CMF Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]

Check here first to see if you can get your question answered immediately. Click a tab below for more information.

• Important CMF Forms
  • Judging Criteria & Rules (pdf)
  • Movie Release (pdf)
  • Talent Release (pdf)
  • Music Agreement for CMF Library (pdf)
  • Music Agreement for One Team (pdf)
  • CMF Training Manual (pdf)
• How to Export an HD Movie from Final Cut Pro

• How to Export an HD Movie from iMovie 09

• Why isn't my movie listed online?
  • Everyone else's is. Is it because of what I said about you as I left the finale? Possibly, but more likely it's because you forgot one of the last steps on the checklist, which asks you to submit some very brief movie information about your movie. Click sign in at the top of this page, login your team, and click on the image to the left that says "DONE WITH YOUR MOVIE? Click here to finalize your submission". Then your movie should appear online. And if not, then email us at support@campusmoviefest.com letting us know your school name, team name, and movie name.
• How do I change team leader info or team member info for my team?
  • To change team leader info, email us at support@campusmoviefest.com with your school name and team name, who you would like to replace, and who you would like to add (please include name, email, phone, address, and student ID #). To change team member info, login online and edit your team member info.
• What's my password to login to your site?
  • We don't have a clue. But we're glad to reset it for you. Just email us with your school name and your team name. Or, leave out some of those details and we'll try to guess from among the 50,000 other students participating. That's always fun for both of us.
• What if my CMF equipment doesn't work?
  • Contact us through one of the methods on the right, and we'll arrange to swap it out right away.
• Will my movie get shown at the finale?
  • It'll be a surprise, so come on over for a great night of top movies, highlights of all movies, door prizes, Guitar Hero competitions, and more.
• Can my movie be over 5 minutes long?
  • Your movie must be less than or equal to 5 minutes in length to be considered for judging. Longer movies will be accepted and posted on the CMF website, but will not be entered into the competition.
• May team members be on two teams?
  • Yes, students can be on more than one team, but they can not be team leaders of two teams. Teams can submit more than one movie.
• May my friend who isn't a student be on our team?
  • The only people who can film and edit footage for your team are your teammates. These individuals must be signed up online by the movie deadline to be eligible for prizes. Teammates must be current students, faculty, or staff of your university. Other students, faculty, and staff from your school and other individuals not affiliated with your university are welcome to appear in your movie.
• Can I still pick up my equipment if I missed the Launch day?
  • Yes you can! Simply check your school's on-campus tech support hours and location, and a CMF staff member will be there to get you all the equipment (and tech support) that you need!
• What if we want to get a band to give us permission to use their music?
  • No problem, we just need to get their permission. There are two form options. If they want their music only included in your movie, use this form. If they want their music entered into the CMF library for other students to hear and use in their films, please have them fill out this form and fax it to us at the provided number. They can also upload their music here. If it's not possible to have either form signed, feel free to use any of the thousands of tracks we provide in the iTunes library on the CMF laptops or create your own music.
• May we use classical music?
  • Most classical compositions themselves (anything published before 1922) are in the public domain. However, the recordings of those compositions aren't. That means that you could perform or play any of the music in the public domain, but most likely couldn't use a recording you find online. A pretty useful site to help is PDINFO.
• May we use royalty-free music?
  • You may use royalty-free music that has no restrictions on its usage. This includes loops supplied in GarageBand and the other Apple applications on your provided laptop. It also includes the Creative Commons license named Attribution (by) assuming you do credit the artist as required, but not any of the other licenses because they're too restrictive for all the possible exposure for your CMF movie. Similarly, any other websites that offer royalty-free music that has restrictions such as no commercial use may not be used for CMF without them signing a music agreement; otherwise, if you won, we couldn't show your movie in-flight on Virgin America, on AT&T phones, or possibly even on the big screen at our events.
• Who judges the movies?
  • For the school finales, a panel of students, staff, and faculty from your school select the top 16 movies that are shown as well as the winners of Best Picture, Best Comedy, and Best Drama awards. Regional and national judging panels comprise of students and staff as well as industry luminaries.
• How Long does it take to get prizes?
  • It takes about 4-6weeks for prizes to ship out.
• What if my question isn't answered here?
  • Check back often, as we're adding more, and in the meantime, contact us through any of the means above.