Festivids Vid Exchange!

Current Festivids stage: The Festivids submission deadline is approaching: January 14 at 11:59 PM UTC.

If you're not sure about participating or are new to Festivids, here are the basics.

What is Festivids?

Festivids is an annual vidding exchange for small, rare, and completely nonexistant vidding fandoms. Vidders sign up by requesting vids in 5-10 small fandoms, and offering to vid 4-20 small fandoms. (Treats are also allowed - you don't need to sign up to participate!)

Festivids runs on the AO3's exchange platform; if you'd like to participate but you don't have an AO3 account, direct message us and we'll send you an invitation so you can make an account immediately without having to wait in the usual AO3 invitation queue.

What is a rare vidding fandom?

For Festivids this year, "rare vidding fandom" means a fandom that has less than 150 one-minute-or-longer vids made in the last ten years. Festivids volunteers go through the nominations and evaluate rarity of each fandom nominated! If you're not sure if your fandom is rare, you can check our guidelines to evaluating rarity.

What kinds of things can I nominate?

If you can vid it, you can nominate it. Participants have nominated and vidded commercials, tv shows, movies, graphic novels, web comics, books, paintings, podcasts, music videos, celebrities, social media accounts, live performances, and just about anything else you can be fannish about. Festivids nominations rules help us to understand exactly what you're trying to nominate.

Because many Festividders write letters to describe their fandoms, and many Festividders watch every vid in the collection, this is also a great way to introduce your tiny fandom to a bunch of new people!

Want to see some of these vids? Check out last years' Festivids collection or every Festivids collection that's on the AO3.

What is the Festivids schedule?

I defaulted after the deadline in a previous year - can I still participate this year?

Yes, you can still participate. If you defaulted after the deadline in a previous year, the mods will reach out to you after you sign up to discuss an earlier deadline for your vid this year. (That is, you may need to turn in a complete draft by January 2nd instead of January 14th.) If you turn your draft in on time this year, your record will be wiped clean and you'll be back to the regular schedule next year.

I want to sign up, but I think I'll need some support to help me as I make my vid.

Festivids also has an optional Festivids Buddies system. You can sign up for Festivids Buddies and be assigned a fellow participant in the exchange to cheerlead your vid, make music recs, beta your vid, help you find source, or provide technical help. You can ask for exactly what you want in the Festivids Buddies signup and we'll do our best to assign you a Festivids Buddy who knows your software system, shares your fannish interests, or is really excited to offer the kind of help that you want. (If you're new to the exchange, this is also a great way to meet people and find a beta who will keep your secret vid secret!)

More questions? Check out our complete guide to Festivids 2023.

It's live! Proudly presenting the 160 vids of Festivids 23/24.

Festivids Submission Deadline Is Tomorrow!

Hello, Festividders! As the submission deadline draws near, some reminders:

Assignment vids are due on Sunday, January 14, 11:59 PM UTC. What time is that for me?

Note that if you claimed a pinch hit, it may have a different deadline noted in the original post or email.

You'll be able to make tweaks to your AO3 vid post between submitting it and the collection opening, but your vid should have a complete timeline when you submit, as well as any relevant tags or warnings. (In particular, we know that potential physical triggers are increasingly common in modern sources, so please do tag for physical triggers if your vid includes anything like strobe lights, bright lights, or "stuttery" cuts between 2-3 stills). If you're not sure, email us and we'll be happy to help.

Extensions: If you are unable to finish your vid by the deadline, but you're 99% sure that you'll be able to finish it before the collection opens, you can request an extension. Email us at festivids at gmail dot com and let us know what you need.

If you're not completely sure that you'll finish your vid by the time the collection opens, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can send your recipient out to pinch hit. You can still finish and post your vid, but that gives a possible pinch hitter as much time as possible to make a gift. And now there will be two vids for your recipient, which is awesome! It is okay to default at this point in the exchange - the only consequence is that you may have an earlier deadline next year.

Treats! If you're interested in making treats, you can submit them any time before the collection opens, which won't be any earlier than Saturday, February 3, 9:00 AM UTC.

If you're looking for inspiration, you can browse this year's signups here on the AO3 or here on the AO3 exchange tool.

Pinch Hit #7

This pinch hit has been claimed!

We're looking for a pinch hitter!

Instructions: If you wish to claim a pinch-hit - which means agreeing to create a vid for any one of the requests, without getting a vid in exchange - please send us a private message with your email address and AO3 username or comment on the dreamwidth version of this post. You will be contacted via email if you successfully claim the pinch-hit.

Anyone may claim a pinch hit, even if they are not signed up for Festivids. This pinch hit is due Friday, January 26th (a little more than one week after assignments are due).

Thank you!

Fandoms for Pinch Hit #7

Pinch Hit #6

This pinch hit has been claimed!

We're looking for a pinch hitter!

Instructions: If you wish to claim a pinch-hit - which means agreeing to create a vid for any one of the requests, without getting a vid in exchange - please send us a private message with your email address and AO3 username or comment on the dreamwidth version of this post. You will be contacted via email if you successfully claim the pinch-hit.

Anyone may claim a pinch hit, even if they are not signed up for Festivids. This pinch hit is due Friday, January 26th (a little more than one week after assignments are due).

Thank you!

Fandoms for pinch hit #6:

Pinch Hit #5

This pinch hit has been claimed!

We're looking for a pinch hitter!

Instructions: If you wish to claim a pinch-hit - which means agreeing to create a vid for any one of the requests, without getting a vid in exchange - please send us a private message with your email address and AO3 username or comment on the dreamwidth version of this post. You will be contacted via email if you successfully claim the pinch-hit.

Anyone may claim a pinch hit, even if they are not signed up for Festivids. This pinch hit is due Sunday, January 21st (one week after assignments are due).

Thank you!

Fandoms for Pinch Hit #5:

Pinch Hit #4

This pinch hit has been claimed!

We're looking for a pinch hitter!

Instructions: If you wish to claim a pinch-hit - which means agreeing to create a vid for any one of the requests, without getting a vid in exchange - please send us a private message with your email address and AO3 username or comment on the dreamwidth version of this post. You will be contacted via email if you successfully claim the pinch-hit.

Anyone may claim a pinch hit, even if they are not signed up for Festivids. This pinch hit is due Sunday, January 21st (one week after assignments are due).

Thank you!

Fandoms for Pinch Hit #4:

Pinch Hit #3

This pinch hit has been claimed!

We're looking for a pinch hitter!

Instructions: If you wish to claim a pinch-hit - which means agreeing to create a vid for any one of the requests, without getting a vid in exchange - please send us a private message with your email address and AO3 username or comment on the dreamwidth version of this post. You will be contacted via email if you successfully claim the pinch-hit.

Anyone may claim a pinch hit, even if they are not signed up for Festivids. This pinch hit is due Sunday, January 21st.

Thank you!

Fandoms for Pinch Hit #3:

We're also still looking for a pinch hitter for Pinch Hit #2!

Check-In Post and AO3 Collection Open

We are still looking for a pinch hitter!

Check-In Post

If you are participating in Festivids 2023-24, please comment and confirm that you are still in by Monday, December 18th, via this dreamwidth post. Comments are screened.

As a reminder of this year's key dates: Tues 2 Jan - Deadline to default without penalty Sun 14 Jan - Submissions deadline Sat 3 Feb - Vids go live! Sat 10 Feb - Reveals

Please let us know your AO3 username if it's different from your dreamwidth username or if you don't have a dreamwidth account. If you have trouble commenting here, you can also email us at festivids at gmail dot com.

If you submit your finished assignment before the end of the check-in period (see instructions below), you don't need to also comment here!

Collection Open for Posting

The Festivids 2022-23 Collection is now open for posting! If you've completed your assignment or a treat, you can submit it now.

If you'd like a walkthrough for submitting your vid to the collection, here's a step by step guide.

As well as the standard AO3 warnings and warnings for Physical Triggers, Festividders should, where applicable, warn for the following in the Additional Tags field or the Notes field:

Animal Harm; Auditory Triggers; Blackface/Brownface/Redface [use in all contexts]; Blood/Gore [significant amounts]; Depictions of Police; Holocaust and/or Nazi Imagery; Incest; Queerphobia [depictions of queerphobia/homophobia or queerphobic violence]; Racism [depictions of racism and/or racist violence]; Self-harm; Suicide; Transphobia [depictions of transphobia and/or transphobic violence].

If you’re not sure whether your vid needs one of these warnings, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the mods at festivids AT gmail DOT com.

Vids will go through moderation before appearing (unrevealed and anonymous) in the collection. Don't be alarmed if your vid is waiting in the moderation queue for a few days or even longer! We always wait until there are several vids in the queue before approving any, to help with anonymity.

Pinch Hit #2

This pinch hit has been claimed.

We're looking for a pinch hitter!

Instructions: If you wish to claim a pinch-hit - which means agreeing to create a vid for any one of the requests, without getting a vid in exchange - please send us a private message with your email address and AO3 username or comment on the dreamwidth version of this post. You will be contacted via email if you successfully claim the pinch-hit.

Anyone may claim a pinch hit, even if they are not signed up for Festivids. This pinch hit is due Sunday, January 21st.

Thank you!

Fandoms for Pinch Hit #2:

Pinch Hit #1

This pinch hit has been claimed!

Instructions: If you wish to claim a pinch-hit - which means agreeing to create a vid for any one of the requests, without getting a vid in exchange - please send us a private message with your email address and AO3 username or comment on the dreamwidth version of this post. You will be contacted via email if you successfully claim the pinch-hit.

Anyone may claim a pinch hit, even if they are not signed up for Festivids. This pinch hit is due Sunday, January 14th.

Thank you!

Fandoms for Pinch Hit #1:

Dear Festividder Letters

You can now see a list of all participants and their requests on the AO3 or in the searchable AutoAO3App. You can also sign up for Festivids Buddies at the google form.

If you have a Dear Festividder letter, you can reply with it here so that your vidder or potential treat-makers can find it easily. We recommend that your comment include a list of the fandoms you requested as well as the username you used to sign up for Festivids on the AO3.

A Dear Festividder letter can give your assigned vidder more detail on your preferences, and also can make it easier for other vidders to make you a treat vid!

What's a Dear Festividder letter?

A Dear Festividder letter is a completely optional open letter that you may post to your Dreamwidth / Tumblr / blog / website / etc. In the letter, you can list the sources you requested, and give your vidder some suggestions about themes, characters, pairings, music choices, and so on. Please note that vidders are not obligated to follow these suggestions; vidders are completely free to make any vid they want within the assigned fandom, regardless of the details in your letter. However, many giftvidders may appreciate having some guidance about your preferences.

If you don't have a Dreamwidth / Tumblr / other blog where you can post your letter, you can either put the text of your letter in your comment on dreamwidth (where anon comments are allowed), or you can email the mods at festivids at gmail dot com with the text of your letter, and we'll post it somewhere for you.

Vidders, your assignment email may contain a link to your recipient's letter. If it does not, you may want to check this post or the dreamwidth crosspost for a letter from your recipient. Please remember that sometimes it takes people a while to write letters, so you should check back a couple of times if no letter appears right away.

Festivids Assignments

Assignments are out! If you haven't received your assignment, please check your spam folder. If there's an issue with your assignment, please let us know.

Assignment vids are due Sunday, January 14th.

You can also sign up now for a Festivids Buddy! Fill out the google form to tell us what you're looking for - whether it's a beta, a cheerleader, someone to help you figure out a technical problem, or advice about music. You can also fill out the form to offer your help to others. You don't need to be a Festividder to offer to help; if you're not participating this year but would love to cheerlead, beta, troubleshoot, or offer music advice for someone who is participating, let us know. Who knows, maybe you'll meet your new bestividder in the process!

You can fill out the Festivids Buddy form at any point in the exchange, so if you encounter a problem or decide to make a treat later you can fill out the form and we'll do our best to match you.

Questions? Check out the Guide to Festivids 2023.

Festivids signups are open!

2023 Festivids Tagset

Signups open later today, but for now: the Festivids tagset of everything you can request and offer this year is complete!

You can add info or explain why your fandom is awesome in the spreadsheet.

If you see any issues, please let us know via email so we'll be sure to see it right away.

One note: if there was a disambiguation issue with your fandom, we may have put two versions of your tag into the spreadsheet so that we could complete tag reviewing. One of the tags should still be the one you meant to nominate.