BRATTLEBORO — In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the Women's Film Festival (www.womensfilmfestival.org), the longest-running women's film festival in New England and one of the best-known in the world, and the Center for Digital Art (centerfordigitalart.com) are calling out to all high school students to submit two minute videos (or less) on the theme, “woman.”
Winners will receive cash prizes, honors and festival and website showings. Details for electronic submission are at the festival website. Deadline (no fee required) is Feb. 21. The Women's Film Festival is held every March in Brattleboro. The 20th anniversary festival will be held from Friday, March 11 to Sunday, March 20, with screenings at the Latchis Theatre and the New England Youth Theater downtown.
In launching this “min-vid” competition for all high school students (male and female) examining the open-ended theme of “woman” (or “women”), the festival hopes to explore what the word symbolizes for teenagers today. Videos will be judged on general excellence and ability to deal creatively and intelligently with the theme and freshness of approach. All video forms are eligible.
The festival and the Center for Digital Arts seek to support teenagers' use of video as a means of expression and communication by providing incentives and larger audiences for their work.
Prizes are as follows: first prize: festival showing, certificate of honor and $200 cash prize; second prize: festival showing, certificate of honor and $100 cash prize; third prize: festival showing, certificate of honor and $50 cash prize. A special Vermont prize for students attending schools or residing in Vermont includes: festival showing, certificate of honor signed by Gov. Peter Shumlin, and a $25 cash prize. Winners will be announced online by March 4.
The festival is unique in that it is 100 percent volunteer-run and all proceeds support the Women's Crisis Center which offers emergency shelter, counseling to women and children escaping abusive situations.
Contest entrants should visit the Crisis Center website to learn more about its programs and educational goals: www.womenscc.org/blog/Whoweare.
Questions can be submitted electronically to [email protected].