ConnectHER Film Festival Scholarship Awards
Scholarship Sponsored by ConnectHER Film Festival
Overview
The ConnectHER Film Festival is an international youth competition for short films that explore issues affecting women and girls. The festival welcomes diverse filmmaking forms and styles, including animation, live-action, documentary, and narrative work. Filmmakers are encouraged to review all entry requirements and FAQs before submitting.
Description: The festival highlights youth perspectives on topics listed on the festival website and seeks original, thoughtfully crafted short films that spark awareness and solutions.
Eligibility: Filmmakers must be 13 to 25 years old at the submission date; this age requirement applies to creative roles such as writing, directing, cinematography, and editing. Actors may be any age.
- International competition focused on women’s and girls’ issues
- Accepts animation, live-action, documentary, and narrative styles
- Creative roles must be filled by participants aged 13–25
Submission Requirements
Submissions must adhere to the festival’s topic areas and be original works that have not screened at other major film festivals. Eligible films must have been completed after January 1, 2026, and run between 3 and 6 minutes in length. Accepted video formats are .mov and .mp4; HD resolution and optimized sound are strongly preferred. Digital delivery via Google Drive is preferred, with Dropbox as an alternative.
Film Specifications: Films should demonstrate cinematic value and will be evaluated on storytelling, technical quality, and relevance to the chosen topic area.
- Original work completed after January 1, 2026
- Duration: 3–6 minutes
- Preferred formats: .mov or .mp4, HD resolution
File Naming and Submission Materials
All submitted files must follow the festival’s naming conventions to ensure correct processing. Portrait/headshot files must use the participant’s first and last name formatted as FirstName_LastName (for example, Jane_Doe.jpg). Film files must use the format Title_by_FilmmakersNames_Country (for example, Sunrise_by_JaneDoe_JohnSmith_AmyLee_UnitedKingdom.mp4). Submissions that do not follow the naming convention may be disqualified or returned for correction.
File Naming: Follow the exact naming formats for headshots and film files to avoid processing delays or disqualification.
- Portraits: FirstName_LastName
- Film files: Title_by_FilmmakersNames_Country
- Noncompliant filenames risk disqualification or return for correction
Content and Presentation Guidelines
Films must include English subtitles and should conclude with a graphic that highlights two local, national, or regional organizations working to address the film’s issue, including names and logos. If a film contains graphic content, a warning must appear near the beginning. PowerPoint presentations are not accepted; submissions should have cinematic qualities. ConnectHER retains discretion to decline films containing nudity, profanity, violence, or sexually explicit content.
Content Warnings: Provide an early warning for graphic material and ensure subtitles are included in English for accessibility and review.
- Include English subtitles on all films
- End with a graphic naming two organizations addressing the issue
- Provide a warning for graphic content near the start of the film
Review Process and Deadlines
All submissions undergo multiple review rounds, including screening, semifinalist, and finalist judging administered by ConnectHER-appointed judges. Films must be submitted by the stated deadline; late submissions are not accepted. ConnectHER reserves the right to make final decisions on selections, awards, and eligibility.
Review Process: The festival conducts staged evaluations to select semifinalists and finalists before awarding distinctions.
- Multiple review rounds: screening, semifinalist, finalist
- Strict deadline policy—no late submissions accepted
- ConnectHER has final authority on selections and awards