You choose or enter both. Lander University's 8th Annual Film Festival and Short Film Competition will offer two choices for aspiring filmmakers to join in the competition: the original crowd-pleasing two-week competition, and a new showcase of previously made short films.
The 2WK Short Film Competition has been a part of the Lander Film Festival since its inception. Entrants are given a line of dialogue and have two weeks to write, shoot and edit their films, incorporating their line. Filmmakers compete in one of three categories: Young Filmmakers (high school or younger), College Division, or Open Division.
Films must be shot and edited between Monday, March 27, and Monday, April 10. The completed short film must be submitted no later than Monday, April 10, at 5 p.m. to be eligible for the competition. The entry fee is $10 for students and $25 for the open division. This includes one ticket to the awards ceremony. Fees are due March 27 at 5 p.m. during the initial meeting in Lander's Carnell Learning Center Room 200 or online at the same time. Those unable to attend the kickoff can participate through a Livestream on the Film Festival Facebook page.
Films will be judged during the week leading up to the festival, at which winners will be announced during an awards ceremony and winning-entry screening. First-, second- and third-place awards will be presented in each division. Other awards may include a Writer's Choice Award, Director's Choice Award and Best Actor Award.
Filmmakers from across South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida are invited to help launch the Southeast Film Showcase. Filmmakers may submit short narrative films (15 minutes or less) made within the past 10 years for entry in the showcase competition and screening. There is no thematic limitation, but films must be PG-13. Finalists will be shown during the Film Festival and one winner will be chosen based on technical and artistic merit to receive a cash prize of $250 and video production equipment provided by ProAm USA.
Both competitions are part of the 8th Annual Lander Film Festival, which will be held April 20-22 with the Southeast Film Showcase held at 6 p.m., Thursday, April 20, in Lander's Cultural Center Room 220, and the 2WK Short Film Competition Awards Ceremony held at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, April 22, in Lander's Cultural Center Auditorium.
A full schedule of events for Lander's Film Festival is available at www.landerfilmfestival.com or on the Lander University Film Festival Facebook page. For further information contact Paul Crutcher, Film Festival director, at 864-388-8206 or pcrutcher@lander.edu.