NIFCA 2025 JUNIOR FILM/VIDEO ENTRY FORM

NIFCA 2025 JUNIOR FILM/VIDEO COMPETITION

RULES AND REGULATIONS

RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. NAME OF THE COMPETITION

1. 1.      The name of the competition shall be the NIFCA Junior Film/Video Competition (the “Competition”) which is organized and administered by the National Cultural Foundation (the “NCF”). These Rules apply to those persons wishing to enter the Competition.

2.      These Rules apply to those persons under 18 years of age wishing to enter the Junior Competition.

2.      ELIGIBILITY

1.      Persons wishing to enter the NIFCA Film/Video competition shall be:

1. Citizens of Barbados or
2. Legally resident in Barbados

2.      If the entrant is not a citizen or legal resident of Barbados he/she must present evidence to show he/she is actively pursuing legal residence.

3.     An entrant is eligible to participate in the Junior Category of the Competition where his/her age is 4-17 years old by September 1st, 2025.

3. ENTRY TO THE COMPETITION

1. To enter the Competition, persons must properly fill out the relevant entry form and submit it to the NCF along with the Film/Video entry on a flash drive/memory stick by 10:00 p.m. on Monday, October 6th, 2025.

2. Entries must be enclosed in an envelope addressed to NIFCA 2025 Film & Video Entry, National Cultural Foundation, West Terrace, St. James. 

3. Entry to the competition is open to individuals or groups.  All group entries must be signed by the designated leader of the group. For all entrants under 18 years of age the form must be signed by a parent or guardian.

4. The competition requires film makers to submit their film on memory stick to the NCF with a copy of the registration form. It is therefore VITAL that a copy of the form is returned to BOTH the applicant and the Coordinating officer whenever it is filled out and submitted.

4.      RULES OF THE COMPETITION

1. All entries shall be original work filmed in Barbados. Permission should be sought for use of copyrighted music.

2. The work to be judged shall not have been entered in any previous NIFCA competition or exhibition;

3. Each participant is allowed a maximum of two entries.

4. Films/Videos can be made using any technique that is suitable for the upload of film entries to a secure NCF site for assessment by the Judging Panel.

5. The National Cultural Foundation shall not be liable for any claims or complaints from any person(s) depicted in the competition entries, should these be used for screening purposes.

6. 6. Unless specific written notice is given to the contrary, the NCF reserves the right to print and screen 30 – 60 seconds of film/video and any accompanying information for promotional purposes;

7. Production credits must be included on film/video entries.

8. If a participant submits an entry that exceeds the bounds of good taste, the participant may be disqualified from the Competition. The Judges shall determine whether the submission is indecent, obscene, and defamatory or in excess of the bounds of good taste. An entry may exceed the bounds of good taste where, in the opinion of the Judges, such entry is:

1.   indecent or obscene,
2.   capable of being defamatory,
3.   capable of promoting discrimination against or intolerable ill-feeling toward any class of persons, by virtue of a distinguishing characteristic of that class, such as race, religion, ethnicity, colour, social class, sex, gender, [sexual orientation] and other such characteristics,
4.   calculated to intimidate another person or is likely to promote violence,
5.   calculated to cause or subject another person to unreasonable ridicule, contempt or embarrassment,
6.   of such a nature as is likely to bring the Competition or the NCF into disrepute, or
7.   beyond the expectation that a reasonable person, who is neither unusually sensitive nor unduly indifferent, would have in respect of conduct at a Competition such as this.

9. In determining whether a participant should be disqualified for an entry exceeding the bounds of good taste, the Judges should also have regard to whether the participant acted in good faith.

1. A panel of Judges shall be selected for the adjudication of the competition;

2. The NCF shall determine the composition of the panel of judges and shall appoint a member of the panel to be Chief Judge;

3. The judges reserve the right not to award prizes where the entries not merit such.

6. CATEGORIES

1. The words “film” and “video” are used interchangeably; the principle is “a moving picture”, whether it is shot using a video or a motion picture camera, a tablet or a mobile phone device;

2. Entries must be no less than thirty seconds and no more than five minutes in duration.

Any of the following areas may be selected by the entrant:

1. MUSIC VIDEO EDUTAINMENT

This must be an original composition (Lyrics & Music) which can be created by someone other than the entrant. Its focus should be on creating an awareness of a topical social problem.

2. DOCUMENTARY

Non-fiction scripted and produced film/video.

3. NARRATIVE

Fiction – scripted and produced film/video.

The following prizes will be awarded in each category:

1^st Prize: $700

2^nd Prize: $500

3^rd Prize: $300

SPECIAL TOP AWARDS – JUNIOR

All entries that medal in the competition will be eligible for these awards accordingly.

2 scholarships to a local institution will be offered towards training in Film to a value of BBD $3,000.00 each.

1. GENERAL & INCENTIVE AWARDS 

1. Incentive Awards to reward and encourage promising acts in each

discipline may be won by participants as follows: 

– Best Entry by a Primary School

– Best Entry by a Secondary School

– Best Entry by a Group

– Best Newcomer to NIFCA 

– Best Integration of Barbadian arts

These will take the form of a plaque and cash awards to the value of four hundred dollars (BBD $400.00) for an individual and seven hundred and fifty dollars (BBD $750.00) for groups.

2. Award for outstanding participation by differently able artiste(s). This award comprises a trophy and cash prize to a value of four hundred dollars (BBD $400.00) for an individual and seven hundred and fifty dollars (BBD $750.00) for a group. To qualify, participants must specify on their entry form their wish to be considered for this award. 

3. The Cynthia Wilson NIFCA Producer’s Prize. This takes the form of a trophy and a cash prize of BBD $1,000.00, and will be awarded to recognize outstanding participation by a community leader, producer/organizer who facilitates and manages the successful participation of a group of artistes in any discipline for over five years. One prize will be awarded each year. 

4. *NEW* The NIFCA prize for Intangible Cultural Heritage is valued at BBD $2,000.00 and will be awarded to a medalling entry that represents an outstanding depiction of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Barbados.

5. *NEW* The NIFCA Teacher’s prize will be awarded to a teacher who facilitates successful participation by students that attain multiple awards in NIFCA Theatre. This will take the form of a plaque and cash awards to the value of four hundred (BBD$400.00) for an individual and seven hundred and fifty dollars (BBD$750.00) for a group.

6. Certificates of Achievement. These will be issued to authors / directors / set-designers/costume-designers/accompanists in recognition of their contribution to award-winning acts. These certificates will bear a gold, silver or bronze seal according to the level of award won by the entry. 

8.      JUDGING CRITERIA

CONTENT  20 points

Story/Theme, Concept, Style

TECHNIQUE   30 points

Direction, Continuity, Camera Technique

(editing, composition), Production Design

ORIGINALITY/CREATIVITY 20 points

Uniqueness/Difference of Treatment,

Approach to Subject Matter

TECHNICAL QUALITY 30 points

Brightness, Contrast, Colour, 

Lighting, Sound

An average score for each selection entered shall be taken. Participants who perform selections that are awarded average scores as indicated below will also be awarded certificates as follows:

Junior Category 

Gold86 – 100 points

Silver76 – 85 points

Bronze65 – 75 points

The deadline for delivery of completed film/video entry forms and entries to the National Cultural Foundation is Monday, October 6th, 2025.

General queries should be directed to the NCF at tel no: 417-6657 or e-mail: info@ncfbarbados.org