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Who can enter?
Anyone can submit a DVD of their three minute presentation regardless of where they live, however, content within the film must be shot or created within South Lyon, Lyon Township, Kensington Metropark or Island Lake Recreation Area.

The festival is open to those who are not professional filmmakers and who do not earn a living working as a professional in television or film.


Content Restrictions
Content within the film must be shot or created within South Lyon, Lyon Township, Kensington Metropark or Island Lake Recreation Area.

All films must be family friendly.  Profanity, violence, nudity and any adult content or situations will disqualify the entry.

If you feel any part of your entry may cross over the “Family Friendly” boundaries, please contact us to discuss prior to submitting the DVD.

DVDs submitted that are considered a solicitation for a specific product or a political endorsement will be disqualified.  


Entry Instructions
Download the entry form here.  Send the completed form along with your DVD and an entry fee to:

3 Minutes in Lyon Film Festival
875 Westbrooke Drive
South Lyon, MI 48178

Entry fees must be payable to Lyon Film Festival by check only. No cash please.  PayPal transactions are accepted and can be completed through the website.  Entry fees are non-refundable.  

All entries must be postmarked by 05/10/2010.  Each entry must be a separate submission which includes an entry form and payment.  Multiple entries can be mailed together.  DVDs and other materials will not be returned.

Only videos that have been created solely for the 3 Minutes in Lyon Film Festival are eligible. Content that has been created for submission to prior contests or festivals will not be eligible for an award.  

Please send a still image from your project and/or a photo of yourself.  This image will be made into a slate (opening credits) which will play just before your DVD at the Screening Night.  This slate will also include your film description.


What is the entry fee?
Students (22 and under) $5.00
Everyone else  $10.00


Categories.  
There are three categories classified by age for which the top entry will win:
- Youth Category: age 18 and under
- Collegiate Category: college students or college age 18 - 22
- General Category: non-student, age 23 and over


Acceptable formats for submission
DVD only.


What are the list of items I need to send in the mail?
- DVD properly labelled as listed below
- Entry fee check or PayPal receipt
- Entry Form
- Email a still image from your entry to lyonfilmfestival@gmail.com


Submission Guidelines
The 3 Minutes in Lyon Film Festival is not liable for copyright infringement or unauthorized use.

If your video has been selected to be screened at the Festival Awards Night, we will request you email a photo of yourself and a short description (150 words or less) of your video submission.  

If your video is selected to be screened at the Video Screen Night, we ask that it not be viewable online on sites like Facebook, MySpace or YouTube before the festival screening.


Awards
All awards will be presented to the producers of the winning videos on at the Festival Awards Night.  Awards are based on overall merit of the entries The judging criteria s listed at this page.

Jury members reserve the right not to grant an award.

All videos screened at the Screening Night are eligible to receive the Audience Choice Award.  One Audience Choice Award winner will be announced at the Festival Awards Night. The Audience Choice Award is based solely on audience voting at the Screening Night.


What is the preferred format for submission?
Films should be submitted to us on a single DVD-R or DVD+R disc, and we would prefer that they be sent in a simple paper CD/DVD sleeve. DVDs must be compatible with standard set-top DVD players-- do not simply burn a QuickTime or AVI file to a disc as data. Please ensure that your disc plays in a standard DVD player before you mail it.  If you have problems with this area, please contact us at lyonfilmfestival@gmail.com.

Please do not use a paper label on your disc! There are many different variables with stickers and paper labels that could render your disc unplayable. A permanent marker (such as a Sharpie) will work just fine.  Discs with text or graphics printed directly on the surface are also acceptable. Please write or print the following information directly on the face of the disc:

 - Your name
 - Phone
 - Film title


What video format is accepted?
You can shoot on a standard video camera, camera phone, film, digital camera or any method you wish, as long as the final product is sent to us on a DVD.


Does the video have to be three minutes long?
The finished video can be anywhere between the minimum of 90 seconds and maximum of three minutes in length (including titles and credits).


Does the content need to be 100% motion?
No. Still images from a digital camera, graphics software, stop action Star Wars Lego-like projects, even PowerPoint are acceptable as long as there is an audio track; music, voice or sound effects to accompany the visuals.


What if the video is longer than 3-Minutes?
Any entry that exceeds the 3-Minute maximum time limit will be disqualified.


Who will judge the videos?
The festival jury consists of four judges, professionals in the multimedia industry.  Click here for bios.

After entries are screened, this jury will select the top films to be screened at the Festival Awards Night. The judges will determine the winners and they will be announced that night. The Audience Choice Award will also be awarded at the Festival Awards Night.  

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What do the winners receive?
The first place winners in each category will be presented with a trophy and certificate.  The Audience Choice Award will also be presented with a trophy and certificate.


Video Screening Night
All entries submitted will be shown on Friday, May 21, 2010 at the James F. Atchison Memorial Park which is located behind the Lyon Township Municipal Center at 58000 Grand River Avenue in New Hudson.  Program begins at dusk.
Map

There is no cost to enter the park or view the entries.  Beverages and snacks will be available for a fee.

Audience Award
This event is where all audience members may cast one vote for the video they believe should receive the Audience Choice Award for best overall video. Voting cards will be distributed upon entry into the park.  No ballots will be received outside of that event.


Details for the Festival Awards Night
On Sunday, May 23, 2010, the top entries as determined by the judges will be screened along with the Audience Choice Award recipient.  The location for the Festival Awards Night is the Lyon Theatre in South Lyon located at 126 E. Lake Street, South Lyon, Michigan.  

Awards will be presented that night for the top videos per category along with the Audience Choice Award.

Tickets to this event will be sold at the door for a $2 donation per seat.  Seating is limited.  Proceeds will be donated to the 3 Minutes in Lyon Film Festival to support the 2011 festival.  

rules and guidelines