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2023 SPE MEDIA FESTIVAL

Society for Photographic Education   /   Deadline: 11/15/22

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The SPE (Society for Photographic Education) Media Festival (originally the SPE Women's Film Festival) has featured innovative and provocative short documentaries, animation, and fiction by, for and about women and minorities since 1995. The 2023 Media Fest will be held March 17 - 18, 2023 at Sheraton Denver Downtown, Denver, Colorado.

The theme of the conference is Homecoming. The world has radically transformed over the last four years, and many of us have had to fundamentally reformulate how we live, work, and learn. The trials of the COVID era have been an enormous challenge, but we have adapted and grown to rise to the moment, developing myriad new approaches to artmaking, teaching, and scholarship. We invite artists to submit films and videos that embrace the diversity of the moving-image medium through immersive visual storytelling, interdisciplinary research, intersectional thinking, and experimental practice.

Narrative, documentary, animated and experimental shorts under 30 minutes, that address issues of concern to minorities, women, global or LGBTQ communities, human rights, or the conference theme are eligible. All rights must be cleared. Laurels for three awards, Best Women's Film, Best Multicultural Film, and Best LGBTQ Film will be awarded. SPE membership is not required to enter the festival.

Location

Sheraton Denver Downtown, Denver, Colorado

Fees

Entry fee for submissions received by 11:59 PM, Aug. 31, 2023 is free for SPE members and $10 for non-members. SPE members must check off that they are members and enter the members waiver code sent by SPE to members at checkout to receive the SPE early-bird free entry. Entry fee for submissions received Sept 1 – Oct.25 is $15. Fee for submissions received Nov. 1 – Nov. 15 is $25.

Eligibility

• Filmmakers may submit different work to more than one category, but the same video cannot be submitted to multiple categories.
• All works must be under 30 minutes, including credits; there is no completion date limitation.
• We are looking for films that address visual, educational, and social-political issues with integrity, honesty, and justice.
• All rights must be cleared.
• Filmmakers do not have to be SPE members.
• Films entered in previous years are not eligible

Requirements

• All entries must be submitted through FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/SPEFilmFestival-2023
• A web link to the full video – If password protected, include password.
• Contact information for filmmaker (name, address, email and telephone number)
• Distributor information if different than filmmaker
• Short film synopsis (maximum 50 words)
• Short director's bio (maximum 50 words)
• Awards and festival screenings, if applicable
• Year of completion
• Exact running time (do not count color bars, black, etc.)
• Entry Fee

Awards

• Best Multi Cultural Film
• Best Women's Film
• Best LGBTQ Film

Considerations

Accepted films will be screened March 17 - 18, 2023 at Sheraton Denver Downtown, Denver, Colorado. Accepted filmmakers will be notified by Dec. 30, 2023.

Accepted filmmakers must provide a Quicktime H.264 file at the original dimensions, up to 1920px x 1080px, by Jan. 13, 2023.

Evaluation Criteria

• 28th Annual SPE Women's Film & Video Festival: Short documentaries, animation and fiction by, for or about women.
• Multi Cultural Media Festival: Short documentaries, animation and fiction on cultural issues by, for or about people of diverse cultural backgrounds.
• LGBTQ Media Festival: Short documentaries, animation and fiction by, for or about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer people.

Contact Information

Amanda Kline

W: https://filmfreeway.com/SPEFilmFestival-2023
E: amandalekline@gmail.com