Frequently Asked Questions

A Filmmaking Initiative to Find the Next Generation of talented Filmmakers Most questions you may have about INTERPRETATIONS should be answered below so please read carefully. If you still have questions, you can reach us at the email address at the bottom of this page. Download the official rules here.

• CAN MY FILM BE LONGER THAN 3 MINUTES?
  No. If your film exceeds three minutes, your submission will be disqualified. If your film includes credits, they must fit within the allotted three minutes. Once you submit your application, we will review it to make sure it fits all of our submission criteria, so you should expect a delay before it is posted onto the site. Please do not contact us because your submission has not gone live right away, we will do our best to get them posted asap.
• CAN I CHANGE THE ORDER OF THE LINES IN THE SCRIPT OR ADD ADDITIONAL LINES?
  No. Your submission will be disqualified if you do this.
• Where can I view past video submissions?
  • Blowout Sale
  • Good Shot
  • Orient express
  • Far East Futura
  • Represent
  • Canvas
  • Rumble
  • I Felt My Life in Both Hands
  • Cambodian American
• WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE PROBLEMS UPLOADING MY FILM OR MY PROFILE INFORMATION?
  You will not be uploading your film directly to our website. You must upload it to your personal YouTube or Vimeo account first and cut and paste the URL in the required field provided on the submission page and manually fill out the other required information. Your video will be automatically transferred to our website once this is done and you hit “Submit”. Please read and follow the submission instructions carefully. If you continue to have problems, drop us a message specifying the nature of your problem. We’ll do our best to address it asap.
• CAN I SUBMIT A NEWER CUT OF MY FILM AFTER I’VE ALREADY SUBMITTED AN EARLIER CUT?
  No. Make sure the version of the film you upload is the one you really want to submit.
• WHEN IS THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE AND IS THERE AN ENTRY FEE?
  You can submit your film electronically starting July 2nd, 2018. The deadline is 11:59 PM (PST) on August 31, 2018. There is NO entry fee ‘cause that’s how we roll’.
• WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CONTACT INFORMATION CHANGES AFTER I’VE SUBMITTED MY FILM?
  You will be able to update any of your information via your profile page at any time.
• ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT KIND OF FILM I CAN MAKE?
  Obviously you will need to abide by any applicable rules/laws (see the Film Submission Guidelines in our official rules). So, for example, you can make a fictional film about a bank robbery, but don’t rob a real bank and submit it as a documentary since that would be pretty much illegal anywhere. Use your best judgement on what would be considered “appropriate”—obviously if you submit something that’s porn or includes scenes of animal torture or content that would be considered hate speech, your submission will be disqualified. All filmmakers will be solely responsible for the content of their work; and Snake Nation, YOMYOMF, CTIFMF and any of the entities associated with INTERPRETATIONS will not be held responsible in this regard. We will disqualify any submission that we consider “inappropriate” or violates the spirit of Snake Nation and INTERPRETATIONS.
  But aside from that, as long as you use the INTERPRETATIONS script, we encourage everyone to be as creative as possible. There are no restrictions in terms of theme, story, characters or any of the creative content. You can make a drama or a comedy or stylish music video or an avant-garde piece of animation or whatever else springs from your imagination. It doesn’t matter if you employ CGI to create something as slick as any Hollywood tentpole film or you shoot something gritty and raw on your camera phone. What we care about most is that the work demonstrates the filmmaker’s unique voice and vision.
• CAN I USE A PRE-EXISTING SONG IN MY FILM?
  Only if you have legally cleared and licensed it to specifically use in your film. Whether it’s a piece of music or a visible brand logo or clip from another movie, you cannot use ANY copyrighted materials that you have not received permission to use or your submission may be disqualified. To read and review the complete contest rules and regulations, click here.
• HOW MANY FILMS CAN I SUBMIT?
  One submission per filmmaker/director and you must be a South African resident. Also, each film may have only one designated filmmaker/director. However, feel free to acknowledge your crew in both the credits of your film and on your profile page. CAN THERE BE MORE THAN ONE WINNER FOR AN ENTRY? FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT IF I AM A PART OF A FILMMAKING TEAM AND OUR FILM WINS, WILL EVERYONE ON THE TEAM BE ALLOWED TO DIRECT OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS? No. While we encourage collaboration, each submission will be required to have only one designated filmmaker as the official entrant. You can enter as part of a filmmaking team, but you will need to designate one filmmaker to represent your entry.
• WHAT DO THE “WINNING” FILMMAKERS GET?
  There will not be a single winner selected. Instead we will pick three finalists who will each receive an opportunity to continue onward and direct a project with Snake Nation or other other equivalent filmmakers as a mentor/producer. We will also make a concerted effort to guide our distinguished industry judges to interesting submissions regardless of whether or not they are one of the finalists.