50HFC Rules | yofifest

THE YOFI 50 HOUR FILM CHALLENGE OFFICIAL RULES

(PLEASE NOTE: These rules are subject to change up to the beginning of the shoot weekend.)

REGISTRATION

All individuals, regardless if they are on a team or not, must register online for the YoFi 50 Hour FIlm Challenge by 5pm on Friday, October 31, 2025 in order to participate.

MUSIC

Teams may work with a composer and/or musicians to write and record original music for the films. It is also permissible for teams use pre-recorded music, assuming they have copyright clearance to include it. In the absence of a composer, we recommend using free public domain music. Teams must have the rights to any music used in its film and must provide releases for all music used. As with music, pre-recorded sound effects are allowed, but you must have rights to use them.

USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)

You may use AI (Artificial Intelligence) in the creation of your film if anything created using AI (footage, scripts, music, effects, etc. adheres to the following:

- 1. You may only use AI in ways that are legal in your jurisdiction.
  2. You may not use AI to create any part of your entry prior to the Official Time Period.
  3. You must have the legal rights to all material used in your film — including AI-generated content. Any AI output that incorporates copyrighted material (like a famous actor’s face or a recognizable movie still) without proper permission is not allowed.
  4. Any footage created using AI is subject to both: copyright requirements and the footage rule. That is, not only must the filmmaker have rights to the footage, but any footage shot prior to the competition weekend, may only be used as outlined in the footage rule.
  5. You must list all AI apps/software used in your film’s end credits.
  6. AI-generated video may only be used if it is based on footage originally shot during the competition weekend.

FINAL SUBMISSION

You must submit your completed film to yofi50hourfilmchallenge@gmail.com by 10pm on Sunday, Nove as determined by the time stamp on the email. The film must conform to the following specifications:

• Resolution: HD (1920 x 1080 pixels)

• Encoder: H.264 or H.265

• Frame Rate: 24 or 30 fps (progressive)

• Use a 20 Mbps target bitrate for VBR (2-pass)

• Audio: AAC-LC, 320 kbps, 48 kHz.

• Maximum File Size: 4GB.

• Total running time of 3 to 7 minutes, including opening titles and credits.

• End credits are limited to a maximum of 90 seconds.

• 2 seconds of black with no audio at both the start and end of the film, before and after picture and sound.

Your movie file name must be formatted as “team_name-film-title_2025.mp4”

The ‘Film’ must be emailed to us using a large file transfer service such as WeTransfer (https://wetransfer.com), Hightail (https://www.hightail.com/) or ySendIt (https://ysendit.com).

IMPORTANT: If your film does not conform to the submission requirements, it may be disqualified. Also, if your film cannot be viewed on YoFi Fest equipment, it may be disqualified.

SCREENING AND AUDIENCE CHOICE VOTING

Films will be screened at YoFi Fest’s Digital Media Art Center on November 14th at 6pm and the audience will vote for their favorite, The winners will announced at the festival’s closing night party on Sunday, November 16. Each registered filmmaker gets a free ticket to the screening, but a limited number of tickets will be also available for their guests on a first-come, first-sold basis.

MISCELLANEOUS

There is no charge to participate in YoFi’s 50 Hour Film Challenge.

Space is limited, so advanced registration is required.

Participants must be at least 18 years old or work on a team with a parent or guardian.

You must not break the law in the creation of your film.

No equipment, services or insurance will be provided by YoFi Fest.

Films must not contain obscene, pornographic, or defamatory content. YoFi Fest may, in their sole discretion, disqualify entries deemed to be inappropriate or otherwise non-compliant. Films may not contain defamatory statements about any person, company, organization or entity; may not invade privacy or other rights of any person, company or entity; may not in any other way violate applicable laws and regulations; and may not contain any copyrighted elements used without permission.

Teams may not post, share, screen or distribute the ‘Film’ in whole or in part, in public or on the internet, until after Monday, November 17th, 2025. This includes uploading the video to any website or screening the film for groups of anyone other than the team.

Teams must abide by the rules. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.

Three registered members of each team that successfully completes and submits their film will receive a complimentary ticket to the screening event and the awards party. Discounts codes will also be made available to the teams for additional tickets to both events.

ORGANIZER’S RIGHTS

All films submitted may be used by YoFi Fest organizers for future promotional uses.

YoFi Fest may, in their sole discretion, disqualify entries deemed to be inappropriate or otherwise non-compliant.

YoFi Fest may add to or amend these rules at any time prior to the beginning of the YoFi 50 Hour Film Challenge.

LIABILITY AND HOLD HARMLESS MATTERS

By entering, the Entrant agrees that YoFi Fest Inc., its board, employees, members, sponsors, agents, assigns and affiliated associations and companies will be held harmless from any claims, actions, lawsuits, demands assessments and/or judgments coming from any and all members of the Entrant participating in the Competition. Moreover, the Entrant agree to indemnify, defend and hold YoFi Fest Inc., its board, employees, members, sponsors, assigns and affiliated associations and companies harmless against any and all claims, actions, lawsuits, demands, assessments and/or judgments arising from Entrant’s participation in the event. The Entrant also agrees that YoFi Fest is not liable for any disputes between collaborators arising out of or related to the Project.

By submitting an Entry into YoFi Fest’s 50 Hour Film Challenge, each Entrant warrants and represents that the Entrant owns all rights to the Entry he/she is entering in this Project, including, without limitation, the video or digital recording, and the performance contained in each Entry. Each Entrant further warrants and represents that the Entrant has obtained permission from each person who appears in the Entry to grant the rights to YoFi Fest described in these Official Rules, and will submit copies of such permissions to the YoFi Fest. By submitting an Entry, Entrant agrees to the Official Rules, and further agrees to indemnify and hold YoFi Fest Inc. and their respective affiliates, officers, directors, agents, co-branders or other partners, and any of their employees (collectively, the Indemnitees), harmless from any and all claims, damages, expenses, costs (including reasonable attorneys' fees) and liabilities (including settlements), brought or asserted by any third party against any of the Indemnitees due to or arising out of the Entrant's Entry materials in this Project, or the Entrant's conduct during and in connection with this Project, including but not limited to trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property rights, right of publicity, right of privacy or defamation. Entrant agrees to release, indemnify and hold harmless YoFi Fest Inc. from any and all claims that any advertising, presentation, web content or any other material subsequently produced, presented, and/or prepared by or on behalf of YoFi Fest Inc. infringes on the rights of Entrant's work as contained in any Entry.

No liability or responsibility is assumed by YoFi Fest Inc. resulting from any user's participation in or attempt to participate in the YoFi 50 Hour Film Challenge or ability or inability to upload or download any information in connection with participating in the Project. No responsibility or liability is assumed by YoFi Fest Inc. for technical problems or technical malfunction arising in connection with any of the following occurrences which may affect the operation of the Project: hardware or software errors; faulty computer, telephone, cable, satellite, network, electronic, wireless or Internet connectivity or other online communication problems; errors or limitations of any Internet service providers, servers, hosts or providers; garbled, jumbled or faulty data transmissions; failure of any e-mail transmissions to be sent or received; lost, late, delayed or intercepted e-mail transmissions; inaccessibility of the Web Site in whole or in part for any reason; traffic congestion on the Internet or the Web Site; unauthorized human or non-human intervention of the operation of the Project, including without limitation, unauthorized tampering, hacking, theft, virus, bugs, worms; or destruction of any aspect of the Project, or loss, miscount, misdirection, inaccessibility or unavailability of an email account used in connection with the Project. YoFi Fest Inc. is not responsible for any typographical errors in the announcement of prizes or these Official Rules, or any inaccurate or incorrect data contained on the Web Site or social media sites maintained by YoFi Fest Inc. Use of Web Site and the YoFi Fest's social media sites is at user's own risk. YoFi Fest Inc. is not responsible for any personal injury or property damage or losses of any kind which may be sustained to user's or any other person's computer equipment resulting from participation in the Project, use of the Web Site or the download of any information from the Web Site. By participating in the Project, Entrant agrees to release, indemnify and hold YoFi Fest Inc. harmless from any and all claims, damages or liabilities arising from or relating to such Entrant's participation in the Project.