Festival Format:
Exploring Risk with Images: Up to 30 still images at A0 will be physically showcased for three weeks (up to 20 May 2025) in Durham University’s Teaching and Learning Centre, at other host universities, and on the Exploring Risk 2025 website. A panel from the host universities will select the long-listed images and the six images that will receive awards.
Exploring Risk with Film: The Exploring Risk 2025 website will showcase up to 30 short videos of 1-3 minutes. A panel from across the host universities will select a long list of up to 30 videos and then decide on the top six videos that will receive awards. We will host two online Exploring Risk 2025 Film Screenings on Tuesday, 20 May 2025, at 09:00 and 17:00 BST, covering working hours in many time zones across the globe. The screenings will feature the award-winning films and a discussion with the judges and award winners. Durham University will host an in-person screening of all long-listed films on Tuesday, 20 May 2025.
Awards:
The publicly visible Exploring Risk 2025 website will indicate the winning entries; each winner will receive a PDF certificate.
Submission:
There are two submission places: one for images and one for video
- Images: Form with file upload
- Video: FilmFreeway
Details:
Images of Risk 2025:
- All types and styles of still images are welcome, including, but not limited to, photography, artwork, comics, and computer-generated images.
- Images need to be at high resolution to be included in physical exhibitions worldwide. The key aspects are:
- A minimum of 12 megapixels is required, which is the size of a normal smartphone image.Any image format is fine, such as jpg, gif, png, ai, or svg.
- One entry can be made up of multiple image panels.
- AI-generated images are allowed but must be labelled as AI.
- Each image needs a 100–300-word caption to explain the narrative behind the image and how it is part of the transition to resilience.
Exploring Risk through Film 2025:
- Videos can be in any visual style, including but not limited to, photographic video or computer-generated animation.
- Videos must be between 60 and 180 seconds long.
- Any video format is acceptable that is supported by YouTube / Vimeo (MP4, MOV, WMV, AVI, FLV, and M4V)
- Videos must be of good quality and have a minimum resolution of at least 720P (HD). Higher resolutions, including 1080P, 4K, 6K, and 8K, are also accepted and encouraged.
- The audio needs to be of excellent quality to enable the automation of captioning and translations.
- Although not required, if subtitles are used, please do these in English
- The audio can be in any spoken language supported by Vimeo / YouTube
- Silent films are welcome
- AI-generated films are allowed but must be labelled as AI.
- The festival considers all visual styles