LEWISTON — The Lewiston Auburn Film Festival will kick off early this year with a series of student film competitions leading to the finals on April 6.
Any person under 18 as of Dec. 31 or anyone under age 22 still enrolled in a post-secondary school is eligible to compete in one of three categories: short film (10-45 minutes), micro short (up to10 minutes) or public service announcement (under 3 minutes).
A panel of judges will determine the best films in each category to be presented at two semifinal competitions to be held Jan. 12 and Feb. 9 at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College.
The Top 12 finishers will be shown at the Lewiston Auburn Film Festival, with the five films that scored the best in the semifinals vying for Best Student Film in Festival. That award will be given by a panel of judges viewing the films for the first time on April 6.
“In receiving almost 500 films to judge for the film festival last year, there were a few amazing films made by high school and college students that made the cut into the 80 that were shown in the festival, but there were also many that were ‘on the bubble’ and just missed making it,” LAFF chairperson Sandra Marquis said.
“We felt now was the time to create a separate competition as part of the festival to encourage young filmmakers and to somewhat level the playing field,” she said.
Interested student filmmakers or those who wish to submit on behalf of a student filmmaker may obtain an application at www.lewistonauburnfilmfestival.org.
Films received by Dec. 31 will be considered for both semifinal rounds. Late films received by Jan. 18 will be considered for only the second semifinal round.
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