Next · Submissions close — Feb 5, 8:00 AM MT

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Key dates

The calendar, from announcement to winner.

Times are in Mountain Time (MT).

calendar motel
FilmmakersFilm Freaks
  1. Submissions open

    7:00AM MT – Call for entries…

  2. Standard price

    8:00AM MT – Entry fee moves to $195 per film.

  3. Final price

    8:00AM MT – Entry fee moves to $250 per film.

  4. Submissions close

    8:00AM MT – Entries close.

  5. Round 1 · Public voting

    8:00AM MT FEB 8 – Round 1 Voting opens. Film Freaks get 10 votes, one vote per film.

  6. Voting closes · Top 100 announced

    8:00AM MT – Top 100 notified. Vision Videos required, due 8:00AM MT Mar 18. Top 101-125 are alternates, also submit Vision Videos, move into Top 100 if slots open.

  7. Vision videos due

    8:00AM MT – Filmmakers' Vision Videos must be uploaded before this time. Any Top 100 Filmmaker who misses this deadline will be replaced by an alternate.

  8. Round 2 · Public voting

    8:00AM MT – Round 2 Voting opens. Votes reset. Film Freaks get 5 votes.

  9. Voting closes · Top 25 announced

    8:00AM MT – Top 25 notified. Scripts and materials required, due 8:00AM MT Apr 19. Top 1 film crowned Freak Favorite, guaranteed Top 10.

  10. Round 3 · Script evaluation

    8:00AM MT – Scripts and materials due from Top 25 Filmmakers, including Freak Favorite. InTension assesses…

  11. Top 10 announced

    8:00AM MT – Top 10 notified. Comprised of InTension's selected 9 + the Freak Favorite. InTension offers meeting times to the Top 10 Filmmakers.

  12. –

    Round 4 · Production meetings

    InTension meets with filmmakers to develop and assess their feature project.

  13. Winner announced

    Follow InTension's social media for the announcement!

Frequently asked
questions.

IF I WIN, DO I GET A $1,000,000 CHECK?

No. The winner gets to direct a feature film, which will be produced and released by InTension Industries for a budget of $1,000,000. The director will receive a director fee and backend participation in the film’s success. See Official Rules for details.

WHY DO YOU NEED MY PHONE NUMBER?

To keep the competition fair, we verify each user’s phone number to help prevent duplicate accounts and fraudulent votes. It helps ensure that our community has a genuine say in what film gets made. Phone numbers are only used for account verification, never for marketing.

WHAT DETERMINES THE FILMS I SEE IN THE CUTTING ROOM?

Aside from any filters you select, the Cutting Room is randomly generated every time you load the page. This means no films are harder to find than others, and you have the most chance of discovering something new. If you want to find a specific film, use the search function or the filters. If you love a film, vote for it!

CAN I SUBMIT A FILM THAT USED AI?

Yes, but the feature film that InTension produces will not allow AI use beyond its AI policy. You should submit whatever video you think best conveys your ability and story, but remember that the short film should convince the public and InTension that you are capable of directing real actors and working with real craftspeople.

WHY CAN’T I APPLY IF I’M A RESIDENT OF MARYLAND, COLORADO, NORTH DAKOTA, OR CONNECTICUT?

These states have regulations that prevent us from offering this type of competition to its residents.

WHAT IF ONE MEMBER OF OUR DIRECTING TEAM IS NOT ELIGIBLE?

If either member of the directing team is ineligible, then the team is ineligible. Both members must be eligible to enter.

HOW LONG CAN SHORT FILMS BE?

Short films cannot be over 40 minutes long. There is no minimum length. You should submit whatever length film allows you to tell the tightest, most compelling, and most thrilling version of your story.

CAN I UPDATE MY ENTRY AFTER SUBMITTING?

Yes, you can update your film details or video link up until submissions close.

HOW LONG DOES THE ROUND 3 FEATURE-LENGTH SCRIPT NEED TO BE?

There is no minimum or maximum page limit. Most feature-length scripts are 85-120 pages long. If the movie your screenplay describes is too short or too long to be a commercial feature film, this will impact how it is evaluated.

WHO IS JUDGING THE TOP 25 SCRIPTS?

InTension Industries’ creative development team will review and score all scripts. All 25 will receive personalized feedback.

DOES MY FEATURE FILM NEED TO BE THE SAME STORY AS MY SHORT?

Your feature film needs to be inspired by your short film. The further your feature film deviates from the short, the harder it is for the audience and InTension to believe in the feature film you will make. The short film should convince anyone who watches it that there is a larger story worth telling here, and that you are the one to tell it.

WHAT CAN I SHARE PUBLICLY AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA?

Filmmakers should publicize their involvement and their films as much as they can to attract voters. Film Freaks should share their favorite films to help drum up support for the feature film they want to see made.  Confidential materials such as contracts, communications with InTension, and meetings with our team cannot be posted.

DOES INTENSION OWN THE FEATURE FILM?

As the production company, InTension will own and manage the distribution of the feature film. Filmmakers will be involved in that process, and will receive a share of profits if the film is successful, as described in the Rules.

CAN MY FILM ALREADY BE PUBLIC ON YOUTUBE?

Yes. The competition accepts both unlisted and public viewing links.

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT CONTENT WARNINGS TO PUT ON MY FILM?

If your film contains even a small amount of a type of confronting or difficult content, use the Content Warnings broadly. It is up to audience members to decide what they do and don’t want to watch. If your video is found to not have the appropriate Content Warnings tagged, the video may be removed and you may be disqualified.

WHAT DO I DO FOR MY VISION VIDEO IN ROUND 2?

The Vision Video should give anyone who watches it a clearer idea of the feature film you intend to make. You should give a sense of the feature-length story. You should not give specific spoilers about how the story ends, but you can give the premise and can tease the shape and type of events the story will entail. This is also your chance to tell the audience about you as a person, as a filmmaker, and why this movie is important to you.

Got more questions?