 White Plains, NY - Organizers of the 2008 Westchester County Film Festival are hoping to stir up a little healthy rivalry by offering aspiring filmmakers a chance to have their production shown in a professional theatre, on a full-size screen, and hopefully complete with a standing-room-only audience.
The films will be judged by a panel of professionals and filmmakers and the winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize and, for their school, a professional high-definition video package, valued at $5,000.
All entries will be shown during a special screening at the City Center 15 in White Plains on Sunday, March 9. The full film festival runs March 7-9.
“We want to showcase the work of younger filmmakers who haven’t yet had the chance to be screened at a high profile festival,” said Iris Stevens, director of the county’s Film Office. “Shooting videos is a big part of many teen’s lives, and more and more of them are aspiring to be professional filmmakers. This is a great way for them to get a taste of what it might be like.”
Letters have been sent to every high school in the county, inviting them to submit their students’ films to the “Future Filmmakers Division.” Any student in grades 9-12 can participate as long as the entry is submitted through the sponsorship of an accredited high school (public or private). Each school can submit up to four entries -- each running 10 minutes or less -- and it’s up to them to decide which ones make the cut.
Stevens noted that most schools have a program aimed at film and video instruction for students, and many have expressed interest in gathering and submitting their best work. So far, 22 schools have already responded that they will be submitting entries.
Second and third place winters will be given a $500 cash prize and their sponsoring high school will be given a $500 stipend to put towards film equipment of their choice. The cash prizes were donated by the Matthew Hisiger Foundation.
Entries must be narratives or documentaries (no music videos). The submission deadline is Dec. 21, 2007. For more information, call the film office at (914) 995-2917.
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