Screening Committee

We rely on the film reviews from volunteers to make award determinations. This year we are hosting weekly Watch Parties to build community within our screening committee.

Watch PartIES

A nine-week series of virtual events (via Zoom) to collect comments on our award contenders.

  • Enjoy watching new short films,
  • Provide feedback to inform award considerations, and
  • Build community as a group that loves storytelling and trails.

To attend, RSVP below for the Watch Parties you wish to attend. Also, please review event details before participating. 

 

IDEAL PARTICIPANTS
We seek participants who want to help curate an enjoyable experience for our audiences by volunteering time and their perspective on films. People with experience with film festivals, media production, arts programming, trails, storytelling, and community events are encouraged to participate. While we do not have a minimum time commitment for participants, our deliberations will be benefited by a diverse Screening Committee that have seen many of the films under consideration this year.

SCHEDULE
Our watch party schedule varies to rotate these events’ time zones. You do not need to attend all sessions to participate. Join when you can—we are thankful for your comments on as many films as you can review.

If you would like to participate in the Screening Committee but cannot attend Watch Parties, we can provide alternative access to review all of the films.

WHAT TO EXPECT
Each session will include a welcome before watching up to four short films. This will be followed by an optional 30 minutes to discuss the films and enter your scoring notes in our evaluation form. To evaluate feature-length films, we’ll match volunteers with films to watch and evaluate according to their own schedules.

AWARD DETERMINATIONS
After our nine-week series, we’ll host a pair of Trails Film Award Deliberation sessions between August 15 and 30. We’ll review notes from screenings and discuss which films stand above and beyond for our awards, which will be presented at the World Trails Conference on October 1, 2024, in Ottawa, Canada.

TERMS
To prevent conflict of interests, individuals who are personally involved in a film production/promotion or affiliated with an organization that is party to a film cannot provide comment/review on that film. They are welcome to participate in Watch Parties and comment on other films.

PRIVACY
All Watch Party sessions are private and confidential. We ask that all conversations and documents shared be kept within the meetings and with film festival hosts. No screen recording will be allowed to protect filmmakers’ copyright and work. Comments, deliberations, and final award determinations are also private until the formal announcements are made by the World Trails Film Festival.

QUESTIONS & OTHER COMMENTS
As always, you can contact us at info@trails.film

Watch PartIES

A nine-week series of virtual events (via Zoom) to collect comments on our award contenders.

  • Enjoy watching new short films,
  • Provide feedback to inform award considerations, and
  • Build community as a group that loves storytelling and trails.

To attend, you must register for each event you wish to attend. Also, please review event details before participating. 

 

Watch Party (1/9)

June 19, 02:00 UTC

(June 18, 10pm EST)

Watch Party (2/9)

June 25, 10:00 UTC

(June 25, 6am EST)

Watch Party (3/9)

July 2, 23:00 UTC

(July 2, 7pm EST)

Watch Party (4/9)

July 10, 2:00 UTC

(July 9, 10pm EST)

Watch Party (5/9)

July 16, 10:00 UTC

(July 16, 6am EST)

Watch Party (6/9)

July 23, 23:00 UTC

(July 23, 7pm EST)

Watch Party (7/9)

July 31, 02:00 UTC

(July 30, 10pm EST)

Watch Party (8/9)

Aug. 6, 10:00 UTC

(Aug. 6, 6am EST)

Watch Party (9/9)

Aug. 13, 23:00 UTC

(Aug. 13, 7pm EST)

IDEAL PARTICIPANTS
We seek participants who want to help curate an enjoyable experience for our audiences by volunteering time and their perspective on films. People with experience with film festivals, media production, arts programming, trails, storytelling, and community events are encouraged to participate. While we do not have a minimum time commitment for participants, our deliberations will be benefited by a diverse Screening Committee that have seen many of the films under consideration this year.

SCHEDULE
Our watch party schedule varies to rotate these events’ time zones. You do not need to attend all sessions to participate. Join when you can—we are thankful for your comments on as many films as you can review.

If you would like to participate in the Screening Committee but cannot attend Watch Parties, we can provide alternative access to review all of the films.

WHAT TO EXPECT
Each session will include a welcome before watching up to four short films. This will be followed by an optional 30 minutes to discuss the films and enter your scoring notes in our evaluation form. To evaluate feature-length films, we’ll match volunteers with films to watch and evaluate according to their own schedules.

AWARD DETERMINATIONS
After our nine-week series, we’ll host a pair of Trails Film Award Deliberation sessions between August 15 and 30. We’ll review notes from screenings and discuss which films stand above and beyond for our awards, which will be presented at the World Trails Conference on October 1, 2024, in Ottawa, Canada.

TERMS
To prevent conflict of interests, individuals who are personally involved in a film production/promotion or affiliated with an organization that is party to a film cannot provide comment/review on that film. They are welcome to participate in Watch Parties and comment on other films.

PRIVACY
All Watch Party sessions are private and confidential. We ask that all conversations and documents shared be kept within the meetings and with film festival hosts. No screen recording will be allowed to protect filmmakers’ copyright and work. Comments, deliberations, and final award determinations are also private until the formal announcements are made by the World Trails Film Festival.

QUESTIONS & OTHER COMMENTS
As always, you can contact us at info@trails.film

INSTRUCTIONS

All films are reviewed using FilmFreeway, which is our web-based film festival platform. You will receive a login to your email. 

  1. Log in to FilmFreeway (details in another email).
  2. Watch the films 
    1. FLAGS: Red = Exclude. Yellow = Consider/watch. 
    2. Please watch Yellow films completely, if possible. 
    3. Please minimize distractions or multitasking while reviewing films. 
    4. If the film is really not a good fit or absolutely a 1-star you can provide your review without completing the entire film.
  3. Review the filmhttps://airtable.com/shrq1zaZjtTQJr4pz
    1. Take a look at the form before your first screening.
    2. Please complete with adequate notes to assist in program and award determinations.
    3. Out of respect to filmmakers and excitement for festival event, please do NOT post opinions on social media — save the excitement for the official announcements!
  4. Communicate with Jay regarding needs, please read his future emails, and keep in touch! You can reach him at info@trails.film

Thank you and looking forward to hearing your thoughts on our entries!

Your one-time or recurring donation will support the ongoing programing and fiscal accessibility of our events for trail non-profits around the world.

The World Trails Film Festival is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of The World Trails Film Festival must be made payable to “Fractured Atlas” only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.