• All teams, worldwide, are eligible to participate and may consist of any number of individuals.
• Individuals who are employees or board members of 168 are not eligible to participate on a team.
• Student Teams must be headed by an individual age 18 or older.
• 168 reserves the right to bar any team or individuals from the competition or exhibition.
• Team registrations are NOT transferable. 
• Teams are required to designate one primary producer as the team's agent or “signing producer” (the "Entrant").  This Entrant will be the primary contact with 168 and will sign the entry agreement, agree to these Rules and the Warranties and Licensing Agreement, and execute all necessary release forms for the submitted Film. There can only be one Entrant on record per film entry. 
• Teams may submit multiple film entries. However, each film, or each version of the same film, is considered a separate entry, and requires that a separate Entry Fee be paid. Further, entries may be capped as deemed necessary by 168 Film Project ("168"), the organizer and operator of the Project.
• ONLY ONE TEAM PER USER ID. If registering more than one team, producers must create a separate ID on this site.
• To enter, teams must (1) pay the Entry Fee and (2) agree to abide by the rules.  Online entry constitutes agreement to these rules.
• Entry Fee refund requests will be handled according to the schedule in the FAQ Section. No submitted films will receive refunds under any circumstances.

Entry Process

THE REGISTRATION FOR THE 2013 SIGNATURE SPEED FILM COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.

THE ENTRY PROCESS FOR 2014 FILMS HAS NOT OPENED.

168 Films do not require any overtly Christian characters. Authentic Christian characters are encouraged versus one-dimensional Christian caricatures. Heroes should come to be aligned with truth, goodness, God & the Bible. A respectful, traditional interpretation of scripture is obligatory. Heretical or blasphemous films and gratuitous elements are unacceptable. This means the following:

• No swearing
• No gratuitous sex, violence, language or drug use.
• No overly "revealing" costumes
• No using the word “God” or “Jesus” as an expletive or showing disrespect to Jesus, God or the Spirit of God
• No morally ambiguous films (like purely black comedies) or those that wink at or poke fun at hell, taboos and sin

As Jesus is our redemption, redemptive stories are ideal, even if it's just a hint of redemption. If tragedies are produced, they must show real consequences for bad behavior (sin). By poking fun at the seriousness of murder, etc., TV and movies have helped to destroy the pursuit of virtue and make light of the miseries of mankind.

Rules on Originality, Length, etc:

• Submitted films must be comprised of only all original material, created specifically for the Project, subject to the following:
  • Up to 90 seconds of stock footage or public domain footage can be used per film, except for unlimited documentaries.
  • Films based on true or real life events may be submitted, with appropriate clearances.
  • Artwork or musical compositions not created specifically for the Project may be used as background material, with appropriate clearances.
• Film duration shall not exceed 10 minutes, including credits. (Write of Passage Spotlight Films based on scripts from 2012 or earlier may extend to 11 minutes.) Exceptions are Music Videos and Making-Of (Behind The Scenes) Documentaries, which are limited to 5 minutes of duration.
• Films submitted without proper credits are not eligible for awards.
• Credits must include the words "A 168 Film Project" at some point.
• All films shall include a 30 second slate at the head. Slate specifications are in the Producer Dashboard.
• (NEW) After credits, a 168-provided verse graphic and audio shall be added at the end of the submitted film (time for this is not counted as part of the film duration). This content is also provided in the Producer Dashboard.

Content-related:

• Films shall not use the 168 logo without prior permission.
• Films should avoid featuring or referencing personally identifying information (PII), copyrighted images or trademarks, including but not limited to trade names, logos or trademarks on signs, billboards, panoramic views, or clothing such as T-shirts, hats, etc without permission as this will prevent their commercial use. Also avoid vehicle license plates or real names/addresses.
• Films must not utilize live animals unless Entrant has obtained the consent of the animal’s owner and an affidavit from the animal owner or wrangler that the animal was not harmed in the making of the Film. Entrants are encouraged to contact the local Humane Society prior to filming to verify appropriate animal safeguards on set.
• Films that 168, in its sole discretion, deems to be non-compliant in all material respects with these Rules or that otherwise contain prohibited or inappropriate content will not be considered for awards, and may be eliminted from screening at the Festival or inclusion in the online film catalog. At the sole discretion of 168 management, 168 may request the producer of a non-compliant film edit the film to remove or conceal offending content and resubmit. Such edited films will not be eligible for awards (other than audience choice), but will be included in Festival screening and the online film catalog.
• 168 makes the final determination as to which films are eligible for screening or consideration for awards.

The 168 Film Project is a speed filmmaking competition, so time is a factor in the rules:

"Signature" Narrative Films (Dramas, Comedies, Musicals, etc.)

• No writing may commence prior to Verse Assignment (the beginning of the 10-day Pre-Production period).
  Teams may conduct casting, secure locations and develop concepts prior to verse assignment, but no scripting may be performed.    
• No filming may commence prior to the posted Production Week Start Time.
• Production must be complete exactly 168 hours later, at the posted Turn-In Time. Uploading must commence prior to the posted Turn-In Time.
• (Musicals are dramas/comedies where song lyrics advance the plot.)

TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SIGNATURE FILM MUSIC AWARDS (Best Song, Best Original Score):   

• Music must be original, composed for the project.
• No writing of lyrics, score or charts may occur until Verse Assignment.
• No recording or Digital Audio production until the start of Production Week.
• Composers will sign a certificate that states music was composed within these rules

Unlimited Documentary

• Production may commence as soon as entry fees are paid.
• Producer must choose a verse related to the annual Theme.
• Unlimited Documentaries are subject to the same Content Rules as described above.
• Production turn-in deadine is the same as for Narrative Films.
• Unlimited Documentaries compete in their own separate category, and are also eligible for the Evangelista Award.

Pure Animation Films

• Pure Animation films must contain animation or motion capture in every frame.
• Teams may build models and create characters early, beginning one week before the Verse Assignment.
• Absolutely no animation, key framing or other preparation besides modeling will occur before Verse Assignment. 
• Pre-existing/purchased digital assets are not allowed. 
• Pure Animations are not restricted after Verse Assignment except for meeting the turn-in deadline. (They may begin stop-motion filming or keyframing and rendering any time past Verse Assignment.)
• Pure Animation films will compete in their own category, and are also eligible for the Evangelista Award.

Live Action/Animated/Effects Hybrid Projects:

These films combine synthetic elements and live action, and are considered part of the narrative film category. As such, all CG effects, animation, etc. is considered a part of live action. These assets include Motion Capture, Plates and Virtual Sets. They MAY be planned after the Verse Assignment, but filmmakers may NOT shoot or do work on any of these elements before the Start Production date and time.

Write of Passage Spotlight Films

• Write of Passage scripts may be optioned and produced for the festival.
• Producers may "bid" on the rights to produce any Write of Passage script. 168 Management has sole discretion in granting permission to produce.
• Once accepted and fees paid, producers may begin production as soon as entry fees are paid. No time limits are required other than turn-in..
• Technical requirements are the same as for all other submissions.  See Producer Dashboard for details.
• Write of Passage Spotlight Films compete in their own category.
• See the Write of Passage FAQ for full details.

Music Videos

• Music Videos are a special category, where the visuals enhance or illustrate the lyric of the song.
• Maximum duration is 5 minutes.
• Songwriting and filming can begin immediately after Verse Assignment (yes you have 17 days to complete the show.)
• Music Videos compete in their own category and are not eligible for Best Film honors.

"Making Of" Documentaries

• Behind-the-scenes (BTS) documentaries are encouraged.
• No additional registration required.
• Maximum duratioan is 5 minutes
• Filming may start as soon as a team is formed.
• All Content Rules (above) apply.
• Deadline for submission is exactly 168 hours after the primary Turn-In-Day.
• Upload and technical requirements are the same as for all other entries.
• "Making Of" documentaries compete in their own category.

Student Films

• Student films follow the same timetable as Signature Films
• Key personnel (producer, director, etc.) must be active college or high school students, supervised by a team of adult advisors.
• One adult advisor must register as Signing Producer if student producer is under age 18.
• If the normal pre-production/production schedule interferes with exams at the school, dates of verse assignment and 168-hour production week may be rescheduled. Proof of exam-week conflict must be provided to be considered. Contact us to explain the circumstances.
• Student films compete in their own category.

Music Licensing

• All music must be licensed
• Original composers will use the form to assign rights to you and to 168.
• "Production Music" (from library, buyout or online scoring service) may be used, but it will disqualify for Best Score or Best Original Song.
• Production Music (if used) must be licensed for up to 3,000 copies plus Internet delivery.
• Copyrighted "popular" music may ONLY be used if appropriate rights and permissions are obtained with license to make up to 3,000 copies plus Internet delivery. This applies also to incidental music that could be picked up by a microphone in a public place, or an actor humming a few bars or singing/speaking lyrics of a copyrighted song. For details on the hoops to use commercially-available music, please see www.bzrights.com/101.htm.

Pre-Festival Screening

• 168 reserves the right to premier your film at the festival.
• This includes NO open access to any versions of the film that may be uploaded to a video service (YouTube, Vimeo).
• Films may not appear on any social media outlet (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) prior to the 168 Film Festival.
• You may show your film to your team prior to the festival AS PRIVATE SCREENINGS ONLY.
• If you choose to upload your film (or drafts of it) to a video service (YouTube, Vimeo, etc) for team collaboration purposes, be certain to assign the upload "UNLISTED" or "PRIVATE" attributes so the film does not show up in a global search. Warn team members who receive links that if posted to social media, you could be disqualified from Festival screenings and awards. (After the Festival premier, you may change your film's status to "public.")
• Trailers are encouraged and may be uploaded to any social media or video sharing outlet referencing the premiere date of the festival. Trailers submitted to 168 will be featured on this site.

Technical Requirements

• 168's official screening asapect ratio is 16:9. Other formats will be letterboxed or pillarboxed for festival screening.
• Videotape entries are no longer accepted.
• All films will be submitted via Internet upload as h.264. MP4 or MOV files. This includes teams submitting in-person at the Turn-In Day Event.
• With prior approval, teams without suitable Internet service may submit on non-returnable flash media or optical disk (CD or DVD-ROM)
• Producers of selected films will be invited to send a high-bitrate ProResHD or DNxHD file on hard disk or flash drive for festival screening.
• Full details are listed in the Producer Dashboard. (Click "Edit My Entry" when logged in as Signing Producer.)

Safety

Teams accept full responsibility for the safety of their cast and crew. This includes, but is not limited to, reading and complying with the Safety and Production Guidelines provided in the Producer Dashboard. Producers must follow all applicable city, state, and federal laws. Team members including, but not limited to, Producers, Directors, Production Managers, Assistant Directors, Stunt Coordinators, and Effects Persons are required to attend the safety seminar or read/watch the safety presentation. Further, all teams will comply with all State and Federal OSHA requirements. Children on the set are subject to special rules outlined in the Official Rules and Agreement. 168 IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES ON YOUR SET.