Announcing Our 3rd Annual Short Film Contest

Today we open up our call for entries for the Third Annual Stage 32 Short Film Contest. We hear all the time from many of the 500+ executives we work with here at Stage 32 that short films have become a huge part of their recruitment model when searching for new talent or ideas which can be stretched to feature length. Over the last couple of years, we’ve polled thousands of filmmakers who are members of the Stage 32 community and asked them what they most need to move the needle on their careers. Of course, the first answer was money! But the second answer was access/exposure/distribution. This, we can help with.

In this DIY, control your own material world, legions of filmmakers are turning to short films to have their voices heard. Further, with more and more film festivals adding short programs into their lineups and with so many filmmakers shooting short films as proof of concept to showcase their talents, short films are finally getting the attention they deserve.

We are proud to open up our call for entries for the Third Annual Stage 32 Short Film Contest. Last year's contest produced entries from Stage 32 members in 42 countries and resulted in a curated program of 7 incredible and well received short films (made by filmmakers from 4 countries). The short film program has been featured to critical acclaim in Variety and Indiewire.

This year, we're excited to introduce our all-star lineup of judges:

• Kristóf Deák - 2017 Oscar-winning director for his short film SING.
• Timo von Gunten - 2017 Oscar-nominated director for his short film LA FEMME ET LE TGV.
• Chris "Doc" Wyatt - Best-known for producing the hit comedy NAPOLEON DYNAMITE which started as a short film PELUCA.
• Theo Dumont - Co-Founder of the qualifying Hollyshorts Film Festival
• Elliot Grove - Founder of the Raindance Film Festival
• Keith Powell - known affectionately as "Toofer" on NBC's 30 ROCK, and as Wyatt on HBO's THE NEWSROOM, Keith is now the director and producer of the successful short digital series, KEITH BROKE HIS LEG.
• John T. Trigonis - Film Campaign Strategist for filmmaking crowdfunding platform Indiegogo.

The Stage 32 Short Film Contest gives you the opportunity to show your chops and shine by providing access to some of the top executives in the business and exposure to film festival and worldwide online crowds. 

Contest Prizes:

Theatrical Screening in Special Stage 32 Short Film Program at 2 Film Festivals - Hollyshorts Film Festival (US) & Raindance Film Festival (UK)

The top 5-10 films will be screened in a special Stage 32 theatrical Shorts Program Showcase at the 2018 Raindance Film Festival and the Oscar-qualifying 2018 Hollyshorts Film Festival!

Special Worldwide Online Screening

The top 5-10 Short Films will be screened online to a worldwide audience on Stage 32 in a special global event!

Exposure to Over 500 Stage 32 Executives

The top 5-10 Short Films will be placed in a special private section on Stage 32 and sent to over 500 Stage 32 executives who will be able to view the films. If there is interest we will facilitate the meetings between interested parties and the filmmakers.

Grand Prize Winning Director Will Be Flown to LA for Screening

The grand prize winning Director will be flown to Los Angeles, CA for the Hollyshorts Film Festival and Stage 32 will host a Q&A with the Director after the film.