FAQ

Can I make a film about myself?

Yes you can, we don't mind who the 'hero' of your film is. If you're doing something good for the environment, we want to know about it.

Do you have any tips on one-minute filmmaking?

Yes! Download our TUFF Tips PDF - expert advice on one-minute filmmaking (1 MB).

Does my film have to be exactly 60 seconds?

Yes! If your film is off by a few seconds, we can either trim it or change the speed to make it 60 seconds. If it is off by more that that we will not be able to accept it.

When do I find out if my submission was accepted?

Our jury will make their decisions in early to mid March and you'll be hearing from us by the end of March.

When do you put submissions up online?

Only submissions that our jury selects as our finalists will get added to the Everyday Heroes website. These selections will be added to our site in time for the first day of the festival each year.

How will my film be displayed on your screens?

You can go to this page to see mockups of the frameworks which house the films on the TTC and mall screens.

http://www.everydayheroesfestival.com/framework-mockups

Why are the films you screen silent?

Neither the Onestop screens on the TTC, nor the Ivanhoe Cambridge shopping center screens not have audio output capabilities. In the future, when there is sufficient wifi service in the subway stations, we may include audio tracks that can be listened to on a smart-phone. The films we show online represent what we screen on the TTC and in the malls, so they are also silent.

Can I use subtitles in my film?

Yes. Subtitles can be used for dialogue and non-diagetic content (like a voice-over, but in text). Another option is intertitles (the screens that come up between scenes in silent films). We suggest that you use a minimum text size of 30 pixels, which equals about 22 or 23 points.

Do I have to submit my film in any particular format?

Accepted formats are Quicktime H.264 or Sorenson 3; Windows Media 8 or 9; divx; xvid. We also accept SWF files. More information can be found on our Submit page: http://www.everydayheroesfestival.com/submit

Do you screen in HD?

No. You may submit your video in HD, but it will be reformatted to NTSC widescreen.

Can I submit more than one film?

Yes.

How recent do films have to be for inclusion in your festival?

We don't mind what year your film was made.

Can I submit a one-minute edit of a longer film?

Yes. Just makes sure that it works as a stand-alone, one-minute silent piece.

Does my film have to be a documentary?

No - we welcome experimental forms as well as more traditional techniques to tell the story of your eco-heroes.

How many people will see my film?

On average 1.3 million people ride the subway every day, plus the cross-Canada audience of 700,000 in the 35 shopping centers brings the total audience to about 2 million people.

How are the films selected?

Each year a different set of jurors are chosen. For information on this year's jurors go to this page: http://www.everydayheroesfestival.com/jury

Do I have to submit to a particular thematic category?

No. We are using our four categories as programming themes this year, and our jurors will select the best films from among the submissions before categorizing them.

How are the films screened?

The films are screened as video files formatted for the digital displays within the TTC and the malls. Official selections are also screened on their own page on our website.

Do you pay artist fees?

No, we are unable to pay fees, but neither do we charge submission fees.