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Win a 12-day Filmmaking Assignment to Tanzania!

Travel Film Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions

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Eligibility

How old do I need to be to be eligible for the scholarship?
You need to be over 18 at the time of the application deadline (before July 10, 2018).

I am a professional filmmaker. Can I apply for this opportunity?
The scholarship is not open to professional filmmakers.

Am I considered a professional filmmaker?
Have you been regularly commissioned to make films (in any genre) or derive more than 25% of your income from any aspect of filmmaking? If so, you would be considered a professional and therefore not eligible to apply.

If you're still learning the craft of filmmaking and if creating films is responsible for less than 25% of your income, then you’re eligible to apply. This may mean you have had a few films commissioned in the past, or keep a regular video channel of your own – but it isn’t your full-time gig.

We appreciate that the filmmaking industry is difficult to break into and there are a lucky few who can count themselves as professional full-time filmmakers. This scholarship is a learning experience for a budding filmmaker and the judging panel will be selecting the person who they feel will most benefit from the learning opportunity.
So, whilst we are not stipulating exactly what does and does not constitute a professional, please consider the spirit of the mentorship program and whether you think you would make the most ideal candidate.

I am currently studying filmmaking at university/college/film-school. Will this affect my chance on winning?
If you are still learning the craft of filmmaking and the majority of your income is not derived from filmmaking activities then you are eligible to apply. However, if you have been regularly commissioned to make films (in any genre) or derive more than 25% of your income from filmmaking you would be considered a professional and would therefore be ineligible.

I speak very little English. Will this be a problem?
In order for you to get the most of this mentorship, you will need to be able to understand and converse with your mentor, Brian Rapsey. Brian only speaks English, so while English does not have to be your first language, you will need to have conversational English for this scholarship.

Do I need a current passport? What about visa requirements?
You do need a current passport with at least eight months left before expiry. We'll assist the winner in acquiring a visa and reimburse all associated costs, however the applicant must be eligible to obtain a Tanzanian visa.

I live in Tanzania. Can I apply for this scholarship?
Of course. Our friends from Tanzania are eligible too!

Applications

Can I apply more than once?
No, you can only submit one application.

Can a pair or team submit an application?
No, each film must be submitted by an individual filmmaker. While in previous years we have allowed team submissions, this year we're looking for an individual applicant, who need nothing more than a camera and a sense of adventure to unearth a great story.

Can I make a video in my local language with English subtitles?
Yes, you may submit a film in your local language however, if people in your film are speaking a language other than English your film must include English subtitles. Keep in mind that English skills are paramount as our mentor Brian Rapsey only speaks English.

Can I include animation in my film?
Yes, you may have some animation, but you must still adhere to the brief.

Can I include music in my film?
Yes, you can include music in your film. However, please be aware, you will need to follow the guidelines outlined by YouTube & Vimeo. If you use copyrighted music, you run the risk of your entire audio track being stripped from your video.

Can I use photos in the film?
Yes, you can use photographs in your film. However, a film compiled solely of photographs will not be considered – you need to demonstrate your skill with the moving image.

I have some great material but it was taken using a phone. Will it have a chance?
Have a look at the winning videos of our previous film scholarships and see if your footage compares. Remember, the film needs to have good audio too.

I have a great story for my film, but it's not about a travel experience. Can I still submit it?
As per our brief, the film must be about a travel experience.

Do I have to interview someone in the film?
Being able to interview a subject is an important skill in documentary making. Your film should showcase your ability to coax a good story out of your subject. To fulfil the scholarship brief you will need to interview a traveler with a great story – show us how they traveled and the emotions they felt during their experience. You will find out what they have done, where they have been, what kind of person they are, and why you find them interesting. We want you to bring to life their compelling travel story to life and share their unique philosophies, quirky travel rituals and fascinating curiosities.

I would like my film to be about my own travel experience. Can I interview myself?
No, the film cannot be about your own travel experience. The brief requires you to creatively tell us about another traveler's experience. You may be a part of their story, however you need to show our judges that you can interview another person.

Do I need to appear in the film?
You don't need to appear in the film. However, you can film yourself or narrate the story.

Can I use previous travel footage I have shot?
Your submission may be compiled from previous travel videos you've shot as long as it still adheres to the brief.

Can I use footage shot by someone else?
While the majority of the footage should be your own, you may use some footage captured by someone else, provided you have permission to use it within your film. By applying for this scholarship you warrant that your application is original, owned by you and is in your own words.

Can I submit a film that I have previously made if it fits the scholarship brief?
Yes, you can submit a film you've worked on previously as long as it meets the brief. Make sure it's under three minutes.

My film is under/over three minutes is that okay?
All films under three minutes will be considered. If you watch our previous winning films they're all between two and three minutes, so make the most of the timeframe provided. If your film is over three minutes, it will not be judged – no exceptions will be made.

Can I edit my application once submitted?
No, you cannot change or edit your application once it has been submitted. Please check, and double-check your application before you hit the 'submit' button.

Does World Nomads own the film I apply with?
No, by applying for this scholarship you allow World Nomads to showcase your film on the World Nomads website and use the film to promote the World Nomads Travel Film Scholarship. More details can be found in the Program Terms & Conditions.

So the film I apply with will be available for the public to view?
Yes, your film must be publicly available to view and will be publicly displayed on our website. If your film is behind a password-gate, it will not be considered. If you would like your film removed from the World Nomads website please email scholarships@worldnomads.com with the title of your film. Please note, your personal essay and contact details will not be made public.

The Trip

What will the winner win?
The successful applicant will receive the following:
- Return economy airfare from the nearest international airport to Tanzania.
- A 12-day, all-expenses-paid trip in Tanzania courtesy of our friends at OneSeed Expeditions.
- A three-day, all-expenses-paid post-production workshop with professional filmmaker and scholarship mentor, Brian Rapsey.
- $1000 USD worth of Langly gear.
- $1000 USD worth of audio equipment courtesy of RØDE Microphones.
- The cost of any relevant visas and vaccinations and travel insurance for the duration of the trip from World Nomads.

What are the trip dates?
The winner will arrive in Tanzania on October 11 and depart October 23.

Are the trip dates final or could they be altered a little?
Yes, the trip dates are final and the winner will have to be available for the full duration of the opportunity.

What will I have to produce during and after the trip?
Under the mentorship of Brian Rapsey you will be shooting a short five to seven-minute travel documentary, and you will then attend a post-production workshop in Tanzania to commence your editing work. Within two months of your return, you will complete your video and submit the piece to World Nomads. You will also be required to keep a daily diary about your time on the trip and write about your experience on the World Nomads website.

Will I need to bring my own equipment? If so, what gear do I need to bring?
Yes, you will need to bring your own equipment. You will need to have a camera capable of capturing reasonably good quality video and audio. DSLRs and camcorders are preferable, GoPros and iPhones are less preferable – simply because you are limited in what you can do with them. However, if you are able to demonstrate you have an excellent eye for a story and an excellent grasp of visual language, we will look past gear limitations.

What will the mentorship entail?
Every day on assignment, you'll catch up with your mentor Brian to review your footage, discuss your story direction and ply him with your filmmaking questions.

How can I prepare for my trip?
Prior to departure, we'll work with the winner to flesh out themes, story lines and potential filming ideas... Then we'll let you loose to research and get amongst it!

Can I bring a travel companion or my partner along for the trip?
Only the winner will be allowed on assignment. Should the winner wish to extend their stay in Tanzania after the assignment, this can be discussed.

Is there any other way to get into the program besides the scholarship? Can I pay for my room and expenses myself and take part in the program?
No, this trip is only for the scholarship winner.

Troubleshooting

I have a problem submitting my application. Can I email my application to you? Help!
No, you cannot email your film to us. All applicants need to fill out the application page and submit their applications via our website. If you have encountered any specific issues please contact us at scholarships@worldnomads.com.

I keep receiving a character count error with my personal essay, how can I fix this?
Make sure that your text is within the specified character limit (which includes spaces) as per our form's counter. Keep in mind that this is characters and not words and that we can't guarantee an external counter will exactly match our form's counter.

I'm not sure if my application was submitted correctly. How do I check this?
Successful applications will be visible within this section. If you cannot find your application here, it is likely we have not received your submission. Please try to apply again.

Have a question? Ask us below.

Please note: Due to the large number of questions we receive, any question already answered in the above FAQ section or within the comments section will not be answered again.

Important dates

10 July Applications close

8 August Winners announced