KinoDrome: International Motion Picture & Screenplay Festival

KinoDrome accepts SHORT content (under 11 minutes): SHORT FILMS, MUSIC VIDEOS, EXPERIMENTAL CONTENT, ANIMATION, and more. We have SCREENWRITING and PHOTOGRAPHY contest, too. Please, read everything below, including our REVIEWS (we're one of best reviewed "smaller festivals" on FilmFreeway). Check our website, facebook, YouTube... Save us in your "favorites". We ARE different and we are here for YOU. The submissions for next event open January 1st, 2022 (festival is in September).

ABOUT US

KinoDrome is: short-form festival, screenwriting contest, and photography contest - based out of Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Kinodrome's mission is to show your work publicly. Unlike most corporate sponsored festivals we DO NOT believe in rejections. You will not receive a typical "We are sorry but..." letter after you submit your artwork. If you follow our submission rules and submit completed artwork of good quality - you WILL become an "official selection" for public show.

SCREENWRITERS!

At our festival - your NAME and your script's TITLE will be presented on the big screen as well (public show recognition)! All properly formatted scripts will be accepted to compete for awards. NOTE: we don't provide script coverage/feedback. The goal of our contest is to give you a chance to COMPETE and possibly win an award, so you can proudly say that you're "an award winning writer".

PHOTOGRAPHERS and DPs (DoPs)

We believe that one image can tell the story, too. Or make you think about life. We have photography contest as well, so if you're a still photographer or photojournalist - look at your portfolio and find something cool. Cinematographers are welcome as well - submit one frame from your reel (from a movie you shot).

FILMMAKERS - the Art of Short Cinema!

The standard length of an old 35mm film reel is 1,000 feet (305 m), which runs approximately 11 minutes (little bit of cinema science here). KinoDrome accepts SHORT FILMS, EXPERIMENTAL MEDIA, ANIMATION, OTHER VIDEO TECHNIQUES, and MUSIC VIDEOS - all under 11 minutes. The works can come from independent artists, professionals, hobbyists, students, and amateur filmmakers - anywhere in the world. We will accept ALL works that meet criteria and look fully completed, but considering our mission - we really want to see works that incorporate:

-- an ORIGINAL narrative or experimental concept,
-- thought PROVOKING themes,
-- slightly UNUSUAL subjects and characters,
-- an OPENMINDED way of artistic expression;

The judges want to see (or read) something fresh, strange, scary, provocative, shocking, weird, hilarious, or maybe politically “incorrect” and nonconformist… Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines “Nonconformist” as: “a person who does not conform to a generally accepted pattern of thought or action”. Be slightly DIFFERENT, provoke, make people talk about your content - because it's unlike anything else.

KinoDrome doesn’t care how much money you spent on your film or video (your budget size). Your film could be shot on old film stock, or with an old camera, on your mobile phone, or an expensive high-end 8k camera. Still, you should pay attention to some basic audio-visual techniques and overall quality, but what we really care about is:
-- ORIGINALITY (fresh ideas, unique stories, unseen narratives);
-- ARTISTIC EXPERIMENTATION (slightly different creative approach),

Conclusion: KinoDrome is less about “mainstream and popular” content, and more about “arthouse and edgy” content. This applies to all categories.

HISTORY, MISSION and ARTISTS

KInodrome was born in 2018, as an independent non-corporate small festival that promotes up-and-coming film artists. You might say “just another little festival…”. But there’s a reason for “another little festival”. The equipment is available and affordable to all, and a lot of people want to express themselves. Therefore, there’s need for more public shows and more contests. At Kinodrome, we have first-time creators and many experienced artists showing their work. Check out the following award winning content creators on Google or IMDb: Carol Conley, Ayesha Abouelazm, Eileen O'Meara, Logan Fry, Al Mertens, Barsan Rostami, Saman Hosseinpuor, Stefan M. Mladenovic, Martin Mulcahy, John Maslowski, Jason Klingensmith, Bianca Cassinelli, Juliette Blanche, Shaun Rylee, Mike Genz... (see our website for other names).

THE PUBLIC SHOW EXPERIENCE

Being accepted to screen at the film festival – you’re publicly showing your art (just like showing a painting at the museum or an art gallery) and adding something very important to your career. The PUBLIC SHOW is the best way to present your visual art! This is super important for first-time filmmakers and film students. You're building your reputation and your content portfolio.

GENERAL FESTIVAL FACTS

-- about 30-40% of all selected titles may receive an Award (Nomination);
-- half of winning titles in the past came from female artists;
-- age range of award winning artists: from 17 to 77 (or higher);
-- besides regular contests for all, we also have State of Ohio contests;
-- many films or videos were created on smartphones;
-- 20% of award winners are talented FIRST time filmmakers or writers!

PROJECTION FACTS (for tech-nerds and geeks)

-- projection screen size is 9x5 feet
-- projected with DLP at 1080p resolution (hard-drive to Apple QT Player)
-- sound output via wired external speaker station
NOTE: this is a portable projection system, designed for professional conference events inside hotel ballrooms. It is NOT a commercial movie theater.

IN-PERSON EVENT FACTS

- small dedicated and super-friendly volunteer staff;
- max. 100 attendees (mostly artists and art enthusiasts);
- small comfortable venue (hotel auditorium or ballroom);
- enough room and time to network with attendees;
- enough space/time to take pics in front of step-n-repeat banner;
- gift-bag with goodies for every artist who attends (T-shirt, too);

VIRTUAL EVENT FACTS (if we run an online event)

- the programs are shown online for 2 days;
- award ceremony is webcast and recorded for YouTube;
- we can ship awards (details will be emailed);

YOU WILL NOT (N.O.T.) SEE THE FOLLOWING:

- shiny rich "executives", invited to praise THEMSELVES;
- annoying "popcorn" crowd who DON'T understand your art;
- posers in suits, pretending to be "important biz people";
- "agents" who purchase films/scripts (no such thing);
- mainstream b/s of any kind;

CHECK KINODROME OUT (on the WEB):

- click on our website, link is under "contacts";
- read reviews written by past participants, here on FilmFreeway;
- visit our Facebook page (search KinoDrome on Facebook);
- search YouTube channel called KinoDrome (clips from the festival);
- simply google "KinoDrome Festival" and you'll find the links;

KINODROME TV

It's our YouTube show: interviews w/filmmakers, coverage of award presentation, and more. If you attend, you can be interviewed, be on the show, and earn an IMDb credit for participating. We also have "video greeting" option (you can send 1-minute promotional video to talk about your art - shown at the festival and web as well).

HELP TO "KINODROME ALUMNI"

Once you become an Official Selection, you can always expect additional help from us. The festival director Bruno Tatalovic (film producer himself) is also an IMDb "tenured contributor" and he assists beginner film artists with navigating and updating their IMDb page, including: film title listings for first-timers, name listings, corrections, etc. All FREE! Just email us with a subject "IMDb" (more info about IMDb below, under "Awards").

FESTIVAL'S DEDICATEES

• Eadweard Muybridge, 1830-1904, an English photographer important for his pioneering work in photographic studies of motion, and early work in motion-picture projection. His famous art-piece (and first motion picture ever made) "Horse in Motion" (1878) serves as our festival’s logo.
• George K. Spoor, 1872-1953, an American film producer known for his early and successful movie exhibition service, ultimately named Kinodrome, in Chicago in 1897 – inspired our festival’s name.

CONCLUSION

KInoDrome is NOT a corporate for-profit festival where you pay high fees and don't get accepted, because "special guests from the biz" and their expensive films take all the spots. No. This little festival is a labor-of-love, created by an ordinary film enthusiast and educator - for the sole purpose of helping less established artists. That's it. We ARE here for YOU. Submit with confidence!