Call For Entries: The 180 Microcinema Festival 2012

Can you show the world what you can do in only 180 seconds? Spin the System, and submit to the 180 Microcinema Festival.

180 Microcinema Festival is seeking submissions for its first International celebration of short films. The selected films will be available on the web starting January 7, 2011.

Founded in 2009, the 180 Microcinema Festival seeks to celebrate and reward filmmakers across the world who embrace unique and unorthodox approaches to filmmaking. The festival celebrates the range and diversity of filmmakers in an interconnected world, emphasizing emerging technologies such as mobile devices and digital media in film production and distribution.

"We wanted to create a virtual space for a film festival where geography and physical distance would not be a constraint," says founder Vicente Nakpil-Roxas. "The films are only three minutes long, so aside from tackling a creative challenge, these filmmakers sidestep the high costs inherent in creating a full-length feature." The Festival seeks to showcase both established and undiscovered filmmakers by utilizing social media to share these films with a worldwide audience.

Filmmakers are encouraged to embrace "transmedia," a style of filmmaking that encourages interaction with the audience, specifically through the internet, social media, and online venues.

Winners will be awarded a Transmedia Development Deal worth $30,000. Roxas stated that this deal, coupled with sponsorships and crowdsourcing campaigns initiated by the Festival, will allow a filmmaker to create more projects. "The Festival enables filmmakers to hone their craft, promote their work, and interact with a global audience."

The first cycle of the 180 Microcinema Festival is seeking submissions for the Narrative category. Filmmakers and students that are at least 18 years old from every country are eligible to participate. Complete rules and requirements can be found at www.180cinema.net.

Submissions must be delivered electronically by December 15, 2011. Submissions can be made through the website, and there is a fee of $10 per film.

Selected films will be eligible for an award chosen by a jury headed by Academy Award winning producer Stefanie Walmsley ("God of Love.") Visitors to the online festival will be able to cast a vote for an audience award. Both will be presented on March 10, 2012.