, monument, etc.) or identifying characteristic (e.g., bus, city office) of Memphis, TN. The landmark or characteristic must exist within city limits.

 

Music Rights

Participating groups are encouraged to work with a composer and/or musicians to write and record music for the films. It is permissible to use pre-recorded music; however, the participating group must have the rights to any music used in its film and must provide releases for all music used. As with music, pre-recorded sound effects are allowed, but you must have rights to use them.

Note: Song parodies (i.e., use of identifiable pre-existing compositions with new or altered lyrics or music) may not be included in the film without a signed release from the composition’s rights holder. This rule applies without regard to whether the song parody arguably constitutes fair use under US or international copyright law.

 

Total Running Time

The finished film must be a minimum of 1 minute in duration and a maximum of 7 minutes in duration—not including end credits. The official running time begins after the required N53HFF slates and ends prior to the end credits. The required slates and end credits do not count towards the minimum time of 1 minute. The film story may not be longer than 7 minutes. The N53HFF reserves the right to shorten any film that exceeds the maximum length for screening purposes.

 

Credits
Pre-film Required Slates Before the finished film begins, the media should have:

  • 5 seconds of black

  • 5 seconds title card with: team name, title, genre, city, and date

  • 5 seconds title card with: This Film was made for The Neptune Cinema: 53-Hour Film Festival 2025. https://neptunefilmfest.wixsite.com/the-neptune-theater

  • 2 seconds of black

    Your film follows this. Templates for these titles can be found on your Team Portal at https: //neptunefilmfest.wixsite.com/the-neptune-theater. It is not required to use our templates; you can create your own as long as the timing and information remain the same.

    Opening Credits After the 2 seconds of black, some films start with opening credits. These are not encouraged, but if used, opening credits are considered part of the film and count against the seven-minute maximum. If your film has opening credits other than simply the film’s title (e.g., names of directors, actors, etc.), you must include one of the following:

  • the text YOUR TEAM NAME presents immediately followed by a Neptune Cinema: 53-Hour Film Festival

  • the text a Neptune Cinema: 53-Hour Film Festival immediately following the title of your film

    Note: a Neptune Cinema: 53-Hour Film Festival may be entirely lowercase (i.e., a neptune cinema: 53-hour film festival).

    End Credits Credits at the end of each film are limited to a maximum of 60 seconds. The 60 seconds is considered additional to the length of the film (i.e., a film may be 7 minutes long, with an additional 60 seconds of credits, for a total running time of 8 minutes). The N53HFF reserves the right to shorten any end credits that exceed the maximum length for screening purposes.

    Bloopers and/or behind-the-scenes footage are permitted during or after the end credits, adhering to the 60-second maximum length.

    The end credits must include the words: This Film was made for The Neptune Cinema: 53-Hour Film Festival. https://neptunefilmfest.wixsite.com/the-neptune-theater

    Slates and Credits After the Competition

    For any future screenings, online or otherwise, films must retain the pre-film title card that says: This Film was made for The Neptune Cinema: 53-Hour Film Festival 2025. https://neptunefilmfest.wixsite.com/the-neptune-theater.

 

Required Media Formats

For complete submission requirements, check your Team Portal at https://neptunefilmfest. wixsite.com/the-neptune-theater. Maximum File Size: 2GB.

IMPORTANT: If your film does not conform to the submission requirements, it may be disqualified. If your film cannot be viewed on N53HFF equipment, it may be disqualified.

 

Submission Notes

  • We recommend that you make sound levels relatively even throughout your film. If your film has uneven sound or sound that peaks, it may be modified to protect the playback equipment.

  • Projection specs vary from theater to theater and are beyond the control of the N53HFF. If your film is very dark, it may be difficult to see in some theaters.

  • All films received on the evening of the deadline (on-time and late) will be screened, presuming they meet the eligibility requirements.

    Production Documents

     

  • Each team must secure releases for talent, crew, music, and locations (and any other applicable releases), which must be turned in to the Festival organizers with the finished film/video. The film/video will not be screened before the N53HFF Organizers receive the signed re- leases.

     

  • Release forms can be found on the N53HFF website at https://neptunefilmfest.wixsite.com/ the-neptune-theater. Completed release forms shall be uploaded to the Team Portal. Both written and electronic signatures are allowed.

     

  • Certification Statement

    The Entrant must submit a Certification Statement with his/her/their completed Entry, certifying adherence to all Official Rules.

     

  • Eligibility

    To be eligible for the Festival, Entries must be the original work of the Entrant; must not infringe third-party rights; must be suitable for publication (i.e., may not be obscene or indecent); must not contain obscene or pornographic material; may not contain defamatory statements about any person, company, organization, or entity; may not invade privacy or other rights of any person, company, or entity; may not in any other way violate applicable laws and regulations; and may not contain any copyrighted elements (other than as owned by the Entrant and/or N53HFF).

    Entries containing prohibited or inappropriate content, as determined by the N53HFF in its sole discretion, will be disqualified. The N53HFF reserves the right to make the final determination as to which Entries are eligible, to refuse to screen a film, or to make an announcement at the screening regarding the content of the film. The N53HFF reserves the right to alter a film to remove or delete offensive or defamatory content.

 

No Pre-Screening Distribution

The Entrant should not distribute their entry/video in any way prior to its official N53HFF premiere screening on September 26, 2025. This includes uploading the video to any website or screening the film for groups other than the team. The Entrant is encouraged to make a trailer of their film and distribute that instead. This trailer should be no longer than 53 seconds.

 

Official Film Entry

To be certified as an Official Film Entry, each participating group’s film/video production must follow all rules herein. The N53HFF Organizers reserve the right to screen only certified Official Film Entries.

 

Entries Not Returned
No Entries (media or documents) will be returned.

 

Disqualification

The N53HFF and Festival Parties may, in their sole discretion, disqualify Entries deemed to be inappropriate or otherwise non-compliant.

 

Official Winner

All certified “Official Film Entries” are eligible to compete for the title of “Best Film” of The Neptune Cinema: 53-Hour Film Festival.

 

Best Film of 2025

All Official Winner films are eligible to compete for the title of Best Film of 2025. A panel of independent judges will determine the winners.

 

Using AI (Artificial Intelligence) in Your N53HFF Entry

You may use AI (Artificial Intelligence) in the creation of your film, subject to the following guidelines:

 

• Core Footage: AI-generated video may only be used as Core Footage if it is based on footage originally shot during the competition weekend—for example, AI-enhanced, re-stylized, or manipulated versions of that footage.

 

• Supporting Footage: There are no limits on video images created using AI when used as Supporting Footage.

 

• All Footage created using AI must adhere to the following:

  • –  You may only use AI in ways that are legal in your jurisdiction.

  • –  You may not use AI to create any part of your entry prior to the Official Time Period.

  • –  You must have the legal rights to all material used in your film—including AI- generated content. Any AI output that incorporates copyrighted material (e.g., a famous actor’s face or a recognizable movie still) without proper permission is not allowed.

  • –  Any footage created using AI is subject to both copyright requirements and Rule D regarding footage (above). That is, not only must the filmmaker have rights to the footage, but any footage shot prior to the competition weekend may only be used as outlined in Rule D.

  • –  You must list all AI apps/software used in your film on your Wrap Up Form.

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