Rules of entry
Eligibility
Age Requirement | Entrants must be aged between 16 to 22 years at the time of submission. |
Residency | Open exclusively to individuals residing in Switzerland. |
Individual or Team Entries | Submissions can be made by individual filmmakers or teams. For team entries, the team leader must meet all eligibility criteria, and the prize money will be awarded to the team leader for distribution among team members. |
Film Submission Guidelines
Theme | All films must explore the theme of Compassion in Action within the context of Switzerland. Films can focus on personal stories from everyday life, helpful acts of caring charity by “silent heroes” in your personal environment, community initiatives, or any subject (whether a person or an organisation) that embodies or inspires acts of compassion. Your story touches, inspires, and motivates others to reflect on and act out of compassion, respect, and love. |
Length | Films, including credits, must be between 3 to 5 minutes long. |
Competition Start Date | The competition officially opens for entries on May 1st, 2024. |
Submission Deadline | All entries must be submitted by 23:59 (CET) on 15th July 2024. |
Entry Form | Entrants must complete an online entry form, providing personal details, a brief film synopsis, and the Vimeo link to their submission. Ensure the link is accurate and the video is accessible through the provided link. |
Technical Guidelines
Film Submission | The entry form must include the film’s shareable Vimeo link. The link must remain active, and the video must be downloadable until the competition results are announced. |
Submission Format and Vimeo Upload Instructions | All film submissions must be uploaded to the Vimeo platform |
Required Formats for Vimeo | In alignment with Vimeo’s upload requirements, your film must be in one of the following formats: MP4, MOV, or AVI. These formats are preferred for their compatibility with Vimeo and their ability to maintain high video quality. |
Visibility Settings | Ensure your video’s visibility is set to “Hidden” on Vimeo. This setting keeps your submission exclusive to the competition, as it will not be publicly searchable or viewable on Vimeo. |
Titling Your Submission | Name your film using the format “[Your Full Name]—[Film Title]—Swiss Compassion Short Film Competition 2024” on Vimeo. This titling helps organise and identify entries. |
Enable Downloads | It’s crucial to enable the “Allow downloads” option in your Vimeo video settings. This feature allows the competition’s organisers and judges to download and review your submission without being hindered by internet connectivity issues, ensuring your film is viewed in its intended quality. |
Vimeo Link Submission | Your application must include the Vimeo link to your film. This link should be clear and easily accessible within your application form to allow the judging panel straightforward access.
Verify Before Submitting: Before finalising your application, verify that your Vimeo link is active, the video is correctly set to “Hidden,” and the download option is enabled. This verification step is essential to avoid any complications in the review process. |
Language | Films can be in any language. However, all films must include English subtitles. |
Originality | Entries must be the original work of the entrant(s) and must not infringe upon the rights of any third parties. Use of copyrighted material, unless adequately licensed or falling under fair use, is prohibited. |
Compliance | Film content with culturally sensitive, political and religiously motivated themes will not be eligible for the competition. Films must not contain obscene, defamatory, or objectionable material. Entries must be suitable for a public audience. |
General terms
Rights | Entrants retain all ownership rights to their films. However, by entering the competition, they grant the Zariya Foundation and its partners the non-exclusive right to screen, broadcast, and promote the films without compensation for the purposes of the competition, the Zariya Foundation and its related activities. |
Data Protection | Personal information collected during the entry process will be used solely to administer the competition and will not be disclosed to third parties without consent. |
Compliance and Disqualification | Failure to comply with these rules may result in disqualification from the competition. The Zariya Foundation reserves the right to disqualify any entry that does not adhere to the entry rules. |
Checklist for Submission
-
Ensure your film is in one of the accepted formats (MP4, MOV, or AVI) as Vimeo requires.
-
Upload your film to Vimeo, setting the video’s visibility to “Hidden.”
-
Enable the “Allow downloads” feature on your Vimeo video.
-
Title your film correctly according to the given format for easy identification.
-
Include your film’s Vimeo link in your competition application, ensuring it’s accessible for review.
Contact information
If you have any questions or need further information, please get in touch with the Zariya Foundation at shortfilm2024@zariyafoundation.org. We are here to assist and encourage all participants throughout their creative process.