Do you make short films?
Are you a connoisseur of shorts? (We're talking cargo, denim, flat front)
Do you love making shorts while wearing shorts in the fall?

WELL THIS IS THE FILM FESTIVAL FOR YOU!!!

This October, The Mahoning Drive-In Theater presents it's 2nd Annual short film festival entitled ----drumroll please---- SHORTS IN THE FALL.

This will be a two-night event where we showcase the bizarre, weird, provocative, offbeat, quirky, and fun short films from around the Tri-State area. Whether a short drama, comedy, horror, sci-fi, animation, or whatever bizarre mash up of genre filmmaking you can come up with.Plus we're also accepting music videos too!

Each filmmaker is allowed to submit no more than (1) film, which should be no longer than (15) minutes in length.

Our crack team of judges will narrow all the submissions down to the Top (24) films, which will then be split into (2) separate screenings over the course of (2) nights.

Each screening will be followed by an awards ceremony, an audience Q&A , and a personally curated feature length film made by an up and coming area filmmaker (it wouldn't be a night at the drive-in without a double feature).

So what are you waiting for? Doesn't matter if you're a first timer, student, or seasoned vet. Give us your short films today, and if selected we hope to see you at our screening still rockin' those cargo shorts all the way into late October!

----- The Mahoning Drive-In Theater is located in Lehighton, Pennsylvania and was built in 1948. Since then, it has entertained moviegoers for over half a century on the largest CinemaScope screen in Pennsylvania! We offer an exclusively retro 35mm (and sometimes digital) film program, which is presented reel-to-reel via original 1940's Simplex projectors! Our goal; To deliver you a true love of film, and the nostalgic moviegoing experience you can only get at the drive-in! -----

Awards & Prizes

Each night will be treated as it's own festival with 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Winners announced. Filmmakers will vie for the coveted "Golden Shorty" award!

For a more detailed breakdown of awards & prizes, see below -----

-1st Place (Golden Shorty) - Winners will receive a Mahoning Drive-In Theater, Season Pass for 2020

-2nd Place (Silver Shorty) - Winners will receive a Free Show courtesy of the Mahoning Drive-In Theater.

-3rd Place (Bronze Shorty) - Winners will receive a trash bag of leftover popcorn from the "Shorts in the Fall"screening (plus other possible leftover food from the snack bar)

Rules & Terms

Films must be no longer than (15) minutes in length.

We ideally want films to have a local/east coast connection to the Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Washington D.C. and Connecticut areas. But we will also accept and strongly consider any and all shorts films from around the country!

We are only accepting short form Narratives, Animations, & Music Videos.

Each filmmaker is allowed no more than one (1) film to submit to our program.

There are absolutely NO FEE WAIVERS, we tried to make the submission fees as affordable as possible ($15 for Earlybird, $20 for Regular).

We ask that the link you provide in the submission form is either a YouTube or Vimeo link.

If you're film is password protected, please make sure to provide that in the submission form as well.

Films must be in 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio.

We won't accept any DVD's, Blu-Rays or Flash/Hard Drive submissions.

We will accept 35mm prints though!

If selected, we encourage filmmakers to attend be present for a short Q&A following the screening.

Filmmakers will be notified by email if they've been selected to participate in our screening.

The producers of "Shorts in the Fall" reserve the right to not screen any film that can be considered pornographic, or that depicts hardcore graphic sex or violence.

If selected we encourage you to wear your finest pair of shorts to our screenings. For some shorts DO's and DON'Ts please refer below ---
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DO pay attention to the fit and your physique. If you have long slim legs, choose slim cut shorts that end above the knee for a great look. If you are short and a little chubby, go for short shorts that are not too tight.
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DON'T wear white or light colored shorts with pockets. The lining always shows through.
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DO wear them with confidence and pride and use classic patterns such as stripes, checks or solids.
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DON'T wear shorts to the office, unless it is your home office.
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DO wear skin-toned or heather gray underwear when wearing white or light colored shorts. Otherwise, your underwear will show through.
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If you have any questions please email the "Shorts in the Fall" Producers at shortsinthefallfilmfest@gmail.com
10 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
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  • Brandon Russo

    I had a great experience having my film premiere at the Mahoning Drive-In! The staff was warm and welcoming and it was a great thrill watching my film projected on it's huge screen.

    I will definitely try my hand at future Shorts in the Fall events!

    November 2019
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  • Maximillian Remmler

    The Mahoning Drive-in Theater is such a great venue to hold screenings. This was my first time experiencing the theater, and I was honored to have "Sleep is for the Week" up on the big screen like that. Definitely planning on attending more screenings from them in the future.

    October 2019
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  • Brian Henkel

    Terrific short film festival set in the best location possible. The organizers went the extra mile to make the filmmakers feel welcome, and the quality of selected shorts was sensational. Truly a pleasure to take part in. Looking forward to next year already.

    October 2019
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  • Gene Barretta

    I'm so grateful to the organizers of Shorts in the Fall. I love film fests, but how often do you get a chance to see your film on a drive-in screen?!?! That was bucket-list success for me! Our hosts kept the environment fun and relaxing. There was a sense of camaraderie between the filmmakers involved. I can't wait for next year!

    October 2019
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  • Kent Green

    I love drive-in theaters and have always dreamed of having one of my films play at one. If you are the same, this is a great opportunity to check that off your bucket list! Everyone involved is super-friendly, as well!

    October 2019
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