An Essential Guide to the Sundance Ignite Film Challenge

Becoming a Sundance Ignite Fellow is a life-changing opportunity, and the Sundance Ignite Film Challenge is all about getting you one step closer to living out your best and most successful creative life.

Here is everything you need to know about entering.

Short film, challenge, Sundance… what is this all about?

Film is about sharing unique voices, opening minds, and storytelling, and Sundance Ignite is all about supporting that. Sundance Institute has partnered with Adobe Project 1324 to host short film challenges to find the next generation of emerging filmmakers.

They must demonstrate how film can be used to ignite creativity, passion and storytelling.

Why you want to be a Sundance Ignite Fellow:

Winners of the Sundance Ignite challenge become Sundance Ignite Fellows. 15 fellows will receive a free trip to the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, where their year-long fellowship begins with a special, curated Ignite program.

But it doesn’t stop there. Over the course of the year-long fellowship, fellows will:

Who can become a Sundance Ignite Fellow?

This fellowship is open to emerging documentary, narrative and non-fiction filmmakers from around the globe. Eligible participants must be between the ages of 18-24 when submitting to the challenge.

If small print is more your vibe, you can read all the eligibility details, here.

When the Sundance jury views your film, what are they considering?

What does “short” film mean? And what are all the other requirements?

• Your film must be between 1 to 8 minutes in length.
• Your film must be in digital video format (.MPG, .MOV and .MP4).
• Your film must be entirely your own, you cannot include film clips or music created by others without their written permission.
• If your film features people, you must obtain their written consent.
• Limit of one film submission per person.
• All work must have been completed between Sept. ’17 and Sept. ’18.
• In addition to uploading your film on Project 1324, you must also fill out the Sundance Ignite Application — you must complete both steps for your film to be accepted.

Additional considerations:

• At this time, we are unable to accept VR and AR work.
• For collaborative works, only one director per submission can be considered for the Ignite Fellowship.
• Work re-submitted from previous editions of the Sundance Ignite Challenges on the Adobe Project 1324 platform will not be considered.
• Submissions must be made through the Adobe Project 1324 website.
• Need more info? Download the Official Rules.

How edgy is too edgy?

Keep the nudity, language, and violence to a minimum, please.

Though this challenge is for 18-24 year old filmmakers, we represent a community for emerging creatives between the ages of 13 and 24. Help us keep this community safe for everyone. Learn more by checking out the Project 1324 Community Guidelines.

What’s my timeline?

Once you’ve submitted:

• Expect a short delay after you submit for your film to appear in the Sundance Ignite 2019 challenge gallery. Each video is reviewed to ensure it aligns with the Project 1324 Community Guidelines.
• Your video will be included in the Sundance Ignite 2019 challenge gallery. Browse it and appreciate your fellow filmmakers’ works. You can also amplify your film on social.
• Need to adjust or delete your work? Click “My Profile” to find your project where you can edit the Title, Description or Thumbnail. You can also delete your project entirely. Please note you cannot recover a deleted project — once it’s gone, it’s gone!

Want to know more about the filmmakers that submitted to the challenge? They probably want to know about you, too. Update your Project 1324 profile with a profile pic, bio, cover image, social account, interests and additional projects to level-up your page.
https://project1324.com/challenge/sundance2019?referrer=project1324

Still curious? Just visit the challenge page and scroll down to FAQ.