» Posts Tagged ‘opportunities’
Focus Forward Filmmaker Challenge Offering Largest Short Documentary Prize Ever: $100K to the Winner
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 »
The 2012 Guerilla Film Challenge (formerly the 48GFC) starts in a little more than a week — May 18, 2012, to be exact — and challenges indie filmmakers to write, direct, shoot, and edit a topical short film in 48 hours. There’s a $5,000 grand prize and other goodies, and I’ve got a discount code for you below. I’m also one of the judges this year, along with Mitch from planet5D, and we just recorded a podcast with Nick and Clint (the duo behind the contest), wherein we talk about, what else, filmmaking: More »
Have you got an idea for a “smart, character-driven” comedy series? Or maybe an educationally themed children’s show? Then Amazon Studios may be interested. We’ve previously discussed Amazon Studios with relation to filmmaking, as well as their evolving screenwriting terms. Now it appears they are opening a new development front on the series end. With the potential to earn $10,000 if your pitch is accepted for the Development Slate (and more if the series actually goes into production) it may be worth a look — if you’re willing to live with the Amazon Studios model and their terms. So what are they looking for? And what should you be looking for? More »
The 2012 Guerilla Film Challenge (formerly the 48GFC) will take place the weekend of May 18, 2012, and challenges indie filmmakers to write, direct, shoot, and edit a topical short film in 48 hours. Nick and Clint (the duo behind the contest) are great guys and I look forward to judging the contest this year along with Mitch from planet5D (and others). Here’s the launch trailer and details on the contest — which has a $5,000 grand prize — as well as a discount code for any NoFilmSchoolers who might be interested in entering: More »
I posted about this before, but now that the deadline is approaching for narratives it’s worth another mention. Why? Because “it takes a village” to make an independent film, and New York-based IFP can bolster the support structure around your project. If you’re a first time feature director and you’ve got a rough cut, think about applying to the Narrative Lab — you have until April 9. And be sure to check out the below roster of some recent lab graduates, whose festival acceptance roster is a who’s-who of film fests in this country. More »
On March 31st, 2012 the first ‘Your Film Festival’ will close its doors to submissions. But it’s not just the $500k grant money that’s on the line — it’s who and what comes attached with it. The winner will not only get to open the Venice Film Festival, but they’ll have Ridley Scott and his production team produce their $500k project. With that in mind, let’s listen to what Mr. Scott has to say as you prep your 15-minute narrative submission: More »
We’ve been covering screenwriting software a bit on here, and plenty of you have probably heard of Celtx – but what you might not know is that Celtx has a program called Seeds that seeks to give back to the filmmaking community in the form of grants. It’s not often that you see a free software company (excluding the mobile versions) giving money away for nothing. Here is a video explaining the program: More »
Get Industry Attention with the 2012 Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowships and Two Other Competitions
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is kind of a big deal – and if you’ve never heard of the Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowships, it’s a life-changing opportunity to write a script and win a grant. We’ve also go two other fantastic opportunities for script writers: Scriptapalooza and the Nantucket Film Festival Showtime Tony Cox Screenplay Competition. That’s a mouthful, but let’s see what’s so special about these competitions. More »
The 2012 Vimeo Festival + Awards submission deadline is February 20th, 2012. Judging from previous years, it looks like it has been a great event, and this year is shaping up to be another interesting outing. Not only are the prizes enticing ($5k grant per category, $25k grant for the grand prize winner), but they have a great line-up of judges – folks like Philip Bloom, Steve James and Edgar Wright. If you’re looking to get pumped up as you prep your submission (which can be any original work that has premiered online after July 31, 2010, or hasn’t premiered at all), check out the 2010 “Best Video” winner and other goodies from past editions: More »
In conjunction with General Electric and Cinelan, Vimeo has launched a new short documentary series entitled Focus Forward, and they’re opening the series up for submissions. There’s a $100k Grand Prize at stake — along with a premiere at next year’s Sundance — as well as an additional $100k in prizes. The details: More »
You’re editing your first narrative or documentary feature. You’re working with an assembly or rough cut; the film is coming together, but you’re not sure how to best carry the project through post-production. In short, you need help. If this sounds like you, I highly recommend applying to IFP’s Independent Filmmaker Labs, which provide mentorship at NYC events in May, June, September, and December. Note this is open to U.S.-based IFP members (join here) only. More »
YouTube’s crowdsourced, Ridley Scott-produced, Kevin Macdonald-directed Life in a Day was an excellent, globe-spanning, and touching film (watch it free in its entirety here). YouTube and Scott are not done, however: they’ve just announced a new contest calling for story-driven shorts, and the winner gets a $500k grant to make new work. More »
It’s been a while since I’ve had an update on my feature Man Child, as I haven’t had any major news to share. Last week, however, the Tribeca Film Institute announced their 2012 All Access grantees, and I’m incredibly honored to be among them. In addition to sharing my own good news, I’d also like to raise awareness about a pair of Tribeca programs currently open for applications: the Tribeca New Media Fund and the Tribeca Film Fellow program. First, here are the details on All Access, and then I’ll share details on the other programs, as well as more about the current status of Man Child. More »
Looking for Cash Prizes + Exposure for Your Videos? Vimeo Festival + Awards Now Open for Submissions
The 2012 Vimeo Festival + Awards are now open for entries. Divided into 13 categories, with each category winner receiving a $5k grant and one lucky winner receiving $25k, the submissions period runs until February 20, 2012. English (or English-subtitled) videos that premiered after July 31, 2010 are eligible. The launch trailer, and details: More »
Film/video equipment manufacturer ikan is running a short film competition in which they’ll be giving out $17,000 worth of equipment to winners. The contest is open for any entries 3.5 minutes or less that haven’t already been published elsewhere, and asks that viewers follow the theme “Where is the Missing Piece?” $10k of equipment goes to first place, $5k to second, and $2k to third (to go along with the exposure winners receive). Oh, and I’m one of the judges. Deadline is September 6th, 2011; here are the details. More »
IFP’s Independent Film Week is currently accepting applications for filmmakers, producers, and screenwriters for its 33rd annual forum, being held for the first time this year at Lincoln Center in New York City, September 18-22, 2011. They’re currently seeking entries for No Borders (for U.S. and international producers with partial financing on new narrative projects seeking additional partners) and Spotlight on Documentaries (for U.S. filmmakers with projects in production or post-production seeking financing partners, broadcast/distribution opportunities, and festival invitations). Deadline is Friday, May 20 — I highly recommend anyone with an eligible project apply, as am I: More »
The Possible Futures Film Contest is now open for submissions of 1-5 minute shorts. I like the sound of this contest, as submitted films should “envision a new, positive, possible future for the world. One that is environmentally sustainable, socially just, peaceful and spiritually fulfilling.” The contest is put on by The Pachamama Alliance, located in the Ecuadorian Amazon (where, coincidentally, I shot a short doc several years ago). Here’s a video about the positive-themed contest, which runs until June 21st: More »
I’d mentioned the 48-Hour Guerilla Film Competition in the past, but the competition has beefed up their prize package a bit and is now offering NoFilmSchool readers a limited number of free registrations (and an unlimited number of discount entries). The contest, which features a $5,000 grand prize, runs May 13-15. As you can guess from the name, entrants are given 48 hours to write, direct, shoot, and edit their entry to a given theme. If interested, here are some more details and the link for free entry: More »
Every year the annual screenwriting challenge Script Frenzy asks participants to write 100 pages of script in 30 days. The grand prize? You win your own completed script. There are no awards other than the resulting feeling of accomplishment (and the movie that may get made as a result of your writing). I’m going to participate unofficially, as I have a just-completed hand-written first draft that I’m going to type up and revise twice in the month of April. Here are the official contest details: More »
Enter the 48 Hour Guerilla Film Competition for a Shot at $5k
Founded in 2005, this year’s 48 Hour Guerilla Film Competition will take place May 13-15. From the moment the challenge is announced, competitors have 48 hours to write, direct, shoot, and edit a short film. Every entrant is screened and the winner walks away with $5k; of course, the money is only part of the appeal, as the experience of making the film is the primary goal. Add it to your calendar if you’re interested: More »
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