Enter your short in Elgin film festival

Submitted by Hemmens Cultural Center

The Elgin Short Film Festival is returning for its fifth year. It will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way in downtown Elgin.

Filmmakers are invited to submit their short films — 20 minutes or less in length, including credits — for competition in this festival.

The Elgin Short Film Festival has received outstanding press coverage and consistently draws high-quality film entries from professional and semiprofessional filmmakers from around the country.

This competition is open to all filmmakers to submit work, even if it has been entered into other festival competitions. Films in any genre and subject matter will be accepted. See competition guidelines for more information.

Mike Toomey, a regular performer on the WGN Morning News, will again bring his comedic talents as master of ceremonies to present the top five films. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges and audience members will cast their votes for their favorite film. Awards and monetary prizes will be presented to the top three films.

The top five films will be shown in the intimate 1,200-seat theater of the Hemmens Cultural Center on the evening of Saturday, Sept. 21.

Thirty-second trailers of all submitted films will be shown in a montage during the awards ceremony. Selected trailers also may be shown at city events such as “Movies in the Park,” as well as on the city’s website, social media outlets and government access cable channel.

A special “People’s Choice” award will be presented based solely on audience votes.

Trophies awarded are made by R.S. Owens, the same company that makes the Oscars for the Academy Awards.

Presented to the top three films will be $1,000 first prize, $500 second prize and $300 third prize.

All interested filmmakers are urged to apply and experience the art of short cinema at the Hemmens Cultural Center. The deadline to submit films is Friday, Aug. 16.

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 details, call the Hemmens box office at (847) 931-5900.

General admission tickets to the film screening are $5 and may be purchased at the Hemmens Box Office, online at www.hemmens.org or by phone at (847) 931-5900.