To ensure your film is processed correctly and presented at its best during Fear Screen Horror Film Festival, all submissions must meet our technical specifications. This guide outlines the file formats, duration requirements, and technical standards we accept. Film Duration Requirements Fear Screen categorises submissions by film length to ensure fair evaluation within appropriate categories. Your submission must fall within one of the following duration ranges: Short Films: Films under 15 minutes in duration (excluding credits). This category welcomes experimental works, proof-of-concept films, and concise narrative pieces. Medium-Length Films: Films between 15 and 40 minutes in duration. This category accommodates works that require additional screen time but fall short of feature length. Feature Films: Films 40 minutes or longer in duration. This category includes standard feature presentations, extended documentaries, and full-length narratives. When submitting, include the exact runtime (in minutes and seconds) of your completed film. Credits may be included in the total duration but should not artificially extend your submission time. Video File Specifications Recommended Format For direct file uploads to Film Freeway, we recommend the following specifications to ensure optimal quality and compatibility: Video Codec: H.264 (also known as MPEG-4 AVC) Resolution: Minimum 1920x1080 pixels (Full HD). If your original film is 4K or higher, you may submit in your native resolution, but this is not required. Frame Rate: 23.976 fps, 24 fps, 25 fps, or 29.97 fps. Match your submission frame rate to your film's original capture rate. Bitrate: 5 Mbps to 15 Mbps for optimal streaming quality without excessive file size. Container Format: MP4 (.mp4 file extension) Audio Specifications Audio Codec: AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) or MP3 Sample Rate: 48 kHz (professional standard) or 44.1 kHz Channels: Stereo (2.0) or 5.1 surround sound. Do not submit mono audio if surround sound was part of your original mix. Bitrate: 128 Kbps to 320 Kbps for stereo; 384 Kbps to 640 Kbps for surround sound Ensure your audio is properly mixed, balanced, and free from distortion. Quiet dialogue should remain intelligible, and sound effects should not dominate speech. Alternative Submission Methods If you prefer not to upload your film file directly to Film Freeway, you may provide a secure streaming link instead. This method is particularly useful for larger files or if you have bandwidth limitations. Password-Protected Link Method You may upload your film to a secure platform and provide a private link with password protection. Acceptable platforms include: Vimeo Pro: Create a private project on Vimeo and generate a password-protected link. Ensure your account does not have restricted geographic access that would prevent our selectors from viewing your film. YouTube Private Link: Upload your film as an unlisted or private video and share the link with our submissions team. Note that YouTube compression may slightly reduce video quality, so Vimeo is generally preferred. Dropbox or Google Drive: You may provide a password-protected shared link to your film file. Ensure permissions are set to "view only" and that the link remains active throughout our selection period. Other Professional Platforms: If you use an alternative hosting service (such as Frame.io or Kaltura), provide the secure link along with any necessary access credentials. When submitting a link, ensure that: The link remains active and accessible for a minimum of three months from your submission date. Password protection is enabled and the password is provided separately to prevent unauthorised access. Your platform's terms of service permit festival submissions and screening. Subtitle and Caption Requirements If your film contains dialogue in a language other than English, you must provide English-language subtitles. Subtitles should be: Format: SRT (SubRip) or VTT (WebVTT) format, burned into the video file or provided as a separate file Placement: Positioned at the bottom of the frame with appropriate margins Timing: Accurately synchronised with spoken dialogue throughout the film Readability: Legible font (minimum 12pt when projected), high contrast against the background, and clear pronunciation rendering If your film is entirely in English with no dialogue or if it is a silent film, subtitle submission is not required. However, dialogue-heavy films presented without subtitles may be at a disadvantage during selection, particularly if sound quality is compromised. Image and Promotional Materials Your submission should include visual materials to support your application: Film Poster or Cover Image Resolution: Minimum 1000x1500 pixels Format: JPEG or PNG file Aspect Ratio: Standard poster ratio (typically 2:3) Ensure your poster is visually striking and representative of your film's tone and genre. High-quality, professional artwork significantly enhances your submission's presentation. Production Stills and Behind-the-Scenes Images Quantity: Provide 3 to 5 images minimum Resolution: Minimum 1920x1280 pixels Format: JPEG or PNG file Content: Production stills should showcase key scenes or moments from your film, whilst behind-the-scenes images demonstrate your production process and team. These images are used for promotional purposes if your film is selected and help our marketing team represent your work across various platforms. Trailer or Teaser Video Duration: 30 seconds to 2 minutes Resolution: Minimum 1920x1080 pixels Format: MP4, MOV, or WebM If you have produced a trailer, submit it alongside your full film. A well-crafted trailer can significantly enhance your submission's impact with selectors and audiences alike. Audio Format Specifications for International Films For films originally produced in languages other than English, ensure your submission contains: Primary Audio Track: Your film's original-language soundtrack, with optional English dubbing or subtitles Secondary Audio Track (optional): If available, an English-language dubbed version. However, we strongly prefer original-language audio with English subtitles. If your film contains both original and dubbed versions, clearly specify which version you are submitting. Common File Format Errors and Corrections Excessive File Size If your film file exceeds 2GB, compression is recommended. Use H.264 codec at 8 to 10 Mbps bitrate to reduce file size whilst maintaining acceptable quality. Unsupported Codecs Do not submit files in the following formats, as they may not be compatible with our streaming platform: HEVC (H.265) ProRes DNxHR Uncompressed or lightly compressed formats If your original edit is in one of these formats, export a new copy using H.264 codec before uploading. Mismatched Audio and Video Ensure your audio and video are properly synchronised throughout the film. Test your file on multiple devices before submission to confirm synchronisation accuracy. Corrupted or Incomplete Files If you suspect your file may be corrupted, attempt to open and play it on a different computer or media player before uploading. A failed playback during our selection process will result in automatic rejection. Verification of Your Submission File Before submitting your film, verify the following: View your complete film from start to finish on your computer to confirm proper playback. Test playback on at least one additional device or platform to ensure compatibility. Confirm that audio and video remain synchronised throughout the entire runtime. Verify that subtitles, if included, appear correctly timed and legible. Check file size and ensure it is suitable for upload within a reasonable timeframe. Technical Support If you are uncertain whether your file meets our specifications or encounter technical difficulties during upload, contact our submissions team via the Fear Screen website. We can provide guidance on file conversion, compression, or alternative submission methods. Our team will also assist if you experience platform-specific issues with Film Freeway or your chosen streaming service.
