Festival start: 18 September 2027
Festival end: 18 September 2027
Planet Frame: International Youth Film Festival & Anthology
Planet Frame is an international youth film festival and creative platform bringing together filmmakers aged 12–24 from around the world. Based in Morganton, North Carolina, USA, the festival provides a space for a new generation to share its stories, perspectives, and creative visions through cinema.
One of Planet Frame's distinctive features is its outdoor public screenings on a large screen, where films by young filmmakers are presented to live audiences in the heart of the city.
Each season, Planet Frame invites young filmmakers to reflect on one question. The question for 2027 is:
What comes next?”
What lies ahead for us, our communities, and the world we share? What do we hope for, what do we fear, and what might we change?
This question is an invitation to reflection, not a mandatory theme. Every filmmaker is free to tell the story that matters to them.
Planet Frame welcomes fiction, documentary, animation, observational, experimental, and hybrid films. We value originality, artistic vision, creative storytelling, and the authenticity of each filmmaker's voice.
Beyond festival screenings and awards, Planet Frame aims to help young films reach new audiences. Through curated selections, filmmaker interviews, editorial features, educational screenings, and the **Planet Frame International Film Almanac**, selected works may find opportunities to be seen and appreciated beyond the festival itself.
Planet Frame is more than a film competition. It is a meeting place for emerging voices from different countries and cultures — a space where young filmmakers can share their perspectives, connect with audiences, and contribute to an international cinematic conversation.
Planet Frame 2027 takes place on September 18, 2027, in Morganton, North Carolina, USA.
We welcome young filmmakers from around the world to become part of Planet Frame 2027.
Awards & Recognition
Every film submitted to Planet Frame receives careful consideration from our selection team.
All eligible participants receive a digital Certificate of Participation. Officially selected filmmakers receive confirmation of their selection, while finalists and winners are awarded personalized digital diplomas.
Planet Frame believes that a young filmmaker's journey should not end with a festival submission. Selected filmmakers may be featured in articles, interviews, filmmaker profiles, curated film collections, and promotional publications across Planet Frame platforms.
One of the festival's distinctive features is its outdoor public screenings on a large screen in Morganton, North Carolina, where young filmmakers' stories are shared with live audiences in an open community space.
Selected films may also be presented through non-commercial educational and cultural screenings at schools, libraries, galleries, and partner venues.
Some films may be invited to join the Planet Frame International Film Almanac, a curated anthology bringing together young cinematic voices from different countries. Participation in the almanac is subject to separate authorization from the rights holder.
Winning films may also be featured in a non-commercial online collection on the official Planet Frame website, in accordance with the festival's Rules & Terms.
Additional special awards and forms of recognition may be introduced in collaboration with festival partners.
Planet Frame celebrates originality, creative courage, artistic vision, and the unique perspectives of young filmmakers from around the world.
Planet Frame: International Youth Film Festival & Anthology
2027 — Rules & Terms
1. Eligibility
Planet Frame is an international youth film festival open to filmmakers aged 12–24 from around the world.
Participants under the age of 18 must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian to submit a film and accept the festival's terms. All submissions must comply with Festhome's account and age requirements.
2. Accepted Formats
We accept fiction, documentary, animation, observational films, video essays, experimental films, and hybrid works.
There are no genre restrictions. We welcome originality, individual artistic vision, and diverse forms of cinematic expression.
3. Running Time
The recommended running time is up to 15 minutes.
Each film must be submitted separately. Multiple submissions by the same filmmaker are permitted.
4. Language
Films not in English must include English subtitles.
5. Submission Materials
Each submission should include:
- A film accessible to the selection team for review.
- A trailer, if available.
- A poster or key image.
- A short synopsis.
- A photograph of the filmmaker.
- A short filmmaker biography.
The festival may request missing materials before confirming a film's selection or screening. Submissions without an accessible film may not be considered.
6. Thematic Approach
Each season, Planet Frame invites young filmmakers to reflect on one question.
The question for the 2027 season is:
What comes next?
We invite young filmmakers to reflect on their own lives, their communities, the world around them, and the future they imagine.
This question is an invitation to reflect, not a mandatory theme. Planet Frame welcomes stories that matter to their creators, regardless of genre or subject.
We value originality, artistic vision, creative storytelling, and the authenticity of each filmmaker's voice.
7. Selection
Submitted films are reviewed by the Planet Frame selection team.
Decisions regarding official selection, screening programs, finalists, and winners are made by the festival team and jury in accordance with the festival's selection process.
Planet Frame reserves the right to decline submissions that conflict with the festival's values and ethical principles.
Submission does not guarantee selection, screening, or an award.
8. Festival and Educational Screenings
One of the distinctive features of Planet Frame is its outdoor public film screenings on a large screen, bringing young filmmakers' work directly to live audiences in Morganton, North Carolina, USA.
Selected films may be presented during festival screenings and as part of non-commercial cultural and educational programs at schools, libraries, galleries, cultural institutions, and partner venues.
By submitting a film, the submitter grants Planet Frame a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to present the film at these screenings, including repeated non-commercial screenings organized by the festival or its authorized partners.
This permission allows Planet Frame to organize such screenings without requesting separate authorization for each event.
The screening program, locations, and formats are determined by the festival team.
9. Awards and Recognition
All participants who submit eligible entries receive a digital Certificate of Participation.
Officially selected films receive confirmation of their selection status. Finalists and winners receive personalized digital diplomas.
Selected films and filmmakers may be featured in editorial articles, interviews, curated selections, educational programs, and across Planet Frame platforms.
Some films may be invited to become part of the **Planet Frame International Film Almanac**, a curated anthology bringing together young filmmakers' work from different countries.
Inclusion in the almanac, distribution through other festivals, partner projects, or online platforms beyond the permissions granted under these rules requires separate authorization from the rights holder.
Additional awards and forms of support, including monetary prizes for local participants, may be available depending on the involvement of festival partners.
10. Online Publication of Winning Films
Complete films receiving awards at Planet Frame may be published on the official festival website as part of a non-commercial online collection of winning films.
By submitting a film, the submitter grants Planet Frame a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to publish and make the complete film publicly available for online viewing on the official Planet Frame website if the film receives an award.
This permission applies only to winning films. It does not authorize the automatic online publication of films by other participants, nominees, or finalists.
Winning films may remain available on the website without a predetermined publication end date.
The rights holder may request removal of their film from public viewing at any time. Planet Frame will discontinue public access to the film on the festival-controlled website within 30 calendar days of receiving and verifying such a request.
Copyright and ownership remain with the original rights holders. Planet Frame does not acquire the right to sell the film or license it for commercial distribution.
11. Copyright and Permissions
By submitting a film, the submitter confirms that they are the copyright owner or have the necessary authority to grant the permissions described in these rules.
The submitter confirms that all necessary rights to music, images, footage, performances, and other third-party materials have been obtained, including the rights required for public and online screenings.
Planet Frame may use excerpts, stills, posters, and trailers for informational and promotional purposes related to the festival and its programs.
All permissions granted under these rules are non-exclusive. Copyright remains with the respective rights holders.
12. Minor Participants
For filmmakers under the age of 18, the submission and permissions described in these rules must be made or expressly authorized by a parent or legal guardian.
The parent or legal guardian must have the necessary authority to accept these terms on behalf of the minor.
Planet Frame reserves the right to request written confirmation of parental or guardian consent before any public or online screening.
13. Submission Fees and Final Decisions
Planet Frame 2027 accepts submissions free of charge through Festhome.
Any separate service fees charged by Festhome, if applicable, are determined by the platform and are not festival submission fees.
Decisions of the Planet Frame selection team and jury regarding festival selection and awards are final.
14. Festival Date and Location
Festival Date: September 18, 2027
Location: Morganton, North Carolina, USA
Official Website: https://www.planetframe.net/
Young Filmmakers (Ages 12–24)
Short Films 15'<
No Fee
Submissions deadline
01 Aug 27
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Open to filmmakers aged 12–24 from around the world.
We welcome fiction, documentary, animation, observational, experimental, and hybrid short films.
All genres and subjects are welcome. The recommended running time is up to 15 minutes.
Films not in English must include English subtitles.
