Divisions

Animation

Films in this division use animation as their primary practice. The division welcomes all topics and foci and encourage creative applications of animation. The Festival has a long-standing tradition of animation for all ages.

Arts & Humanities

Works in this division address topics in the fields of arts and humanities. These documentaries explore the depth and diversity of culture, such as art, philosophy, and language. This division welcomes new approaches to bringing arts and humanities to life and making their meaning and signifi cance clear to the public.

Basement

The Basement Division seeks videos made inexpensively by people interested creating media works in a non professional, non broadcast arena. These works can be of any topic, no matter how local or modest. Basement videos are works of authenticity and immediacy. Works must be under 10 minutes and without distribution. While we seek videos made by non-professionals and meant mostly for the people around them, works of vision and quality will be rewarded. Winners in this division will not receive the Chris Award but instead will receive a prize and be included in a screening.

Additionally, each year the Division will seek basement films around a specific theme. This year's special theme Is Experimental Narrative.

Broadcast Journalism

Films in this division consist of journalism created for broadcast television. All topics are welcome, and work will be judged on the strength of reportage and the broadcast format. The division welcomes and encourages creative approaches to form, but most important is adherence to rigorous journalistic standards. Broadcast TV includes free or fee-based, commercially-produced work broadcast over air, satellite, or cable.

Marketing Strategies

The Marketing Strategies division accepts submissions that describe the various marketing devices for your film project. This groundbreaking division recognizes that film marketing is changing rapidly and that the best marketing strategies are a multi-front effort that include not only print material and packaging, but websites, blogs, and all other online social media efforts that develop communities for your film. Your submission packet may include all or some of the following: 1) your print and packaging material, 2) up to five press clippings, 3) the link to your website, 4) the link to your social networking profiles, 5) up to 200 words describing your efforts at audience building, 6) up to 300 words describing how all different elements are integrated.

Creativity, entrepreneurism, and more-for-less will be rewarded. One award will be given for overall strategy and one given for best single element/item.

As a point of reference, explore the marketing efforts for the film Four Eyed Monsters, the work of filmmaker John Ennis, or Black Salt Films.

Narrative

Films in this division are fiction works from all genres, subjects, and styles. The division welcomes films that explore new ways of telling a story.

Promotional

Films in this division demonstrate what a business, organization, or individual has done or can do. These films are targeted to specific or potential clients or specific or general audiences. This division welcomes bold new approaches to promotional film, be they in business, non-profit, or political arenas.

Instructional (Educational)

Films in this division are designed to teach something to a selected or self-selected audience. The division welcomes traditional training, how-to, educational, and teaching films, as well as more subtle or bold ways of instruction using narrative or technical means.

Science & Technology

Films in this division address topics in the fields of science or technology. These documentaries explore developments in these fields and their lasting significance. This division welcomes creative methods of making these topics accessible to the public.

Social Issues

Films in this division address any issues impacting society. Topics may include politics, economics, culture, or any subject of importance to the public. The division welcomes studies of both history and current events. Nonfiction documentary films are ideal, but the division welcomes and encourages creative approaches both in form and aesthetics to the subject matter.

Student

Films in this division must be made by a student or student team. We encourage creative approaches and themes but are also interested in work developed in traditional genres and styles. In addition to the regular Student entries this year the CIF+VF is seeking entries around the specific theme of GLBT films in the Student Division. These films can be for GLBT audiences, and/or about Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and/or Transgender issues..