BELLOWS FALLS — Bellows Falls Area Community Television's (FACT-TV) No Film Film Festival (NFFF3) is back for a third year to challenge budding filmmakers and actors to make a brief, themed film.
This year the winner of best picture, as determined by the audience, will walk off with a $1,000 prize.
According to Jacob Stradling, FACT TV's executive director, the event should be filled with laughter and tears: “At the very least it will be entertaining.”
Last year, 18 teams from all over the country competed. Stradling said he hopes that the prize will draw more competitors, and explained that he expects the return of most, if not all, of last year's participants - including the winning team, Steve Hill Productions of San Francisco.
As in past years, teams will be given a week to make a film of seven to 15 minutes. This year films must be based on a bit part from famous “third string” actors such as Tom Skerritt, who Stradling said were in a lot of movies but not always in lead roles.
Names of three similar actors will be put in a pot for teams to draw, and then moviemakers will have a week to undertake a remake of one of their roles in a short film. They must write, act, shoot, edit, and submit their films by the deadline.
Last year, competitors tackled a 1980s remake challenge, several getting the job done in two days. That's not recommended, Stradling said with a laugh. Most teams took advantage of the full week to respond to the challenge.
Registration deadline for NFFF3 is Thursday, May 29, at 11 p.m. Competition begins Friday, May 30, at 7 p.m., and ends Friday, June 6, at 7 p.m.
A $145 registration fee includes two festival passes and two T-shirts. Participation can be online or in person, but Stradling says that if entries are submitted online, contestants should allow time for uploading.
NFFF3 entries will premiere Saturday, June 28, at 5 p.m. at Bellows Falls Opera House, with winners determined by the audience.
An awards ceremony and screening of the best of the best of the NFFF3 films is June 29 at 5 p.m. Best picture will take the $1,000 prize. Filmmakers will be on hand to discuss their films.