2021 MODE Fest
Welcome to the third biennial MODE Fest, celebrating the work of students and emerging motion designers who are creating some of the most interesting, imaginative, and well-crafted motion design work today. All submissions will be reviewed by renowned industry professionals and respected academics. Award-winning work will be screened virtually and numerous awards will be presented at the event.
This year’s competition will be judged in two distinct modules, one on application and the other thematically, with thematic projects being able to take on any form. There is also an additional GIF Challenge on this year’s theme of ( re )connect.
Submission to the festival also gets you all access to the MODE Summit!
MODE Fest takes place in conjunction with the Motion Design Education Summit. MODE is a 4-day event bringing together educators from different areas of expertise to present work and discuss motion design and how it enhances, effects, changes messages, meaning, and communication. Motion design is a shifting and evolving sphere—it encompasses a broad range of related fields: human computer interaction, design, journalism, film, television, animation, art, dance, theater, and more.
To find more detailed information about the summit, please visit our website,
To view the 2019 award winners visit
https://vimeo.com/channels/modefest2019.
Awards & Prizes
- $200 \\ People’s Choice Award
- APPLICATION CATEGORIES:
- $200 \\ Branding/Promotional
short form project promoting or advertising a brand, event, product, or service - $200 \\ Title Sequence
title sequence for film, tv, game, or event - $200 \\ Informational or Persuasive
short form explanatory or informational project with the goal of influencing an opinion - $200 \\ Interactive/Experiential
UX/UI: motion design in the context of a user interface for a game, application, or website
AR/VR: motion design in the context of an augmented reality or virtual reality experience
Experiential: motion design in the context of an installation, projection, or location-based experience ( interactivity is optional ) - $200 \\ Open Format Personal Project
Narrative: short form project with a narrative emphasis
Experimental: short form project exploring aesthetics, production techniques and/or technologies
THEME CATEGORIES:
The following Human Rights-Based Themes can take on any form:
- $200 \\ Black Lives Matter
- $200 \\ COVID-19/Global Health
- $200 \\ Feminist Issues/#MeToo
- $200 \\ LGBTQ+
- $200 \\ Voting
GIF CHALLENGE CATEGORY
- $200 \\ ( re )connect GIF Challenge:
Help spread the word about MODE by animating a looping animation inspired by 2021’s theme of “( re )connect.” Qualifying submissions will appear on the MODE Instagram @modesummit. The best submissions will be shown at the MODE Fest and are eligible for an award.
Rules & Terms
Please read carefully the following terms and conditions regarding any submissions you make to MODE Fest. You must accept these terms and conditions before your entry can be considered.
ELIGIBILITY
Students and Emerging Professionals. The work must have been produced in the last two years.
HOW TO SUBMIT
We only accept online submissions for review through FilmFreeway.
Entrants must upload their student ID or faculty ID ( if submitting on the behalf of students ), use their school email address, and provide what school they attend to be considered a valid entry. ( To upload a student ID, Go to ‘My Projects’ > ‘View’, then use the ‘Files & Attachments’ tool toward the lower right side of your Project Page to upload a copy of your student ID. )
Include a very brief synopsis of the project, the name of your faculty mentor, and course title. You may also choose to provide stills if you have them for promotional purposes.
Provide a link to the video on Vimeo and/or upload the video file, with the exception of the GIF Challenge ( see instructions below ). After notification of possible acceptance, we may request a higher-resolution copy of the video than was submitted for review. If one is not provided, the festival may screen the lower-resolution copy that was submitted, or cut the video from the program at its discretion. Once accepted, the applicant will be informed of the desired specific file formats.
FILE FORMATS
Most major codecs are accepted, but H.264 video with AAC audio is recommended for best streaming results. HD Resolution: 1920×1080 ( 1080p, 16:9 aspect ratio ) or 1280×720 ( 720p, 16:9 aspect ratio ). Vimeo and YouTube support MP4, MOV, WMV, AVI, FLV. Note that the Vimeo Basic Plan file size limit is up to 500mb per week.
( RE )CONNECT “GIF” CHALLENGE CATEGORY
Upload a looping 5-10 second 1080 x 1080px .mp4 file, 15mb max. Include the title “( re )connect” for at least 2 seconds in the video. Video must be set up to loop seamlessly.
MULTIPLE ENTRIES DISCOUNT
Multiple entries are allowed by each entrant, but will be treated as separate submissions. If you are submitting additional entries, email kacey.morrow@modesummit.com after proof of your first submission to receive a waiver code for 50% off each additional entry. This waiver cannot be shared and must be used by the same submitter. Please allow time for an email response.
INSTITUTIONAL RATE
Unlimited submissions from one institution for any and all categories. Submit the first entry using your institution’s email address, then email the MODE Fest Chair for your waiver at kacey.morrow@modesummit.com. Please allow time for email response. Once you receive your waiver, you or your students can submit unlimited entries in any category using your school email address.
CURRENCY
Entry fees are in U.S. dollars, per video entry and are non-refundable.
LANGUAGE
We invite films from all countries. However, it is recommended entries be in English or subtitled in English.
PERMISSIONS
By submitting to the festival, the applicant agrees to allow their video to be screened by the festival during the festival run and parts or all of the festival may be screened/streamed on Vimeo.
MODE is hereby granted the right to use the applicant’s name and utilize an excerpt or image from any video submitted and accepted for exhibition at the festival for promotional purposes.
The applicant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless MODE, from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses ( including but not limited to attorney’s fees, and costs of the court ) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.
The submitted video remains the sole property of the author.
The committee of MODE reserves the right to modify these terms due to any unforeseen circumstances.
2021 MODE Fest
Organizers
- MODE Fest ChairKacey Morrow
- MODE Fest Committee MemberAustin Shaw
- MODE Fest Committee MemberLiz Blazer
- Conference Chair & Master of CeremoniesR. Brian Stone
- Academic Peer Review & Proceedings ChairHeather Shaw
- Programming ChairGretchen Rinnert
- Logistics & Budgeting ChairAndre Murnieks
