Submit Your Film to MNest
Creator Guide & Submission Portal.
Submission is free and no registration required in MNest Season 0.
Before You Submit
The Creator Guide outlines how MNest’s submission and curation process works. Please review it before submitting your film.
MNest is a curated discovery platform for cinematic machinima and motion‑based films. Before submitting, take a moment to understand how MNest works and what we look for. This section is designed to help you determine whether your film is a good fit for the platform and to ensure your submission experience feels clear, safe, and supportive. MNest accepts short films, full‑length movies, individual episodes from ongoing series, and hybrid story types such as LP Series. Creators may also include an optional trailer or teaser as supplemental media. MNest embeds films directly from YouTube and does not host video files. To help you prepare, review the Creator Checklist below. It is a self‑evaluation tool meant to guide you before you enter the formal submission process. Creator Checklist: 1. Film Fit My film is machinima or AI‑assisted storytelling created inside a real‑time 3D world, game, generative engine, or virtual environment. My film is publicly available on YouTube and is embeddable. My film is a complete story unit (short film, movie, episode, or LP episode). 2. Ownership & Rights I am the rightful owner of the YouTube channel submitting the film, which confirms my ownership of the film itself. I have the rights to all assets used in the film, including any licensed, purchased, or permission‑based materials. No part of my film uses unlicensed, unauthorized, or infringing assets. 3. Viewer Safety My film does not contain TV‑MA LSV content (graphic violence, sexual content, extreme explicit language, cruelty as entertainment). If my film includes sensitive themes allowed by MNest such as non‑graphic violence, horror elements, unsettling imagery, emotional intensity, mature topics, strong dialogue, and romantic intimate themes, I will tag and label it Viewer Discretion Advised. 4. Curation & Review I understand MNest may accept my film, request revision, decline it, or remove it later at my preference or as needed for platform integrity. I understand MNest may reorganize or refine collections as the platform evolves. 5. Promotional Permission I understand I may choose whether MNest can feature my film in promotional drops, newsletters, YouTube highlights, or cinematic reels. My decision does not affect acceptance of my film.
Submission Guidelines
The standards and requirements for submitting films to MNest.
These guidelines define the standards, requirements, and curation rules MNest uses when reviewing films. They are intentionally concise, cinematic, and designed to protect creators, viewers, and the integrity of the platform. 1. Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for review, a film must meet all of the following criteria: Public Availability — The film must be publicly accessible on YouTube. MNest embeds films; MNest does not host video files. Creator Ownership — The submitter must be the creator or rights holder of the film. Completed Film — MNest accepts completed films as the primary submission. Optional Trailer or Teaser — Creators may include a trailer or teaser as supplemental media. Trailers are not treated as standalone submissions and do not replace the main film. Machinima or Motion‑Based Medium — The film must fit within MNest’s accepted mediums (Machinima or Motion), as defined in MNest’s curation canon. Viewer‑Safe Access — The film must be viewable without age‑restricted barriers that prevent embedding or public access. 2. Curation Standards MNest evaluates each film using festival‑grade criteria: Story Clarity — The film presents a coherent narrative, concept, or emotional arc. Cinematic Tone — The film demonstrates intentional pacing, atmosphere, and emotional rhythm. Visual Coherence — Camera work, staging, and visual composition support the film’s intent. Audio Quality — Dialogue, music, and sound design are clear enough to support viewer understanding. Emotional Integrity — The film respects viewer safety and aligns with MNest’s curation philosophy. Cluster & Genre Fit — The film aligns with MNest’s cinematic clusters and genre definitions. Supplemental Trailer Review — If provided, the trailer is reviewed lightly for appropriateness and alignment with the film, but it does not influence acceptance. Curation is selective. Acceptance is not guaranteed. 3. Classification Rules MNest uses the following classification layers for accepted films: Genres Genres describe what the story is. MNest uses the locked genre set. This Film Is (Tone & Vibe) This classification describes the film’s emotional feel — not its content or genre. Examples include: atmospheric, comedic, reflective, intense, gentle, surreal. Content Notes Content Notes are strictly safety warnings. They are not genre, not tone, and not moral judgment. They exist to protect viewers and maintain MNest’s emotional contract. MNest prohibits TV‑MA LSV content and any film requiring such warnings. 4. Safety & Content Restrictions MNest maintains strict viewer‑safety standards. Films may not include: graphic violence or gore sexual content or sexualized minors hate speech, harassment, or targeted abuse dangerous acts presented without context or safety framing extreme disturbing content any material requiring TV‑MA LSV classification MNest does allow sensitive themes such as non‑graphic violence, horror elements, unsettling imagery, emotional intensity, mature topics, strong dialogue, and romantic or intimate themes. When these elements appear, the film must be tagged with Content Notes and will be labeled Viewer Discretion Advised to protect viewers. 5. Technical Requirements To ensure films can be reviewed and displayed properly: The YouTube link for the main film must be functional and publicly accessible. The film must have a title, description, and thumbnail. Audio must be audible and stable enough for review. Video must not be corrupted, incomplete, or missing segments. Optional Trailer — If provided, the trailer must also be publicly accessible on YouTube and clearly labeled. All media must be uploaded in formats compatible with YouTube embedding. 6. Review Process MNest’s review process is festival‑grade and selective: The curation team evaluates the main film based on the criteria above. Trailers, if included, receive a light appropriateness review but do not affect acceptance. MNest may accept, decline, or request clarification. MNest’s decisions are final and based on cinematic, emotional, and safety standards. Submission fees, if activated, cover review labor only and do not guarantee film acceptance. Declined films may be resubmitted if substantially revised. 7. Platform Integrity Rules To protect creators and viewers: Submissions must be genuine and non‑fraudulent. Creators may not impersonate other creators or submit films they do not own. Spam submissions or attempts to bypass curation are prohibited. MNest may remove films that violate safety, ownership, or integrity standards. Final Notes These guidelines exist to preserve MNest’s cinematic identity, protect creators, and ensure viewers experience films safely and meaningfully. They work in tandem with the Submission Agreement, Ownership Verification, and MNest’s curation philosophy.
Curation Process
An overview of MNest’s curation process
Our curation process is designed to honor your work, protect viewers, and maintain the emotional tone of the library. Here’s how we curate: 1. We spend time with every film and review it with care and intention MNest’s curation begins with intentional engagement. We look for storytelling clarity, emotional rhythm, creator intention, and alignment with MNest’s cinematic identity. 2. We evaluate viewer safety We check for content that may require the Discretion Advised label, and we ensure the film does not contain prohibited TV‑MA LSV elements such as graphic violence, sexual content, extreme explicit language, or cruelty as entertainment. 3. We verify ownership and rights We confirm that: you own the YouTube channel submitting the film you own or have licensed all assets used in the film your film does not contain unlicensed or infringing materials This protects both creators and the platform. 4. We assess fit within MNest’s cinematic library We consider how your film fits within MNest’s clusters, genres, and emotional tone. MNest is a curated space, not an open upload platform — selections are based on resonance, clarity, and alignment with the platform’s identity. 5. After review, your film may be: Accepted Accepted with a request for revision Declined All outcomes are handled with respect and clarity. 6. We maintain the library over time MNest may reorganize or refine collections as the platform evolves. This ensures the library remains cinematic, coherent, and emotionally safe.
Submission Agreement
The legal and operational terms governing film submissions to MNest.
The Submission Agreement outlines the standards, responsibilities, and expectations for creators submitting their films to MNest. By submitting your film, you acknowledge and agree to the following: 1. Film Eligibility Your film must be machinima or AI‑assisted storytelling created inside a real‑time 3D world, game, generative engine, or virtual environment. Traditional live‑action films are not eligible. 2. YouTube Availability Your film must be publicly available on YouTube. MNest embeds films directly from YouTube and does not host or store video files. 3. Ownership & Rights You must be the rightful owner of the YouTube channel submitting the film, which confirms your ownership of the film itself. You must also hold the rights to all assets used within the film, including any licensed, purchased, permission‑based, or engine‑provided materials. This includes (but is not limited to) mods, custom content, audio, music, models, textures, animations, and AI‑generated elements. Your film may not contain any unlicensed, unauthorized, or infringing assets. By submitting, you confirm that all materials used in your film are legally permitted for your use and distribution. MNest may decline or remove films that use unlicensed, unauthorized, or infringing materials. 4. Optional Promotional Permission MNest may feature your film in promotional materials such as YouTube drops, newsletters, social media posts, highlight reels, platform trailers, or cinematic stills that showcase new releases on the platform. This may include the use of: still frames from your film your film’s title, thumbnail, and metadata your creator name short video excerpts under fair‑use duration short audio excerpts under fair‑use duration creator‑provided branding (optional) creator commentary or quotes (optional) your social handles (optional) You may choose to opt in or opt out of promotional use. Your submission, review, and acceptance are not affected by your choice. MNest may monetize promotional content on its YouTube channel. Opting in grants MNest permission to include your film in monetized promotional media. 5. Content Standards MNest is a cinematic, emotionally safe, creator‑first platform. To protect viewers and maintain MNest’s tone, MNest prohibits TV‑MA LSV content, including: graphic violence sexual content extreme explicit language cruelty or exploitation as entertainment Films containing these elements cannot be accepted. MNest may decline films that violate viewer safety or platform values. 6. Viewer Safety Modes MNest uses two viewer‑facing modes to help viewers choose what they want to watch: General Audience — films suitable for all viewers. Discretion Advised — films containing intense themes, strong language, horror elements, or other content that may require viewer caution. Creators must accurately disclose any content that requires viewer discretion. 7. Curation & Review All films are reviewed by MNest’s curation team. Review outcomes may include acceptance, request for revision, or removal at the creator’s preference. MNest’s review process is designed to be respectful and protective. 8. Platform Integrity MNest may remove films that violate guidelines, misrepresent ownership, or compromise viewer safety. MNest may also remove or decline films that contain copyright violations, infringing assets, or materials that trigger YouTube copyright actions or DMCA notices. 9. Donation Terms Creators are free to share their own donation links with viewers. MNest supports creators by displaying these links without taking a percentage or acting as a payment processor. 10. Submission Fees MNest may use submission fees to support the time, labor, and curation required to review films. Submission fees, when active, do not guarantee acceptance or publication on the platform. They cover the curation team’s review work, not the outcome of the review. Submission fees are non‑refundable, including in cases where a film is not selected. 11. Visibility Duration Accepted films remain visible on MNest as part of the curated library. MNest is an always‑on cinematic space, and accepted films are intended to stay available for viewers as long as they continue to align with the platform’s standards and architecture. A film may be removed if: the creator requests removal the YouTube link becomes unavailable the creator deletes or privatizes the video the creator revokes permission the film is found to violate MNest’s content or integrity standards MNest updates its platform architecture or curation model in ways that require adjustments to the library 12. Platform Discretion MNest is a curated cinematic library that evolves over time. As the platform grows, MNest may reorganize, refine, or update its collections, clusters, and categories. MNest reserves the right to remove accepted films at its discretion when needed for platform development, architectural updates, curation refinement, or viewer‑safety considerations. Creators may request removal of their own films at any time.
Channel & Film Ownership Verification
Confirm your YouTube channel and film ownership.
Before you can submit your film, MNest must verify two things: 1. Your YouTube Channel Ownership This ensures that only the rightful creator can submit a film. Verification protects creators from impersonation and misattribution. 2. Your Film Ownership MNest confirms that the film you are submitting belongs to the verified channel. This maintains platform integrity and protects creators’ work. Verification is quick, secure, and required for all submissions. Once verified, you’ll be able to complete the submission form and send your film for review.
Post‑Submission Lifecycle
What happens after your film is submitted.
If you need to update information for your submitted film, please contact MNest (contact@mnest.tv). We’ll make the change for you or let you know if a new submission is required. This ensures your film’s details remain accurate and aligned with MNest’s curation workflow. Creators may update their film or video on YouTube at any time. If changes affect viewer safety, eligibility, rights, or embedding, MNest may review the film again or remove it until the update is resolved. Common changes include: embedding turned off film made private film deleted film replaced with a different video title changed to something misleading film updated with new assets requiring rights verification film updated with prohibited content A film may also be removed later if requested by the creator or if MNest’s platform evolution, architectural updates, or redesign require adjustments to the library.
Begin Submission
Start the submission process.
You’re ready to begin the submission process. The first step is verification. Once your channel and film ownership are confirmed, you’ll be guided through the submission form where you can provide details about your film such as title, genre, tone, and synopsis.
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