Rules
The 1.4 Awards Show celebrates the world’s cleverest and most original short-form filmmakers.
It is simply about brilliant filmmaking.
Our only requests? Entries must be less than 20 minutes in length and have been made after January 2023 and not been entered in previous 1.4 Awards. Simple!
Media
Media type: Video
File types: mov, mp4
File size: Up to 500 Mb
Minimum resolution: 1920 x 1080 Video codec: H264
The new Multi-hyphenate category accepts video, still image, PDF and MP3 files. See the category list below for more information.
Deadlines
EARLYBIRD DEADLINE (reduced fee) 13 November, 2024
STANDARD DEADLINE FROZEN UNTIL 10 January, 2025
FINAL DEADLINE 29 January, 2025
click here for entry fees
Categories
You can enter work in one of three experience levels:
Flying High Directors (Established/more than 4 years professional experience)
On the Cusp of Greatness (1 to 4 years professional experience)
In the Making (Film students and unsigned directors with up to 1 year of professional experience)
...in any of these categories:
Music Video
Where music meets the moving image! For work commissioned by a musical artist or label to promote a music track.
Music Video (Extended) NEW FOR 2025
Longer-format pieces in the Music Video space. These can include narrative pieces created around a track or encompassing multiple tracks from an album. Films in this category should generally have a duration upwards of 6 minutes and no more than 20 minutes.
Dance
Celebrating the best and most imaginative move-busting work. Strike a pose! Films in this category may also be eligible to enter in other 1.4 Awards categories.
Planet Positive
Filmmaking with a strong message of sustainability - environmental, social and economic. This category imagines what the world could be, and takes a look at the world we have now. Films in this category may also be eligible to enter in other 1.4 Awards categories.
Commercial
Brilliant films for brilliant brands. Films commissioned by a brand as a commercial made primarily for cinema or television distribution. Maximum length: 120 seconds.
Short Film
The best of succinct storytelling.
Documentary
Showing us the world as it is. Short-form non-fiction or informative work.
Animation/CGI
For the most ingenious animations in the land. A substantial chunk of the work must be animated or computer generated. Films in this category may also be eligible to enter in other 1.4 Awards categories.
Branded Content
Longer projects for brilliant brands. Commercially branded commissioned work, mainly intended for online distribution. Commercials longer than 120 seconds are eligible in this category.
Fashion Film
Beyond the catwalk. Work inspired or commissioned by fashion designers or labels to promote a wearable collection.
Sport
From fly-fishing to hang gliding, surfing to skateboarding - anything goes as long as it’s exhilarating or mesmerising or a good visual story. Probably not golf then. Films in this category may also be eligible to enter other 1.4 Awards categories.
Personal Project
For that film that you just HAD to make. Non-commissioned labours of love, video art projects, or spec commercials..
Humour
Any short-form piece of filmmaking served funny side up. Films in this category may also be eligible to enter other 1.4 Awards categories.
Multi-hyphenate NEW FOR 2025
To celebrate cross-discipline artists and directors that work across multiple art forms. Entrants can submit between 2 and 4 pieces of work showcasing at least 2 different skills, one of which must be moving image-based. Skills exhibited may include: director, musician, actor, editor, animator, cinematographer, photographer, and visual artist. In addition to any moving-image work eligible in other 1.4 categories, entrants may submit other visual or audio content, including music tracks, photographic images, and digital artwork.
Photographers/visual artists are advised to upload a PDF portfolio of their work containing no more than 8 images
Judging & Winners
Judging Process:
1.4 and an advisory board of judges will select the Longlist which will be featured on the 1.4 website.
An international jury of curators and commissioners will then select a Shortlist from which there will be a final vote to select the Winners.
Online laurels will be available for Shortlist and Winners who will be selected by the 1.4 Awards Jury.
Celebration and ceremony:
The Shortlist and Winners will be honoured at the 1.4 Awards of Brilliant Filmmaking Party at London’s Barbican on 7 May 2025.
Shortlisted and Winners’ work will be shown in full-length (unless there are festival restrictions) on the 1.4 website.
Many of the shortlisted and showcased directors will be interviewed and featured on 1.4.
