Overview
Hlabeard Productions, in collaboration with the SATO48 Film Challenge, presents "FiveFest"—a dynamic festival dedicated to celebrating the art of short films with a maximum length of five minutes.
Submission Guidelines
1. Film Duration and Content
Films must be exactly 5 minutes or less in length including credits. You are not allowed to upload a file that is longer than 5 minutes in duration.
Non-English dialogue films must include English subtitles or be dubbed in English.
Do not upload works in progress. Uploaded films must be complete and theater-projection ready.
The film's genre must be one of the following: Animation, Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Experimental, Horror, Music Video, Musical.
2. Technical Requirements
The minimum resolution is 720p.
Submitted films must have clear audio quality.
A film Poster and any other Promotional Materials are encouraged (though not required) to be uploaded.
3. Eligibility
Open to all filmmakers, regardless of age, region, production date of film, or content within specified genres.
4. Submission Process
FilmFreeway.
Judging and Awards
5. Judging Panel
A select group of industry professionals and esteemed members of the filmmaking community will judge the entries.
Registered team members from last year's SATO48-Challenge are automatically opted IN and therefore may participate as Academy Judges if they so elect.
6. Prizes
- Best Animation
- Best Comedy
- Best Documentary
- Best Drama
- Best Experimental Film
- Best Horror
- Best Music Video
- Best Musical
Venue and Event Details
7. Festival Locations (depending on needed capacity)
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Springfield, Missouri (The largest Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in the United States)
8. FiveFest Programming
All films are accepted into FiveFest, as follows:
Accepted films will receive a FiveFest Scorecard detailing, in the aggregate, how the Academy Judges responded to their film and an exclusive month-long online screening.
Some films will be selected for (a) an in-theater screening at a Festival Location, and (b) acknowledged as a Nominee at October FiveFest Awards Ceremony.
The winning film in each genre — for whom a representative of the film is present and checked in at the October FiveFest Awards Ceremony — receives the following:
- Statuette
- On-stage acceptance speech opportunity
- Backstage interview
9. Notification of Your Acceptance Level
You are notified via email of your film's Acceptance Level.
10. FiveFest Dates To Save
The submission closing date - September 1, 2026
In-theater screening, if applicable to your film, takes place at a date/time to be determined by capacity of Festival Locations.
October FiveFest Awards Ceremony - Exact Date TBD, 2nd Week of October
Online viewing, applicable to all films, takes place - TBD
Legal Terms and Conditions
11. Film Rights
Entrant must own all rights to their film and its content.
All Entrants grant Hlabeard Productions and SATO48 the following:
In-theater screening and paywall online usage rights for the duration of SATO48-2024 FiveFest.
Free online usage rights within Festival Manager and promotional usage rights in perpetuity.
Entrant holds Hlabeard Productions, SATO48, and all other parties connected to SATO48, harmless in all respects.
12. Endorsement
Participation in FiveFest by Entrant is not an endorsement by Hlabeard Productions, nor SATO48, of the film's content.
13. Liability
Hlabeard Productions and SATO48 are not liable for any losses or damages incurred for any reason by Entrant.
14. Cancellation & Delays
In case of unavoidable cancellations or delays, efforts will be made to reschedule. No liability by Hlabeard Productions nor SATO48 is assumed for losses incurred due to such cancellations.
Accessibility and Inclusion
15. Accessibility
FiveFest venues are wheelchair accessible.
16. Inclusion
FiveFest is committed to diversity and inclusion.
Contact Information
17. Inquiry Handling
All inquiries should be sent to:
or at:
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Appendix: Prize Criteria by Genre
Animation
- Innovation and Creativity in Animation Techniques
- Storytelling Quality and Emotional Impact
- Artistic Merit and Design
- Voice Acting Performances
- Enhancement of Animation as an Art Form
Comedy
- Originality and Quality of the Script
- Timing and Delivery of Comedic Elements
- Overall Contribution to the Genre of Comedy
- Ensemble Cast Performance and Chemistry
- Direction that Brings Out the Humor in the Film
Documentary
- Subject Matter Depth and Research Quality
- Narrative Structure and Pacing
- Cinematography and Visual Cohesion
- Impact and Relevance
- Originality and Insight
Drama
- Depth and Complexity of Characters and Storyline
- Quality of Performances by the Actors
- Direction and Pacing of the Narrative
- Cinematic Craftsmanship
- Overall Impact on the Drama Genre
Experimental Film
- Innovation in Film Techniques
- Narrative and Conceptual Ambiguity
- Visual and Aural Design
- Engagement and Provocation
- Innovative Impact
Horror
- Ability to Elicit Fear, Suspense, and Thrill
- Originality of the Concept and Execution
- Technical Prowess in Creating a Horror Atmosphere
- Quality and Depth of the Storyline
- Influence on the Horror Genre and Overall Quality
Music Video
- Creativity and Originality in Visual Presentation
- Integration of Music with Visuals
- Direction and Choreography
- Technical Quality
- Cultural or Artistic Impact
Musical
- Integration of Music and Narrative
- Quality of Musical Numbers
- Choreography and Direction of Musical Sequences
- Overall Contribution to the Genre of Musical Films
- Direction that Highlights the Film's Musical Aspects