Phantoscope is a juried festival for high school filmmakers in the United States and Canada. Highlighting the best young filmmakers from across the US & Canada, it’s a national competition with a regional focus on film artists from the Heartland.

In person screening: Friday, April 19 at 6:30 pm. Facebook live premier: Saturday, April 20 at 7:30 pm.

A total of $1,500 in prizes will be awarded, including a Best Film Award of $1,000!
Additional Awards: Best Cinematography Best Editing Best Documentary Best Performance Audience Choice Award Best Animated Film Best Documentary Most Promising Hoosier Filmmaker Best Debut Freshman Film Best Storytelling

Applicant Eligibility
This is a festival celebrating films made completely by teen filmmakers. Any high school student (grades 9 - 12) can submit films. This includes all students in public school, private school, or homeschool. The principal members of your cast and crew must also be high school students. If you have graduated from, or are not currently attending, high school in the US or Canada, you are not eligible.

The applicant should be the filmmaker (or one of the filmmakers on a joint project). The applicant may also be an instructor or parent of the filmmaker submitting on the filmmaker's behalf. An applicant may submit a maximum of two (2) separate films.

Director(s)
The filmmaker is the director of the film. If it was a joint project, you can include up to two names on a film as director, but one person needs to be identified as the main contact. Awards will only be given to up to two people involved in the creation of the film (the main contact and one other person indicated).

Film Eligibility
Your film must have been completed within the last year (prior to entry deadline), be no longer than 13 minutes (including the credits), and not have been previously submitted to Phantoscope.

All genres are welcome, but the work must be original and creative material. Adaptations of books, stories, poems, etc. are allowed, but blatant plagiarism will result in disqualification. Spoofs and satires are also permitted. Use your creativity and vision when writing/filming to convey the story you are telling.

Although the Richmond Art Museum and the Phantoscope Film Committee are not advocating the censorship of creativity, remember that this is a competition of high school filmmakers. Any material deemed by the jurors obscene, gratuitous or inappropriate will be automatically eliminated from the competition. If you attempt to address tough or controversial subject matter, keep in mind your audience, and handle your writing, editing, and filming with care.

Judging
A panel of judges is selected by the RAM Film Committee to jury Phantoscope. Films will be judged on originality, creativity, technical quality, editing, screenplay, acting and overall success of the piece in conveying its main idea or theme. Awards are determined by the judges.

Fine Print
The Richmond Art Museum/Phantoscope High School Film Festival do not assume any responsibility for damage or loss of materials submitted. All materials submitted become property of The Richmond Art Museum/Phantoscope and will not be returned. The Richmond Art Museum/Phantoscope reserve the right to alter the festival timetable, prizes, or any other details contained in this prospectus as necessary, and to use material submitted for publicity and promotion of the Museum and/or the Festival in print, online, or via any other means.

Overall Rating
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Networking
  • Asher Anantham

    A great opportunity for young filmmakers!

    April 2023
  • Amy Janes

    Such a privilege to be a part of this festival!

    April 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you! We love showcasing such quality work!

  • Blair Academy

    The quality of films at this festival was amazing, and it was an honor to be a part of it!

    August 2021
  • Max Shoham

    It's a privilege to make and tell stories. I was honoured this year with 2 of my stories being screened at the Phantoscope High School Film Festival. Thank you for that. I never take my audience for granted, I so happy you liked what you saw.

    June 2019
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    Response from festival:

    It was a pleasure to view your work and screen it for a public audience. Encouraging young film artists is what Phantoscope is all about!