RTF Realtime International Film Festival

(Updated 5 Apr 2025) This call for entries is for the 10th edition of the Realtime International Film Festival (RTF). The 2025 edition will be a destination edition and will feature their signature Real-time Filmmaking Challenge. Parents/Teachers/Guardians this competition also includes entries for Short Films made by kids aged 7 - 15 years of age.

APPLICATION WINDOW

CLOSED

DEADLINE

1 Jun 2025

PRIZES

AWARD CATEGORIES:
The Hourglass Awards

(a) THE BIG SEVEN:
1. Best Festival Themed Film
2. Best Director
3. Best Screenplay
4. Best Cinematographer
5. Best Editor
6. Best Lighting Designer
7. Best Sound Designer

(b) COMPETITIVE WITH SUBMISSION
1. Best Documentary - Worldwide
2. Best Movie By A Foreign Female Director / Producer (Non - African)
3. Best Uncompleted Movie - Work In Progress - Movies Still In The Making
4. Best Nollywood Short Film - New Filmmakers
5. Best Nollywood Short Film - Established Filmmakers
6. Best Nollywood (Nigerian) Feature Film
7. Best African Short Film - For Other African Countries Except For Nigeria
8. Best Foreign Short Film - Outside Africa
9. Best Foreign Feature Film - Outside Africa
10. Best Movie From Francophone Africa
11. Best African Feature Film - All Other African Countries Except Nigeria
12. Best Music Film - Music Videos With Great Storylines
13. Best Lead Actor
14. Best Supporting Actor
15. Best Lead Actress
16. Best Supporting Actress
17. Best Child Actor
18. Best Special Effects / Prosthetic Make Up
19. Best Original Soundtrack
20. Best International Animation
21. Best Visual Effects (Vfx)
22. Best Poetry
23. Best Spoken Word
24. Best Student Film - Worldwide
25. Best Use Of Technology
26. Best Cell Phone / Tab Movie
27. Best Inspirational / Christian Film
28. Best Inspirational / Muslim Film
29. Best 3d Movie
30. Films Made By A Child Director Aged 7 - 15
31. Best Film Made "For Kids" - By Any Filmmaker
32. Best African Animation
33. Best 360 Degree Video
34. Best Advert / Commercial
35. Best Movie By An African Female Director / Producer
36. Best Real-Time Movie (To be shot & completed on the final day of the Festival)

(c) CERTIFICATES FOR TEAMS AT THE REAL-TIME FILM CHALLENGE
1. Best Team (Innovation)
2. Best Team (Production ethics)
3. BEST Team (Deadline Record Time)
4. Best Behind the scenes edit.
6. Best Production stills
7. Best Movie Title
8. Best lead Actor in a Real-time challenge film
9. Best Supporting Actor in a Real-time challenge film
10. Best lead Actress in a Real-time challenge film
11. Best supporting Actress in a Real-time challenge film

(d) INDUSTRY SPECIALTY AWARDS / PLAQUES (Variable each year)
1. Award For Best Stunts Person (Winner & First Runner-Up )
2. Award For Best Real-Time Film Project (First And Second Runners-Up )
3. Award For Best Prosthetic Make-Up Specialist (First Runner-up )

(e) HONOURARY MENTIONS (Variable each year)
1. Best Trailer
2. Best P & A and Merchandising
3. Best Technology - Production
4. Best Technology - Post Production
5. Fantastic Brand Support

The following categories are free to submit
1. Short Film / Music Film Showcase
2. Feature Film / Documentary Showcase
3. Short Films made by kids aged 7 - 15 years of age
4. Father Ubald RTF Hourglass Peace Award
5. Sadiq Daba RTF Hourglass Award For Senior Actors (free if you worked with elderly actors in your movie, with performances deserving of an award)
6. Alex Isado RTF Hourglass Hero Documentary Award (free if your documentary or unscripted format is based on the life/deeds of someone who can be considered a hero)

Note that for other categories a submission fee ranging from $4 to $70 may be required, depending on the Film Category, Membership and/or the date you submit your entry.

OTHER KEY DATES

August 26, 2024: Applications Opened
October 1, 2024: Earlybird Deadline
April 1, 2025: Regular Deadline
April 1, 2025: Notification Date
August 22 – 24, 2025: Event Date