nofilmschool » contest

Mozilla's Firefox Flicks is a Global Video Contest That Puts the Power of Mobile in the Spotlight

V Renée — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:30:03 +0000

With mobile devices pervading our daily lives, and even evolving the method with which we capture and distribute video (apps like Vine are getting lots of hype), it seems as though Mozilla has selected a pretty timely theme this year for its global video competition Firefox Flicks. So, if you’re looking to make a video that is 60 seconds or less, get said video judged by celebrity judges, and win great prizes, then the 2013 Firefox Flicks wants you to “Get Mobilized!” (more…)

Based in the U.S.? Got a Screenplay Idea for Beijing? Then China Has a Contest for You

Christopher Boone — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:28:42 +0000

New screenwriting competitions appear all the time, as we discussed earlier this week here on NFS. As always, when evaluating a competition, I consider what it will do to further the career of an aspiring screenwriter. So when the Chinese government decides to launch a screenwriting competition specifically for U.S.-based screenwriters of any nationality, that’s not a screenwriting competition you hear about every day. Don’t start firing off your script just yet, though. You want to enter this contest? You’d better have a story that takes place in Beijing. (more…)

Equal Writes Competition Wants to Make Your Rebellious, Diverse Genre Film for $250K

Christopher Boone — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:00:44 +0000

As I’ve mentioned on NFS before, I think screenwriting contests should be evaluated on what they offer entrants to launch and further their careers. Many won’t really help a new screenwriter launch or further a career, so when a new competition is announced, I’m always a bit skeptical. Nevertheless, the new Equal Writes competition presented by We Make Movies and Duly Noted has me intrigued as they are looking for smart, rebellious, diverse genre films that can be produced for $250K or less, and they want seven finalists to pitch their movies in seven minutes in front of three producers and a live audience for the chance to get their movies made. Want to know if this contest is for you? Check out the details below. (more…)

Make a Dead Can Dance Music Video for a Chance to Win £3,000/$4,700 (and Additional Prizes)

Justin Minich — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:31:02 +0000

Dead Can Dance has been making their particular kind of mesmerizing, hauntingly beautiful music ever since I was but a tot. After disbanding for about 7 years, they reunited in 2005 for a world tour, and last year they released their first studio album in 16 years, Anastasis. Now the band is teaming up with Genero and reaching out to filmmakers everywhere to create a music video for the opening track of the album – Children of the Sun -- and compete for a chance to win £3,000 ($4,740). (more…)

Focus Forward Documentary Winners Announced, Watch All 5 Including the $100K Grand Prize Film

Joe Marine — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 05:08:23 +0000

It was announced all the way back in February 2012, but the Focus Forward documentary short film competition has finally come to a close, and they’ve announced the winners at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The contest, sponsored by General Electric and Vimeo, and in partnership with Cinelan, has awarded $200,000 in prize money to five short films around the theme of invention or innovation. Check out all of the winners below, plus a new short film from Morgan Spurlock. (more…)

Make a Short Film in Northwest Louisiana for a Chance to Win $50,000

Justin Minich — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 18:00:48 +0000

Last year, 86 teams competed in the first annual Louisiana Film Prize, and one lucky team walked away with $50,000. Now, the 2013 iteration of the LAFP has just kicked off, and once again they’re offering a cool $50,000 for the best short film shot in the northwestern section of the Bayou State, as well as $500 prizes for each of the 20 finalists. Here’s the details on the competition’s rules and how to enter: (more…)

Win 130 Royalty Free Songs During December Just by Tweeting

Justin Minich — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 02:00:00 +0000

If you’ve been enjoying Luke Neumann’s weekly music freebies and the daily free music he released this past July, here’s a chance to add even more free tunes to your collection. This time the sonic goodness is coming from Josh Molen of The Tune Peddler. Each week in December he will be giving away his entire library of 130 pieces of royalty free music to a lucky winner. All it takes to enter is the click of a tweet button. Here are the details on entering, as well as streaming samples of some additional free Christmas music Molen is releasing: (more…)

Win $1,000 from the Alamo Drafthouse by Making a No Talking, No Texting PSA

Joe Marine — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 02:14:03 +0000

Some of you have had problems with it, some of you haven’t, and some of you might even do it, but Alamo Drafthouse has a strict policy against it. What am I referring to? Talking and texting during movies of course. The Alamo is a specialty theater that serves real food and beer during the film, and they take their no talking or texting policy very seriously. There have been some great PSAs that have played in the theater and online that reiterate this policy, and now the Alamo Drafthouse is asking you to create your own PSA, with a chance to win $1,000. Check out the video below for an introduction. (more…)

Win a $10,000 Film Grant in 'The Cabin in the Woods' Spoof Horror Film Competition

Justin Minich — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 00:17:08 +0000

It’s that time of year when people are thinking up costume ideas, picking out pumpkins for carving, making party plans, and if you’re a filmmaker with a penchant for horror, you’re probably also thinking about making a film. And really there’s no better time to do it. Vimeo and Lionsgate are putting on The Cabin in the Woods Spoof Horror Film Competition which is offering a $10,000 Grand Prize to the best satirical or comedic horror short. (more…)

Planet5D Short Film Challenge: Enter a Film Under 30 Minutes for a Chance to Win over $2,000 in Prizes

Joe Marine — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 05:48:33 +0000

Short film contests are often very restrictive in terms of their rules and the material you can submit. But what if you could enter any film you’ve ever made, regardless of genre, under 30 minutes? That’s exactly what Mitch over at planet5D is doing with the planet5D Short Film Challenge. The rules are as simple as they sound, and the rewards total over $2,000, including a Redrock DSLR shoulder rig. Here is Mitch introducing the challenge: (more…)

Valve's Source Filmmaker Animation Software Featured in its Own Oscars, the 'Saxxy Awards'

Benjamin Dewhurst — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:30:02 +0000

Back in July we covered the release of Source Filmmaker, a powerful animation program that Valve uses internally to create movies and cutscenes for games like Team Fortress 2, Counter Strike, and Left 4 Dead 2. Originally released as a closed beta, the software has since been opened to the public and has been in the hands of digital filmmakers for a little over a month. To continue growing the user base of the tool, Valve has announced that Source Filmmaker videos will be able to compete in the 2nd Annual Saxxy Awards — a program run by Valve that is their own version of the Academy Awards (if Oscar wore a cowboy hat). If you’re wondering what Source Filmmaker is capable of, check out the video embedded below. (more…)

Driven Creativity Competition USA: Offering a Grand Prize of $5,000 and an 8TB Thunderbolt Hard Drive

Justin Minich — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:02:49 +0000

Hard drive company G-Technology is holding their annual contest for professional and amateur filmmakers (as well as photographers and musicians): The Driven Creativity Competition USA. Filmmakers can submit in the Short Film, Animation, and GoPro Active categories and will be competing for some great prizes, including a grand prize of $5,000 towards your next creative project and an 8TB G|RAID Thunderbolt hard drive. (more…)

Couch Fest: A Film Festival Happening in Living Rooms Around the World with a Top Prize of $500

Justin Minich — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 15:00:16 +0000

In 2008, Seattle filmmaker Craig Downing had an idea: Take a film festival out of theaters and put it into the more intimate, communal venue of peoples’ living rooms. What resulted was the self-described “awkwardly awesome” Couch Fest. Now in its fifth year, Couch Fest has grown from a Seattle-based festival to one that happens in homes and idiosyncratic venues world-wide, spanning North America, South America, Europe, and even as far as Oman. This year the Golden Couch award for best short is $500, and there are other goodies on offer as well: (more…)

American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest Offers Chance to Win $5,000 from Francis Ford Coppola

Christopher Boone — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 13:49:24 +0000

Screenplay contests abound. Notices for new screenplay contests arrive via email daily. Aspiring screenwriters could certainly go broke applying to the multitudes of contests in the hope of some sort of recognition. So, before handing over cash to a screenwriting contest, writers should really identify the value they get from a contest for the money they spend. Francis Ford Coppola’s American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest offers a chance to win $5,000 plus consideration for representation from major agencies and management firms as well as the possibility of optioning your screenplay to several notable production companies and studios. (more…)

Create an Original Sigur Rós Video for a Chance to Win $5,000

Joe Marine — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 14:43:32 +0000

Some of you may have already seen the video that was posted over the weekend (which starred Shia LaBeouf), but if you haven’t, it’s quite a heartbreaking trip. Sigur Rós, whose members hail from Iceland, has been asking specific filmmakers to make videos for their new album Valtari. The project, called the Mystery Film Experiment, has made the biggest news with the Alma Har’el directed experimental video, but there have been a few others released so far — with more being released throughout the summer and fall. Since the band is a bit outside the mainstream when it comes to much of their work, it’s no surprise that they are encouraging filmmakers from any and all backgrounds to make a video for a chance to win $5,000 and be a featured video in the Mystery Film Experiment. (more…)

Need a Jib? Nice Industries is Giving Away an Aviator Travel Jib, Tripod, and Backpack

Joe Marine — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 02:00:42 +0000

The Aviator Travel Jib is one of the lighter jibs in existence, and if you haven’t checked it out, we’ve already talked about their successful Kickstarter campaign. Zeke Kamm, the inventor of the Travel Jib, is running a contest right until July 9th where he will be giving away an Aviator Travel Jib Mag Alloy Kit, 3 Legged Thing tripod, and a thinkTank Airport Commuter camera backpack. Below are the details. (more…)

Focus Forward Filmmaker Challenge Offering Largest Short Documentary Prize Ever: $100K to the Winner

Justin Minich — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:27:34 +0000

Alright NoFilmSchoolers, it’s time to fire up your brains, set up your lights, check your mic levels, and turn on your cameras! GE and Cinelan are joining forces to bring you Focus Forward, a contest that challenges you to make a short non-fiction film on the theme of invention and innovation. There’s some serious money up for grabs, with $200k in cash prizes in all. Morgan Spurlock has more info: (more…)

Austin Film Festival Screenplay & Teleplay Competition Deadlines Approach

Christopher Boone — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:54:01 +0000

Have you already submitted your polished script to the Nicholl Fellowship? Did you miss that May 1 deadline and wish you had a few more days and another chance? Then you should consider submitting to the Austin Film Festival Screenplay & Teleplay Competition. Screenplay awards for Drama and Comedy category each include $5,000 plus reimbursement for round-trip airfare (up to $500) and hotel (up to $500) for the conference and festival. Teleplay awards for Sitcom Spec, One-Hour Spec, Sitcom Pilot and One-Hour Pilot each include $1,000, plus reimbursement for round-trip airfare (up to $500) and hotel (up to $500) for the conference and festival. (more…)

It's That Time of Year Again - Annual 'Script Frenzy' Challenges You to 100 Pages in 30 Days

E.M. Taboada — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 22:52:49 +0000

It’s the first day of April, and that can mean only one thing for those of us procrastinating on our writing — it’s Script Frenzy time. Script Frenzy is the annual script writing event that challenges writers to crank out 100 pages worth of script in 30 days. The prize? The sweet, sweet satisfaction of actually having knocked something out in a month. Here’s how it works: (more…)

Shoot a Short with Your AF100 and Win Prizes from Panasonic

Joe Marine — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:57:04 +0000

Own a Panasonic AF100? Need a new monitor for your color suite? If you answered yes to both, Panasonic’s second annual “Shoot It. Share It” competition could be exactly what you’re looking for. Panasonic wants videos under 5 minutes, and the grand prize winner chosen by a panel of judges will take home a sweet 42″ Professional Plasma Display. In the interest of fairness, here’s an AF100 video that meets their criteria but hasn’t been uploaded to the website: (more…)