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Challenge Guidelines
2024

pdf

A. INSPIRATION PACKAGE ("IP") & POSTER (Requirements)

  1. All IP elements revealed at the Kickoff must be incorporated into your SATO48-2024 Challenge Film (“Film”).

  2. (NEW !!) A POSTER for your Film is now required and must be submitted within the 48-hour time period.

B. PARTICIPANTS / YOUR TEAM

  1. SATO48 is open to all, including amateur filmmakers, hobbyists, and professionals. However, no one can be paid for their participation.

  2. At least one member of the team must be present at the Kickoff. If the team owner’s address is more than 50 miles from the Kickoff location, you may join virtually.

  3. Participants under 18 years of age must have parental / guardian consent.

  4. Participants are defined as anyone who assisted in any way in the making of your Film.

  5. All production of any kind at any time must adhere to all local, regional, state, and national safety guidelines.

C. REGISTER

  1. (NEW !!) SATO48-2024 Challenge registration fee is $35 (subject to change) and includes a free submission to FiveFest (see details for submitting to FiveFest at portal.sato48.com).

  2. All fees are non-refundable.

  3. Payment is through credit / debit card.

D. EQUIPMENT

  1. Any type, and number of video, film or still cameras, and/or sound equipment may be used, including computer generated material that is created DURING the 48-hour time limit.

E. WORK ALLOWED (Permitted)

PRIOR TO, the Kickoff Participants may:

1.             Organize crew & cast, including securing a poster artist.

2.             Scout & secure location(s).

3.             Source music.

4.             Secure & assemble equipment (i.e., expendables, cameras, editing suite, software, etc.).

5.             Arrange for food, financing, transportation, etc.

F. PROHIBITIONS (Caution)

  1. DO NOT use copyrighted material of any kind without permission. This includes music, signage, likenesses, logos, brand names, especially on t-shirts and hats, etc. (for example, just because you own the "shirt" does not mean you own the "rights" to the image(s) on it).

  2. DO NOT nominate for the Best Song/Music Award any music or song obtained through a "royalty-free" relationship.

  3. DO NOT post your Film online in any way, shape or manner for any audience of any kind, before July 1, 2024. This prohibition includes “personal / private links.”

  4. DO NOT post a trailer (optional) online before uploading first to Festival Manager in the “Behind the Scenes” section. For details regarding your trailer (optional) see “Guidelines – SATO48-2024 Challenge / TRAILER below (optional).”

  5. DO NOT shoot nor create any footage for your Film prior to the Kickoff Start Time.

  6. DO NOT use stock footage, nor any pre-existing footage, of any kind in your Film.

  7. DO NOT pay anyone on your team. Each member of the Team must VOLUNTEER their time.

G. DISQUALIFICATIONS (Caution)

  1. Not fulfilling the Inspiration Package requirements.

  2. Not fulfilling the Technical (Requirements).

  3. Violating any of the Guidelines.

  4. Breaching any of the Terms & Conditions.

  5. Being late in your Submission. There is no grace period and there are no exceptions nor acceptable excuses. Note: Late films are not eligible for Awards or Prizes, however, they will be screened at a Festival Location if they meet all other criteria.

  6. ​

H. YOUR FILM (Requirement)

  1. Your SATO48-2024 Challenge Film must incorporate all INSPIRATION PACKAGE elements revealed at the Kickoff.

  2. Must feature at least TWO principal characters. (A combination of voiceover talent, on-screen talent, or a single actor playing multiple roles is allowed).

  3. Must be made within the 48 hours from the Kickoff Start Time.

  4. Must always contain a reference to "SATO48-2024":  

    • For any descriptive text (searchable, printed, or otherwise) that accompanies the Film, or any portion thereof.

    • For every future screening, posting, or exhibition of the Film, or any portion thereof, in any medium, the Closing Event Credit Text (described below) must always appear as described herein and may not be edited out, nor reduced in screen time, nor distorted in screen appearance.

    • ​

I. TECHNICAL (Requirement)

  1. Your Film must be 5 (five) minutes or less in length by timecode (00:05:00:00). When you submit, Festival Manager will alert you if your Film is too long.

  2. Your Film must include this Opening Event Credit (OEC):

[Team Name]

APRIL 26, 2024

[Film Title]

3. Your Film must include this Closing Event Credit (CEC):

This film was made as part of SATO48–2024

SATO48.com

4. The CEC must:

  • Be the FINAL moment on screen;

  • Last for at least 5 seconds;

  • Be Arial font, 46 points;

  • Be white text on black background.

  • DO NOT include any footage beyond this CEC. If a “false ending” is created in the Film, it must occur prior to the CEC.

 

J. SONG/MUSIC AWARD ELIGIBILITY

  1. You must fill out completely for ANY AND ALL music in your Film the portion of Festival Manager entitled MUSIC RELEASES, irrespective of the music(s)’ source (even if royalty-free)

  2. Under the category AWARD NOMINATIONS / Song or Music, you must upload a sound file of the music or song you are nominating. Remember, you can only win the Song/Music Award if you have a relationship with the musician(s) evidenced by a Rights Request and Musician(s)' Agreement of original music or song form. 

  3. You can only win the Song/Music Award if you have a relationship with the musician(s) — meaning you have not downloaded the music from a royalty-free source.

  4. To determine your relationship with the musician(s) you must fill in and upload the Rights Request and Musician(s)' Agreement of original music or song form. This can be an email exchange you turn into a PDF and upload, or a signed document between you and the musician(s) you turn into a PDF and upload.

  5. Please use this Rights Request and Musician(s)’ Agreement language below:

Rights Request

Dear (name of musician)

I am requesting permission to use (music/ song title) created by you for the Film (film title), I am producing / directing for the SATO48-2024 Film Challenge & Festival ("SATO48").  Further, I anticipate said Film will be screened at Festival Locations and be eligible for televised and streamed broadcasts.

Yours,

(Name of Filmmaker)

Musician(s)’ Agreement

Dear (name of filmmaker)

I, (name of musician) give permission for the use of (music/ song title) created by me to which I have sole ownership, to be used in the (film title) produced/ directed by you, (name of filmmaker).  Also, I have read and agreed to the Terms & Agreement of the SATO48-2024 Film Challenge & Festival.

Yours,

(Name of Musician)

​​

K. POSTER

  1. (NEW !!) A Poster for your Film is required, and the Poster must be submitted within the 48-hour time period.

  2. Adhere to the Poster technical guidelines as described in the POSTER UPLOAD section of Festival Manager.

 

L. TRAILER (optional)

  1. Creating a trailer is voluntary, though encouraged.

  2. If making a trailer, it must be 1 minute or less, contain material relating to the film being submitted, and uploaded to Festival Manager in the BEHIND THE SCENES / Asset Type / dropdown “Film Trailer,” before being posted anywhere else.

 

M. AWARDS & PRIZES

  1. Films submitted on time — along with all Releases, other paperwork, and POSTER (new this year) (“Submissions”) — that also followed the Rules and met the Requirements will be eligible for Awards & Prizes.

  2. Submissions after the 48 hours deadline will be considered late and will not be eligible for Awards & Prizes. However, said Late Films will be screened at a Festival Location.

  3. Only music or song that meets requirements of the SONG/MUSIC AWARD ELIGIBILITY section above are eligible for the Song/Music Award.

  4. Use of “Royalty Free” music or song is allowed but is not eligible for the Song/Music Award.  

 

N. FESTIVAL SCREENINGS & BROADCAST

  1. All Films following the rules and meeting other requirements whether late or on time, will be screened at a Festival Location and are eligible for broadcast on SATO48 The TV Show.

 

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