CHICAGO—Columbia College’s Television Department has partnered with The Public Square at the Illinois Humanities Council for its 2008 “Looking for Democracy” short film contest which is now seeking entries. The “Looking for Democracy” contest is a regional contest open to all Illinois residents and age groups.
Work in your favorite genre of filmmaking or choose a new one—all are welcome: documentary, narrative, experimental, animation, music videos. Filmmakers are encouraged to unleash their imagination and look for democracy in creative and unusual places.
Films should be no more than five minutes and must be submitted no later than Tuesday, September 2, 2008. To submit films go to www.yousendit.com to upload your film and email it to thepublicsquare@prairie.org. Entries must address the idea of democracy in our society such as the upcoming presidential election, voting rights, human rights, media issues, grass roots activism or other ideas of democracy.
Ten finalists will be acknowledged and receive a free membership to IFP/Chicago, the Midwest chapter of the Independent Feature Project (IFP), the nation’s oldest and largest organization of independent filmmakers. The 10 finalists’ shorts will also be eligible for inclusion in Chicago Access Network Television’s (CAN-TV) “Looking for Democracy” special that will air in Fall 2008.
Five winning entries will have an opportunity to have their films posted to Independent Lens’ Vote Democracy website and win one Flip camera. These films will also have a separate screening in October at Columbia College Chicago’s Film Row Cinema as part of The Public Square at the Illinois Humanities Council’s “Civic Cinema.”
One grand prize winner will receive all the above prizes and opportunities as well as a private consultation with award-winning filmmaker Gordon Quinn, president and founding member Kartemquin Films. The prize-winning film will be shown at the Independent Television Service (ITVS) community screening of “Chicago Ten” on Saturday, September, 27, 2008 at the Chicago Cultural Center.
This contest is sponsored by The Public Square at the Illinois Humanities Council, Columbia College Chicago Television Department, ITVS, “Independent Lens,” Kartemquin Films, IFP/Chicago and CAN-TV.
For further information and contest rules and regulations go to www.prairie.org/DemocracyFilmContest or contact Maggie Berndt at 312.422.5585, X239 or mkb@prairie.org.