LSE Government Film Competition

Am I eligible to take part?

If you are a current undergraduate, Masters of PhD student in the LSE Department of Government, you are eligible to participate in the photography competition.

How do I submit a film?

All films should be submitted as HD 1080p .mp4 files. If you have any technical queries, please don't hesitate to contact us on gov.comms@lse.ac.uk with a question.

Please send your submission via wetransfer to gov.comms@lse.ac.uk (If your file is too large to send via wetransfer, please email gov.comms@lse.ac.uk and we can arrange an alternative submission option.)

1. Open the webpage - wetransfer.com and select “WeTransfer” (this is the free version).

2. Select the "Send as link" option by clicking on the three blue dots in the bottom left corner of the white window where you can "Add your files"

3. Make sure you marked "link" instead of "e-mail", then click on the three dots again – this is so you can send us a link directly in an email.

4. Upload your film and click on "Transfer"

5. Copy your wetransfer link to a new e-mail addressed to gov.comms@lse.ac.uk with the subject title “Gov Film Competition”. Please ensure to send it from your LSE email address.

6. Please include your full name, your programme title, and a title for your film. 

How many entries can I submit?

We will only accept one submission per person.

Can I enter with another person or a team?

Yes, if you'd like to work with another person or in a small team you are welcome to, provided you do so in a covid-secure way, following local guidance on social distancing, mixing of households and mask wearing.

Can I submit an entry on behalf of someone else or that someone else has produced?

Any entries submitted to the competition must be your own original work, and we will not accept submissions on behalf of someone else.

How long should my film be?

Ideally films will be under 5 minutes long and designed to hold audience attention on social media, however you can go up to 10 minutes if that is necessary. 

What should my film look like?

We would like to see as much original content as possible - be creative! You could look to interview experts via Zoom or find archive footage (on YouTube, Box of Broadcasts, Learning on Screen etc.) to help illustrate your ideas. However, please ensure you have the relevant permissions before including any interview or archive footage in your final film.

When is the deadline for submission?

The deadline for submissions is Monday 1 February 2021 at 12 noon, we will not accept any submissions after this time. 

Who will pick the winner?

Our judges! Our judges will be the Head of Department, a member of the Professoriate and the Web and Digital Media Manager. 

Will the submissions be displayed anywhere?

Yes, we will post selected competition entries on our website and social media channels.

For any other questions you may have about the competition, please contact gov.comms@lse.ac.uk

• The competition commences on Tuesday 1 December 2020, and ends at 12 noon on Monday 1 February 2021. LSE accepts no responsibility for any entries that are incomplete, ineligible, corrupted or fail to be submitted by the relevant closing date for any reason. Entries via agents or third parties are invalid.
• This competition is only open to students who are enrolled as a student within the LSE Department of Government.
• Submissions by any other person or on behalf of them will not be accepted.
• To participate, entrants must send their video on the theme of 'A Political Counterfactual' via wetransfer to gov.comms@lse.ac.uk, with a title for their film.
• There is no entry fee for this competition.
• Personal details include names will not be disclosed to the judges – only the films and their titles will be made available to the judges.
• By submitting a piece of work, entrants agree to the use of their name and their work in any publicity material. Any personal data relating to the winners and any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party.
• By submitting your work for publication in this competition, you are making a contribution to the LSE website. The LSE website's Terms of use therefore apply. You are advised to familiarise yourself with these before submitting any images as submission implies acceptance of these terms.
• By contributing an image you agree to grant LSE a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use the image (see Contributing to the website). This requires that you own the copyright to the image and ensures that copyright remains with you as the contributor.