Rules / Eligibility

By making an entry, you agree that:.

  • The film is one of your first SIX (6) commercials/films in the category.
  • The entrant (director) has had no more than three years professional experience as a director.
  • The film has been released after January 1st 2023.
  • By entering the film in this competition, you accept the terms and conditions below.

REGIONS

Please indicate the region where the film has been produced, not the director’s nationality.

  • Europe
  • Northern America
  • Latin America
  • Asia Pacific
  • Africa
  • Middle East

ELIGIBILITY

  1. Directors must have had no more than three years professional experience (as a director).
  2. Entries must be one of the director’s first SIX (6) pieces of work ever made in the category.
  3. Films must have been released after January 1st 2023.
  4. The permission of all copyright owners must be obtained for entry into competition.
  5. Where possible please obscure all director and producer CREDITS from the film.
  6. If the submitted film is in a foreign language it’s in your own interest to include English subtitles.
  7. Campaigns consisting of several films can be entered but only as individual films. Each film will be judged individually.
  8. Films directed by a team of directors can be entered. Each director must, however, fulfil the above criteria.
  9. Credits for entries should be submitted via the online form.
  10. The award organisers are entitled to exclude films not fulfilling the above criteria.
  11. The award organisers are entitled to move an entry to a more appropriate category if necessary.
  12. To enter the competition the film must be submitted with completed entry form, payment and uploaded to the Young Director Award website before the final deadline.
  13. Entries MUST not exceed 60 minutes in length.

ENTERING THE FILM

  1. The film and a thumbnail image must be uploaded through the entry site. Longer format entries should also supply a teaser/trailer, edited or cut version (5 minutes or less) to be used for a final judging review and at the winners ceremony.
  2. The desired resolution is HD 1920 x 1080
  3. The format of the upload should be .mov or .mp4 (thumbnail image is a .jpg)
  4. When entering a film, the online entry form must be completed, including declarations stating: That this is one of the first SIX (6) commercials/film projects made by the director in the category, and that the film has been released after January 1st 2023.
  5. The entry process is not complete until the administration fee is paid.
  6. If you are paying by Bank Transfer (available on request) you must pay within 5 working days of submitting the order for your entries.

JUDGING

  1. The initial judging session will be organized online in May.
  2. The final judging will be in late June.

SHORTLIST & WINNERS

  1. A shortlist will be selected in mid June from all the films entered.
  2. Shortlisted directors will be informed directly.
  3. If trophies cannot be collected in person, winners will have to pay for the postage of their trophy or trophies by international courier.
  4. Winners may be required to supply additional material for any promotional publications and screenings held after the YDA Show.

TREATMENT & PUBLICATION

  1. Entrants authorize the YDA to screen or publish the film or any clips or stills from their film in connection with any promotion of the competition on all media.
  2. Entrants may be required to supply additional material of any winning work for promotional publication or exhibition.
  3. Entrants agree to hold YDA not liable for any claim that may be made against them by reason of any such screenings or publication.
  4. Entrants authorize YDA’s sponsors and partners to publish/share details of their work. Including on their website and/or Social Media and being featured in a shots slate reel after the winners ceremony.

Go to Entry Site