FAQ

On this page you can find the most frequently asked questions by users and their related answers. For any further information or clarification, you can contact us at the addresses listed at the bottom of the webpage.

I don't live in Italy. Could I take part in the film festival?

Of course, our aim is to spread the "geological culture" everywhere and without restrictions.

Is the On the Rocks film festival addressed only to Geology specialists?

No, everyone can participate. It is enough that the subject of the film concerns the landscape around us, the Earth and the rocks under our feet, the natural materials that surround us in everyday life.

Does the film festival registration imply the payment of a fee?

No, the participation to OTR is absolutely free of charge and it is only necessary to fill the film submission form.

What is the deadline for submitting my film?

You have to submit your film using the FilmFreeway platform by 25 July 2021, at 24:00.

What is the maximum length of the film to be submitted?

No more than 4 minutes and 55 seconds!

I have no experience, nor professional equipment. What can I do?

Don't be discouraged, you can use a digital camera which, in most cases, can record good quality videos. Or use your smartphone. In many occasions a tripod can be useful and pay attention to the light: especially if you are shooting indoors, make sure there is sufficient light, reordered videos always seem darker than we see them with the naked eye. Sound: you need an external microphone (e.g., A "lavalier"), because the quality of the sound picked up by the cameras is strongly affected by background noise.

See also the video suggestions on the page "15 steps to On the Rocks".

How may I "cut and paste" my footage to obtain a film?

Regarding the so-called "video editing" you need a good software; there are several free, e.g., Windows Live Movie Maker or iMovie for Mac. Professional software such as Final Cut Pro or Premiere from Adobe are subject to charges. Audio must be added to the video, otherwise the video won't be understood. A good idea is to show your video to people of different ages to hear their impressions and make some corrections.

See also the video suggestions on the page "15 steps to On the Rocks".

What language can / should I use for my film?

The language is your choice, without any restrictions. To facilitate the vision, however, we suggest adding English subtitles.

May I include copyrighted music or movies in my film?

No. Before you post the video you must be sure you can use the music you have chosen without violating copyright. It's illegal to utilize copyright material and would not be accepted by either SGI, SIMP, SPI or YouTube.
Solutions: You could always search your favorite free music on websites such as:

https://www.jamendo.com/?language=it
http://ccmixter.org/view/media
http://freemusicarchive.org/
http://www.mobygratis.com/
https://www.premiumbeat.com/
https://audiojungle.net/

Furthermore you can find sound effects from:
https://www.freesound.org/

We do not recommend using videos or images from other authors, because of the difficulty to obtain the necessary permissions.

What are the format requirements for my film?

The films will be used on internet, or in other public screenings and events, and it is therefore advised to submit an HD version (1920x1080). Mandatorily, the maximum length of the videos is 4 minutes and 55 seconds, longer videos films will be rejected. Videos will adopt an aspect ratio 16:9. Allowed formats are: .MOV, .MPEG4, .MP4, .AVI, .WMV; Admitted FrameRate: 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, or 60; audio codec: AAC-LC. The recommended video BitRate is 12 Mbps; audio BitRate 384 Kbps.

See also the video suggestions on the page "15 steps to On the Rocks".

May I include children in my film?

Yes, but you have to request and receive written permission from their parents. Make sure to keep these documents, SGI might ask you to show the consent of all the people in the film shooting, not just the children.

The film may contain advertising messages or brands?

Films should not have advertising purposes. It's however permitted to mention the institution or company you belong to, especially if they give you the opportunity to represent your profession as a geologist.

How are the films judged?

The films will first be viewed by the Organising Committee, which will verify the absence of offensive content and will assess the pertinence to the festival topic. Subsequently, the Panel of Judges will evaluate the finalist films individually on the basis of the following criteria: creativity, realization technique, storytelling and communicative.

How do I upload a film and submit the application form?

Don't worry: fill in all the required fields on FilmFreeway platform.

How do I know if my film has been selected?

We will notify you via your email address. However, please check our website and social networks of the film festival.

Where will the award ceremony take place?

The award ceremony will be held in live streaming during the Congress of the Italian Geological Society, Trieste, Italy.

If I win, how do I claim my prize?

The Secretariat of the Italian Geological Society will assist you with the necessary administrative procedures.

In the case of group registration, who will receive the prize? Does the 2022 membership of SGI, SIMP and SPI goes to a single participant or can it be extended to a maximal number of participants?

In the case of group participation, the money prize and annual registration to the scientific societies will be awarded to the group leader.