How to participate?
This page gives you information you need to prepare your participation to the Nikon Film Festival. We recommend that you read it carefully to avoid format issues.
Quel format ?
Short film
1 video file
Duration: 2min20
Mini-series
6 video files
Duration: 2min20 x 6 episodes
14min total
A duration and an imposed theme, that's all!
No limits or exclusivity are imposed. You can submit as many projects as you like, send them to other festivals, or distribute them on your own.
Read moreIt's free of charge and It’s open to all
Because it has the ambition to be open to as many people as possible, the Nikon Film Festival is a totally free event.
With a minimum of help, simplicity and a good idea, even the smallest budgets can get started.
It doesn't matter who you are or how much experience you have.
Nikon Film Festival encourages creation by reducing barriers and promotes openness through uncompromising accessibility.
The hardest part remains: daring, creating and sharing.
Recommended format
Below are the encoding settings for uploading your videos to our site and our recommendations for providing an optimal broadcast experience.
About image
Ratio
16:9 (recommended)
or 4:3 (black bands will appear on the sides)
If you suggest a different format (vertical, square, etc.), the player automatically adapts video
Resolution
1080p minimum
Up to 3840 x 2160 (4K)
Progressive
Framerate
24 FPS (recommended)
25 FPS
Codec video
H.264 / AVC (recommended)
H.265 / HEVC
DivX
WMV9
MPEG-2
Files Format
.mp4
.mov
.avi
.mpeg4
Video duration
Must be between 120 and 140 seconds including generic
Video player used can round up to the next second so we tolerate up to 02:21:00
File weight
Up to 2 Go maximum
About sound
Codec Audio
AAC - LC (recommended)
MP3
WMA9
MPEG Layer 2
Channels
Stéréo + 5.1 (recommended)
Stéréo
Sampling rate
96 kHz
48 kHz
Music
Original composition
or royalty-free content
If you wish to include copyrighted material in your video, you must seek prior permission or check rights of use associated with that work
In case of a claim, you may be required to mask or replace the copyrighted music
Would you like to use professional-quality music and hold full rights to its distribution? Take advantage of our special offer: tracks discounted 80% for the occasion (€30).
To benefit from this special rate, you must contact contact_paris@bam.mu to submit a request.
Discover
Subtitles
Subtitles are not mandatory to participate if your film is already in English, but they make it easier to watch your work and make it more accessible
Addition of English subtitles (if original version is not already in English) allows for automatic entry into the international competition
Embedding
They must be directly embedded in the image before video’s uploaded
Most commonly used font types
Arial - Helvetica - Roboto - Tiresias
Color
White or black (recommended)
You can consider other colors depending on desired aesthetic, but remember to check legibility on the whole movie
Position
Subtitles are usually positioned at the center bottom, but sometimes they can interfere with the visibility of certain information and should be moved
Other recommendations
Maximum 36 characters per line (including spaces)
Maximum two lines of subtitles if possible
Avoiding a subtitle overlapping a change of plan
Here is an example
TEARS COME FROM ABOVE réalisé par Manon Stutz et Margaux Fazio
Vertical Poster
This is the visual that appears on the website across all pages listing the films and series in competition, as well as those used on the festival’s social media.
Vertical format 4:5
Ideal resolution: 1080 x 1350 px
File type: JPG or PNG
Maximum file size: 10 MB
Horizontal Thumbnail
This is the visual that appears as a preview in the integrated video player. It also appears automatically when sharing your link on social media.
Horizontal format 16:9
for the video player
Ideal resolution: 1280 x 720 px
(with a minimum width of 640 pixels)
File type: JPG or PNG
Maximum file size: 2 MB
ℹ️ Important: you can update both visuals at any time by logging into your director's space.
NEED GEAR SUPPORT?
Our partner SOS Ciné offers a special budget-friendly kit to help you bring your project to life! This pack includes everything you need to achieve a professional-quality result at an unbeatable price.
Discover
Looking for a filming location?
🎬 We Are Scene, the new stage for creatives, supports the talents of the Nikon Film Festival !
You're passionate about visuals—whether it's for your shoots or creative projects... Our top pick for booking the ultimate filming location is We Are Scene.
👉 Unique spaces, immersive settings, designer apartments, hidden gems... Find THE perfect location to elevate your short film—and all your creative projects.
🎁 For the Nikon Film Festival community: Get €50 off your first booking on wearescene.com with the code NFF50
