Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is there any particular theme to this festival?
A. Our "theme" is family-friendly films. This does not mean "G" rated, but a good story with no gratuitous sex and violence will be accepted, even if the subject matter is not necessarily suitable for younger children. We don’t accept anything that would be rated “R” – only “G,” “PG” and “PG-13.”
Q. How do I know which division I fit into? (Student, Master Thesis, First Film, Professional)
A. Let me explain our concept and you can choose where you fit in....
First, we divided student and master thesis because the submissions we received were so far apart and we want beginners to have a festival they can get into, see their film on a screen, and get feedback. This allows them to have a fighting chance for an award if they did really good, but maybe didn't have the resources to make it look like a studio production.
Next, we previously called the "first film" division "amateur,” but filmmaker feedback suggested the change. If you are following the advice of "just get out there and shoot" but have no experience at all, you are going to make mistakes the first few times to figure it out. But people didn't want to be called "amateur." So we changed it to "first film."
If someone has worked in the film industry, broadcasting, etc., making promotional films for corporations for example, but has never made a "movie," they would be professional because they know about using a camera, sound, light, etc. and even though it a "first film" as in a "theatrical movie," they should know what they're doing.
On the other hand, someone who is experimenting with a new camera and has no professional experience, may start with a 5 minute short, then a 30 minute short, and finally a feature-length film. They are still getting family and friends to act and paying nobody and editing on their home computer. They would probably be fine in the "first film" division, each time they make a film of a new length.
Q. My film is not X-rated, but there is one little love scene which is barely "R-rated." The story is great and there are A-list actors. Should I submit?
A. While the Thunderbird festival allows more than "G-rating" style films, we try to keep the graphic content at about "PG-13."
Previously we premiered, "Heart of America," which had much violence, but we strongly believed that the subject of school shootings was one that families should be discussing. We hoped to show an edited AND unedited version, allowing families the choice of what to see, but unfortunately, the director's edited version (for TV distribution) was not completed in time for the festival, and we made huge disclaimers for the content, encouraging anyone who might be offended not to attend the screening (we also programmed extremely "family-friendly" films in other venues at the same time).
With hundreds of festivals in the US, and more than a thousand world-wide, there are plenty of other festivals to provide opportunities for "edgy" films. We respect and encourage filmmakers to make films according to individual artistic vision. However, we choose to screen films that are on the "wholesome" side of the spectrum, or deal with a subject that pertains to families.
Please keep us in mind for any projects that may be suitable in the future. We are always glad to preview a film if it is "on-the-line."
Q. I see that you do not accept "films" with gratuitous sex or violence. Do your standards for films also apply to scripts?
A. Because the screenplays are not viewed by a general audience, the gratuitous content guideline does not apply. The screenplays are basically judged on the story (characters, plot, etc.) and writing (grammar, format, etc.). Is it ready to shoot? Is it polished? Have you done the rewrites and you think it is the best it can be?
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