Monochrome Stories 16mm Short Film Competition Rules & Advice

General Competition Rules

  • You can only film on the black and white 16mm film that we provide when you purchase the competition entry pack or via our competition add-on product as seen in our online shop.

  • Each roll of film carries your unique order number (affixed to the film can). You will need to provide your films for processing and scanning in their original can with unique code affixed to the can so we can match the films to your competition entry.

  • Films provided are on 100 foot daylight loading reels. 400 foot rolls will not be made available.

  • We will not scan any other film materials for your entry that are not comprised of the materials we have provided. Materials submitted for scanning must be from the 16mm film provided to you in your entry pack or from the competition add-on product.

  • You must only use footage from the scanned file(s) we send back to you in your final edit with the exception of title slates.

  • You can add sound or music to your final edit, but it must be royalty free or have copyright clearance.

  • You’re under no obligation to incorporate sound in your film - it can be entirely silent.

  • Your final film must be between two to eight minutes long.

  • You can enter the competition as many times as you like but only submit one final edit per unique entry number.

  • You cannot collaborate with other competition entrants.

  • You cannot submit any material for scanning that you have worked on previously. All entry packs carry a unique code affixed to the film can(s) you’ve received for your short film (see bullet point 2 above).

  • If you are under 18 years of age, please gain consent from your parent or guardian using the grey form on the paperwork provided with your competition entry pack. Have your parent or guardian fill this in and send to the address provided ASAP or email a photo of it to competition(at)on8mil(dot)com.

Technical

  • Your final edit can be at whatever frame rate you see fit - however we will only scan your film at 24 frames per second. It is up to you to interpret your footage in-edit to run at your desired frame rate.

  • Although the competition involves exclusively monochrome film, you are free to apply any colours or tints you like in-edit to the film or title slates. However you cannot bring any other film (colour or monochrome) into your edit, other than the film(s) provided in your entry pack or add-on reels.

  • Please either submit your final edit at 4:3 ratio 2K resolution (2048 x 1536 px) or 2K 16:9 ratio (2048 x 1152 px). Please encode the final edit as an Apple Pro Res Proxy .mov or high bit rate MP4. Please ensure the file is no bigger than 10GB. Should your entry be on our shortlist we may ask for a higher quality final edit.

Safety, Privacy and Lawfulness

  • In planning your film you must first check all restrictions and laws in your country and or community, specifically in regards filming public places, locations, members of the public and minors.

  • By entering our competition you accept all responsibility (where required by law) for:

    • Obtaining consent from the relevant authorities for filming in specific locations and spaces.

    • Obtaining model release from cast members or other persons filmed (where required).

    • Ensuring the safety of your crew, cast and any other persons or animals involved in your short film.

    • The privacy of your crew, cast and other persons filmed.

    • Copyright clearance on the use of music, brand names & logos, literature, scripts, poetry, art, film and any other intellectual property protected by trademark or copyright.

    • For more guidance please see the following link (for UK film-makers) or if applying from outside of the UK, please adhere to your own country’s laws around filming, privacy, copyright and safety.

  • Although we will not be certifying your film in line with the BBFC criteria we ask that you make the content of your film appropriate for a certificate 15 rating, as laid out in the BBFC guidelines seen from this link. They are as follows:

Dangerous behaviour

Dangerous behaviour (for example, suicide, self-harming and asphyxiation) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Whether the depiction of easily accessible weapons is acceptable will depend on factors such as realism, context and setting.

Discrimination

The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour, although there may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory themes and language.

Drugs

Drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse (for example, through detailed instruction). The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.

Language

There may be strong language. Very strong language may be permitted, depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language, its frequency within the work as a whole and any special contextual justification.

Nudity

There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context. Sexual nudity may be permitted but strong detail is likely to be brief or presented in a comic context.

Sex

Sexual activity may be portrayed, but usually without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour. Repeated very strong references, particularly those using pornographic language, are unlikely to be acceptable. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal are unacceptable.

Sexual Violence and sexual threat

There may be strong verbal references to sexual violence but any depiction of the stronger forms of sexual violence, including rape, must not be detailed or prolonged. A strong and sustained focus on sexual threat is unacceptable.

Threat and horror

There may be strong threat and horror. A sustained focus on sadistic threat is unlikely to be acceptable.

Violence

Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic violence is also unlikely to be acceptable.

  • Analogue Image Ltd T/A On8mil reserve the right to disqualify any entries that appear to break laws, encourage violence or abuse, breech privacy or promote illegal and overtly harmful practices or abuse of others.

  • By entering our competition you consent to your film being shared online via On8mil’s websites (On8mil.com and On8mil.space) and On8mil’s social media platforms.

  • By entering our competition you accept all liability for the content of your competition entry and for observing lawful behaviour during its planning, filming and completion.

Competition Deadlines (now extended)

Submission of film(s) for processing and scanning 1st October 2022. Submission of final edit 1st November 2022.