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Aug. 29 - Sep. 1, 2008 Atlanta, GA
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Short Film Festival ◊ 2008
Want to submit your film to The 2008 Dragon*Con Independent Short Film Festival? This is where you find out how. Note: We are open for submissions.
Overview
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We focus each
year on showcasing the finest independent short films of the fantastic. We
welcome not only Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror films, but any film of the
imagination that steps out of the slice-of-life category. This includes
Mysteries, Thrillers, Film Noirs, Comedies, Alt Lifestyle, Slip Stream/Magical Realism,
Asian influenced, Surrealistic films,
and most dramas, just to name a few, as well as short
animated films of all types. We take narrative shorts as well as
documentaries.
Our film competition is for short films—under 60 minutes (yes, 59:59 is fine). The lowdown: We take good films on any topic except slice-of-life. If your film is about two people sitting at a coffee house talking about their problems (and their problems have to do with bill-paying or a nagging mother), then this isn't the festival for you. Otherwise, this is the place. The Independent Short Film Festival is for shorts. We do show a limited number of features, out of competition. Contact the festival director for more information.
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Submission Format
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Entries must be submitted on DVD (preferred) or VHS
videotape (˝" at SP 2-hr speed) in NTSC
format. Foreign-language work must be dubbed or subtitled in English. The lowdown: Tapes do not show your film to its best advantage. So, make a DVD if possible. Now, there are lots of encoding tricks involved with making a DVD. Don't use any. Make a disk that is playable on every DVD player—it makes you look professional. Find a friend who has a player from 1997 and test your disk in that. If it doesn't work, re-encode that disk. Also, mark your name and email address on the disk itself. Oh, and invest in some full size or thin DVD cases. Jewel cases are for your press kit. And to afford those cases, save money on shipping. You don't need to send a paper press kit with your film. Trust me, no film festival director, anywhere, looks at them. I've spoken to many directors and none of us care about anything except your film until after we accept it. |
Deadline
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Deadline: June 6, 2008 (Early Bird Deadline: May 16, 2008)
The lowdown: Yes, we have extended deadlines and all that, but why wait? It will cost you more and it is more difficult for us. What's the point of the early bird deadline? It lets us look at your film quicker, and you will get a response earlier. So, the faster you get your submission in, the better for you and us. |
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Information will be available in March.
The Dragon*Con Independent Short Film Festival prefers paperless entries submitted via The International Film Festival Submission System on the Web at: www.withoutabox.com. Withoutabox provides cost-saving, online entry to major film festivals throughout the U.S. and in Europe with one master entry form, allowing you and us to enter your film more quickly and with greater accuracy. This method is free and easy. Withoutabox offers the advantages of EXTENDED DEADLINES, ONLINE PAYMENT, and an ONLINE PRESS KIT with submissions. We will post a paper entry form (that you can print, fill out, and send in with your film) in the coming weeks for those who really want one -- but why not use Withoutabox? |
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Your submission must include the film (on DVD or VHS), a submission form (using
withoutabox or the paper PDF form), and a submission fee of $35. However, if you "upgrade" your project on
www.withoutabox.com, you get a $5 discount - so that's the way to go).
You can pay online, or include a check or money order with your film, made out to "Dragon*Con,
Inc."
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Shipping
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Cost of shipping is the responsibility of the entrant. Screener & exhibition copies
(if the two are not the same) must be sent to the festival prepaid. The festival cannot accept responsibility for damage or loss of materials while in transit.
DVDs/tapes will NOT be returned. Please protect your DVD/tape with a plastic case, and label
it with your name and address, your email address, and the film's title and running time
(and your Withoutabox tracking number if you used the online entry form).
Mail your entry to:
If you pay the entry fee online, so that you are only mailing the film, you may send it directly to the festival director; this gets your film in the hands of the selection committee faster. In that case, the address is:
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Selection and Notification
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All submissions will be examined by our selection committee and you will
be notified if your film has (or has not) been chosen to be screened during the
Festival via email on or about July 9, 2008.
Selected films are screened throughout the four-day event. We reserve the right to screen your film more than once. |
Judging & Awards
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This is a juried festival.
All selected films were evaluated by our panel of judges.
Awards will be presented for the best film in each category. Specific categories will be determined based on the entries, but in the last 3 years, they have included: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Comedy, Thriller, Contemporary, Horror, Extreme Horror, Horror Comedy, Comedy, Parody, Magical Realism, Documentary, Animated Comedy, Animated Horror, and Animated Fantasy & Science Fiction. We also present a Best of Fest and a Best of Fest - Animation awards. |
Attending Filmmakers
| While you do not have to attend Dragon*Con for your film to be selected, we are always happy for our filmmakers to attend. It gives you a chance to speak about your film, and we'd love to meet you. Acceptance of your film grants you a pass to Dragon*Con (which allows you access to all screenings, all panels, all concerts, all auctions, the dealers room, the art show, and all dances (and that is only a partial list). Information on purchasing "memberships" for your friends can be found here. |
Panels and Programming
| Filmmakers attending the event may elect to participate on panels geared for independent filmmakers. If you are interested in appearing on panels, please contact Matthew M. Foster. Sooner would be better as we have many filmmakers and only a limited number of panelist slots. |
Copyright © 2008 DCI Film Fest.
