Key Dates

June 20: Contest Opens!
June 20 – August 12: Submit your videos and photos and vote for your favourites! Cisco Canada will donate $1 per vote up to $10,000.
August 12 – 21: Submissions are closed but you can still vote for your favourite entries for their chance to win a Cisco Visibility Award! The three (3) entries that receive the most votes by August 21 will win Cisco Visibility Awards!
August 24: filmpossible judges will announce six (6) video and six (6) photo finalists to advance to round two.
August 24- 31: ROUND TWO BEGINS! You have one week to vote for your favourite photo and video finalists! The three (3) videos and three (3) photos with the most votes win prizes!
September 2: Official announcement of all filmpossible winners.

Contest Requirements

SEE FULL OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES
You must be a resident of Canada. (We regret that the contest is not open to residents of Quebec.)
If you are under the age of majority in your province, you need a parent or guardian’s knowledge and consent to enter.
Entries must be submitted via the website: www.filmpossible.ca. The contest is open for entries on June 20, 2011.
- Multiple entries are permitted - you can submit a total of 5 entries.
- Videos must not be more than 2 minutes. Photos must not be more than 5 MB.
Accepted file extensions for video: AVI, MOV, WMV, MP4, MPEG, FLV, 3GP and 3G2
Accepted file extensions for photos: .jpg, .jpeg or .gif
Videos and photos must be original – created for filmpossible.
Entries must be received by Holland Bloorview no later than August 12, 2011, 11.59 p.m.
Your entry must incorporate the theme "bringing visibility to disability". Judges will also look for creativity, emotional impact, film quality, as well as subject and storyline.
You must have permission to use any copyrighted material such as music. Although Holland Bloorview is not providing legal advice, entrants should look for resources/professionals that explain how to license music, such as websites like: http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/music-licensing2.htm. This website offers information about different types of licenses, as well as links to music that is in the pubic domain: http://www.seabreezecomputers.com/tips/freemusic.htm

Tips for Success:

Video Tips:

Note: Videos must be under 2 minutes. Accepted file extensions: AVI, MOV, WMV, MP4, MPEG, FLV, 3GP and 3G2

For some great ideas on how to create a winning video entry, see:

http://contests.about.com/od/winningcontests/ht/winvideocontest.htm
http://desktopvideo.about.com/od/videoprojects/tp/shootingtips.htm
Check out last year's videos too at http://www.filmpossible.ca/

Most PCs and Macs comes equipped with Movie Maker (PC) or iMovie (MAC):

Windows Live Movie Maker (http://explore.live.com/windows-live-movie-maker): This is a free download for Microsoft Vista and Windows 7 systems. Older XP system should already have Window Movie Maker installed.
iMovie (http://www.softwaretrainingtutorials.com/apple-imovie-choice.php): This site has tutorials. Some are free; some have a cost attached.
http://www.lynda.com/ also offers training at a cost.

Photo Tips:

Note: Photos must be under 5MB. Accepted file extensions: .jpg or .gif

For some great ideas on how to take great photos, visit:

http://www.digital-photography-school.com/10-ways-to-take-stunning-portraits
http://www.photosecrets.com/how-to-photograph-people.html
http://www.computerlover.com/computer-software/photo-editing/best-free-photo-editing-software.php
Most Macs come equipped with iPhoto.

Language Guidelines:

Holland Bloorview uses people-first language when describing disability (e.g. the Pete has a disability vs. Pete is a disabled child) because, while disability is an essential aspect of a person, it does not define them. Remember, we need to respect how people with disabilities choose to describe themselves. For helpful resources, visit:

Questions? Email us at filmpossible@hollandbloorview.ca

For downloadable promotional material and the latest media coverage on filmpossible, click here