Film Submission Specifications

When submitting your film into festivals, including Underdog, it is important to follow the submission specifications.

We recommend the following minimum specifications:

• Resolution: 1920×1080
• Video Bit Rate: 2200 Kbps, H.264, mp4 or mov
• Audio: 128 Kbps, MPEG-4 AAC, 2 channel stereo, 48kHz

For a full list of rules and guidelines, refer to our submissions page here.

Finalist Film Specifications

If your film is chosen as a finalist in the Underdog Film Fest, it will be screened at the festival.

We are committed to making the festival an inclusive event, therefore you will need to supply a link to your film with closed captions burnt into your film. It is important to note that closed captions are comprised of subtitles with descriptive text, making it accessible to all hearing-impaired audience members.

Please provide a link to your film for screening at the festival on Dropbox, Google Drive, hightail, or a similar platform for us to easily download your film.

Send your link to: info@underdogfilmfest.com.au

Technical Specifications for Screenings

• Video: 1920x1080p, H.264, mp4 or mov, closed captions burnt in
• Audio: 128 Kbps, MPEG-4 AAC, 2 channel stereo, 48kHz

Captioning Style Guide

Captions should include:

• All words spoken by characters (including stuttering, mumbling, etc.).
• Words spoken by a narrator.
• The words to any song.
• Identification for off-screen speakers.
• Descriptions of sound events and music that have impact upon the story or meaning.

Captions should not include:

• Every word or sound effect where the pace of the film makes it impractical.
• Information that is already displayed on screen, e.g. text on a slideshow slide.

Typefaces

• Captions should be a white sans-serif font, such as Arial or Helvetica.

Background

• Captions should have a black background box.

Sentence Style

• Each sentence should use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters.
• Punctuation should follow normal style and conventions.
• Punctuation should convey, as much as possible, the way speech is delivered.
• Use ellipses or commas when there is a significant pause within a caption (e.g. It’s so…majestic).
• In order to maintain reading rate, non-essential information can be removed.
• Spell out numbers from one to ten, but use numerals for all numbers over ten.

Spacing

• Each line should be no more than 37 characters in length.
• Each caption should run over no more than two lines.
• Line and caption breaks should reflect the natural flow of the sentence and its punctuation.

Timing

• Captions should coincide with the relevant soundtrack, to preserve the relation between sound and visuals.
• The pace of a video sometimes makes it impractical to include every word or sound effect in caption form.
• Sentences should remain on screen for at least 2 seconds.

Sound and Speaker Identification

• Any noise or music that enhances the visuals, contributes to characterisation, or adds atmosphere should be captioned.
• Sound effects and music descriptions should be shown in square brackets, e.g.
  [dog barking]
• Speakers names (if specified) and sound effects should be shown on a line of their own, e.g.
  (Bill)
  It’s beautiful weather to go for a walk in the park.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us via our email or on our socials!