NBCUniversal Short Film Festival is Looking for Aspiring Filmmakers

NBCUniversal is bringing back their Short Film Festival and is looking for up and coming filmmakers. The network is looking for directors, writers, and actors to introduce to the industry's top leaders while awarding prizes that range from monetary grants, camera packages, development meetings and talent deals.

Submissions for NBCUniversal Short Film Festival will open on March 1st. You can find more details at nbcushortsfest.com

About the NBC Short Film Festival

• The submission window is open from March 1st to May 15.
• The producer, writer, and director must be over 18 years old and a legal resident of the US.
• The writer, director, cast, or theme of the short must be diverse, either: ethnically, culturally, or of a diverse voice or community. Examples of diverse and inclusive backgrounds, including female writers & directors, the LGBTQ community, and artists who are differently-abled.
• Short films should be either Comedy or Drama. We encourage Comedic Pilot Presentations and stand-alone Web Series episodes. Documentaries, Animations or Music Videos are not eligible.
• Projects must range from 2 to 22 minutes in length.
• Submitted work must have been completed no more than 2 years prior to the submission date.
• Submitting parties must hold complete ownership and rights of the submitted product and must be able to grant screening rights and online streaming rights.
• Only original work is accepted.
• The festival is non-inclusive. There is no conflict for your projects to have screened or to screen in future festivals.
• The festival's semi-finals will be held in August in New York City. NBC Entertainment will award one airfare & accommodation to either the director or the writer. The rest of the team members are invited but are responsible for their own travel and accommodations.
• If selected to screen in the New York semi-finals in August, semi-finalists must provide their shorts in one of the following formats: DCP, HDCAM, or QuickTime Pro Res 422.
• The Submitter will be contacted and notified directly if selected as a semi-finalist and finalist. The submitter will have the sole responsibility to contact and notify the writer, director, cast, producing parties, joint right holders, etc.
• The finalist screening will be held in October in Los Angeles. The entire team will be invited to attend. NBC Entertainment will award one airfare & accommodation to either the director or the writer. The rest of the team members are invited but are responsible for their own travel and accommodations.
• In the event, your project is selected as a finalist, you may be asked to provide additional items such as a trailer, high res poster artwork, revised synopses, short bios of the writer, director and lead cast members and social media handles and hashtags.

Awards information:

OUTSTANDING ACTOR 

1. $1,000 Wardrobe budget to Bloomingdales
2. Premiere Headshot Package with SeanPaul San Pedro
3. Unlimited coaching and training at the Performance Studios of their choice
4. NBC Talent holding deal

HARNESS Social Impact Award Sponsored by NBC’s Social Responsibility Division

1. $10,000 Cash Grant

OUTSTANDING WRITER 

1. Two tix to The WGA Awards
2. Find Round Placement into NBC entertainment's Writers on the Verge Program or Universal Global Talent & Development's Emerging Writers Program
3. Professional Script Consultation Services and Pitch Prep
4. Development Meeting with Universal Pictures & Focus Features
5. $10,000 Cash Grant

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR 

1. Development Meeting with Universal Pictures
2. Final Round Placement into NBC Entertainment's Emerging Director Program
3. Post Production Services Package from NBCU Studio Operations including lighting, grip, sound mixing, costumes, and backlot access
4. $5,000 Cast Grant
5. $60,000 Camera Rental Package donation from the Panavision New Filmmaker Program to be used toward next project.

#NBCshorts FEST AUDIENCE AWARD

1. $1,000 Cash Grant

OUSTANDING COMEDY

1. $5,000 cash grant

OUSTANDING DRAMA

1. $5,000 cash grant

To apply click here