Eligibility

The Granite Town Film Festival accepts narrative, documentary, animated, experimental, and student films.

Films must have been completed after January 1, 2025.

All submissions must be the original work of the entrant. The submitter must have secured all necessary rights, licenses, and clearances for music, footage, performances, and any other copyrighted material included in the film.

The festival reserves the right to disqualify any submission that violates copyright or intellectual property laws.

Category Guidelines

Each project may be submitted to one Main Category:

• Best Feature (45+ minute runtime)

• Best Animated Feature (45+ minute runtime)

• Best Documentary (Any runtime)

• Best NH Local Film (Any runtime)

• Best Student Film (Any runtime)

• Best Short (Under 45 minute runtime)

• Best Animated Short (Under 45 minute runtime)

Films may also be entered into multiple sub-categories, if eligible:

• Best Director

• Best Editing

• Best Comedy

• Best Horror

• Best Sci-Fi

• Best Trailer

• Best Costume Design

All category selections must be made at the time of submission through FilmFreeway.

Runtime classifications are strictly enforced.

The Granite Town Film Festival reserves the right to reassign a film to a more appropriate category at the discretion of the programming team.

Submission Process

All films must be submitted through FilmFreeway.

Submission fees, if applicable, are non-refundable.

Entries must include a complete screener and accurate project information at the time of submission.

Incomplete entries may be disqualified without refund.

Screening Requirements

All submitted screeners must have downloads enabled on FilmFreeway at the time of submission.

Submission files must be provided in .mp4 format for review consideration.

Selected films must provide a high-quality digital screening file in .mp4 format (H.264 preferred) at a minimum resolution of 1920×1080 (1080p).

Films delivered below 1080p resolution may be disqualified from screening consideration.

Failure to provide a downloadable .mp4 file or a screening-ready file by the stated deadline may result in removal from the program.

The Granite Town Film Festival reserves the right to test all files prior to the event to ensure compatibility with festival playback systems.

Selection & Notification

All submissions are reviewed by the festival programming team.

Official Selections will be notified through FilmFreeway.

All programming decisions are final.

NH Local & Student Eligibility

Films submitted under “Best NH Local Film” must have a significant creative connection to New Hampshire (filmmaker residence, production location, or subject matter).

Films submitted under “Best Student Film” must have been created while the filmmaker was enrolled in an educational institution. Proof of enrollment may be requested.

Screening Rights & Promotion

By submitting, entrants grant the Granite Town Film Festival a non-exclusive license to publicly screen the selected film during the festival event.

Entrants also grant permission for the festival to use stills, trailers, titles, and excerpts (up to 60 seconds) for promotional purposes in print, digital, broadcast, and social media marketing.

All rights to the film remain with the filmmaker.

Liability

Granite Town Media and the Granite Town Film Festival are not responsible for lost, damaged, or corrupted submission files.

The festival reserves the right to make necessary adjustments to scheduling, venue, or format as required.