Gen Con has announced that Gen Con 2021 originally planned for August 5-8 has been rescheduled to this September 16-19, 2021. We believe this is the best approach both to meet the many challenges of the moment and to explore possibilities for the future. https://www.gencon.com/press/2021-postponement-new-format?fbclid=IwAR0pM7F-fE_qoJ19q3zsvXwTrgJbutMch9b90P8gw-NgJnhlIeXTopIfGEU

Gen Con is the largest and longest-running annual event devoted to tabletop gaming culture in North America. The convention, which began in 1968 in Lake Geneva, WI, attracts 70,000 attendees and 538 exhibiting companies each year. During the convention, attendees choose from over 19,000 ticketed events representing a wide array of board games, card games, roleplaying games, seminars, entertainment events, and more. Gen Con takes place annually in the Indiana Convention Center and surrounding downtown hotel spaces in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Filmmakers from around the world gather to compete in the Gen Con Film Festival. Some travel from as far away as Australia and the United Kingdom to the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis for screenings, film panels, and the awards ceremony. Films from across the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Israel, Japan, and Great Britain make it a truly international event.

Films accepted to screen at Gen Con 2021 will also be streamed as part of the Gen Con Online event. Filmmakers who do not wish their films to be streamed online may submit an opt-out notice via email.

The Gen Con Film Festival focuses on genres that appeal to our gaming attendees. These include, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Horror, Animation, Anime, Martial Arts, Gaming, related parodies and documentaries.

Awards & Prizes

The Ovid Award is named after the Roman poet known for his immense influence on imaginative interpretations of classic myths. This award will be granted for the "most interesting and creative story" among the Best Short Film entries, regardless of genre. The recipient will receive a $1000 cash prize. The Ovid Award has been made possible through a contribution from a generous anonymous Film Festival benefactor.

Cash prize winnings are subject to all applicable federal, state, and local taxes; winners may be requested to fill out a W9 prior to receipt of award.

Cash Prizes will be awarded in the categories:
· Best Feature Film $1000
- Ovid Award $1000

· Best Short Film $250
· Best Web Series $250
Additionally certificates will be awarded to the following selections:
· Best Animated Film
· Best Gamer Film
· Best Documentary Film
· Best Fantasy Film
· Best Sci-fi Film
· Best Horror Film
· Best Fan Film
· Best Comedy Film

Filmmakers are encouraged to attend and participate in the many film related panels and discussions during the festival.

2020 Award Winners!
Best Feature Film - WIDOW'S POINT (USA)
Best Short Film - Cosmic Playtester (USA)
Best Independent Series - Bong Zombies (USA)
OVID Award - Carnival of Wonders (USA)

Best Horror Film - The Light Thief (Bahrain)
Best Fantasy Film - Little Daylight (USA)
Best Sci-fi Film - Bad Prototype (USA)
Best Comedy Film - Mom Fight (USA)
Best Gamer Film - PUSH THE POINT (USA)
Best Fan Film - Batman: The Death of Robin (USA)
Best Documentary - Pentamind - The Ultimate Mind Sports Championship (UK)
Best Animated Film- IO - INNER SELF (Mexico)

Rules & Terms

Eligibility All films must be:
Gaming, sci-fi, fantasy or horror related.

Films deemed obscene or defamatory will be disqualified
Gen Con LLC reserves the right to reject any film at any time for any reason.
Gen Con employees, sponsors, and their immediate families are excluded from competition.
Refunds will not be provided for disqualified or rejected entries.

An original work. The filmmaker is responsible for obtaining any necessary permissions for use of trademarks, copyrights or any other properties (including, but not limited to logos, images, characters or music) in his or her film. Fan films are not eligible for cash prizes, with the exception of parody films.

The film being submitted is in its completed and final form and will not be changed between submission and the time it is shown at the Gen Con Film Festival.

Send a copy of your film not the original, media will not be returned. Preferred media format is mp4 1080p h.264 file. Entries may be sent via DVDs and Blu-rays encoded region 0 or 1.

A brief typed summary of your film (150 characters or less) as well as a bio sheet about central film staff (directors or writers) must be provided.

At least three (3) production stills for use in promotion and publicity must be provided. If you submit these as digital images, please make sure they are at least 300dpi.

You may submit multiple films, each film must be submitted separately with its own entry form. If your film is accepted, up to four(4) 4-day badges to Gen Con will be provided for production staff attending to introduce and discuss the film. Badge requests must received by no later than July 18th. A maximum of four (4) 4-day passes may be provided per submitter (not per film).

Films that have previously won any award in the Gen Con Film Festival are not eligible for competition. These films may be submitted to screen out of competition.

Entry provides Gen Con all permissions to screen submissions at any venue(s) during the Gen Con 2021 and Gen Con Online show dates. Gen Con is further provided permission to make copies of submissions as necessary for screening purposes only. Films accepted to screen at Gen Con 2021 will also be streamed online as part of the Gen Con Online event. Filmmakers who do not wish their films to be streamed online may submit an opt-out notice via email.

Selected films will be notified no later than July 15th 2021.

33 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Mike Hay

    I was delighted that my project ‘Even The Rats’ made the official selection and participated in the 2020 GenCon film festival. My experience was great; I found the festival team to be extremely helpful and supportive in answering questions and helping making arrangements for participation. Due to COVID-19, the festival was virtual, and I applaud the festival for creating what I thought was a brilliant event under the circumstances. Really going out of their way to provide a great virtual streaming event as well as great zoom-based networking and workshops. I applaud any festival that works this hard to try and maintain the spirit of collaboration and networking, especially when having to do it all remotely. I look forward to the opportunity to participate in the festival again and would love to attend in person someday!

    March 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Mike, I am glad you enjoyed our virtual event. It was certainly a team effort that included all of our incredible filmmakers. It does take extra effort to make a virtual event successful, on all of our parts. Thanks for sharing your project with our attendees and working with us during this unprecedented time.

  • Scott Paterson

    Gen Con is an incredible film festival which I highly reccomend you submit to! We had an incredible time talking with fellow creatives and Chuck at Gen Con put on an incridble virtual festival for us all to enjoy. Thank you Chuck and Gen Con!

    December 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Scott, thanks for your kind words. 2020 threw us some unexpected challenges. I'm glad to hear everyone enjoyed our alternate programming format. Hope to see you in person soon!

  • Ayesha Adamo

    Loved this festival, even in the strange year that is 2020. Even though things had to go online, we still had some great opportunities to get to meet other filmmakers on the zoom panels that the festival organized. These were some really interesting and informative talks with different filmmakers in the festival. It was great to have We Are The Prototypes screen here, and I look forward to attending in person when things go live again!

    September 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Ayesha, it was a pleasure hosting you and your film. Hopefully we will see you in Indianapolis next time!

  • Rob Ayling

    Despite whats going on right now with Covid-19, Gen Con Film Festival still went ahead via zoom! A huge kudos to the team for being able to adapt to the situation! They managed to not only screen my short film, Living in Crime Alley (A Batman Fan Film) they were also able to organise filmmaker Q&A's with the audiences that had watched the film. Excellent organising, great communication! I highly recommend this film festival. I look forward to applying again and hopefully when everything with the current global situation has eased, I will be able to attend the festival and thank them personally for keeping the spirit of film and film festivals alive in a difficult time! I look forward to submit future work to this festival. Thank you again!

    August 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Rob, thank you for being part of our online festival and sharing your film. I hope to see you next year onsite.

  • Luca Fiore

    I had a great time at Gen Con and will be back to submit again! (Hopefully it'll be in person next time!)

    August 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks Luca! Glad you enjoyed being part of the event. Hopefully we will see you in Indianapolis next year!