Let's begin! First, your student group chooses one person — a Publicist — to be the main contact person for the film festival. The Publicist handles the submission form and communicates with the festival team for the whole group.
- The Publicist creates or logs into a Film Freeway account. (download the step-by-step guide here)
- Create a project profile for your submission: film title, genre, credits, language, upload the video file.
- Complete the film submission form: category and division.
- Submit! A confirmation email is sent to the Publicist.
- Platform: Film Freeway (filmfreeway.com/reelvoicesfilmfest)
- When: During the call for entries period. Check the website for the deadline.
- Who submits: The Publicist, on behalf of the whole group
- Cost: FREE — it is always free to enter a film in the festival
After you submit, the festival team will check your film to make sure everything is in order. This is not a judging step. The team is only checking that the submission is complete and follows the rules and guidelines.
- No copyright issues (music, footage, images)
- Submission is complete with no missing information
- Film file uploaded correctly
- Film follows the rules and guidelines
- If there is an issue, the festival team will email the Publicist with details.
- The Publicist reads the feedback and tells the group.
- Fix the issue (e.g. change music, add missing info) and update submission.
- If everything is fine, you move directly to the next step. No action needed!
When your film passes the review step, the festival team will the Publicist with an official acceptance notification. Congratulations and welcome! Your film is officially going to be in the film festival!
- The festival team will email the publicist with an official acceptance notification.
- The Publicist shares the news with the rest of the group.
- Get excited! Your film is now confirmed in the festival.
- Your film will be reviewed privately by the judges before the festival begins.
- How: Email to the Publicist
- When: After all submissions are reviewed, one week before the festival
Everyone must register on the festival website — both Student filmmakers and Audience Members — in order to watch films and join the live events. We collect your name, email address, and school's name to register.
- Submitting a film through Film Freeway is not the same as registering to watch.
- Every student in your group should also register on the film festival website to receive your film festival ticket to watch all the films.
- You will also need a free Vimeo account to like, review, and comment
- Teachers can help students register as a class. Please contact the festival team for help if needed.
- Register on the film festival website to receive your film festival ticket to watch all the films.
- You will also need a free Vimeo account to like, review, and comment
- Teachers, students are all welcome to register!
- Where: The "Register to Watch" page at reelvoicesfilmfest.org/watch
- When: Open from a few weeks before the festival begins.
- Cost: FREE for all students, teachers, and viewers
- On the first day of the festival, you will be sent an electronic ticket by email.
- The ticket has a private URL and password you can use to access the films.
- Keep this information private. You'll need it all week to watch films and join live events.
- Didn't get your ticket? Check your spam folder, then contact the festival team.
The film festival begins! All films are online, all week long, anytime, from anywhere. Use the private URL and password to watch. Both Student filmmakers and Audience Members can watch, react, and vote.
- Watch your own film (and your classmates') films featured on the platform.
- Watch other student films from around the world.
- Comment on, like, and review other films.
- Cast your audience vote for your favorite films in each category.
- Watch any and all of the student films, any time you can.
- Comment on, like, and review student films.
- Cast your audience votes for your favorite films in each category!
During the festival week, the festival hosts live streaming events where all participants come together to interact in real time. These are some of the most interesting and exciting moments! Don't miss them!
- Join the live watch parties to watch together with other audience members.
- Join live talks and panels about student films.
- Chat live with other viewers.
- Answer audience questions in the live Q&A.
- Ask other filmmakers and judges your questions in the live Q&A.
- Listen to judges' talks and learn about filmmaking.
- Vote in live polls.
- Join the live watch parties to watch together with other audience members.
- Chat live with filmmakers and other viewers
- Ask other filmmakers and judges your questions in the live Q&A
- Listen to judge talks and learn about filmmaking
- Vote in live polls
The big finale! The Awards Ceremony is a live online event where the winners of both the Judges' Awards and the Audience Awards are announced. All participants are invited to join and celebrate together!
- Join the live awards ceremony on the festival's streaming platform
- Cheer on the winners in the live chat.
- Celebrate all the student filmmakers' hard work
- 🏆 Judges' Award winners — selected by the professional judging panel
- 🗳️ Audience Award winners — chosen by audience votes
- Closing remarks from judges and festival team hosts
The festival may be over, but there's still more for the filmmakers! After the ceremony, the festival team will send the Publicist prizes, certificates, and the judges' written feedback on your film.
- Email to your Publicist with the judges' detailed ratings and written comments on your film
- Awards and Prizes will be sent to the publicist of the award-winning films. Please share them with your group members!
- Certificates of participation for all student films shown in the film festival.
- Judges' feedback: emailed to the Publicist within one week after the festival
- Awards and Prizes & Certificates: sent within one week after the awards ceremony
- Survey: sent to all participating students at the end
Let's Make a Movie!
Make a film with your class, submit your film, or register to watch films!
As either a student filmmaker or audience member, we want you to be part of the Reel Voices film festival.