Girls Impact the World Scholarship Awards

Scholarship Sponsored by ConnectHER Film Festival

Overview (Description) ConnectHER Film Festival is an international competition for filmmakers aged 13–25 that spotlights short films addressing issues affecting women and girls. Submissions should focus on one of the festival’s listed topic areas and aim for cinematic quality—PowerPoint-style presentations are not accepted. Films must be original, recently completed, and suitable for festival presentation to qualify. Read all requirements carefully before preparing your entry to avoid disqualification. Key takeaways - International youth competition for topics affecting women and girls. - Focus on festival topic areas listed on the website. - PowerPoint "films" are not accepted; cinematic value required. - Read full rules before submitting to ensure eligibility. Eligibility Filmmakers must be between 13 and 25 years old on the submission date; this includes primary creative roles (writing, directing, cinematography, editing, etc.). Actors appearing in films may be any age. Submissions must be original works that have not screened at other major film festivals. ConnectHER reserves final authority on eligibility and selection. Key takeaways - Filmmaker age requirement: 13–25 at submission. - All core creative roles must be performed by eligible filmmakers. - Actors may be any age. - Films must be original and not previously screened at major festivals. Content Requirements Submitted films must directly address one of the festival’s topic areas and include a clear call-out to organizations working on the issue. At the end of each film include a graphic with two local/national/regional organization names and logos that relate to the film’s subject matter. If the film contains graphic material (nudity, violence, profanity, sexual content), include a content warning near the start; ConnectHER may refuse content at its discretion. Key takeaways - Film subject must match a listed festival topic. - End-of-film graphic required: two organization names + logos. - Content warnings required for graphic material. - ConnectHER can reject submissions with inappropriate content. Technical Requirements Films must be between 3 and 6 minutes in duration and completed after January 1, 2026. Accepted file formats are .mov and .mp4; HD resolution and clear audio are strongly preferred. All films must include English subtitles. PowerPoint files and other non-cinematic formats are not accepted. Key takeaways - Duration: 3–6 minutes. - Completion date: after Jan 1, 2026. - Formats: .mov or .mp4; HD recommended. - English subtitles required; no PowerPoint entries. Submission Process & File Naming Digital submissions are preferred via Google Drive; Dropbox is an alternative. All uploaded files must follow the festival’s naming conventions to avoid disqualification or requests for correction. Provide a portrait/headshot file named FirstName_LastName and a film file named Title_by_FilmmakersNames_Country (for example, Sunrise_by_JaneDoe_JohnSmith_UnitedKingdom.mp4). Key takeaways - Preferred delivery: Google Drive (Dropbox acceptable). - Portrait file naming: FirstName_LastName (e.g., Jane_Doe.jpg). - Film file naming: Title_by_FilmmakersNames_Country.mp4. - Incorrectly named files may be returned or disqualified. Review & Selection Process All submissions undergo multiple review rounds conducted by ConnectHER’s appointed judges, including screening, semifinalist, and finalist stages. The festival evaluates films for thematic relevance, originality, technical quality, and impact. ConnectHER retains final decisions on selections, awards, and eligibility; judges’ decisions are binding. Key takeaways - Multi-stage judging: screening → semifinalist → finalist. - Evaluation criteria: theme alignment, originality, technical quality, impact. - ConnectHER has final decision authority. - Judges are appointed by the festival. Deadlines & Late Submissions Films must be submitted by the published deadline to be eligible; late entries are not accepted under any circumstances. Confirm the current submission deadline and time zone on the festival website before uploading. Incomplete or late materials will not advance to judging. Key takeaways - Strict no-late-submission policy. - Check festival website for exact deadline and time zone. - Incomplete entries will be disqualified. People’s Choice Voting & Sharing Audience voting for the People’s Choice Award takes place on the festival’s People’s Choice Gallery page. To vote, hover over a film thumbnail and click the heart button; voting is limited to one vote per person/device for each video. The top 10 films by vote count will be reviewed by judges, who select the People’s Choice winner. Fraudulent voting activity will result in disqualification. Key takeaways - Vote on the People’s Choice Gallery via the heart button. - One vote per person/device per video. - Top 10 vote-getters considered by judges for the award. - Fraudulent activity leads to disqualification. Contact & Additional Notes For questions not covered in these sections—such as permitted documentary sources, crediting collaborators, or festival screening logistics—consult the festival’s FAQ page or contact the organizers directly. Follow submission instructions exactly to avoid delays or disqualification. Good luck with your submission! Key takeaways - Use the festival FAQ or contact organizers for unresolved questions. - Follow instructions precisely to prevent disqualification. - Prepare materials (subtitles, logos, file names) before uploading.