CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

*Now accepting submissions for 2011!

The Human Rights Watch International Film Festival in partnership with Adobe Youth Voices seeks youth-produced film, video and animated works on human rights issues made by youth ages 19 and under for its third annual YOUTH PRODUCING CHANGE program.

Armed with digital cameras, computers and their own boundless creativity, young people across the globe are bravely exposing human rights issues faced by themselves and their communities. YOUTH PRODUCING CHANGE provides a platform for youth to share their perspectives with audiences worldwide.

Please click the following links for further information about submitting your film.

  • Submissions Instructions

  • Timeline

  • How do I submit my film?

  • Frequently Asked Questions



    • If you have read the submission instructions, please proceed using the "submit" link below to submit your film using our online entry form.

    Click to Submit

    Selected films will travel to:

    Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, New York : June 2011 (dates tba)
    Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, London : March 2012 (dates tba)
    Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, San Francisco: Spring 2012(dates tba)
    Selected films will be included in the 2011 Traveling Film Festival
    Films will be added to the Adobe Youth Voices and Human Rights Watch website
    And distributed to teachers throughout the United States


    To watch the films from our first year of YOUTH PRODUCING CHANGE please visit: http://www.hrw.org/en/iff/youth-producing-change-2009

     

     

     

    Submission requirements:

    • Age of youth media maker: The work must have been created by youth ages 19 and under. In order for a film to be eligible, at the time of production youth under the age of 19 must have served in the majority of creative and technical production roles as directors, writers, camera-person, editors, animators, etc.
    • Short films 15 minutes or under preferred. Films longer than 20 minutes will not be considered.
    • Language: Films of all languages are welcome, however films must have English subtitles if the spoken language is a language other than English.
    • Format: DVD(preferred) or VHS. We can accept entries using NTSC or PAL. Submissions will not be returned. Sorry, entries sent in on Mini DV can NOT be considered.
    • Authority to Submit the Film and License: By submitting the film, you acknowledge that you have the full right and authority to submit the film to the YOUTH PRODUCING CHANGE program and you grant to Human Rights Watch, Adobe Youth Voices and the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival a free license to screen and exhibit the film for evaluation purposes.
    • Ownership and Copyright: By submitting the film, you acknowledge that you are the sole author and owner of the film, or if you are not the sole author,you have secured all necessary and appropriate rights, written permissions, and releases in connection with submitting the film. In particular, all music and other rights must be cleared for non-exclusive educational, online, broadcast and theatrical distribution. Please check out The Center for Social Media's Copyright & Fair Use guidelines for more information.
    • Minors(i.e., Youth under 18 years of age): Human Rights Watch encourages you to read this document carefully with your parent (or duly appointed guardian) and consult with your parent (or duly appointed guardian) before submitting your film.

      If your film is selected for the YOUTH PRODUCING CHANGE program, we will require you to sign a separate film license agreement allowing your film to be screened in and used as part of the YOUTH PRODUCING CHANGE program and our film festivals and for your parent or legal guardian, and in some jurisdictions both parents and/or legal guardians, to also sign the film license agreement. Your submission and the film license agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.


    Timeline:

    • Submission Deadline:  All submission emails must be received by no later than January 15, 2011.
    • Notification:  If your film is selected to be part of YOUTH PRODUCING CHANGE we will be in touch with you before April 2011.  Please note, due to the number of submissions we receive we do not send rejection letters.

    How do I submit my film?
    Submitting your film to YOUTH PRODUCING CHANGE is easy! Please follow the following 3 steps:

    1.  Read through the following instructions and enter your film information into our online submission form by January 15, 2011 (deadline).

      Please note: By submitting your film to YOUTH PRODUCING CHANGE, you acknowledge that (a) you have read and fully understand this “Call for Submissions” document in its entirety, (b) if you are below 18 years of age, your parent or legal guardian has given his or her consent for you to submit the film, and your parent or legal guardian has read and reviewed the “Call for Submissions” document with you in its entirety, (c) you certify that all statements in the submission requirements section of the “Call for Submissions” document are true, and (d) you have the power, authority and legal right to submit your film.

       


    2.The screening committee will contact you if they are interested in screening a copy of your film/video/animation. 
    After reading the information you submit, we will be in touch to let you know if we would like you to send us a copy of your film/video/ animation. 
    All submissions will be reviewed by our intergenerational screening committee made up of high-school aged youth and adults.  In selecting films for YOUTH PRODUCING CHANGE, Human Rights Watch will concentrate equally on human rights content, factual accuracy and artistic merit. 

      You acknowledge that Human Rights Watch, Adobe Youth Voices, the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival and the YOUTH PRODUCING CHANGE program are not responsible for lost or damaged submissions.
      You acknowledge and agree that: (a) the intergenerational screening committee has the sole authority in its own discretion to select or reject films for YOUTH PRODUCING CHANGE, and any decision made by our intergenerational screening committee will be final, and (b) we have no obligation to use or distribute your film, and we may cancel, modify or delay the YOUTH PRODUCING CHANGE program without notice to you.
      You also acknowledge that Human Rights Watch has received many submissions, one or more of which might be similar or substantially identical to your film submission.  You acknowledge and agree that you will not receive any recognition or monetary compensation because of Human Rights Watch’s, Adobe Youth Voices’, the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival’s or the YOUTH PRODUCING CHANGE program’s use of other identical or similar material to your film that is submitted by someone else. 

       

    3.  If we decide we would like to include your film in YOUTH PRODUCING CHANGE, we will be in touch with you to invite the film to screen in our festival.  Unfortunately, given the number of submissions we receive, the festival cannot send out rejection letters.  We will only contact those filmmakers whose films/videos/animations are accepted.

     


    Frequently Asked Questions:

    • What kind of work is Human Rights Watch looking for? We are looking for film/video/animations that focus on human rights and social issues. Works can be documentary, experimental, PSA, music video, narrative or fiction.
      To watch the films from our first year of YOUTH PRODUCING CHANGE please visit: http://www.hrw.org/en/iff/youth-producing-change-2009

       

    • What subjects do you consider to be "human rights" and "social issues?"  Please send us your original films on equality, civil rights, children's rights, politics, women's rights, international justice, HIV/AIDS, the environment, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender rights, health, the environment, war and conflict, freedom of expression, counterterrorism, gender, refugees, immigration, economic, social, and cultural rights.  To learn more about human rights, please visit our website: http://www.hrw.org/

    • Are there any submission fees?  No.  There are no submission fees or charges in connection with the submission of your film.
    • Are there any prizes or monetary compensation?  No.  You will not receive any monetary compensation of any kind for submitting your film, even if your film is selected for screening in our festival.
    • Who should I contact if I have a question about my submission?  Please be in touch with Jennifer Nedbalsky, Program Manager of the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival by emailing nedbalj@hrw.org or calling 212 216-1247