Tuesday, July 10, 2007

2008 AFI Dallas Film Festival announces call for entries

By John P. Meyer

The folks at the AFI Dallas International Film Festival have announced that they will now accept submissions for films to be shown during next year's festival schedule, which will run from March 27 through April 6, 2008. The official date for them to begin receiving submissions was actually yesterday (July 9), so if you've been sitting on the next THX 1138, there's no need to hold back your genius a moment longer.

You may submit film(s) to receive consideration in the following categories:

Narrative

Documentary

Short

Animation

Texas

Student

Deadlines for submissions (all 2007) are either Friday, October 26 ("Early Bird"), Friday, December 1 ("Regular") or Friday, December 7 ("Late") - the only difference being that the submission fee goes up for the later entry dates. It'll cost you somewhere between $25 and $70 per film submitted, depending upon how early you submit and the category your film falls into. Here are details.

Prizes up for grabs include the Target Filmmaker Award for Best Narrative ($25K); the Target Filmmaker Award for Best Documentary (also $25K); and the HD Net award for best hi-def film (a measly $10K). If it's only honors you're looking for, other festival awards include Best Short, the Tex Avery Animation Award and Best Student Film - and I'm betting in all three cases the AFI gang would consider sponsorships, if your organization had some interest in getting their name attached along with some prize money.

Of course, the bigger picture here is to get one's work in front of an appreciative filmgoer audience, and perhaps garner the attention of producers or distributors who could contribute to one's filmmaking career.

Ready? ACTION!

Related stories

• 2nd Annual Texas Black Film Festival now accepting submissions (Jan. 3, 2008)

See more stories in:

• Arts > Movies / Film > Film Festivals > AFI Dallas

Comments

James Scott Verified

What was the general perception of this year's event as far as its success (both locally and on a national recognition level)? I went to a couple of the screenings and enjoyed having access to movies I may not have otherwise been able to see, so in my eyes I was a success.

Obviously I guess the fact that they're continuing it next year says something. In any event, it's good to hear that there will be an AFI Dallas 2008.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

John Meyer Staff

James: by all accounts the inaugural festival exceeded expectations, both in terms of filmgoer attendance and filmmaker participation.

One of my local AFI contacts, who came to Dallas from L.A. for the short term, is now planning to live here full-time: he was that impressed with the local community and the support received, and feels that there's enough going on here year 'round to warrant the move.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )