Rules OF ZOOM IN!

High School Short Film Festival "Zoom In"

– RULES AND REGULATIONS –

A. General Information

Festival Description

The "Zoom In" High School Short Film Festival is a competition dedicated to teenagers passionate about film and media production. The event is organized by volunteers of the "Adopta o Casa in Rosia Montana" program, with the support of the International British School of Bucharest and Cinema Europa, to offer a formal framework where young people can create, present, and share their own cinematographic productions.

Festival Goal

The goal of the festival is to encourage creativity and artistic expression, develop technical and collaboration skills among teenagers, and provide them with visibility and practical experience in a professional setting. The festival is a charity event aiming to raise funds for the rehabilitation of heritage buildings included in the Adopta o Casa in Rosia Montana program of the Architecture. Restoration. Archaeology. Association. Additionally, the festival aims to contribute to the visibility of the "Loc cu Loc" campaign organized by the Sustin.org Association for the revitalization and renovation of Cinema Europa.

Objectives

  • Supporting young people interested in the media field

  • Developing technical skills (filming, editing, sound, screenplay, etc.)

  • Stimulating the spirit of initiative and teamwork

  • Creating a presentation platform for the cinematographic creations of young people

  • Financial support for the Adopta o Casa in Rosia Montana program through registration fees/donations

B. Participants and Teams

Eligibility

Teenagers aged between 13 and 19, enrolled in middle or high school education, are invited to participate.

Team Structure

  • Each team can have a maximum of 5 members, including actors.

  • Team roles are at the discretion of the participants (acting, directing, screenplay, editing, sound, etc.).

  • A participant cannot be part of multiple teams in the same edition.

Consent and Responsibility

  • Registration for the festival implies acceptance of these rules and regulations.

  • For minor participants, parental/legal guardian consent may be requested.

C. Film Eligibility Criteria and Technical Specifications

Film Duration

  • Films must be between 2 and 5 minutes, including credits.

  • Films that exceed the duration may be penalized or rejected.

Technical Film Specifications

  • Recommended format: MP4, MOV, or other compatible format

  • Orientation: landscape or portrait, at the team's choice

  • Image: minimum resolution 1080p

  • Sound: clear, without distortion

Video Content Submission

  • Films will be submitted using WeTransfer to the festival's email address: zoominfilmfest@gmail.com

Film Language

  • Films can be in Romanian (with English subtitles) or in English (with Romanian subtitles).

  • Subtitles must be clear, legible, and accurate.

Film Genre

All types of short films are accepted:

  • Live-action

  • Animation

  • Stop-motion

  • Silent film / experimental

  • Short documentary

Content Classification (PG-13)

Films must be suitable for an adolescent audience:

  • No explicit sexual content

  • No graphic violence

  • No excessive vulgar language

  • No discrimination or incitement to hatred

Originality and Copyright

  • The film must be an original creation of the team.

  • The use of music, images, or external materials is allowed only if they are royalty-free or the team holds the author's permission.

  • Sources must be mentioned in the final credits.

  • Plagiarism or copyright infringement leads to immediate disqualification.

D. Registration and Participation Fee

Registration Fee

  • A donation of 50 RON is required for each film submitted.

  • The donation is made directly to the Adopta o Casa (AoC) Association to account RO37RNCB0484159217100001 – BCR.

  • Registration is valid only after payment confirmation.

Registration Process

  • Completion of the official registration form.

  • Uploading the film according to the instructions in the form.

  • Submission of parental consent forms (if necessary).

Deadlines

  • Registration and Payment: January 15, 2026

  • Film Submission: February 1, 2026

  • Films submitted after the deadline may be refused or included only in the non-competitive section.

E. Selection, Judging, and Awards

Pre-selection

  • The pre-selection of short films participating in the festival will be done by the organizers based on the same evaluation criteria applied in the final selection. The titles of the selected films will be announced on the festival's media channels on February 6, concurrently with the authors being contacted by email.

Jury

  • Selected films are evaluated by a jury consisting of professionals or enthusiasts in the media field, appointed by the organizers, during the official screening event on February 17.

Judging Criteria

  • Originality

  • Artistic Quality (screenplay, directing, performance)

  • Technical Quality (image, sound, editing)

  • Creativity

  • Message Coherence

  • Subtitling Quality

Awards

The festival grants:

  • 1st Place

  • 2nd Place

  • 3rd Place

  • Honorable Mention

  • Diplomas and potential supplementary prizes (workshops, equipment, etc.) are awarded based on available resources.

Announcement of Winners

  • The results will be communicated at the official screening event / festival gala.

F. Usage and Promotion Rights

  • Copyright belongs entirely to the film creators.

  • By registering, participants grant the organizers the right to broadcast the film:

    • within the festival

    • on the festival's and organization's promotional channels

    • in future presentation materials

  • The organizer will always mention the team's name and the film's title.

G. Conduct and Ethical Rules

  • Participants commit to adopting respectful and responsible behavior.

  • Organizers may disqualify any team that violates the principles of fair play, ethics, and safety.

  • Abusive, discriminatory, or dangerous behavior is prohibited.

H. Final Provisions

  • The organizers reserve the right to modify these rules and regulations if the situation requires it. Any update will be announced publicly.

  • Participation in the festival implies full acceptance of all articles in these rules and regulations.

Personal Data Protection (GDPR)

The organizer of the "Zoom In" High School Short Film Festival complies with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR).

  1. Data Collected

    • Name, surname

    • Age, school

    • Contact information

    • Parental/guardian details (for minors)

    • Signatures on consent forms

    • Image and voice of participants

    • Technical data related to video materials

  2. Purposes of Processing

    • Managing registrations

    • Verifying eligibility

    • Running the competition

    • Communicating results

    • Promoting the festival (with explicit consent)

    • Fulfilling legal obligations

  3. Legal Basis

    • Consent of the data subject

    • Execution of an agreement (participation in the festival)

    • Legal obligations

  4. Data Storage

    • Administrative data is kept for up to 12 months after the event.

    • Films and images used in promotion are kept only based on explicit consent.

  5. Data Disclosure

    • Data may be transmitted exclusively to technical partners involved in running the festival.

    • Data is not sold or transferred for other purposes.

  6. Participants' Rights

    • Access

    • Rectification

    • Erasure

    • Restriction of processing

    • Objection

    • Withdrawal of consent

    • Complaint to ANSPDCP (National Supervisory Authority for Personal Data Processing)

    • Requests should be sent to the festival's address.

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Rules Document