●Theme & Surprise Element Announcement.   At 10:00PM sharp on the Friday Night of the Film Race (the dates vary by city), each participating Team will receive an e-mail with their theme and surprise element assignment at the e-mail address they provided in their online team registration form.

●Theme & Surprise Element Assignment.  Each Team’s Entered Film’s plot must revolve around the assigned Theme and must incorporate the Surprise Element.  Examples of past Themes are "Revenge", "Bad Advice" and "Spare Change".  The Surprise Element can be a prop (a toothbrush, a balloon, etc..) which must be incorporated into the film or an action which must be performed in the film (ex. handshake, walking up stairs, etc.).

●Film Submission Deadline.  Each Team must physically deliver the completed Film on an acceptable format (see below), so as to be received by Film Racing staff, at the Film Dropoff Location by 10:00PM (exactly 24 hours after the Theme & Surprise Element Announcement).

●Production Work.  All production and creative work relating to any Entered Film, must take place ONLY during the 24-hour period between the Theme Announcement and the Submission Deadline (24-Hour Window). Production Work includes, but is not limited to, writing and/or improvising the script or screenplay, rehearsing, shooting, editing, animation, special effects, music and music design, sound, artwork, and titles and credits. NO Production Work may commence prior to the Theme Announcement!

●Preparations.  The ONLY work that may take place on any Film PRIOR to the date and time of the Theme Announcement is: (A) the organizing of cast members and crew members; (B) the securing of equipment; (C) the scouting and securing of locations; (D) costume and set design; and (E) the preparation, execution and submission of required documents.

●Maximum Length. The finished film must be a MAXIMUM of three minutes and thirty seconds (3:30) in duration, from picture start to picture end.  The maximum length of credits is thirty seconds (0:30).  Credits are not considered part of 3:30 duration of the film mentioned above.  So, a film can be three minutes and thirty seconds long (3:30) with an additional thirty seconds (0:30) of credits, for a total running time of Four minutes (4:00).

●Format Requirement. The finished film MUST be submitted as one of the following formats ONLY:

- QuickTime DV File – uncompressed, supplied on a DVD-ROM (DATA DVD)           

- mini-DV (NTSC)

- DVD – playable in a standard DVD player

●Label Requirement.  Each finished Film must be clearly labeled with the following information: CITY, YEAR, TEAM NAME, TITLE OF FILM, and RUNNING TIME.

●Aspect Ratio.  All films will be screened in 16:9 aspect ratio.  Teams may shoot in other aspect ratios, but it is highly recommend letterboxing the film to 16:9 so it won't appear distorted at the screenings.

●Signed Releases.   Each Team must obtain, and deliver to Film Racing staff along with their completed Film, the following releases which are available under each city open for registration on filmracing.com;  

- A signed written Talent Release with respect to each and every person and entity who may be depicted or whose services, work product or property has been accepted or otherwise used in connection with any submitted Film.

- A signed written Location Release with respect to each and every location which may be depicted, which may appear, or which may otherwise be used in connection with any Film, signed by the owner (not tenant) of such property location.

- A signed written Music Release with respect to all music which may appear, or which may otherwise be used in connection with any Film.

- A signed written “Artwork Release” with respect to any artwork, illustrations or animation used in connection with any Film.

- A signed written Cast & Crew Participation Agreement with respect to each and every person and entity who may be depicted or whose services, work product or property has been accepted or otherwise used in connection with any submitted Film. 

●Credits.  The textual beginning and/or end credits for any Entered Film delivered in the context of this Contest or otherwise created in whole or in part during the 24-Hour Window, MUST include a separate-card credit reading:

“Created in 24 Hours for The (insert your city) Film Race 2010 - www.filmracing.com”.