The Free Our People Film Contest is a project by the Center for Disability Rights in Rochester, New York. The contest will be looking for innovative and creative stories that explore the idea of why disabled people need to be living within their communities, and not in nursing homes. It will specifically be addressing the institutional bias that keeps many disabled people trapped in nursing homes.

The Free Our People Film Contest hopes to encourage the inclusion of more disabled actors, creators, innovators, and filmmakers in film. That is why every film MUST include disabled actors, and at least one disabled person in a major crew role (director, writer, editor, or cinematographer).

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS TO ENTER THE CONTEST!

To participate:
1. Put together your team
2. Check our Facebook page on March 4th with specific instructions on how to make your film
3. Shoot, edit, and complete your film between March 4th and April 15th
4. Come back to this page and hit the 'submit now' button on the upper right side.
5. Follow the prompts to create or login to your account
6. Upload and add your film submission to submit it to us by April 15th at 11:59 p.m. ET.

For more information visit:
http://cdrnys.org/free-our-people-film-contest/

Contest Prizes!

First Place:
$1,000 Cash
Hotel and airline accommodations to film festival in Rochester
Mentorship opportunity with Actor, Writer, Performer and Musician, Mat Frazer
Film showcased at the ‘Free Our People’ Film Festival
Film shown nationwide to various groups and organizations to better understand the institutional bias
Film and Screenwriting Software, including: Persona Character Creation Software by Mariner Software, Storyboard and Movie Magic Screenwriter

Second Place:
$500 Cash
Hotel and Airline Accommodations to film festival in Rochester
Film showcased at the ‘Free Our People’ Film Festival
Film shown nationwide to various groups and organizations to better understand the institutional bias
Film and Screenwriting software, including: Persona Character Creation Software by Mariner Software, Dramatica and Final Draft.

Third Place:
$250 Cash
Hotel and Airline Accommodations to film festival in Rochester
Film showcased at the ‘Free Our People’ Film Festival
Film shown nationwide to various groups and organizations to better understand the institutional bias
Film and Screenwriting software, including: Final Draft and Storyboard.

Fourth Place
$100 Cash
Film showcased at the ‘Free Our People’ Film Festival
Film shown nationwide to various groups and organizations to better understand the institutional bias

Fifth Place
$50 Cash
Film showcased at the 'Free Our People' Film Festival
Film shown nationwide to various groups and organizations to better understand the institutional bias

*hotel and airline prizes only available to winners in the United States

1. YOU MUST use both of the following items within your film for it to qualify

ITEM 1: straws (drinking straws)

ITEM 2: stars

These must be visible somewhere, but can be included in any creative way you want. Feel free to be imaginative with how you incorporate them into your film. You can use them in a straightforward and literal way, or find a more subtle way to incorporate them. Anything goes!

Films without these two items will be disqualified.

2. Films can be documentary, animated, narrative fiction, mixed-media, or experimental

3. Your film must be between 7-11 minutes long. Anything longer or shorter will not be accepted.

4. Institutional bias is our theme, so each film must address the institutional bias in relation to long-term care services and community living for the disability community.

If you are unsure what the institutional bias is, check out this blog: http://cdrnys.org/blog/disability-dialogue/the-disability-dialogue-the-institutional-bias/

5. Filmmakers will have 42 days to make a well-made, compelling film. You must turn your film in by April 15, 2019 at 11:59 PM EST.

Please submit your films on FilmFreeway:
https://filmfreeway.com/FreeOurPeopleFilmContest

6. Our panel of judges will determine which film is the best, based on both content and quality. Our judges this year are Christine Bruno, Mat Fraser, and Claudia Gordon.

7. Please include English subtitles/captioning. This is a requirement to enter. If you need help with this, please email lsmith@cdrnys.org

There are also specific rules for cast and crew to follow:

8. At least one member of the main crew (writer, director, editor, or cinematographer) must have a disability. We encourage films with multiple disabled people in crew roles. We also encourage nondisabled filmmakers to work with disabled filmmakers.

9. Any character that is written to be disabled must be played by someone actually disabled. Disabled mimicry is not allowed and will disqualify your film. If your film is animated, any characters with disabilities must be voiced by disabled people. We encourage you to cast disabled people in roles not specifically written as disabled, as well.

10. There is a $5 entry fee, to prevent unrelated films from being submitted. If you are a disabled person who cannot afford the fee, email lsmith@cdrnys.org for a code to waive the fee. We do not want a fee to prevent you from entering.

We look forward to seeing what you submit!

Happy Filmmaking!