FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 14, 2016 CONTACT Farrell Howe Marketing and Communication Manager Kalamazoo Public Library 269-553-7879 Call for Entries! 15th Annual Teen Filmmaker Festival Submissions Due Friday, January 26 by 5 pm Kalamazoo, MI, Tuesday, November 14, 2017 - Calling all filmmakers age 10 - 19! Write those scripts and get your cameras rolling, it's time to get ready for the 15th Annual Teen Filmmaker Festival<http://www.kpl.gov/teenfilmfest>! Submissions are due Friday, January 26, 2018 by 5 pm. A jury will screen every film entered and select the finalists for screening at the Festival. Filmmakers will be notified via email if their film is selected. Not every film submitted to the Festival will be selected for screening at the public event. Titles of selected films will be posted on the Teen Filmmaker Festival Facebook page.<https://www.facebook.com/teenfilmfest/?fref=ts> Award Categories * Grand Prize for Best Film * Best Animation * Best Experimental Film * Best Music Video * Best Short Film * Best Technical Merit * Best Cinematic Merit * Judge's Choice * People's Choice Young Filmmaker Award – Ages 10-13 Young Filmmaker Category for ages 10-13. Films eligible for this category will be judged prior to the festival and the winning film will be shown during the Teen Filmmaker Festival on March 17. The winner will be notified and will receive their prize during the event. The Event The 15th Annual Teen Filmmaker Festival will be on Saturday, March 17, 12 pm at Judy K. Jolliffe Theatre<http://www.kalamazooarts.org/venue/detail/450/Judy_K_Jolliffe_Theatre_formerly_Epic_Theatre> – 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 205, Kalamazoo. Official Rules Films must be produced by teens, ages 10-19, who reside in the state of Michigan. More than one teen may work on a film. Adults may be talent in a film, but should perform no other duty in the actual creation of the film. Films may not be more than 10 minutes long. No bloopers, please. Teens may submit more than one film. Films submitted to the festival will not be returned. A panel of judges will select the winners in each category except the People's Choice Award, which will be chosen at the Teen Filmmaker Festival by audience members. Format Requirements Films should be submitted as full-quality QuickTime/MOV files. All other formats (including DVD, VHS, Windows Media files, low-quality QuickTime files, etc.) will be automatically disqualified. Submit your films electronically via FilmFreeway<https://filmfreeway.com/festivals/21928?utm_campaign=Submission+Button&utm_medium=External&utm_source=Submission+Button>. Entries are due on Friday, January 26, 2018 by 5 pm. In the event that filmmakers are unable to submit films online, they may be delivered via mail or in person to the KPL Central Library Teen Desk. If you need help, please contact the Teen Department at 269-553-7807 or The Hub<http://www.kpl.gov/hub/>, KPL’s digital lab. For legal disclaimers, tips, tricks and frequently asked questions, visit kpl.gov/teenfilmfest<http://www.kpl.gov/teenfilmfest>. The 15th Annual Teen Filmmaker Festival is presented by, Kalamazoo Public Library<http://www.kpl.gov/>, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts<http://www.kiarts.org/>, Public Media Network<http://www.publicmedianet.org/>, James Springgate PLC<http://www.jscpas.com> and Campaign Pictures. Farrell Howe Marketing and Communication Manager Kalamazoo Public Library 269-553-7879 [cid:A4A4F278-CCFD-4E32-8203-52C3CA82CDF6]