Rules

What’s new:
- 1280 x 720 px size accepted
- Online drop-off open to all teams from Estonia & Sweden
- A new & improved online drop-off platform is coming…

Read the rules carefully before the competition!

1. Registration
To take part in Uneton48, you need to register a team based in Finland, Estonia or Sweden. The deadline for registration is May 6th 2012. To Rego page >>

2. Competition timeframe
The competition begins on Friday 7pm. The film has to be handed in by 7.30pm exactly the following Sunday. This makes the competition time 48,5 hours. The extra half an hour is allowed for transport. The official time can be checked on the Uneton48 website. Whatever you use as a watch, bring it along to the competition launch and set it in the correct time. Please allow time for parking, traffic congestion and public transportation delays.

3. Language of the film
Your Uneton48 short film can be in any language. If it’s in anything other than Finnish or English, English subtitles are required. Subtitles can be added in the video editing program or delivered as a separate file, which allows you to do it after the competition time. Subtitles are not needed for the Youtube version, when using online drop-off. NOTE: Save a non-subtitled version of your film. We may need it for the compilation DVD.

4. Length of the film
Your film should be between 3 and 7 minutes in length. The maximum allowed length of the end credits is 60 seconds. The length of the film is measured from the end of the opening slates to the beginning of the end credits. This way, including the end credits, the maximum total length of your film is 8 minutes + 15 seconds of opening slates (See chapter 16).

5. Competition Launch
This year, Uneton48 launch event is held at Kapsäkki, Hämeentie 68, Helsinki. We can comfortably fit 1-2 members from each team into the venue. Be on time! Being late for the launch may result in being left outside the door, so we recommend that you arrive on time.

Teams from outside Finland or are otherwise very remotely located can opt for a Uneton48 staff member to do the genre draw on their behalf (See chapter 13). All genres and specs are published on Uneton48 website after the launch.

6. Genres
During the competition launch, we reveal the final genre selection and the compulsory elements which have to appear in each film. After this, each team gets to draw a genre for their short film. You may not swap genres with other teams. Creative interpretations and genre-combinations are accepted, however, the original genre has to be clearly evident in your film.

7. Crew and cast
Everyone involved in your film has to be a volunteer – no paid workers. Rewarding crew and cast members with food and drinks is recommended. The makeup of your team may change even during the weekend, as long as the names appearing in your end credits and paperwork are correct.

8. Filmmaking
All creative work has to happen within the given 48,5 hours, including brainstorming, screenwriting, rehearsals, set dressing, makeup, camera work, editing and sound editing. Certain preparations can be can beforehand: Assembling the team, securing gear, scouting locations, sourcing music and sorting out music copyright.

All video material used in your short film must be filmed/created within the 48,5 hours. No previously shot video footage should be included. Because of copyright issues you should also avoid having a TV or a radio on when filming, even in the background. Using animated footage is okay, as long as it’s also created within the timeframe. Previously taken still photos may be used, as long as the copyright is cleared. A previously created still or animated logo of your production company can be used in the beginning of your film.

9. Music
We recommend that teams work with local musicians and composers. Any personal connections come in handy, as the rights-managed music with its royalties is often too expensive. There are also many websites with royalty-free music and sound effects.

The music does not need to be made within the competition weekend. In fact, we recommend you source possible songs and sound effects in advance. Whatever the origin of your music, each song used in your movie has to be listed in your paperwork (release forms). With royalty-free music, it’s good to mention the channel (website) it was downloaded from. When sourcing royalty-free music, make sure you get all distribution rights without any geographical, time or channel specific restrictions. Royalty-free sound effects don’t need to be listed on the release forms. In the end, the producer of your film is accountable when it comes to music copyrights.

More about music on U48 Facebook Helpdesk >>.

10. Animation
Uneton48 accepts animations. In this case, all drawings (whether made by computer or by hand) have to be done within the 48,5 hours. Models used for stop motion animation can be created beforehand. Otherwise the same rules apply – the compulsory elements have to be included and the film must be in the given genre. Talent releases must be filled out for any voice actors and other paperwork submitted where applicable.

11. Good taste
Uneton48 is not adult entertainment. Minors can take part in the filmmaking and the movie theatre screenings have R-12 rating. So, to be in the competition, your film must adhere to the R-12 rating. More information on the ratings can be found on MEKU website >>

12. Minors as team members
Team members can be minors, as long as there is one adult involved. The adult has to be appointed as the team leader / producer, who is responsible for registering the team and signing the final report.

13. Out of towners
It’s possible to take part in Uneton48 from anywhere in Finland, Sweden or Estonia. We recommend you send a team representative to the competition launch in Helsinki, to do the genre draw and pick up the team’s goodie bag. If this is not possible, you can choose the option “do the genre draw for us” when registering your team. After the launch, we update all information on Uneton48 website, where teams can check their genres and compulsory elements.

14. Paperwork
This year, we’re not asking you to turn in paper documents when dropping off your film. The only form you need to email us within the competition time is called Final Report. However, all other paperwork must be prepared, including location, talent and music releases. We will ask you to provide these in case your film is shown on TV, included on a DVD etc.

When possible, please print out Final Report, have your team members sign it and scan / photograph the document. If not possible, just fill out the form and send it to us without the signatures. Just make sure you have a signed copy available if we ask for your paperwork later on.

Download the forms HERE.

15. Drop-off instructions

Envelope
Your film must be dropped off in a C5 envelope with your team name written on it.

Physical drop-off points
Your film can be dropped off at any of these locations:

1. HELSINKI: Kapsäkki, Hämeentie 68, 00550 HELSINKI
2. TAMPERE: Filmtown Hervanta, Insinöörinkatu 30, 33720 TAMPERE
3. TURUN SEUTU: Filmtown Raisio, Tanhukatu 2, 21200 RAISIO
4. JYVÄSKYLÄ: Filmtown, Yliopistonkatu 42, 40100 JYVÄSKYLÄ
5. OULU: Filmtown, Kempeleentie 5, 90400 OULU

This year, we don’t offer physical drop-off points in towns with 3 or less registered teams. In these cases, we recommend the online drop-off, for which you can get technical support for on Uneton48 HELPDESK.

Drop-off media: DVD disc or a USB stick!

We do not accept mini-DV or other tapes. If you wish, you may drop off both a DVD copy and a USB stick. We don’t return DVD discs, but the USB sticks can be collected after the competition at the movie theatre screenings or the Grand Final. We don’t want to keep your stick, but we don’t have enough staff to hunt you down in order to return it. So please, ask for it! Also, remember to label your stick so that we can identify it as yours without connecting it to a computer.

Online drop-off

This option is available to teams located farther than 50km from the nearest drop-off point. Online drop-off instructions will be published on this page closer to the competition.

16. EDITOR – Read this:

*** To make this a whole lot easier, we’re sourcing you downloadable templates for various editing programs. Available later.***

Technical specs:
- PAL, max. resolution 1280 x 720 px. Minimum resolution: 720 x 576 px. If your aspect ratio is 4:3, letterbox it into a 16:9 ratio (black bars on sides).
- DV-PAL, Prores (preferred!) or H264 codec.
- Audio 16 / 24 bit and 44.100/48kHz – depending on the codec
- File names cannot include special characters. Spaces to replaced by _
- Finished video should be saved AS A FILE on a dvd disc or a memory stick. Don’t use “easy DVD” or other export options, just copy the file onto the media. In other words, don’t waste your time on creating a DVD menu etc.
- To be safe, you can deliver two copies of your film – two physical copies or (when using online drop-off) an online upload AND a physical copy by post.
- Sound will not be compressed for theatre screenings, but peaks are adjusted on the same level.
- Keep yourself a copy of the original / master.

Your finished film should be saved on a blank DVD or memory stick, which contains no other files.
In the beginning of your film, insert 5 seconds of bars and tone.
After bars and tone, add 5 seconds of black, after which 5 seconds of this slate:

TEAM NAME
FILM NAME
GENRE
UNETON48 2012

White text on black background. Use sans serif font (such as Arial / Helvetica) so that the text covers appr. 3/4 of the frame.

The end credits of your film should include following text:

THIS SHORT FILM WAS MADE AS PART OF UNETON48 FESTIVAL 2012
Remember to check your movie file / DVD! If it’s not viewable, it will be disqualified.

Labeling DVDs, memory sticks and envelopes
Before handing in your film, make sure the memory stick / DVD and the envelope have the following information:

TEAM NAME
NAME OF YOUR SHORT FILM
GENRE

17. Summary
1. To be accepted into competition, your short film has to adhere to the rules. Read them carefully!
2. All accepted films go into preliminary jury screenings, from which they have the opportunity to be shortlisted and selected as finalists.
3. The team leader is responsible for registering the team, paying the registration fee and signing the Final Report before turning in the film. An outstanding registration fee will result in the disqualification of the team’s entry.
4. Uneton48 reserves the right to make changes to the rules before the competition weekend. The participants will be informed of any changes via email.