MOLAA + LBUSD
Student Film Festival!
One Frame At A Time
June 1, 2025
Film Submissions Portal
Opens March 1, 2025
DAtes and Deadlines
March 1, 2025 – Submission Portal Opens
May 2, 2025 (EOD) - Final submissions due for all applications
May 19, 2025 Finalists are notified this week by email
June 1, 2025 - Film Screening and Awards Ceremony at MOLAA.
*For more information, pleas email, Student_Film_Festival@molaa.org
Program AT A GLANCE - Sunday June 1, 2025
12 PM Industry Panel
1 PM - 2 PM Finalists Screenings
2 PM - 3 PM Awards Ceremony
3 PM Student Reception
MOLAA Student Film Festival 2025: One Frame at a Time
Presented by MOLAA’s Department of Education and LBUSD’s Office of Pathways and Business Engagement
MOLAA and LBUSD’s Office of Pathways & Business Engagement are excited to invite LBUSD high school students grades 9-12, to participate in its 1st annual One Frame at a Time Student Film Festival. The festival will take place, in person, at MOLAA’s Viva Event Center in Long Beach, CA on Sunday, June 1st from 1 PM to 3 PM. Individuals or small teams of students are challenged to create a short two to three-minute video on one of our three proposed topics. Each student or group may submit one film into this contest. A student may submit one film as part of a group, and one as an individual.
Films can be in any style, whether that be a documentary, narrative, live action, animated, puppetry, poetry, or a silent movie. Films should be original, creative and connect the audience to the topic in a compelling way.
Art, social equity, and education content is a plus! Submission will require a short 200-500 word artist/group statement.
This year’s theme is “Unseen Voices: Telling Stories From A New Lens”
Category Topics:
Animation
Tragedy/Drama
Comedy
Documentary/Broadcast
Finalists Will Also Receive:
10 courtesy passes to MOLAA with exclusive access to the museum.
Film Festival Award certificate.
Mention in MOLAA newsletter and social media.
Potential use of film in future MOLAA events and programs.
A distinguished group of judges from the Hollywood film industry and local Long Beach Cultural Centers will determine the Award Winners based on storytelling, creativity, technical and art/educational content.
Finalists are required to attend the MOLAA Film Screening and Awards Ceremony on the afternoon of June 1st, 2025, from 1 - 3 PM at the Museum to receive their awards and prizes.
Technical Guidelines:
Film must be between 2 - 3 minutes in length (120-180 seconds total run time, including credits).
Film must be landscape/horizontal for a movie theater screen.
Film must be in 1080 HD resolution or higher.
Film must be submitted in H.264 MP4 or .MOV format.
Please check sound levels. Audio should be balanced between Left and Right.
Please make sure there is no branding or watermarks on any footage or throughout the film (i.e.: stock footage, editing program watermarks, etc.).
Content Guidelines:
Copyright and Clearances
Please only use your own original material or material that you have permission to use.
All videos, photos, music/audio, art, logos, books/articles and other copyrighted material used in your submission MUST be properly licensed. You must have permission and/or the proper rights to all content submitted. For any websites used, you must document the Web link or URL address and include that in the closing credits of the film. You will need to cite and submit all media sources used with your film in the closing credits and the Materials License Agreement.
Proof of Written Permission
If the film uses any material that is not your own it must be from a public domain and copyright free. There are resources for royalty free music and images you may use for a one-time license fee. Otherwise, you must obtain Proof of Written Permission, and submit that proof with your application and film. Please contact Student_Film_Festival@molaa.org for forms.
Materials License Agreement
You must track and submit a detailed list of all the media sources used in your film with the Materials License Agreement. This includes providing the Weblink or URL for any websites used. Please contact Student_Film_Festival@molaa.org for forms.
Photo Image Release Form
You must obtain and submit a signed Photo/Image Release Form from all actors, background talent, extras, and any other identifiable individuals that appear in your film. For any individual that is clearly identifiable in your film (whether they are the focus of your camera shot or simply in the background), you need their written consent. You must submit their signed permission form with your film. If they are minors, this form needs to be signed by their parent/guardian. Please contact Student_Film_Festival@molaa.org for forms.
Practical Tips: Download the Photo Image Release form in advance of filming and keep paper copies with you at all times while you are filming for your talent, or anybody captured in the background to sign. Keep these documents in a safe place for the production. You will need to submit a signed permission form for each person whose face is recognizable in your film.
If the copyright is in question, please abide by the adage “When in doubt, leave it out.” If you use any copyrighted material without written consent it is grounds for disqualification.
Title Slide and Closing Credits
Films should begin with a title slide and end with Closing Credits. Cite all of your sources used in the closing credits of your film. Your film’s total runtime (TRT), with title slide and closing credits, must not exceed 180 seconds.
Cost: This is a free contest. There is no fee to submit your application and film.
Dates and Deadlines:
• March 1, 2025 – Submission Portal Opens. Please Visit www.MOLAA.org
• May 2, 2025 EOD - Final submissions due for all applications, forms and film (by 11:59pm.
• May 19, 2025 Finalists are notified this week by email
• June 1, 2025 - Film Screening and Awards Ceremony at MOLAA.
Finalists are required to attend the event.
Questions? For additional information, please contact us at Student_Film_Festival@molaa.org
PROJECT DIRECTORS: Juan Carlos Perez and Dr. Alison Heney
ADVISORY COMMITTEE: TBA
