Background

Hi Everyone, winners have been announced! Watch the 5 winning videos here on our blog. 


NASA and the Houston Cinema Arts Society have partnered to host the 2018 CineSpace Short Film Competition. We are looking for filmmakers with a passion for storytelling of any kind to create unique and out of the box films for a chance to win cash prizes.


Professional and aspiring filmmakers (at least 18 years-old) from all around the world are invited to participate, and will have a chance to share their work inspired by (and using) real NASA footage that has been collected from over 50 years of space history!


Love creating experimental, narrative, documentary, comedy, drama, animation, ambient, music videos, re-mix, sports, horror, and/or underground video content? Then this is the project for YOU! Submissions can range from any genre and style and should be based on innovative artistic presentations and storytelling, provoke an emotional response, and showcase mastery of filmmaking craftsmanship.


Your short film will be judged on its creativity, innovation, and attention to detail – the hallmarks of spaceflight itself – with special guest judge Richard Linklater (Boyhood, Dazed & Confused) weighing in. Your films may showcase elements of space exploration and its benefits humanity, but are not required to focus on these areas to be selected as a winner.


Please read the remainder of the brief for all the important details.

Objectives

NASA and Houston Cinema Arts Society are looking for short film submissions of 10 minutes or less that include at least 10% (based on your video’s total running time, not including credits) of imagery that comes from any publicly-available source, such as the ones listed below: 


NASA FOOTAGE TO SELECT FROM:


NASA AUDIO COLLECTION TO SELECT FROM:

• https://archive.org/details/nasaaudiocollection

 

Note: Video found on YouTube is usually edited and therefore contains graphics, music and other production elements, which may be copyright, and therefore should not be used.


**IMPORTANT – You are strongly encouraged to review the Finalists and Winners from 2015 ,  2016 and 2017– WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO USE NASA ARCHIVE FOOTAGE THAT HAS NOT BEEN USED IN PAST COMPETITIONS.  If you have specific imagery in mind and can’t find it, please contact us at info@tongal.com **


The finalist films will screen at the Houston Cinema Arts Festival in November 2018, and other selected screenings/film festivals across the country, as well as on NASA TV and even the International Space Station.


Note: If your film is any other language other than English, the review copy of your work should have English subtitles. Should you win, you’ll be require to submit a 1080p version without subtitles and provide either English subtitle transcript or SRT file with English subtitles. 


--Judging Criteria: The Selection Committee and Competition Judges (collectively the “Jury”) understand that various genres and formats have different dominant qualities. The Jury will consider the following to select finalists and winners:


-- Awards: The following prizes will be awarded:


-- Special Judging Categories and Awards: Besides the above awards, the Jury may also award two additional prizes of $4,000 each.  For these awards they are looking for Submissions that elevate the featured themes using creative and original cinematic and/or storytelling techniques. If the jury feels that a Submission meets these criteria, the Submission may be considered for these awards. If no submissions sufficiently meet the criteria, these categories may not be awarded this year.




-- Mandatories: Please read the "Restrictions" section under the Requirements section of this page.

Details

This Project will consist of one (1) Phase: a Video Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.

 

PHASE 1: VIDEO PHASE – Submit a ten (10) minutes or less short film that includes at least 10% (based on total running time of video) of actual NASA footage provided.


-- Awards: One or more NASA judges will award the prizes listed below.

 

--Music: Tongal has partnered with Jingle Punks, which can be used to source music for your Video submission to this Project. Music from this provider is available to registered Tongal members at no charge solely for their incorporation into Submissions to this Project and will not require a separate Music Release Form. To learn more about using each of these music providers, click on any of the provider’s names above.


If you are selected as a winner and choose to use custom/original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. If you obtain music from other catalog providers, you must purchase the appropriate license at your own expense and submit it with our Music Release Form when you turn in your Video paperwork.

Requirements

1. ELIGIBILITY

The Screenings and Competition (hereafter “Competition”) is offered and open only to natural persons who are at least 18 years of age at the time of entry. Parents and guardians of film makers younger than 18 can submit on their behalf.


The following persons are not eligible to win prizes: employees of NASA, Houston Cinema Arts Society (hereafter “HCAS”) and their Board, employees of vendors to NASA or HCAS that have contracted to provide services to or in connection with the Competition, members of the Selection Committee, the Competition judges, and members of the households of the foregoing persons (collectively, the “Competition Parties”). However, if they would like to submit videos for viewing and possible inclusion as finalists, individuals affiliated with NASA should contact Dan Jacobs at daniel.v.jacobs@nasa.gov and individuals affiliated with HCAS should contact Patrick Kwiatkowski at patrick@cinemartsociety.org for more information or to discuss the details. NASA contractors may submit under certain circumstances.

By entering, you agree to these Rules and warrant that you are eligible to enter the Competition.


THIS COMPETITION IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.


2. PRE-COMPETITION AND KEY DATES

At any time the General Public may visit the NASA IMAGE ARCHIVE and download imagery for public use. Access to this Archive is always available year-round, with the exception of any technical or maintenance related shutdowns. Note that the Archives are constantly updated and refreshed with new material.


The general use of these images is governed by NASA and US Federal Regulations and these regulations supersede any CineSpace Guidelines or Terms. The CineSpace Guidelines, Terms, and FAQ endeavor to indicate important NASA regulations for the use of imagery in connection with this Competition.


You must submit an audiovisual work (a “Submission”) that complies with the requirements of these Guidelines and Terms between March 19, 2018 and July 31, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. (the “Submission Period”) using the means described below. Entries will be judged between August 1, 2018 and September 15, 2018 (the “Judging Period”). Award winners and Finalist will be notified on or before October 31, 2018. The date of a public announcement of Award Winners and Finalist is to be determined at this time.


3. HOW TO ENTER

There is no entry fee to submit to CineSpace. You may submit more than one original work.


Submissions MUST contain at least 10% (based on total running time) of NASA video imagery. More than 10% can be used and still photos can also be used in addition to the video imagery. This imagery may be obtained through the NASA IMAGE ARCHIVE or other publicly available means such as YouTube, etc. For access to NASA still images please go to the JSC Digital Image Collection or the NASA Flickr page.


The Tongal (“Submission Portal”)  Video Submission Phase is open from March 19, 2018 – August 1st, 2018 12:00 p.m PST.


To enter the Competition, you must:

  1. Navigate to Tongal.com/NASACineSpace to access the Challenge Brief, Instructions, and the Submission Form. (You will need to log-in to, or create a Tongal Account to enter your submission)
  2. Upload your video to Tongal through the "Submit" tab of the project page. This will allow judges to view and download the submitted videos. Initial review copies of your works may be uploaded to the Tongal website at HD 720p  16X9 with acceptable file formats: .mov, .avi, .mp4, .wmv,  and acceptable codecs: H.264 (MP4), MPEG-4, H.263, MPGV, WMV, DivX. However, Cinespace screens all selections at the highest resolution, 1080p format. Should you win, you will also be required to provide a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec. If your film is in any aspect ratio other than 16X9, you are responsible for adding in appropriate pillar boxes or letter boxes, so that the final file comes in at 1920X1080 without distorting your creative intent.  In addition, any non-English language works will be required to submit a version without subtitles and provide either an English subtitle transcript or SRT file with English subtitles – based on 1080p file.
  3. Fill out the required information on the Submission Form, and
  4. Agree to Terms in the Submitter’s Agreement.


CineSpace may use third parties such as Film Freeway for marketing and visibility but all Submissions must come through Tongal.


If you have any issues accessing our submission page or with the submission process please contact info@tongal.com


The video file that you submit must comply with Tongal’s recommended compression and uploading guidelines (see item 2 above for uploading instructions).


If your Submission is selected as a Finalist (as defined below), you must provide a high-resolution version upon CineSpace’s request.


Once you have submitted a work, it will not be returned. Submissions may be disqualified at any time for non-compliance with these Official Rules. CineSpace makes the final determination as to which Submissions are eligible to take part in this Competition. NASA is the sole judge of the prizewinners. CineSpace will not notify you of any disqualification or the reasons for such disqualification.


ANY ATTEMPT TO ENTER THE COMPETITION EXCEPT AS PROVIDED ABOVE IS VOID.


4. REQUIREMENTS AND JUDGING CONSIDERATIONS

Each Submission must comply with the following rules:



When submitting to the Submissions Portal you must select the best-fitting genre. CineSpace reserves the right to change the genre.


Selection of Finalists

A team of specialists from NASA and HCAS will select Finalists based on considerations set forth below. All Finalists will be “CineSpace 2018 Finalists” and their works will screen at Houston Cinema Arts Festival November 8-12, 2018. The Finalists’ works will also be posted on the HCAS website and various NASA websites. Subsequent screenings may take place at special events throughout the remaining year and a compilation of the finalists may be submitted for screening in its entirety to other collaborating film festivals internationally. All Finalists will be notified of website posts and all screenings.


Awarding of Prizes

One or more NASA judges will award the prizes as listed below:


Competition Awards


Optional: Special Judging Categories and Awards for


Criteria for Special Judging Categories: In general, the Jury is looking for Submissions that elevate the featured themes using creative and original cinematic and/or storytelling techniques. If the jury feels that a Submission meets these criteria, the Submission may be considered for this Award. If no submissions sufficiently meet the criteria, this category may not be awarded this year.


Film Best Depicting Innovation and Inclusion in Science and Technology: USD $4,000

The Jury will use the following NASA statement as a guide: “Innovation and Inclusion encourages open-minded attitudes about the unique diversity of the team and recognizes the contributions to innovation that diversity brings.  The ultimate goal is to create a culture where everyone is valued and contributes fully to the success of the mission and where innovation happens everyday."


Film Best Depicting Concept of "Moon, Mars, and Beyond": USD $4,000

The Jury will use the following NASA statement as a guide: “NASA aims to inspire the next generation of human exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond, leading to human expansion across the solar system, returning humans to the Moon for long-term exploration and utilization, followed by human missions to Mars and other destinations."


All remaining finalists receive Official Selection mention.

All genres will be considered for all prizes.


The Selection Committee and Competition Judges (collectively the “Jury”) understand that various genres and formats have different dominant qualities.


5. CONTENT RESTRICTIONS

Your Submission must comply with the content restrictions and guidelines in the Terms and any NASA Imagery Archive restrictions.


This summary of key points of Restrictions and Limitations on Use of NASA Material is provided for convenience. The full restrictions are available here: NASA IMAGERY ARCHIVES RESTRICTIONS 


In addition and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Submission must also comply with the restrictions below:



NOTE:  For convenience only the Submitter’s Agreement text is copied in this section below. 





SUBMITTER’S AGREEMENT


Please Read This Carefully! You are agreeing to a Submitter Agreement (SA) for this particular competition only. For the purposes of this SA, “Submitter” refers to either the person creating and submitting the Submission or the person submitting the Submission on behalf of an individual under the age of 18.


If you click “I agree” and proceed to the Submission Page for this competition, this Submitter Agreement (“SA”) will be a valid and binding agreement between you and The Service and in addition to the existing Terms of Use for all purposes relating to this competition. Please print and keep a copy of this SA. No provisions you may have agreed to that are specific to any other individual short film competition will apply.


  1. As a Submitter you may submit to CineSpace your idea (e.g., your video submission) (hereinafter referred to as a “Submission”) to the CineSpace Short Film Competition to which this SA relates. The Service will make reasonable efforts to provide access for your Submissions to NASA; however, if the content of the Submission is not appropriate, The Service and NASA reserve the right to exclude the Submission from the competition without prior warning. In addition, by submitting your Submission you thereby agree to provide reasonable assistance and additional information concerning your Submission to CineSpace, Houston Cinema Arts Society, or NASA, if requested.


  1. Acceptance of Submission and License to Use. CineSpace will notify you within a reasonable period of time after the end of the submittal Period whether your Submission has been selected by NASA for an Award. NASA will judge all Submissions against the guidelines set out in the competition and determine, in its sole discretion, which Submission best addresses the competition guidelines. NASA has absolute and sole discretion to determine whether to accept your Submission, or any Submission, and whether to make an Award, or multiple Awards. Submitter acknowledges and agrees that The Service is not responsible for and has no liability for selection of a winning Submission.  Submitter further agrees to hold The Service legally harmless in regard to selection of a winning Submitter. Submitter agrees to hold The Service legally harmless for any advice it may provide as to the quality or suitability of submitted Submissions and agrees to waive any claim against The Service for Submitter’s failure to win an award. The meeting of the CineSpace guidelines does not automatically mean that the Submission will be eligible for an Award. Submissions must NOT contain or include ideas, concepts, solutions or technology in respect of which a third party owns or controls the intellectual property. Submissions and descriptions thereof may not include trademarks or trade names of corporations or entities without the permission of their owners. By entering, you represent and warrant that:








      1. given you their express, irrevocable written consent to submit the Submission for unlimited, royalty-free use, exhibition and other exploitation in any manner, for any purpose (including but not limited to public performances in one or more film festivals), and in any and all media, whether now existing or hereafter discovered, throughout the world, in perpetuity;
      2. provided written, irrevocable permission to include their name, image or pictures in or with your Submission (or if a minor who is not your child, you must have the permission of their parent or legal guardian) and you may be asked by NASA to provide permission in writing;
      3. no claims for payment of any kind, including, without limitation, for royalties or residuals, has no approval or consultation rights or any rights of participation arising out of any use, exhibition or other exploitation of the Submission; and
      4. not been and are not currently under any union or guild agreement that results in any ongoing obligations resulting from the use, exhibition or other exploitation of the Submission; and

All intellectual property rights (e.g., Copyrights), if any, in original works CREATED by YOU in ALL Submissions (e.g., in the VIDEO SUBMISSION, COMPILATION, idea, or concept) SUBMITTED BY YOU IN RESPONSE TO THIS CHALLENGE will remain with YOU, the Submitter


By entering, you agree that: (i) you hereby grant to NASA and Houston Cinema Arts Society a fully transferable, paid-up, royalty free, non-exclusive, irrevocable, world-wide license in all intellectual property (e.g., in any copyright asserted by you) in original works created by you in all Submissions submitted by you in response to this challenge for use in any manner, for any purpose, and in any and all media; (ii) NASA, Houston Cinema Arts Society and their authorized representatives have the unlimited right to alter and/or edit all Submission or any part or element thereof; and (iii) NASA, Houston Cinema Arts Society and their licensees, successors and assigns have the paid-up, royalty-free, irrevocable, right to use any and all Submissions, and the names, likenesses, voices and images of all persons appearing in all Submissions in any manner, for any purpose (including but not limited to public performances in one or more film festivals), and in any medium now known or hereafter devised throughout the world in perpetuity.

Please also be aware that your Submission(s) may not be acknowledged and will not be received or held “in confidence” and your Submission(s) does/do not create a confidential relationship or obligation of secrecy between you and any of the entities involved in this Challenge.


  1. If NASA selects your Submission for an Award, the payment amount specified in the CineSpace Guidelines posted on the Service by NASA shall be paid to you by The Service within thirty (30) days after occurrence of each of the following: 1) you are notified by CineSpace of your Submission’s selection, and 2) the completion of certain verification procedures by The Service, and review and acceptance of such results by NASA, and 3) The Service’s receipt of Award payment from NASA. Payment of any Award is conditioned upon your cooperation with The Service’s verification procedures. The Award will be paid to you locally, in U.S. Dollars, or if required by your local law, in your local currency equivalent based on the foreign exchange rate in effect on the date of the disbursement by The Service. The Service is not responsible for payment of any Award, or any part of any Award, to any party other than to the Submitter through whom the Submission was submitted to The Service. You understand that the Award represents a complete payment, net of any local taxes or transfer fees that The Service may be required to withhold, for any Accepted Submission and that you are not entitled to any other compensation of any kind. If local law does not require withholding of taxes, all taxes on Awards shall be your sole responsibility.


  1. GENERAL CONDITIONS. NASA has the right to verify each Submitter’s eligibility and compliance with this SA. NASA is a third-party beneficiary of this SA, with the right to enforce the terms and conditions hereof directly against you. Participation is conditioned on providing data required on the Service. Personal data will be processed in accordance with The Service’s Privacy Policy which can be located at a link to be provided no later than June 1, 2018. Submitters should direct any request to access, update, or correct information to CineSpace at cinespace@cinemartsociety.org. Neither The Service nor NASA is responsible for human error, theft, destruction, or damage to Submissions, or other factors beyond its reasonable control.


Submitters should not register with multiple e-mail and/or street addresses. In the event of a dispute as to any Submission, the authorized account holder of the email address used to enter will be deemed to be the person who submitted the Submission. The authorized “account holder” is the natural person assigned an email address by an internet access provider, online service provider or other entity responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted address.


  1. Representations and Warranties. You represent and warrant that:


  1. Restrictions and Limitations on Use of NASA Materials.


  1. In the case of any conflict between the terms of this SA and the Terms of Use, this SA controls.