ESI Film Festival Submissions PDF

SHINE A LIGHT

ON STORIES BEHIND THE SCREENS

SUBMISSION INFORMATION AND CRITERIA

20 OCTOBER 2023

PART OF

PART OF

About the Festival

Who

Esports Insider (ESI) is a leading business media & events company, with an agency arm and the most comprehensive international esports industry-focused news site. Based in London & founded in 2016, ESI is the go-to for esports business. We are focused across three core pillars: Media | Events | Connect (Agency). We’ve been running events since 2017 and have done so in London, Manchester, New York City, Singapore, Cologne and elsewhere.

Overview & Introduction

The potential of video games and esports to make a meaningful, positive difference to people’s lives is enormous. There are countless anecdotal examples of this, and not enough of these stories are told & shared more widely. Film is one medium to help change that.

Accordingly, we’re introducing the ESI Film Festival; the very first Esports & Gaming Short Film Festival.

Where and When

BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, 7-10:30pm, 20th October 2023. By invitation only.

This will take place on the evening of the second day of ESI London, 20th October 2023 at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, a Grade II Listed building in the heart of London’s West End.

There’ll be screenings of the selected and shortlisted short films played to a live audience from in and around the video games, esports and film industries, alongside some talks, drinks and food.

Information around subsequent and additional live screenings, as well as broader distribution, will follow in due course.

SHINE A LIGHT ON STORIES BEHIND THE SCREENS

Duration

Any submission must have a maximum run time of 40 minutes. Entries can be in any style or film type (e.g. documentary, animation, comedy, action).

Participants

Submissions can be from individuals, groups (e.g. university societies, friends), or companies (e.g. esports teams, creative studios). All lead participants must be aged 18 or over.

Themes

Your film must either focus on, be linked to, or tell a story about / within an aspect of the many and myriad esports or video games worlds; and at least one of this year’s themes:

• Digital Inequality

• Diversity

• Mental Health

Requirements & Rules

You’ll need to submit a trailer alongside the film. Trailers should be a minimum of 20 seconds in duration. Entries must be in HD.

Adult content will not be accepted and will lead to disqualification. Films in any language other than English must include subtitles in English. Due credit(s) must be given to the cast and crew, though the final prize(s) will be awarded to the appointed and named lead participant(s). Stills from any entries to be used in promotions.

Recommended Specs

• Video Format: H.264, MPEG-4 preferred

• Aspect Ratio: 16:9 (letterboxed if necessary)

• Resolution: 1920x1080 preferred

• Audio Format: MP3 or AAC preferred

• Frames per second: 25

SHINE A LIGHT ON STORIES BEHIND THE SCREENS

Prizes

Thanks to our partners, the not for profit ESG Gaming, there is a £10,000 cash prize pool for the ESI Film Festival.

On the evening of 20th October the jury will announce and reveal the winners, with the prize pool split as follows;

Overall Winner: £5,000

2nd Place: £3,000

3rd Place: £2,000

We will announce additional prizes and perks for the winners in due course.

Awards

We will be awarding the following:

• Highly Commended

• 2nd Place - Runner Up

• 1st Place - Overall Winner

These will be announced on the night and decided by the jury. There’ll be prizes for the winners too announced in due course

Entry Submission

• There is no entry fee

• Deadline 15th September 2023

• Please submit your film via this FORM

If you have any issues please email events@esportsinsider.com

• Your film must be submitted with a 30 second trailer

• Films can be submitted in the following ways

• Google Drive/Dropbox/Microsoft 360

• Wetransfer link

• YouTube/Vimeo downloadable link

• All films/folders must be labelled as follows: YourName_FilmName_

Agreement

• Submission to ESIFF constitutes agreement to all rules, regulations and conditions contained in this document and your consent that your film be considered for any awards that may be given at the Festival.

• Submission also certifies that all film and music rights and clearances have been obtained (in accordance with UK copyright laws).

• By submitting, you agree not to withdraw your film from ESI Film Festival after it has been accepted by the ESIFF selection board.

• Those submitting entries, that is the named lead participant(s) bear full, legal responsibility for any IP infringements.

Judging Criteria

Films will be judged on originality, creativity, plot, pacing, structure, characters, cinematography and entertainment value as well as on effectiveness of the message and the ability of the film maker to reach an audience.

When creating a film that carries a message, it is important that you have the ability or knowledge of how to get your message to your audience and that your film is of such a nature that audiences would WANT to see it.

Originality & Creativity

The uniqueness and originality of the premise or story.

Plot, Pacing & Structure

How the story unfolds, and the actions and events that propel the story forward. Does the film keep the audience engaged throughout?

Characters

Distinctive and memorable characters with compelling personalities.

Sound

High quality, engaging audio to help progress the story and heighten the film’s atmosphere.

Message Effectiveness

Does the film effectively depict a clear message? Have you recognisably portrayed one of this year’s themes?

Entertainment Value

Does the story keep the viewer’s attention? Is it engaging and/or thought provoking?

Cinematography

The quality of cinematography or videography demonstrated in the work.