I have an mp4 file of a finished short film.
The size of the file is just a bit over 2 GB. The duration of the film is just under 11 minutes.

My intention is to send the film to a film festival, using an online application. This means I'll be uploading a video file of the film for submission to the festival (rather than sending a DVD by airmail).

The requirements are:

FILE FORMAT: mp4 / avi / mov
FRAME SIZE: PAL (letter-boxed, if needed)
MAX FILE SIZE: 2 GB
FILE MUST BE MULTIPLEXED (Meaning no separate video and audio files, all should be within one file)

They recommend:
- an mp4 file
- using H.264 codec
- minimum bitrate of 2 MB/s
- sound format: PCM / mpg-2 Audio / AC3 / AAC / WMA (minimum 128 kBit/s

So I got the mp4 file from someone who has no idea what codec was used to make it or any other technical aspect of it, for that matter.

What I figured on doing is just loading the mp4 file into Vegas 9 Pro and rendering it using the recommended requirements.

The only problem is that when I try loading the file - Vegas crashes. I've tried loading the file by drag/dropping it onto the timeline and also by importing it using File > Import > Media and then dragging it to the timeline. Vegas crashes either way. It starts loading to the timeline and then Vegas is forced to close within a couple of seconds.

Does anyone have any idea how I might solve this?

Thanks.

Open it with VLC and check media info to see what codec it actually is.
If this reveals nothing of importance, Ive sometimes tried opening in Nero or Adobe or any other converter you can get your hands on, something will open it, when you find that one program, render it to Lagarith, then put it into Vegas and do what you will with it.
Quality loss is next to nothing.

Open it with VLC and check media info to see what codec it actually is.

VLC Codec Details says codec is: avc1

As far as codecs go, I'm a bit lost. avc1 means nothing to me.

I'll try converting to Lagarith, as you say. THX

Ive sometimes tried opening in .... any other converter you can get your hands on, something will open it, when you find that one program, render it to Lagarith, then put it into Vegas and do what you will with it.
Quality loss is next to nothing.

I don't have Nero... I downloaded a freeware converter called Any Video Converter (http://www.any-video-converter.com/products/for_video_free/)

It seems pretty straight forward. I'm attempting to convert the mp4 file to an avi file. Then there's the part where I must select a codec. I don't see Lagarith in the list. The list of codecs it offers is as follows:

original
xvid
mpeg4
msmpeg4
msmpeg4v2
mjpeg
wmv1
wmv2
mpeg2
mpeg1
h263p
x264
huffyuv
ffv1

What to choose?

you just have to download and install Lagarith lossless codec to get in on your system first,
only takes 10th secs.
after that you're good to go.
:)