DON BOSCO GLOBAL YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL

DBGYFF

DBGYFF is the global youth film festival that aims to discover and encourage the talents of emerging young people all over the world. This annual festival is organized by the world-wide Salesians of Don Bosco for all young people, with special focus to all those young people belonging to institutions of the Salesian family, operating all over the world.

Yes! DBGYFF is a completely free platform, and no fee is required to participate in the festival. The reason for this gratuity is precisely to encourage young people from all walks of life to easily participate in the festival.

The current season features an exciting competition with two distinct categories: General Youth and Salesian Youth.

• General Youth refers to any young person from the age of 14 to 25 from any part of the world.
• Salesian Youth refers to any young person from the age of 14 to 25 affiliated to any Don Bosco institution within the Salesian Family such as school, college, technical school, social center, hostel, youth center, oratory, parish, etc.

Young people between the age of 14 and 25 can participate (adults exercising parental responsibility over minors, or their legal guardian, must provide explicit authorization to participate in the festival).

Each video must not exceed the indicated duration of each specified category including the credits.

Yes. There are five categories: 2-Minute Short Films, 5-Minute Short Films, 5-Minute Animation Films, 5-Minute Music Video and 10-Minutes Documentary

With DBGYFF, submitting your film is easy. Just click "Login" and you will be directed to the "Submit Now" page. Fill in the information about the contestant and the film, then submit. It's that simple!

Absolutely. By participating in DBGYFF, you retain all rights to your intellectual property at all times.

Yes, DBGYFF only accepts online registrations.

Once you have completed the information sheets on the competitor and the film, you are ready to start uploading your video elements (assets) in the ‘Upload assets’ tab. Add the three elements for your DBGYFF entry, which include the cover image, a short storyline and a personal photo of your face.

Every video sent to DBGYFF must be subtitled in English.

The last date for registration and submission of the short film for the DBGYFF 2024 is 31 July 2024.

Absolutely. By default, only DBGYFF juries can view your films. We use industry-leading technology to ensure that screenings are transmitted securely and cannot be downloaded.

DBGYFF accepts all major video formats in full HD quality up to 1GB. We transcode videos for playback and projection compatibility. It is recommended to use recording settings close to our output settings.

No. Each competitor can submit only one film. Each film must be submitted individually and accompanied by its own completed online entry form.

Even if the video is done by a group of people, only one contestant may enter his/her name in the competition. If a group project is awarded a prize at the final stage of the festival, it will be possible for each of the co-authors to apply for an award certificate, provided their names appear in the credits of the video.

1. How should your Music Video be?
The music video has to follow the theme of the festival, “I have a dream” Youth & Climate Change - Making Mother Earth Cleaner & Greener, which has to be well expressed in the lyrics, music, and video visualization. The theme, Lyrics, and the Original Score will have the primary focus. Ideally, the musical composition and the lyrics have to be specifically on the theme, with a video visualization, accompanying and enforcing the lyrics.
2. Should your Music Video have a story?
A music video typically doesn't follow a concrete storyline with a rigid script to follow. DBGYFF’s theme “I have a dream” Youth & Climate Change - Making Mother Earth Cleaner & Greener. invites visualization to revolve around that area. Hence, the theme is the most critical aspect of your music video production.
3. I did not compose but I made the music video, so who owns the copyright ?
Even if you own the copyright in the visuals, you do not own the copyright in the music. Unless you have a license to visualize and distribute the music, you have NO right to submit or publish the video without the consent of the band or the composer.
4. Are there any inner classifications under the Music Video submission category ?
Yes, music videos submitted will be classified further as two types. Type one is the “Original Music”, in which you, being the composer of the music, retain 100% of all rights, both creative and distribution. The creative output solely belongs to you, if you decide to submit as a contestant. Type two is the “Adaptive Music”, you have to have the written consent from the creator of the music, usually the composer of the tune or in some case the band and before making it as a video for this festival purpose.
5. How can I legally use copyrighted music in a video?
If you want to use a commercial song in your video, you must obtain two licenses – the synchronization license to use the song and the master license to use the recording of that song. Synchronization licenses are administered by the publisher / distributor of the music records. Master licenses are held by the composer or the production company. It might vary between countries, check your state © copyright policies under creative licensing laws.
6. Can I submit a video made of already existing license free music?
If the music is relevant to the theme then YES. But it is upto the Jury board to consider whether or not creatively eligible for a competitive participation.

DBGYFF boasts of a prestigious Jury with members from all over the world, including acclaimed film professionals, industry advocates, cultural leaders and iconic youth personalities. The Jury is divided into two sections: the Preliminary Jury and the Global Jury. In all instances, the Jury's decision will be final and indisputable.

The list of awards for the DBGYFF, include Global Bests, Category Bests, Young Bests, Regional Bests and Jury’s Choice Awards.
GLOBAL BESTS
Global Bests are chosen from the best entries in all the five categories: 2-Minute Short Films, 5-Minute Short Films, 5-Minute Animation Films, 5-Minute Music Video and10-Minutes Documentary. The winners will receive prizes in the amounts of 3,000 euros for first place, 2,000 euros for second place, and 1,000 euros for third place.
REGIONAL BESTS
Regional Bests are the awards given for the 10 best short films from every region, with a cash prize of 1,000 euros each. The entries are classified as per the seven regions of the Salesian world: South Asia; East Asia & Oceania; Africa Madagascar; Inter America; America South Cone; Northern & Central Europe; Europe & Middle East.
EIGHT CATEGORY BESTS
Eight young individuals will be recognized with cash awards of 1,000 euros each in the following eight categories: Best Narrative (Short Film), Best Narrative (Documentary), Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Design, Best Animation, Best Original Score and Best Editing.
SEVEN YOUNG BESTS
Seven young individuals will be recognized with cash awards of 1,000 euros each under the seven classifications - Young Best Scriptwriter, Young Best Songwriter, Young Best Male Actor, Young Best Female Actor, Young Best Short Film Director, Young Best Animation Director, Young Best Documentary Director.
JURY CHOICE AWARDS
The Jury will choose one individual from the five categories and award 1,000 euros each - for the Best 2-Minute Short Film, Best 5-Minute Short Film, Best Animation Short Film, Best Music Video and Best Documentary Favorite Animated film.

All films submitted must have been created after 1 January 2023 and must not have been screened or exhibited online. Films that do not fulfill these requirements will not be admitted to the festival.

The screening of all officially selected short films at DBGYFF 2024 will take place in presence at all DBGYFF participating venues on 17th and 18th October 2024 worldwide.

If a participant realizes after filling in the form that he/she has made mistakes, then he/she may ask to resubmit the form with the correct data. In this case, an e-mail should be sent to submissions@dbgyff.com requesting for resubmission.

In this case, you need to reset your password. Simply enter your e-mail address and click on "Forgot Password." A window will appear asking you to enter your e-mail address again. Once done, a new password will be sent to the same e-mail address.

DBGYFF commits to notifying contestants as follows:

• SUBMITTED - the film has been submitted to the festival.
• ACCEPTED - the film has been approved for participation in the festival.
• NOT ACCEPTED - the film has not been admitted as it fails to comply with the rules of the festival.
• SHORT-LISTED - after the evaluation by the Preliminary Jury ensures that the film has been entered among the films of the region for regional screening.
• NOT SHORT-LISTED - after the evaluation by the Preliminary Jury indicates that the film has not been selected or short-listed.
• SELECTED - confirms that the film has been officially selected for screening in DBGYFF 2024.

For some technical reason or mistake made, if one does not receive notification by e-mail after he/she has delivered the project, then the concerned person should write to submissions@dbgyff.com requesting the status of his/her project.

Still have questions? Please contact us. We're here and happy to help