03:59 WebFest launch

The much anticipated launch of 03:59 WebFest online film festival has arrived.

It is an online film festival with significant prizes to the value of ZARR140 000 and an opportunity to challenge your filmmaking creativity within the structure of the festival requirements. The most important requirement is the film length, which must be exactly 03min 59secs for all films submitted, including titles and credits. To ensure that only original productions are submitted all films must reference the Compulsory Scripted Inclusion (CSI) in some way.

“For 2011 the CSI is TANK. Any interpretation and/or reference of that word – be it literal or conceptual –- is acceptable. We want to be blown away by the creative reference,” says WebFest.

There are two categories open for entry; Standard Short and ‘CellShot’. Standard Short can be filmed on any equipment. CellShot entries have to be captured with the camera on a cell phone. There is an entry fee per film submitted.

All films submitted will be viewed by a jury. The jurists will select the 20 finalist films – 10 from each category – which will be on public display. Various events and public screenings will be held and all finalist films will be available online for public voting. The films with the most public votes at the end of the participation process win their respective category. Registration on the festival host’s website is required in order to vote.

The jury will select the Overall Festival Winner and Best Actor from the finalist films.

Confirmed jurists are Gideon Emery (SA actor based in LA), Jorge Rubio (Founder of Gatehouse Films, Director), Lizelle Wagner (Director).

Dates:
Call for entries – 01 March 2011
Closing Date – 16 September 2011
Public Screening of Finalists – 22 October 2011
Public Voting Opens – 22 October 2011
Public Voting Closes – 18 November 2011
Festival Awards Event – 25 November 2011

All guidelines and support documents are available on the festival website.

There is also a festival discussion group on the festival host’s social network. It is suggested that you sign up to the social network and become active within the group if you are going to be taking part in the festival.