Lights. Camera. Help – Open for Submissions
I’m getting some heavy-handed guilt trips for missing their talk last night at the Austin Social Media Club, but it’s a great concept and a fine thing to have in Austin. Also, the graphic and arresting “Fowl Play,” at last year’s screenings, put us firmly on the path of not buying eggs anymore. Here’s their press release:
Nation’s First Cause-Driven Film Festival Now Open to Submissions
Nonprofits and filmmaking community welcome to submit films for consideration
03.23.2010 – AUSTIN, TX – Lights. Camera. Help., the premier film festival exclusively for nonprofits and cause advocates, has officially opened its doors for 2010 entries. In its second year, the festival celebrates cause-driven films and their messages.
No other film festival brings together filmmakers and nonprofits to share their stories and promote their causes. Last year’s festival brought in over 140 submissions of documentaries, PSAs and short films focusing on cause-driven issues.
“We really want to foster the growth of this industry and offer a place where people looking to use their talents for good can collaborate,” said David J. Neff, creator and co-founder of the organization.
Submissions will be open until June 30 and the submission form can be downloaded at the Lights. Camera. Help. Web site. The festival will be held July 29-August 1 in Austin, Texas.
On March 27, Lights. Camera. Help. commemorated the opening for the call for entries by hosting their Reel-to-Reality party. Bringing together the filmmaking and nonprofit community to support cause-driven films, guests got to preview films by such organizations as Southwest Key, Consumers Union and the Scottish Rite Learning Center. Filmmakers behind the submissions discussed the creative process while members of the different nonprofits explained how cause-driven films have aided their missions.
“We believe that film and video are the best way for nonprofits and other cause-driven organizations to share their stories with the world,” said Rich Vázquez, Lights. Camera. Help. co-founder. “That’s the whole reason behind the film festival and, ultimately, the nonprofit organization overall.”
In July, Lights. Camera. Help. will judge the submissions based on the cinematic quality and the ability to tell the nonprofit’s story, among other factors. The winning films are then awarded the proceeds from the festival’s ticket sales.
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About Lights. Camera. Help.
Lights. Camera. Help. is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to encouraging other nonprofit and cause-driven organizations to use film and video to tell their stories. They do this through education, volunteer match programs, screenings and an annual film festival.
