How to submit a film
For our 2026 ceremony, submissions are open until March 2nd. To submit a film register on https://filmfreeway.com/ and submit your film at https://filmfreeway.com/IUMontageFilmFestival
When adding your work, you don't have to fill out the full FilmFreeway form. You can add the information below by following the instructions when you click “Submit” on our FilmFreeway site.
Eligibility
- Must be made by IU Bloomington students — undergraduate and graduate work are eligible
- Must have been completed between January 2025 and March 2nd 2026
- Must be shorter than 20 minutes
Submission packets must include:
- Movie file in native edit frame rate (23.98 or 29.97 most typically) and 1920 x 1080 HD resolution
- Three high-res still frames from movie
- Full list of credits of actors and crew
- Logline of film
- Synopsis of film (80-word maximum word count)
- Movie runtime
- Notations such as flashing images, mature content, sexual violence, artistic choices that might otherwise be seen/heard as an error (with timecode), such as, out of sync or distorted sound, intermittent sound/no sound, flashing frames of color, alteration of time (slow motion, fast motion, freeze frame, etc.).
Any production that incorporates moving images are eligible for screening and awards.
The festival program will run approximately 90 minutes in length. Submissions not submitted in their entirety will not be considered for the festival.
For any questions contact montagefestivaliu@gmail.com
Technical specs
IU Cinema can accept most formats and content types. There are a wide variety of ways to export your film to submit to Montage. We want to enable anyone to be able to participate regardless of technical know-how, so here are some simple guidelines:
Please submit your video at 1920 x 1080. (If your video is smaller than 1920 x 1080, natively, then contact us.)
Your audio levels should generally hover around -20db with peaks not exceeding -10db. This can be verified by watching audio meters in your editing software.
You can verify the next four guidelines by watching your film in its entirety in VLC Media Player (free software available for download).
- Your film must remain in sync (picture and sound) through its entirety
- No bars, tone, slate or slug
- There should be no unexpected loss or corruption of picture and sound
- If your submission plays successfully with picture and sound in VLC Media Player it can be accepted as a submission.
As you prepare for submission by viewing your entire film in VLC Media Player we recommend:
- Wear headphones, and pay close attention to all the details.
- Does it look and sound like you want it to?
- Are the colors correct?
- Is the sound too loud and distorted or is it just right?
- Are there any times where picture or sound cuts out unexpectedly?
This process allows you to sign off on how your film will appear at IU Cinema.
Remember, on the big screen little mistakes are even more visible than on your computer, so carefully preview your film.
Thanks, and we look forward to seeing your submission soon!
