Welcome to the submission page for the Youth Studio Film Festival!

Read the information below to ensure your short film meets the guidelines of the festival.

About You:

You live in Victoria, and you’re aged 16-25. That’s it!

About your film:

The theme for the film festival is ‘Life in 2022/A Year Ago’. In an age of rapid and consequential change, this theme presents young people with the opportunity to explore how that change has affected life over the course of the past 12 months. Through the medium of film, entrants are expected to compare the lives of young people in 2022 with the lives of young people a year ago. How this comparison is presented on screen, and the film’s interpretation of change, is entirely up to the entrant.

  • The maximum run time for your film is 10 minutes, and should follow our submission guidelines (these can be accessed below). If your film meets all of the above, follow submission instructions below!
  • Films submitted before the deadline of 8pm, Friday 23 September will be in the running to win $500 Prezee voucher for ‘Best Film’, and/or $200 Prezee voucher for ‘People’s Choice Award’. 

Terms and conditions of the competition are below. If you have any queries about the Youth Studio Film Festival, please contact max.dewez@ymca.org.au.

 

Want to submit a film?

Follow these four easy steps to submit your film in the Youth Studio Film Festival:

  1. Have a read of our submission guidelines to make sure you’re not breaching any rules with your submission, and that you’re using the right file types.
  2. Fill in the form below, so that we know your submission is on its way
  3. Go to WeTransfer and add your film, then email them using WeTransfer to youthvoice@ymca.org.au (make sure the name and email address you include match up to the ones you provide in the form below).
  4. Keep an eye out on your email inbox in case we need to get in touch – but more importantly, so you can find out when your submission will be published!

Contact details

Would you like to be kept anonymous? (If yes, please still provide your details so we can contact you)

Content submission

  • Submission guidelines

    Youth Voice is an inclusive space and therefore we will not publish submissions that are: 

    • Racist, sexist or discriminatory
    • Contain unhelpful advice
    • Defamatory, or overly critical of services or organisations
    • Dogmatic, such as setting out courses of action as “the only way”
    • Discuss methods or depicts images of suicide or self-harm
    • Discuss drug usage in an unbalanced way
    • Obscene, or uses graphic sexual language
    • Posted for commercial purposes
    • Promotes inaccurate, inappropriate or harmful advice
    • Restricted by copyright (further information on Australian copyright
    • For any other reason are likely to cause harm/distress to other young people reading the story
  • Conditions of Participation

    1. Preamble

    a. These Conditions of Participation (Conditions) and any accompanying program-specific indemnity forms, information packs and registration packs constitute the terms by which the Participant agrees to uphold whilst participating in the relevant Program. Please read these Conditions carefully.  
    b. It is the Participant's responsibility to inform themselves of these Conditions and any other conditions relating to the Program prior to participating in the Program. By entering the Program Site, the Participant accepts and understands as binding on them the Conditions and any accompanying risks, obligations and responsibilities. The Program is operated by [The Young Men’s Christian Association of Victoria Incorporated] (YMCA Victoria). If the Participant has any queries in relation to these Conditions please contact the relevant Program Coordinator.

    2. Definitions

    a. ACL 
    means Schedule 2 of the CCA.
    b. ACLV
    means the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012 (Vic) 
    c. CCA
    means the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth).
    d. Online Participant 
    means a Participant who accesses a Program online using the Virtual Y Platform. 
    e. Participant
    means a person who is registered to participate in a Program. Unless an age is specified, ‘participant’ refers to the obligations of both the registered participant and their parent/guardian.
    f. Personnel 
    means employees, officers, contractors, agents and representatives (as applicable) and includes volunteers.
    g. Program 
    means YMCA Victoria Youth Services program operated at the Program Site, or services and content accessed online by Online Participants at the Virtual Y Platform.
    h. Program Site
    means the physical location where the Program will take place including the physical boundaries of the Program as explained by YMCA Victoria Personnel at the beginning of the Program, but does not include any locations from which Online Participants access or use the Virtual Y platform.
    i. Reckless Conduct 
    means if YMCA Victoria and/or YMCA Victoria's Personnel is aware, or should reasonably have been aware, of a significant risk that the conduct could result in personal injury to another person, and, engaged in the conduct despite the risk and without adequate justification, in accordance with section 139A(5) of the CCA.
    j. Recreational Services
    means services that consist of participation in a sporting activity or a similar leisure time pursuit, or any other activity that involves a significant degree of physical exertion or physical risk and is undertaken for the purposes of recreation, enjoyment or leisure, in accordance with section 139A(2) of the CCA and section 22(4) of the ACLV. 
    k. Virtual Y Platform
    means the Virtual Y online platform available at virtualy.ymca.org.au.

    3. Release from liability under the ACL 

    a. To the extent permitted by the law and in respect of any Recreational Services, including when Online Participants are online using the Virtual Y Platform, the Participants hereby release and discharge each of YMCA Victoria and/or YMCA Victoria's Personnel from all and any claims, loss, damage, costs and expense arising from any:
    i. death; 
    ii. physical or mental injury of an individual (including the aggravation, acceleration or recurrence of such an injury of the individual);
    iii. contraction, aggravation or acceleration of a disease of an individual; or
    iv. coming into existence, aggravation, acceleration or recurrence of any other condition, circumstance, occurrence, activity, form of behaviour, course of conduct or state of affairs in relation to an individual that is or may be harmful or disadvantageous to the individual or community, or, that may result in harm or disadvantage to the individual or community, 
    however it may be caused and even if caused by negligence or lack of due care and skill (other than Reckless Conduct) of YMCA Victoria and YMCA Victoria's Personnel arising from or connected with the supply or organisation of or participation in Recreational Services. 

    b. This release is intended to exclude the Participant's rights under Subdivision B of Division 1 of Part 3-2 of the ACL and all other rights which may legally be excluded. 

    4. Release from liability under the ACLV 

    a. The release of liability under the ACL is mirrored in the ACLV, and as such, clause 3(a) of these Conditions applies to the discharge of each of YMCA Victoria and/or YMCA Victoria's Personnel from all and any claims, loss, damage, costs and expense in relation to the Recreational Services under the ACLV arising from death or personal injury (as defined in the ACLV). 

    b. This release is intended to exclude the Participant's rights under Subdivision B of Division 1 of Part 3-2 of the ACL and all other rights which may legally be excluded. 

    c. The below 'WARNING' and 'NOTE' are mandatory wording in accordance with regulation 6 of the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Regulations 2012 (Vic) that you accept upon entering into these Conditions.

    WARNING UNDER THE AUSTRALIAN CONSUMER LAW AND FAIR TRADING ACT 2012 (VIC)

    Under the Australian Consumer Law (Victoria), several statutory guarantees apply to the supply of certain goods and services.  These guarantees mean that the supplier named on this form is required to ensure that the recreational services it supplies to you—

    are rendered with due care and skill; and
    are reasonably fit for any purpose which you, either expressly or by implication, make known to the supplier; and
    might reasonably be expected to achieve any result you have made known to the supplier.

    Under section 22 of the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012, the supplier is entitled to ask you to agree that these statutory guarantees do not apply to you.  If you sign this form, you will be agreeing that your rights to sue the supplier under the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012 if you are killed or injured because the services provided were not in accordance with these guarantees, are excluded, restricted or modified in the way set out in this form.

    NOTE: The change to your rights, as set out in this notice, does not apply if your death or injury is due to gross negligence on the supplier's part.  Gross negligence, in relation to an act or omission, means doing the act or omitting to do an act with reckless disregard, with or without consciousness, for the consequences of the act or omission.  See regulation 5 of the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Regulations 2012 and section 22(3)(b) of the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012.

    For the purpose of paragraph 4, “the supplier” shall mean and include YMCA Victoria and/or YMCA Victoria's Personnel.

    5. Responsibilities and Services provided by YMCA Victoria (not applicable for Online Participants)

    a. First Aid
    i. Where the Program is not based in a school, and no external First Aid provider has been engaged, YMCA Victoria will provide basic first aid services. The Participant provides YMCA with authority to obtain all necessary medical assistance as may be required (including ambulance transportation) and agree to pay all expenses for medical assistance and treatment.
    b. Medication administration
    i. Participant medication will be stored and administered by YMCA Victoria in accordance with the guidelines of the relevant Program. Where the Participant is between the ages of 16 and 18 years, YMCA Victoria will store medication at all times and provide it to the Participant to self-administer under supervision by YMCA Victoria.
    c. Sun protection
    i. Where the Participant will be required to be outside during times of moderate or higher UV levels, YMCA Victoria will provide the following sun protection measures:
    - Basic SPF 50+ sunscreen
    - Adequate access to shade

    6. Responsibilities of the Participant

    a. Code of Conduct
    i. Personnel as Participant
    Where the Participant is YMCA Personnel, the Participant must adhere to YMCA Victoria Code of Conduct policy at all times.

    b. Behaviour
    i. Participants are expected to respect the diversity, background and individuality of all participants, YMCA Personnel, and members of the public. YMCA Victoria is not tolerant of language or behaviour that is homophobic, sexist, racist, or in any other way aggressive, bullying or discriminatory, in an in-person or online capacity. Words or actions displaying these tendencies may result in removal of a Participant from the Program, at the discretion of the program coordinator. Action of this nature may also result in the participant not being accepted onto future YMCA programs.

    c. Leaving Program Site (not applicable for Online Participants)
    i. Participants over 18 years
    It is an expectation that the Participant will remain at the Program Site for the duration of the program. If leaving the Program Site, the Participant must inform the program coordinator prior to departure. 
    ii. Participants under 18 years
    Participants under the age of 18 years must not leave the Program Site at any time without the supervision of a YMCA leader, OR without being signed out by an approved parent or guardian.
    iii. In the instance that the Participant leaves the Program Site without meeting the conditions outlined in 5.C.ii, YMCA Victoria may contact local police. If the Participant is under the age of 18 years, their parent/guardian will be contacted and expected to collect the Participant from the Program immediately.
    iv. YMCA Victoria is not liable for any injury, loss or damage that may occur once a Participant has left the Program Site. 

    d. Property damage 
    i. The Participant is liable for and indemnifies YMCA Victoria for any loss, damage, claims or liability connected with any property damage at the Program Site caused or contributed to by the Participant.  

    e. Banned substances & items
    i. In line with the YMCA Victoria Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy (Policy), YMCA Victoria has zero tolerance for any activities that adversely or cause any risk to health and safety, including the consumption of alcohol (other than as permitted in the Policy) and use of other drugs. This extends to all Participants, and as such the Program is strictly drug and alcohol-free. Participants, including Online Participants, found in possession of, or found to be consuming, these substances may be asked to leave the Program immediately at the discretion of the program coordinator, and the matter may be referred to the police where relevant.  Action of this nature may also result in the Participant not being accepted into future YMCA programs.
    ii. The following items are not allowed on the Program under any circumstances:
    - Alcohol;
    - Prescription drugs or medication other than those prescribed to the Participant by a doctor or healthcare professional;
    - Illicit substances;
    - Cigarettes (where the Participant is under 18 years of age)
    - Weapons
    Participants, including Online Participants, found in possession of, or found to be consuming, these items may be asked to leave the Program immediately at the discretion of the program coordinator, and the matter may be referred to the police where relevant.  Action of this nature may also result in the Participant not being accepted into future YMCA programs.
    f. Participant information
    i. Registration and indemnity forms
    It is the responsibility of the Participant to fully complete the relevant program indemnity and registration forms. Failure to do so may result in the Participant’s registration for the program being rejected. 
    ii. Provision of adequate information
    It is the responsibility of the Participant to provide YMCA Victoria with adequate information regarding medical conditions and additional support needs that may require support beyond the standard support ratios of the  Program. Failure to do so may result in the participant’s registration for the program being rejected, or the Participant being required to leave the program immediately (see section 7).
    iii. Privacy 
    All personal information will be handled in accordance with the YMCA Australian Privacy Policy which can be found at https://ymca.org.au/Pages/privacypolicy.aspx
    g. Transport and access to the Virtual Y Platform
    i. It is the responsibility of the Participant to arrange transport to and from the Program Site (including Bus Pick-up points) at all times (including in the event of removal from the Program). If the Participant has not arrived at the Program Site by the allocated start time or is not picked up by the allocated finish time, the Participant may incur and be billed for an additional expense for supervision. This expense is set at $100 per hour per participant. 

    h. Duty of Care (not applicable for Online Participants)
    i. Where the Participant is under the age of 18, the Participant’s parent or guardian must sign over duty of care to YMCA Victoria prior to leaving their child on the Program Site, and sign the Participant out of the Program before removing them from the Program Site. 

    i. Medical (not applicable for Online Participants)
    i. Provision of medication
    Where the Participant requires medically prescribed or over the counter drugs to treat a medical condition or illness they are required to inform YMCA Victoria in writing at the commencement of the Program. The Participant must provide this information using the YMCA Victoria Confidential Medication Authority Form – Prescribed and Non Prescribed Medication form as provided in the Program’s indemnity form. Where the Participant is under the age of 16 years the medication must be provided to YMCA Victoria in pharmacy-created blister packs with correct dosages.
    ii. Possession of medication
    1. Where a Participant is under the age of 16 years, they must not have any medication in their possession during the Program. This includes pain killers and cough lollies. YMCA Victoria will store all medication (whether prescription or not prescription) at all times.
    2. Where the participant is between 16 - 18 years of age, all prescription medication must be handed to YMCA Personnel for storage at the commencement of the Program, with the exception of:
    - the contraceptive pill;
    - asthma related medication;
    - auto-adrenaline injectors
    YMCA Personnel will allow access to medication at all practical times.
    iii. Administration of medication
    1. Where the Participant is under the age of 16 years, YMCA Victoria will administer provided medication as indicated on the YMCA Victoria Confidential Medication Authority Form – Prescribed and Non Prescribed Medication form. 
    2. Where the Participant is over the age of 16 years and under the age of 18 years, they may self-administer medication. 
    3. Where the Participant is over the age of 18 years, they may self-administer medication.
    YMCA Victoria reserves the right to store and administer medication deemed to be High Risk belonging to any participant. 
    iv. Sharing of medication
    Where the Participant has possession of prescription medication whilst on a YMCA program, they must not share this medication with anyone other than the person named on the medication prescription. Sharing of medication may result in the Participant being asked to leave the program immediately, and the matter may be referred to police where relevant.

    j. Personal Liability and Valuables
    i. The Participant holds full responsibility for the safety and security of personal belongings and brings personal items onto the Program Site at their own risk. YMCA Victoria is not responsible under any circumstance for damaged, lost or stolen items. 

    k. Sexual behaviour
    i. Participants must not engage in any activities of a romantic or sexual nature throughout the Program at any time. This includes holding hands, kissing, or sexual contact or action of any nature in an in-person or online capacity. Actions of this nature may result in the Participant being asked to leave the Program immediately, and the matter may be referred to police where relevant. All actions of this nature will be referred to the participant’s parent/guardian, school and/or workplace where relevant.

    l. Sun Protection
    i. Where the Participant will be required to be outside, it is the responsibility of the Participant to provide and wear the following sun protection measures:
    - Clothing that covers shoulders
    - A hat
    - Sunglasses
    - Additional sunscreen as required on an individual basis (e.g.: for sensitive skin)
    Participants who do not wear all sun protection measures as listed above and in section 4.d will be required to remain indoors or in a shaded area for the duration of the Program that takes part outdoors, which may result in the Participant missing parts of the Program. 

    7. Cancellation (not applicable to the Online Platform)

    a. Cancellation by YMCA Victoria
    YMCA Victoria reserves the right to cancel or alter a Programs on short notice in the event of unsuitable weather conditions or other factors which may arise that are beyond the control of YMCA Victoria.  If a Program is cancelled, all Participants will be notified by phone and email as soon as possible. The participant may transfer amounts paid to an alternate program or alternatively receive a full refund, including deposit for fees paid in relation to the cancelled Program.
    b. Other than as set out in section 6.a above, YMCA Victoria will not be liable to a Participant for any loss or damage (including, but not limited to, indirect or consequential loss or damage, for example travel costs) suffered as a result of or arising from or in any way connected to cancellation, postponement or change to the Program in such circumstances.
    c. By participant
    Cancellation of attendance by the Participant at the Program may be made at any time. Bookings cancelled without adequate notice may result in cancellation fees and/or forfeiting of some or all of the Program cost. Refer to individual program terms and conditions for program-specific information. 

    8. Termination of Participation (not applicable for Online Participants)

    a. Termination of Participation
    If a Participant breaches these Conditions, YMCA Victoria reserves the right to ask a Participant to immediately cease participation and leave the Program Site. 
    b. In the event of termination of participation pursuant to section 8.a:
    i. The Participant will not be entitled to any refund of program costs.
    ii. Where the Participant’s parent/guardian is unable to transport the Participant from the Program Site and YMCA Victoria is required to organise transport, the Participant will incur and be billed for all additional expenses including transportation and supervision of the Participant.

    9. General

    a. Participants must comply with the program specific terms and conditions in addition to these Conditions. However, to the extent of any inconsistency, these Conditions prevail.
    b. These Conditions are governed by the laws in force from time to time in Victoria. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Victoria.
    c. Each release or exclusion of liability in this document is for the benefit of YMCA Victoria and YMCA Victoria's Personnel and is held on trust by YMCA Victoria so that its Personnel may enforce these provisions against each Participant. It is not necessary for YMCA Victoria or YMCA Victoria's Personnel to incur expense or make payment before enforcing a right of indemnity under these Conditions.
  • Youth Studio Film Festival Competition Terms and Conditions

    1. The promoter is YMCA Victoria of Unit 502, 990 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill VIC 3128.

    2. Promotional period is from 12.01am Thursday 1 September 2022 to 11.59pm Friday 23 September 2022. 

    3. All participants must have submitted their entry through the Virtual Y Submission website. 

    4. All entrants must ensure their submission is available for public view and meet the following criteria:

    • is not unlawful or promoting any unlawful activity; 
    • is not considered inappropriate, defamatory, abusive, discriminatory, offensive, obscene, threatening, misleading or hateful (as determined by the Promoter, in its absolute discretion); 
    • is not intended to harass another person or group of people; 
    • does not include personal information (including photographs) of another person or persons, unless with their express consent (or the express consent of their guardian, where applicable); 
    • does not contain viruses or corrupted files; 
    • does not infringe the intellectual property rights of the Promoter Entities or the intellectual property rights of a third party; and 
    • does not contain advertising or promotional materials; 

    5. One (1) entry is the maximum amount of entries per person allowed in the competition.
    6. Incomplete, indecipherable or illegible entries are deemed invalid. 
    7. Should the prize-winner be aged under 18, the prize must be accepted by a parent or legal guardian. 
    8. There will be two prize-winners, $500 Prezee Voucher awarded for best film and a $200 Prezee Voucher awarded for the People’s Choice. 
    9. The prize cannot be redeemed for cash or exchanged.
    10. The selection for the prize will be drawn at the discretion of the Promoter from the total pool of entrants. 

    11. The winner will be contacted via email upon announcement, or directly if necessary.

    12. The best film prize winner will be judged on Monday 26 September, and notified on this day. They will be contacted twice more before the prize will be passed on to another winner if they do not respond. A five business day period will be allowed for this to occur. The People’s Choice winner will be judged via a poll that will run on Virtual Y from Monday 3 October 2022 to Friday 7 October and the entrant with the most votes at the conclusion of the voting period will be awarded the prize. 

    13. All other expenses when claiming prizes, become the responsibility of the winner. 

    14. The Promoter reserves the right to request winners to provide proof of identity, and/or proof of entry validity in order to claim the prize. Proof of identification, legal right and entry considered suitable for verification is at the discretion of the Promoter. In the event that the winner cannot provide suitable proof, the winner will forfeit the prize in whole and no substitute will be offered.
     
    15. The decision of the Promoter in relation to any matter concerning the promotion will be final and no correspondence will be entered.

    16. If for any reason this promotion is not capable of running as planned, the Promoter reserves the right in its discretion to modify the terms of the promotion, suspend, terminate or cancel the competition as appropriate including the prize and these conditions of entry.
     
    17. YMCA Victoria and its subsidiaries shall not be held liable for any loss, damage or injustice caused as a result of receiving the prize.

    18.  Entrants consent to the Promoter using their name, likeness, image and/or voice in the event they are a winner (including a photograph, film and/or recording) in any media for an unlimited period without remuneration for the purpose of promoting this Promotion (including any outcome) and promoting any products manufactured, distributed and/or supplied by the Promoter.