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BrandStorytelling 2025 Submission Criteria, Rules, & FAQ
What are the submission criteria for BrandStorytelling 2025?
Submission criteria is as follows:
Narrative and/or non-scripted films, series, and podcasts funded by a brand, or brands will be considered.
Submissions must be funded by a brand.
Films can be any length and must belong to one of three categories: Feature, Short, or Series.
Podcasts can be any length.
For series and podcast entries, please submit one episode of your series/podcast only.
Only one (1) episode per series/podcast may be submitted.
Each project must be individually submitted and accompanied by its own completed online entry form; please do not send links to multiple projects in your online entry form, as they may be disqualified.
Traditional commercial advertisements will not be accepted.
Submitted projects must not have had ANY public screening, broadcast, distribution, or
exhibition before January 1, 2023.
Final screening file and assets must be delivered no later than December 13th, 2024, to remain an 'Official Selection'.
What are the Submission Deadlines and Fees?
The following deadlines are the dates by which we must receive a completed application for your project via the Brand Storytelling Theater Submission Doc, including a link. All submissions are handled identically, regardless of when you submit your film within the submission window. Films attempted to be submitted after September 27th, 2024, will not be accepted.
Submissions Open: 8/5/2024
Submissions Close: 9/27/2024
Submission Fee:
August - $150
September - $300
What are the submission categories and how do I choose the right one for my project?
Before you begin your submission, determine which one of the four categories your content belongs to and label it appropriately when submitted:
Feature: 40+ minute standalone feature length film
Short: Less than 40-minute standalone short film
Series: A single episode from a series, typically less than 40 minutes
Podcast: As single episode from a podcast
Select your submission category based on what the final projected running time of the film is, including credits.
Traditional 15, 30, and 60 second spots will not be considered for screening.
There is no minimum length requirement for short films or maximum running time restrictions for feature-length films.
Podcasts must be entered in the podcast category.
How old can my project be and still qualify for submission?
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All projects submitted for 2025 Festival consideration must not have had ANY public screening, broadcast, distribution, or exhibition before January 1, 2023. If your project was exhibited prior to January 1st, 2023, it is no longer eligible for submission.
If your project’s production took place prior to 2023 but was not exhibited until after January 1st, 2023, it is still eligible for submission. Work submitted in a previous year for official selection at BrandStorytelling is not eligible for selection.
May I submit my project as a rough cut?​
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While unfinished projects with incomplete or temporary sound, missing scenes, no credits, or titles, unfinished VFX, etc. are acceptable at the submission stage, please consider that the project does need to be complete enough for the committee to decide on its inclusion. Where applicable, please provide an on-screen description of missing scenes or elements as placeholders within the continuity of the film. You should also list other general elements that are missing or incomplete on a title card before the project begins.
If your film is selected, you must submit a completed version by December 13th, 2024. If your completed version is not in hand by then, it will no longer be included as an official selection of BrandStorytelling 2025.
Is my project eligible if it has aired on television or digital/streaming services?​
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Yes, your project is still eligible if it has been screened elsewhere, so long as was not exhibited prior to January 1st, 2023.
What format do you accept submissions in?​
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Please only submit links to your project that can be reviewed, preferably hosted on YouTube or Vimeo (for podcasts, any platform that hosts the podcast is acceptable). If a password is required to review your project, please include it with the project link. If your project is selected for exhibition in the BrandStorytelling theater, a final file must be
delivered no later than December 13th, 2024.
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