Q: What if I am a home school student?
A: You may submit through your parent, guardian or your home school teacher.
Q: What if I don't know my sponsoring teacher's email address?
A: In order for your submission to be accepted, you must include a sponsoring teacher email address. Each sponsoring teacher will be contacted to verify entries associated with their name and email address. Go ask your teacher for their email address, then register. Or try finding it on your school's website.
Q: How many entries may I have?
A: Students may submit more than one film but they may only submit a film once per category. So, pick the category that best fits your submission and the criteria outlined.
Q: I've uploaded my video. Why can't I see it on the web site?
A: All submissions are reviewed by the Young Minds Digital Times team, and depending on volume of entries there may be a delay before your video appears on the site. Please rest assured that we will process your submission as quickly as we can! If it hasn't appeared within 48 hours after uploading, email films@youngmindsdigitaltimes.com.
Q: What kind of submissions is this contest looking for?
A: We want all types of submissions – we hope we've created enough categories so that just about anything you create has a home in this contest. If not email us at films@youngmindsdigitaltimes.com and we'll work on including it next year.
Q: What are the age groups for judging?
A: There are two age groups for this competition. All entries must be submitted by students either in the 6th - 8th grades for the 2009-2010 school year or students in the 9th - 12th grades for the 2009-2010 school year. If it was a cross-age, group effort, the entry needs to be submitted in the appropriate age group for the oldest group member. International participants are responsible for entering the equivalent age group.
Q: What if my film is in another language other than English?
A: Films must be presented in spoken English or subtitled in English.
Q: What if my entry is slightly longer than 4 minutes?
A: Unfortunately, we can't budge on the 4-minute time limit. If we receive a work longer than 4 minutes, we will only review and evaluate the first 4 minutes and nothing more.
Q: Does it matter if my entry has been submitted elsewhere?
A: No, but if the piece is currently available to view on the Internet, then we would like for you to tell us where it is for our records.
Q: May I submit a version of my entry that is already online (Quicktime, etc.)?
A: Yes, but you must upload the film via the submission website.
Q: Do all entries have to be submitted by a team of students?
A: No. We accept entries by both student teams and individual students.
Q: If my film fits more than one category, which one do I enter it in?
A: It's your choice, but films may only be entered in a single category. For example, if you make a single-shot music video, you can decide if you would like to enter it as a music video or as a single-shot film. However, you cannot submit it as both.
Q: Oh crud! I miss a deadline. What do I do?
A: No promises, but email films@youngmindsdigitaltimes.com and plead your case.
If your question is not answered here, please email films@youngmindsdigitaltimes.com and allow up to 48 hours for a response, but we'll probably get back to you sooner.