What the $%#& is it?!?!

The Buried Alive Sinema Challenge was developed as a fun motivational film making competition for local artists. We understand how hard it is too complete a film in a single weekend…especially a horror film, an animation, or any kind of film that requires a little more special fx or technical love. So we wanna give you THIRTEEN DAYS! Why 13? Because its spooky that’s why…and we wanna see what you really got! No excuses of running out of time.  Give it your best, call up your friends, borrow some equipment, find a weird location, get some local band involved and make something we’ve never seen before and most of all, have fun doing it! But wait there is a catch… to ensure that your film was created for our festival we have random horror sub-genres you draw from and an obscure subject to work with. No mater what the outcome of your film is, it will be screened as the opening film block of the 17th annual Buried Alive Film Fest!

 

Registration Fee is required to reserve your spot, and space is limited.

  1. Team leader must be 18+.
  2. Use at least one Horror Subgenre card and one Humanity card.
  3. Do not include Genre or Subject cards in the credits.
  4. No pre-screening distribution—this leads to disqualification.
  5. AI as a tool, can only be used for editing or sound correction, not for creating content.
  6. Submit your film by September 23rd, 2025 at 11:59 pm via FilmFreeway.
  7. Include a Certification Statement
  8. Do not use Creative Commons licenses that are Non-Commercial or Sharealike.
  9. Film must be 5–13 minutes (including credits).
  10. Only pre-film work allowed is organizing cast, crew, equipment, and locations.
  11. Required slates must be in a specific orderSLATES:
    • Pre-film Required Slates In This Order
      • 5 seconds of black
      • A title card with: team name, title, subject, and Card against Humanity, and the year. 
      • The official BAFF Sinema Challenge title card DOWNLOAD -OR- a title card with: This film was made for the 2025 Buried Alive’s 13 Day Sinema Challenge www.buriedalivefilmfest.com.
      • 2 seconds of black
      • Then your film.
    • End Credits
      • Credits at the end of each film are limited to a maximum of 30 seconds. The 30 seconds is considered included in the length of the film.
      • The end credits must include the words: “This film was made for the 2025 Buried Alive’s 13 Day Sinema Challenge.”
  • BE SAFE!!!

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Sub-genres

The subject card can be a person place or thing and can be used in a variety of ways but must be noticeable. Whether it be a character, a prop, a location, or a line of dialogue. Cannot be used in credits.

Cryptids: Legendary creatures like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster, often hiding in plain sight.

Blood Sucking: Vampires and other creatures that crave and feed on blood.

Howling Creatures: Werewolves and other shape-shifters that howl at the moon.

All Wrapped Up: Mummies and ancient curses that bring the dead back to life.

Magical Creatures: Beings with supernatural powers, such as fairies, elves, and unicorns.

In the Shadows: Monsters that lurk in darkness, hidden and waiting to strike.

Weird Science: Horrors created by mad scientists, like Frankenstein’s monster.

Close Encounters: Encounters with extraterrestrial beings or alien abductions.

Nuts and Bolts: Sci-fi horror involving robots, androids, or artificial intelligence gone wrong.

Back from the Dead: Ghosts, revenants, or other spirits returning from the afterlife.

Invasion: Hostile takeovers by aliens or unknown entities.

Classic Monster: Timeless creatures like Dracula, Frankenstein, or the Mummy.

New Monster: Fresh, original monsters not previously seen in horror.

Body Horror: Disturbing transformations or mutations of the human body.

Psychological: Horror that plays with the mind, blurring reality and illusion.

Nature Gone Wild: Animals or plants turning deadly and attacking humans.

Twisted Romance: Love stories with a dark, horrific twist.

Serial Killer: Stories centered on a human killer, often with a twisted mindset.

Demonic/Devil: Possessions, deals with the devil, and other demonic influences.

Infection/Medical Horror: Viruses, diseases, or medical experiments causing terror.

Zombie/Cannibal: The undead craving flesh or humans turning to cannibalism.

Slasher: A killer methodically stalking and murdering victims.

Genre Fusion: Blending horror with other genres, like comedy or action.

Clowning Around: Killer clowns and other sinister circus-themed horrors.

Retro Horror: Horror stories with a vintage or nostalgic feel, often set in past decades.

Cautionary Tale / Folklore: Horror stories based on myths, legends, or moral lessons.

Found Footage/Documentary: Horror told through a found footage style or documentary format.

 

Sinema Challenge Award Categories:

Here’s a brief description for each award category:

13 Awards (Trophies)
– Overall Sinema Challenge
– Best Director
– Audience Choice
– Editing
– Acting Performance
– Score
– Sound
– WTF Award
– Production Design
– Practical FX
– Best Villain
– VFX
– Risk Taker (This award recognizes films that boldly tackle challenging topics, using the horror genre to raise awareness, inspire change, or motivate audiences to strive for a better world.)

If your team submits your film on time, it will receive an official Sinema Challenge selection laurel.

 

SubGenres and Card Against Humanity

The subject card can be a person place or thing and can be used in a variety of ways but must be noticeable. Whether it be a character, a prop, a location, or a line of dialogue. Cannot be used in credits.

Remember your adherence to the genre and use of subject are included in the judging criteria. It is important to be as creative as possible.

Have the right paperwork.

All creative work must be done during the official filmmaking period; however, you can get some of the tedious paperwork done ahead of time.

It’s important documents in place to protect your team. We do have a sample talent and location release form that you’re welcome to copy for your own use. Feel free to copy, modify, and personalize it with your logo and information.

Please note that this form is shared ‘as-is,’ and it’s your responsibility to ensure it meets your legal and project-specific requirements. Be sure to adapt it to comply with any local regulations, and the unique needs of your production.

Certification Statement
The Entrant must submit a Certification Statement after his/her completed entry is uploaded on Vimeo , certifying adherence to all Official Rules.
Fill out The Certification Form Here

 

Waiver and Talent Release Forms
It is recommended that you have your talent sign releases ahead of time – then you don’t have to worry with it during crunch time.
Note: This form helps protect you and your group, as well as Buried Alive Film Festival.
Sample Talent Release Form

 

Music
Seek out local musicians, bands & composers that may be willing to let you use their work in your film because it creates additional exposure for their talents. Give them credit in the film in exchange for the use of their music.You may use music or materials that fall under the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Note: Please do not use Creative Commons licenses that are either Non-Commercial or Sharealike as they are incompatible with our festival.

 

Location Filming Permits
Permits are not required for submission to the BAFF. Contact your local film commission in advance for information about filming in your area. There is nothing wrong with scouting and securing locations in advance.
Sample Location Release Form

 

Production Documents

Each team leader is responsible for their own and must secure releases for talent, music, and locations (and any other applicable needed releases), if a BAFF staff member requests a release form and the project leader cannot produce said release. BAFF reserves the right to remove the film from the contest with no application refund and a revocation of all passes.

 

Official Time Period

The only work that can be done before your team has received their Genre and Subject is organizing your cast and crew and securing equipment and locations.

During the official time period you are responsible for writing your script, costume/set design, makeup fx or fabrication, shooting, editing, sound design, and final digital output submission.

 

Filming

All footage must be shot within the Official Time Period of the project. Stock footage is only accepted for background images such as television, computer monitor or if used in a visual effect for an artistic purpose.

Also allowable is the use of stock chromakeyed backgrounds, fire, explosions, gunshots, etc. All stock footage must be obtained legally and you must have permission of use.

 

Safety

Remember: safety comes first! No shot in a 13-minute film is worth risking injury to an actor, damaging a location (without permission), or ruining your equipment. Make sure to have a daily safety meeting with your cast and crew to discuss the day’s plans. If you’re doing makeup FX, whether with a pro or amateur, always check for allergies to materials. Please note, if unsafe conditions are reported, we reserve the right to disqualify and not screen your film.


Keep repeating—”It’s only a movie!

 

Total Running Time

The finished film must be a minimum of 5 minutes in duration, and a maximum of 13 minutes in duration, including end credits. In other words, the official running time begins after the required BAFF Sinema Challenge slates and ends after the credits. End credits can be no longer than 30 seconds.

 

Required Media Formats

Please export you film to following specifications:

Video/Data Settings:
Compression type H.264
Frame rate 23.97(preferred) 29.97fps, 24fps, 25fps, 30fps are acceptable,
Key frames AUTO
Quality BEST (in Adobe Premiere, Render at maximum depth)
Data-rate RESTRICT TO 50mbps (in Adobe Premiere, VBR 2Pass)
Dimensions CURRENT (final projection will be 1920x1080p)

Sound Settings:
Format: LINEAR PCM or AAC
Channels STEREO (L,R)
Sample Rate 48K
Quality BEST 320kbps

 

Slates and Credits

Required slates must be in a specific order

SLATES:

  • Pre-film Required Slates In This Order
    • 5 seconds of black
    • A title card with: team name, title, genre, subject, and year.
    • The official BAFF Sinema Challenge title card DOWNLOAD -OR- a title card with: This film was made for the 2025 BAFF Sinema Challenge www.buriedalivefilmfest.com.
    • 2 seconds of black
    • Then your film.
  • End Credits
    • Credits at the end of each film are limited to a maximum of 30 seconds. The 30 seconds is considered included in the length of the film.
    • The end credits must include the words: “This film was made for the 2025 BAFF Sinema Challenge.

Slates And Credits After The Competition

For any future screenings, online or otherwise, films should retain the pre-film title card that says: This film was made for the 2025 BAFF Sinema Challenge www.buriedalivefilmfest.com.

 

Submission Reminders

  • SOUND LEVELS: We recommend that you make sound levels relatively even throughout your film. (If your film has uneven sound or sound that peaks, it may be modified to protect the playback equipment.)
  • NOT TOO DARK: Be weary of making your film too dark. As projection specs my vary.
  • All films received on the evening of the deadline (on-time and late) will be screened, presuming they meet the eligibility requirements.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Project, Entries must be the original work of the Entrant; must not infringe third-party’s rights; may not invade privacy or other rights of any person, company or entity; may not in any other way violate applicable laws and regulations; and may not contain any copyrighted elements (other than as owned by the Entrant and/or BAFF Sinema Challenge).

Entries containing prohibited or inappropriate content as determined by the BAFF staff, in its sole discretion, to be inappropriate will be disqualified. BAFF reserves the right to make the final determination as to which Entries are eligible. BAFF also reserves the right to refuse to screen a film or to make an announcement at the screening regarding the content of the film.

 

No Pre-Screening Distribution

The Entrant should not screen the film before the screening at the BAFF Cinema Challenge screening event. Not online or in a public space. You are encouraged to make a trailer and spread the word if you so wish to do so.

Rights Reserved

The Buried Alive Film Festival and it’s parent company Rock with Siren, LLC reserves its rights to screen the film at the festival as well as any festival presentations, programs, advertisements and/or related events without notifying the team. However we will always do our best to make contact with the team if said situation should happen.

 

After the Festival

All films are welcome to be entered in other festivals as long as the Buried Alive Slates are in the End Credits of your Film with the website address. For any future screenings, online or otherwise, films should retain the pre-film title card that says: This film was made for the 2024 BAFF Sinema Challenge www.buriedalivefilmfest.com.

 

Important Dates

09/10/25  Launch Party (Best of the Best, Vendors, and Card Draw)

09/23/25  Film Submissions Due
FilmFreeway or Email Link


11/06 and 11/07  Premieres
The Plaza Theatre

11/07/25  Sinema Challenge Awards

11/07/25  Celebration Party

11/09/25   BAFF Awards

REQUIRED WITH SUBMISSION

Certification Statement
Title Card Download

 

RECOMMENDED FOR YOUR FILES
Location Release Form (Sample)
Talent Release Form (Sample)
Creative Commons Attribution License (Non-Commercial or Sharelike are incompatible with our festival.)

WELCOME 2025 TEAMS

Chandler Balli
Diesel Dragons
Girls Who Smoke
Grindup Films
Mega Fart
Moco Studios
No-Eyed Deer
Okay at Best
Scream-U
Tentacle Romance XXX
The Saeki Family
TitleFrame
Presidential Flash Cards
The Thrill Me Squad
Refractive Lens
Ziggy Sawdust
Another Voice
Bootlegger Productions
Battle Unicorn Thunder Titans of the Ancient Intergalactic Dimensional Syndicate 

IMPORTANT DATES

 

LAUNCH PARTY /  BEST OF THE BEST
Date: September 10th, 2025
Time: 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm EST
Where: The Tara Theatre
2345 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE,
Atlanta, GA 30324
Schedule

 

SUBMIT FILM BEFORE
Date: September 23rd, 2025
Time: 11:59 PM EST
Where: FilmFreeway

 

SCREENINGS
Date: November 5 & 6, 2025
Where: The Plaza Theatre

 

AWARDS
Date: November 6th, 2025
Where: The Plaza Theatre


WINNERS MOVE ON TO BURIED ALIVE
Date: November 7-9, 2025
Where: The Plaza Theatre

 

BAFF AWARDS
Date: November 9, 2025
Where: The Plaza Theatre

 

Questions: shannon@buriedalivefilmfest.com
Networking Group: Facebook (Cast and Crew)