Uneton48docs is coming, and you want to participate, but you might have questions? Don't worry! We have written this detailed description specifically for you, outlining how the participant's journey progresses. Read this guide carefully, as it also includes the mandatory rules of the challenge!

1. ASSEMBLE THE TEAM

Although you can participate in the challenge alone, we strongly recommend inviting at least a few teammates to join you on this journey. Having multiple heads makes it easier to bounce ideas off each other when planning your documentary, and furthermore, making a film together is more enjoyable - at least based on our experience. While building your team, it's a good idea to plan what each person would like to contribute. Check out our helpful 10 TIPS article for planning assistance!

2. REGISTER FOR THE CHALLENGE

Once the team members are confirmed and the team name is decided, it's time for the captain to register the team for the competition. You can purchase HERE starting from June 30th. The captain must be over 18 yrs old and they will be the point of contact for the organizers regarding any team-related matters. There is a limited number of tickets available this time. The price for one ticket is 100€ (financially stable) / 50€ (students, unemployed) per team throughout the entire sale period until September 7, 2023, or until tickets run out. You decide the size of your team.

3. JOIN THE UNETON48DOCS DISCORD

Now is also a good time to join the Uneton48-DISCORD , a chat group where the organizers answer questions and participants can help each other out.

4. MAKE YOUR FILM ACCORDING TO THE RULES

4.1 CHALLENGE DATE & TIME

  • Uneton48docs challenge begins on Friday, September 8th, at 19:00, accompanied by the opening event. The finished film must be submitted by Sunday, September 10th, at 19:30. The official challenge time is therefore 48.5 hours. The additional half-hour is intended for submitting the completed film.

4.2. LANGUAGE

  • The film can be in any language.
  • However, if the language is any other than Finnish, Swedish or English, subtitles in one of the aforementioned languages ​​must be included in the film. The subtitles must be burned onto the image, because we cannot use separate text files for movie screenings.

4.3. LENGTH OF THE FILM

  • The film must be minimum 1 minute long and maximum 5 minutes long (and not a second more!). This duration includes the beginning text (see section 5.9.) and the end credits.

4.4. THEME AND MANDATORY ELEMENTS

  • The theme assigned to your team will be revealed at the opening event. We encourage creative interpretation of the theme, but the assigned theme should still be clearly identifiable in the film.
  • The compulsory elements are the same for all films and will be announced at the opening event.

4.5. MAKING OF THE FILM

  • All creative work (except for music creation) must be done within the challenge timeframe.
  • Animation: Making an animated film is also allowed. In this case, all animation (whether computer-generated or done by hand) must be created within the challenge timeframe. Otherwise, all the same rules apply to animation as they do to other types of films.
  • Archival material: The use of archival material is permitted, but proper permissions must be obtained. If using copyright-free archival material sourced from the internet, it is good practice to mention the website through which the material was obtained in the end credits.

4.6. MUSIC

  • We recommend teams to collaborate with local music creators, as using copyrighted music can be expensive for the team. There are also many websites available on the internet where you can find royalty-free music and sound effects.
  • Regardless of where the music is obtained, it is important to ensure that proper permissions are obtained for its use. If using royalty-free music sourced from the internet, it is good practice to mention the website in the end credits. It is also necessary to ensure that there are no specific restrictions on the rights of the music (e.g., limited availability in certain parts of the world or time restrictions on its use).

4.7. AGE LIMIT & UNDERAGE PARTICIPANTS

  • Team members can be underage as long as there is at least one adult (over 18 yrs old) member in the team. In this case, the adult member must act as the team leader and take responsibility for registering the team and completing the final report.
  • The age limit for Uneton48docs cinema screenings is K-12. Therefore, in order to participate in the challenge, the film must adhere to the K-12 age rating. For more information on this topic, please refer to the guidelines provided by KAVI (FINNISH NATIONAL AUDIOVISUAL INSTITUTE).

4.8. TECHNICAL DETAILS OF THE FILM

  • Please name the film file as follows: Team_Name_Film_Title.fileformat (e.g., "Team_Uneton48docs_Our_Documentary.mp4")

Recommended technical specifications:

  • Video: 1920 x 1080 pixels @ 25 fps
  • Sound: Stereo (2.0) @ 16 bit 48 kHz
  • Codecs: h264 + aac and mp4/mov container
  • Bitrate: less than 30 Mbit/s
  • File Size: less than 2 Gbit
  • If your film deviates from these specifications, it may not play smoothly during the screenings. It is particularly important that the frame rate matches the Finnish standard of 25 fps.

4.9. OPENING SLATE & END CREDITS

  • The film should begin with a 5-second opening slate displaying your team and film information in the following format:

TEAM NAME
THEME
FILM NAME

  • The film should end with the text:

This short film was made as part of Uneton48docs 2023 -short film competition

  • There are no other restrictions on the style or duration of the end credits – they can either be included as part of the team credits or separately.

4.10. SPONSORS

4.11. COPYRIGHT

  • The copyrights of the films created during the challenge are shared between the organizing entity "Uneton48 Ry" and the filmmakers. However, Uneton48 Ry holds exclusive rights to the films until their public release. This arrangement is aimed at maintaining an exciting atmosphere leading up to the final event.
  • After the public release, the copyrights of the films will be shared between the Uneton48 organization and the filmmakers in a way that allows both parties to freely distribute and exhibit the films. The formulation of the copyright rules is primarily aimed at promoting film culture. It is important to us that filmmakers can use their films in any way they desire. Additionally, it is important for the Uneton48 organization to have the ability to distribute and exhibit the films. Uneton48 Ry is a non-profit organization aiming to support the public good. Instead of seeking financial gain, our goal is to utilize film distribution and public exhibition to further future challenges and other initiatives that promote film culture, as well as to attract partners. Moreover, we aim to simplify the journey through bureaucratic processes for our small organization.
  • Send only material you have made yourself. When the film is made by you, you have the necessary copyrights and you know what is in the film. The film must not infringe someone else's copyright (e.g. music).
  • In private situations, ask permission from people appearing in films. Privacy protection must be respected in movies. This means that you should not film offensive situations or, for example another person's home without asking permission from the resident and all the people appearing in the films.

Below is the copyright clause in more detail:

  • The team hereby transfers the economic copyrights of the short film ("Film") produced as part of the Uneton48docs challenge, free of charge, to the event organizer Uneton48 Ry ("Organizer"). The Organizer has the right to sell or transfer the Film in a non-discriminatory manner to other parties (such as TV channels), distribute and disseminate the Film globally, as well as publicly screen it.
  • The team also retains all the aforementioned rights. These rights are considered parallel rights. The parallel partial transfer does not prevent the creator from exploiting the work or granting a similar right to others.
  • The Organizer has a temporary exclusive right to distribute the Film. During the exclusivity period, the Film's creator(s) do not have the right to transmit the Film to the public, publicly perform it, or produce physical copies of it and distribute them to the public, either for free or for consideration. However, despite the exclusivity, the creator(s) have the right to use the visual and audio material of the Film for promotional purposes, including creating a trailer of up to 30 seconds in length.

5. SUBMISSION BY SEPTEMBER 10, AT 19:30

When the film is completed and the video file's functionality has been verified, it's time for the moment of joy and fulfillment: submission. The submission is done online:

  • Fill out the submission form. This form must be submitted no later than Sunday, September 10, at 19:30.
  • Name your film "Team_name_Film_title". Upload your film directly to Uneton48docs' Dropbox. You will receive the Dropbox submission link via email later on. In order to participate in the competition, the film must be visible in Dropbox before Sunday, September 10, at 19:30.
  • Fill out the final report. For the final report, you will need the signatures of your team members. You can print the document, have your team members sign it manually, and take a picture of the report. Alternatively, you can handle the signatures electronically in a PDF file. Name the final report "Team_name_Film_title”. It is sufficient to submit this final report to Uneton48docs' Dropbox no later than Sunday, September 17, at 23:59.
  • If you wish, you can create a poster for your film, and the best poster will also be rewarded. The recommended size for the poster is A2, in portrait or landscape orientation. The content of the poster is up to you. Name the poster "Poster_Team_name_Film_title”. It is sufficient to submit the poster to Uneton48docs' Dropbox no later than Sunday, September 17, at 23:59.
  • If you want to ensure that your film is included in the competition but you have concerns about your internet connection speed, you can take a SHA checksum code of the film. It essentially serves as a timestamp that can prove the completion of the film within the given deadline, even if it is not visible in Dropbox by 19:30. This is completely optional and slightly more complex. The safest approach is to upload the film on time, but for those who like to take extra precautions, they can use the SHA checksum code as an additional measure. Write the SHA checksum code in the submission form.

Shasum instructions

If the instructions seem difficult, you can also download a GRAPHICAL SHA PROGRAM, which may be easier to use. Good luck on your journey 😘 Copy the SHA1 code and paste it into the submission form.

1. Open the program called Terminal (macOS/Linux) or Command Prompt (Windows). The program is available by default on all computers and can be conveniently found using a Spotlight search (macOS) [Cmd+Space] or Start search (Windows) [Windows key].

2. Type in the window: For macOS/Linux: shasum [space] For Windows: certutil -hashfile [space]

3. Drag and drop the video file onto the window. The file path and name will appear in the window after what you typed earlier.

4. Press ENTER. The program will display the SHA1 code (40 numbers and letters) within about ten seconds.

5. Copy the SHA1 code and paste it into the submission form. macOS: Select the SHA1 code with your mouse, then press cmd+c. Windows: Right-click > Mark, select the SHA1 code, then right-click > Copy.

6. SCREENINGS AND FINAL EVENT

  • Each film will have its premiere at the Love & Anarchy festival screenings at Cinema Orion on September 20-21.
  • The event culminates in the closing gala, where the finalist films awarded by the jury will be celebrated.

 

7. PARTICIPANT MAILS

  1. SCHEDULES
  2. SUBMISSION INFO
  3. THEMES, ELEMENTS AND PRIZES (CORRECTED)
  4. SUBMITTED FILMS
  5. SCREENING INFO
  6. FINAL GALA