Submissions - Judging
Since it is important to us to provide filmmakers and screenwriters with judging feedback, it is also important to share how CRFF will judge your submission. All Student, Short and Feature film submissions, as well as script submissions, will be reviewed by a minimum of 3 judges. Each judge is either a producer, writer, director, actor, screenwriter or film critic. They will judge on the following categories, with each category having a set of options:
FILMS
NARRATIVES & DOCUMENTARIES:
Creativity: Does the film exhibit originality, innovative ideas, or techniques?
Camera Techniques: Are shots framed and focused to enhance the story without making the audience aware of the camera?
Editing: Does the editing help tell the story? Is it jumpy? Is text easy to read? Are special effects unobtrusive? Are scenes consistent with lighting and color?
Sound: Is the dialog and/or narration clear and easy to understand and at a consistent level? Are the Sound Fx appropriate for the story?
Music: If any music, how does it affect the mood?
Music: If none, was that appropriate?
NARRATIVES ONLY:
In addition to the criteria above in "NARRATIVES & DOCUMENTARIES", the following categories will also be rated:
Story Development: Does the story make sense? Is it engaging with a clear beginning, middle and end? Are the characters well developed? Are the characters engaging?
Acting (Main Characters): Is the acting appropriate/engaging for the story? Is the acting good?
Acting (Supporting Characters): Is the acting appropriate/engaging for the story? Is the acting good? Do they enhance the main characters?
Best Venue and time to watch: Would you suggest to someone to watch the film in a theater, on DVD… never, etc.
DOCUMENTARIES ONLY:
In addition to the criteria above in "NARRATIVES & DOCUMENTARIES", the following categories will also be rated:
Story Development: Was the reason for the documentary described clearly in the beginning? DId the middle support the focus? Did the end conclude the focus well?
Focus - Main: Is in engaging/interesting?
Focus - Supporting: How supportive were the subsequent subjects to the main focus?
From the categories above, the various options (not shown) will have specific values, and these values will be added to get a total score. The films with the highest scores in their submission category will be shown at the festival and the top scoring films will receive awards at the festival’s Awards Ceremony. All filmmakers will get their scores sent to them, and scores are confidential – between CRFF and the filmmaker. CRFF, like every other festival, has a limited number of slots to fill and will not know until after all the submission are in, how many in each category will be shown.
SCRIPTS
Technical: Correct screenplay format, spelling, grammar etc?
Creativity: Does the film exhibit originality, innovative ideas, or techniques?
Story Development: Does the story make sense? Is it engaging with a clear beginning, middle and end?
Premise: Does the idea behind the story hook the reader?
Pacing: The timing of the action, revelation of the plot elements, and character development.
Main Characters: Are they all different? Well developed? Do they have a story arc? Are the characters engaging?
Supporting Characters: Are they all different? Well developed? Do they compliment the main characters?
Commercial Viability: If produced, what type of distribution channel could be expected? Where would you expect to see this film shown?
From the categories above, the various options (not shown) will have specific values, and these values will be added to get a total score. The script with the highest score will have a table reading done at the festival and will also receive an award at the festival’s Awards Ceremony. All script submitters will get their scores sent to them, and scores are confidential – between CRFF and the script submitter.
FILMS
NARRATIVES & DOCUMENTARIES:
Creativity: Does the film exhibit originality, innovative ideas, or techniques?
Camera Techniques: Are shots framed and focused to enhance the story without making the audience aware of the camera?
Editing: Does the editing help tell the story? Is it jumpy? Is text easy to read? Are special effects unobtrusive? Are scenes consistent with lighting and color?
Sound: Is the dialog and/or narration clear and easy to understand and at a consistent level? Are the Sound Fx appropriate for the story?
Music: If any music, how does it affect the mood?
Music: If none, was that appropriate?
NARRATIVES ONLY:
In addition to the criteria above in "NARRATIVES & DOCUMENTARIES", the following categories will also be rated:
Story Development: Does the story make sense? Is it engaging with a clear beginning, middle and end? Are the characters well developed? Are the characters engaging?
Acting (Main Characters): Is the acting appropriate/engaging for the story? Is the acting good?
Acting (Supporting Characters): Is the acting appropriate/engaging for the story? Is the acting good? Do they enhance the main characters?
Best Venue and time to watch: Would you suggest to someone to watch the film in a theater, on DVD… never, etc.
DOCUMENTARIES ONLY:
In addition to the criteria above in "NARRATIVES & DOCUMENTARIES", the following categories will also be rated:
Story Development: Was the reason for the documentary described clearly in the beginning? DId the middle support the focus? Did the end conclude the focus well?
Focus - Main: Is in engaging/interesting?
Focus - Supporting: How supportive were the subsequent subjects to the main focus?
From the categories above, the various options (not shown) will have specific values, and these values will be added to get a total score. The films with the highest scores in their submission category will be shown at the festival and the top scoring films will receive awards at the festival’s Awards Ceremony. All filmmakers will get their scores sent to them, and scores are confidential – between CRFF and the filmmaker. CRFF, like every other festival, has a limited number of slots to fill and will not know until after all the submission are in, how many in each category will be shown.
SCRIPTS
Technical: Correct screenplay format, spelling, grammar etc?
Creativity: Does the film exhibit originality, innovative ideas, or techniques?
Story Development: Does the story make sense? Is it engaging with a clear beginning, middle and end?
Premise: Does the idea behind the story hook the reader?
Pacing: The timing of the action, revelation of the plot elements, and character development.
Main Characters: Are they all different? Well developed? Do they have a story arc? Are the characters engaging?
Supporting Characters: Are they all different? Well developed? Do they compliment the main characters?
Commercial Viability: If produced, what type of distribution channel could be expected? Where would you expect to see this film shown?
From the categories above, the various options (not shown) will have specific values, and these values will be added to get a total score. The script with the highest score will have a table reading done at the festival and will also receive an award at the festival’s Awards Ceremony. All script submitters will get their scores sent to them, and scores are confidential – between CRFF and the script submitter.
