Women In Film LA, ReFrame, and IMDbPro have launched a contest for women and nonbinary filmmakers who have been keeping creative during quarantine. Per a press release, the Curbside Shorts Two-Minute Film Challenge is calling for short films “inspired by life while sheltering in place” from filmmakers based in North America. Submissions will open at 3 p.m. ET today, May 19, and will close at 3 p.m. ET on May 26.
“What have you discovered about yourself, home, or neighborhood? How do you envision the future coming out of this pandemic?” the source prompts. “Have you imagined a new character or superhero? Or perhaps been inspired by a real life hero working on the front lines?” This is your chance to bring your idea to life.
Interested filmmakers will have a week to write, shoot, and edit a two-minute short using social distancing guidelines. “Filmmakers can employ smart phones and/or DSLR cameras, animation, lighting, camera equipment, and editing tools as available ‘at home.'” All genres are welcome and there is no submission fee.
From May 26 at 3 p.m. ET to June 2 at 3 p.m. ET, audiences will vote for their favorite shorts via AudPop, a networking platform for diverse filmmakers. The finalists will then be considered by a jury of ReFrame Ambassadors and industry professionals including actress Maria Bello, “Vida” creator Tanya Saracho, Sundance Director of Programming Kim Yutani, and filmmakers Nisha Ganatra (“Late Night”), Catherine Hardwicke (“Twilight”), and Barbara Kopple (“American Dream”).
The grand prize-winning project will be awarded $5,000, the first runner-up $2,000, and three honorable mentions $1,000 each. These five films will be featured on IMDb’s homepage and receive a one-year membership to IMDbPro.
“The filmmaking community was hit immediately, and hard, by the COVID-19 crisis, with the loss of thousands of jobs in the first week due to halted productions, and job losses are ongoing,” said Kirsten Schaffer, Executive Director of Women In Film Los Angeles. “In the spirit of keeping filmmaking alive, and to capture this moment of profound interconnectivity, the Curbside Shorts Two-Minute Film Challenge supports female filmmakers during this crisis by providing an opportunity to stay productive, creative, and inspired in this time.”
To submit to the contest or find out more, visit AudPop. The winners will be announced on June 9. Note: Be sure to act fast. The challenge is capped at 200 entries.
