All genres are allowed.
Films must be between the 1-second and 40-minute mark (No more, no less, and good luck telling a 1-second story.)
No copyrighted material, music, or footage allowed.
Proper use of brands is permitted, but heavy focus, defamation, or misconstruing is to be avoided.
No multi-part/episodic/series submissions. Each submission will be graded individually.
Films must be submitted on the WAVES app itself; it is the exclusive method for entry between the dates of Nov. 2, 2023, 12:00 a.m. EST, and Feb. 14, 2024, 11:59 p.m. EST.
Films must be finished productions and "ready for distribution."
Only the director, owner of the film, or email associated with the WAVES app can submit and claim a movie as their own.
Entries are accepted worldwide.
Submitted films may have been previously published, or in other words, you can submit a film you created in the past.
Contestants must agree not to submit any films of a pornographic or illegal nature. The Promoter reserves the right to disregard any images of such a nature. The winning film must be presentable.
1st Place: Chosen by the WAVES team and special guests, exercising discretion in determining the winner.*
2nd Place: Voted by app users, considered the Audience Choice Award.
The distribution of prize money is at the discretion of the WAVES team, with guaranteed payouts within six months after concluding the contest.*
Employee Eligibility: Employees and associated individuals are ineligible for the first-place $10,000 prize but can compete for the second-place award.
Prizes: The second and third-place prizes are to be determined. $10,000 will be awarded to the first-place winner.
Finalists will be notified via email/DM.
All costs associated with the Prize are the responsibility of the Prizewinner.
Prize winners are advised of potential tax implications and should seek independent financial advice.
Winners must cooperate with media requests related to the Prize.
The first-place film will be selected by the WAVES team based on criteria including but not limited to originality, creativity, and storytelling talent.
A joint decision by the Promoter and judges is final, with no further correspondence or debate regarding the outcome
All judges will independently select their favorite short films and send their selection to the Creative Directors and Founders. The responsibility of choosing the winner lies with the Creative Directors and Founders.
The finalists and the eventual second-place film (Audience Choice Awards) will be selected by the users of the app.
Towards the end of the contest, a poll will be held on WAVES where any and all users can choose their favorite films.
A majority vote will win the second-place prize, which will be TBD at a later date.
Filmmakers must obtain permission from anyone pictured within the content.
No limit to the number of films a participant can enter.
Entrants must update the Promoter if contact details change during the Promotion Period.
The Promoter is not responsible for technical issues, oversights, or omissions in processing entries.
If the promotion is interfered with in any way or is not capable of being conducted as reasonably anticipated due to any reason beyond the reasonable control of the Promoter, the Promoter reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to the fullest extent permitted by law (a) to disqualify any entrant; or (b) subject to any written directions from a regulatory authority, to modify, suspend, terminate or cancel the promotion, as appropriate.
If, for any reason, the promotion is not capable of running as planned due to any reason including, but not limited to, infection by computer virus, bugs tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of the Promoter which corrupts or affects the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the promotion, the Promoter reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the promotion.
The Promoter reserves the right to disqualify any entrant who, in the opinion of the Promoter, engaged in conduct in entering the promotion that is fraudulent, infringes third-party intellectual property rights, is misleading, deceptive, or generally damaging to the goodwill or reputation of the Promoter or Sponsors. The Promoter reserves the right to disqualify a winner if the Promoter becomes aware that the winner and/or the winner's entry is of a type described in this clause.
It is a condition of accepting any prize that the winner may be required to sign a release of liability in a form to be determined in the absolute discretion of the Promoter.
Collection, use, and disclosure of information: The Promoter ('we,' 'us') collects the information that the entrant ("you") chooses to provide to us – for instance, by providing us with information by entering into a promotion (including this promotion) that we are conducting.
The Promoter reserves the right to change or amend any of the Terms and Conditions outlined above with adequate and fair notification to all participants involved in the promotion and in no way is held responsible for any consequential actions stemming from these changes.
The WAVES team may use submitted films for material, including but not limited to future, current, and upcoming contests, promotional material, podcasts, newsletters, and other materials not listed.
All finalists will be embedded on the Only Wave website. After 90 days, filmmakers can request the removal of their movies. One year after the contest concludes, filmmakers have the right to request their films not be used in marketing material.
All finalists will be embedded on the Only Wave website. After 90 days, filmmakers can request the removal of their movies. One year after the contest concludes, filmmakers have the right to request their films not be used in marketing material. Entrants must update the Promoter if contact details change during the Promotion Period.