Recently named the Coolest Short Film Festival by Moviemaker Magazine, the DC Shorts Film Festival and Screenplay Competition is the largest short film event on the East Coast of the United States. In 2013, we screened 152 films from 21 countries in 18 unique showcases that played over 11 days to a total audience of 9,300 people.  We also hosted a table read of six screenplays, and awarded the winner an incredible prize of $2,000.

• To make the process easier and more affordable, DC Shorts has six different entry forms, from our own simple form to the complexity of Withoutabox – and at price points from $25 to $85, depending on the form used and the date of entry.

• A new fee waiver system has also been implemented. Filmmakers’ applications are reviewed by a panel, and those selected must share messages via Facebook and Twitter to qualify. The new “you help us, we help you” system is the first in the industry.

• As we have done from the beginning, after programming is announced, all entrants receive a report with the Screening Committee’s scores and comments. We believe that filmmakers deserve to understand why their film or screenplay was selected or rejected — and what that process entails. On our submission website, DC Shorts spells out the entire selection process, and offers resources to research the types of material we are most likely to program.

THE EVENTS:

11th Annual DC Shorts Film Festival

September 11-21, 2014

DC Shorts turns the spotlight on truly independent short films created around the globe. In 2013, we received over 1,200 entries from 51 nations. We ultimately programed 152 films into 18 unique showcases that played over 11 days to a combined audience of over 9,300 people. 

EARLYBIRD DEADLINE:             JANUARY 31  (our lowest entry fee prices!)

FINAL DEADLINE:                     APRIL 31

8th Annual DC Shorts Screenplay Competition

Friday, September 19, 2014

DC Shorts is proud to present a different kind of screenwriting competition. A panel of readers consisting of filmmakers, screenwriters, and critics review and provide condensed coverage (feedback) for scripts of 15 pages or less. Six finalists are invited to attend DC Shorts and, with the assistance of local directors and agents, cast a live table reading of the script from a bank of actors. The readings are performed in front of an audience, who vote on their favorites. These votes, along with the scores of the readers, determine a competition winner.

EARLYBIRD DEADLINE:             MARCH 31 (our lowest entry fee prices!)

FINAL DEADLINE:                    MAY 31

SUBMISSION WEB SITE:             festival.dcshorts.com