1. Overview

The Playground Pastime Film Contest (“Contest”) is organized by Playground Pastime/The Referral Store, LLC (“Organizer”) to celebrate diversity, challenge AI bias, and showcase innovative storytelling from underrepresented communities. By participating, entrants agree to abide by these Terms and Conditions.

2. Eligibility

• Open to AI artists worldwide, with a special emphasis on underrepresented communities, including but not limited to people of color, Indigenous groups, and cultural minorities.
• Participants must be at least 18 years old at the time of submission.
• Each entrant must submit an original AI-generated film that aligns with the contest theme.

3. Submission Categories

Participants may submit to one or more of the following categories:

• Advertising/Marketing: AI-generated video promoting a product or service (real or fictitious).
• Afro-Futurism: Celebrating African culture and heritage with futuristic and sci-fi elements.
• Historical Reimagined: Depictions of historical events, figures, or moments through a contemporary or futuristic lens.
• Music Video: An original AI-driven music video (must not include copyrighted music).
• Social Commentary: AI Film reflecting societal issues, cultural dynamics, or personal perspectives.
• Surreal and Fantasy: Dreamlike or imaginative worlds that challenge reality.

Each submission must be unique if entering multiple categories.

4. Submission Guidelines

• Originality: All submissions must be original works created by the entrant using AI video tools.
• Content Standards: Submissions should be respectful and free from offensive, discriminatory, or explicit content.
  • Unacceptable content includes, but is not limited to:
    • Material that violates or infringes upon another’s rights, including privacy, publicity, copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights.
    • Content that is indecent, lewd, pornographic, obscene, profane, hateful, defamatory, slanderous, or libelous.
    • Material that promotes discrimination against or contempt for individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or serious disease.
    • Content that promotes illegal activities, violence, or the use of firearms/weapons.
    • Material that is unlawful in any jurisdiction where the submission is created.
• Technical Requirements:
  • Format: MP4
  • Resolution: 1080p maximum
  • Length: 1 to 3 minutes
• Entry Fee:
  • Early Entry  – $0 March 15th – March 25th
  • Regular Entry – $40 March 26th – April 15th
  • Student Entry – $25 March 26th – April 15th 
  • All fees are non-refundable and charged per video submission

Multiple Entries

• Each entry must be distinctly different if submitting to multiple categories.
• Additional entries require a separate applicable fee per submission.

5. Submission Process

• Complete the online submission form (available when submissions open).
• Upload your video following the technical specifications.
• Provide a brief description (150 words max) outlining your creative process and the AI tools used.
• Upload two high-resolution images that best represent your video.
• Pay the appropriate entry fee via the secure payment portal.

6. Contest Timeline

• Submissions Open: March 15, 2025
• Deadline: April 15, 2025 (11:59 PM, CST)
• Judging Period: April 15 – May 31, 2025
• Winners Announced: June 1, 2025

7. Judging Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Creativity and Originality: Unique storytelling and concept execution.
• Technical Quality: Effective use of AI tools and production techniques.
• Artistic Expression: Emotional impact and aesthetic quality.
• Alignment with Theme: Strong representation of diversity and combating AI bias.
• Storytelling Impact: Thought-provoking and insightful messaging.

8. Winner Selection and Notification

• Selection Process: A panel of judges with expertise in Artificial Intelligence, traditional art, storytelling, screenwriting, photography, music and diversity will evaluate submissions based on the criteria outlined above.
• Notification: Winners will be notified via email using the contact information provided during submission.
• Verification: Winners may be required to provide proof of eligibility, complete an affidavit of eligibility/liability release, and grant permission for publicity as a condition of receiving the prize.
• Disqualification: Failure to respond to the notification within a specified time frame or failure to provide required documentation may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner.

9. Prizes and Recognition

• Grand Prize: $1,500 cash award, Magazine feature and complimentary AI subscriptions and licenses 
• Finalists: Magazine feature and AI subscriptions and licenses.

10. Rights and Usage

• Entrants retain full ownership of their work.
• By submitting, entrants grant Playground Pastime/The Referral Store, LLC a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to feature, promote, and showcase their videos in:
  • Playground Pastime Magazine or other magazines in partnership with the contest
  • Digital and social media promotions
  • A dedicated YouTube channel and/or promotional materials
• Entrants will always receive proper credit when their work is used.

11. Disqualification and Refund Policy

• Entries containing plagiarized, offensive, or inappropriate content will be disqualified without refund.

• Entry fees are non-refundable under any circumstances.

• Late submissions will not be accepted.

12. Publicity

By participating in the Contest, entrants agree to the use of their name, likeness, and submission for promotional purposes without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law.

13. Limitations of Liability

The Organizer is not responsible for:

• Any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by entrants, printing errors, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest.
• Technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to, malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software.
• Unauthorized human intervention in any part of the submission process or the Contest.
• Technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Contest or the processing of entries.
• Any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant’s participation in the Contest or receipt or use or misuse of any prize.

14. Ownership – Sponsor’s Reservation of Rights

The Organizer reserves the right to:

• Disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or to be acting in violation of these Terms and Conditions or any other promotion or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner.
• Cancel, suspend, and/or modify the Contest, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures, or any other factor beyond the Organizer’s reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning

15. Contact Information

For questions, support, or additional details, please reach out to:
📩 Email: [email protected]