Elgin Short Film Festival call for entries
Applications are now available for filmmakers to enter into the third annual Elgin Short Film Festival. This event takes place on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Hemmens Cultural Center in downtown Elgin. Filmmakers are invited to submit their short films (20 minutes or less in length) for competition in the festival by Aug. 17.
The Elgin Short Film Festival is the only short film festival in the area. Entries in the festival can only be up to 20 minutes long including credits. This competition will allow any filmmaker to submit work, even if it has been entered into other festival competitions! Films in every genre and subject matter are encouraged, as long as they are within the scope of the official rules.
Sponsored by the Hemmens Cultural Center Advisory Board, the ESFF planning committee is co-chaired this year by advisory members Rich Jacobs and Joe Vassallo. The committee is adding new elements to this year's event that offer better benefits for participating filmmakers.
New and exciting components to this year's festival:
• NEW! All eligible films will be shown at Elgin's “The Next Wave” Art Salon on Sept. 9-10. “The Next Wave” Art Salon is a radically inclusive, two-day event that brings together artists of all different backgrounds and mediums in a “found space” in downtown Elgin that attracted over 2,000 people in 2010.
• NEW! The committee has added a “People's Choice” award that is based solely on audience voting taking place at “The Next Wave.”
The top finalists selected by a preliminary panel of judges will be treated to a red carpet arrival on the night of the festival.
Film Fest judges include: Dann Gire, Daily Herald Film Critic and Frank Maugeri- Artistic Director of Redmoon Theater, among others.
The top finalists will be shown in the 1,200-seat theater of the Hemmens Cultural Center on Saturday evening. The first prize is $1,000 plus trophy, second prize is $500 plus trophy and third prize is $300 plus trophy.
The trophies awarded are made by R.S. Owens, the same company that makes the Oscars for the Academy Awards.
Building upon the excitement and success of previous years, this year's festival changes are intended to add more opportunities for filmmakers' work to be seen, and for participants to network with one another.
The deadline to submit films is Aug. 17.
For a complete list of rules and regulations, and to download an application, go to: www.hemmens.org/annualfilmfestival and follow regular updates on Facebook. For any further information or questions, please call The Hemmens at (847) 931-5900.