KinoDrome: International Motion Picture & Screenplay Festival

Welcome to Kinodrome! We're different. We do NOT reject properly submitted and fully completed content. Unlike most corporate festivals, we don't send you "We are sorry..." rejection letter, after you pay and submit your work. If you follow our submission rules - you WILL become an "official selection" for public show. The festival submissions for our 8th annual event will be accepted between November 1, 2024 and July 31, 2025. Please, see details below (it's a long text on our page, but we disclose everything upfront). Add us to your favorites!

We're:
-- one of best reviewed "indie-micro-budget content festivals";
-- ground event + online screening (same time);

We accept:
-- NARRATIVE FICTION SHORT FILMS
-- DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILMS;
-- EXPERIMENTAL CINEMA (all techniques);
-- ANIMATED CONTENT (all techniques);
-- MUSIC VIDEOS (for original songs or concerts);
-- FOUND FOOTAGE CONTENT (re-edited VHS or old film);
-- ultra-short PSAs, ADS and PROMO-CONTENT;
-- SCREENPLAYS (any length, for several awards);
-- PHOTOGRAPHS or single FRAMES FROM FILMS;

ATTENTION SCREENWRITERS: At our festival your NAME and your script's TITLE will be presented on screen as well (public show recognition)! All properly formatted scripts will be ACCEPTED to compete for awards. We don't provide script coverage or script feedback. The goal of our contest is to give you a chance to COMPETE and possibly win an award (about 30% of submitted scripts get nominated for an award). Judged by produced writers and producers.

ATTENTION FILMMAKERS: We accept works from independent artists, professionals, hobbyists, students, and amateur filmmakers - anywhere in the world. We will accept ALL fully completed films for the show, but considering our mission - the Jury wants to AWARD the following: very ORIGINAL narrative or experimental concept, thought PROVOKING themes, slightly UNUSUAL subjects and characters, an OPENMINDED way of artistic expression...

ATTENTION PHOTOGRAPHERS and DPs (DoPs): We believe that one image can tell the story, too. 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 photographed).

ATTENTION ALL - Kinodrome is about 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. In each case, pay attention to some basic audio-visual techniques and overall quality. Regardless of "pixel quality" show us your:

-- ORIGINALITY (fresh ideas, unique visuals, creative concepts);
-- ARTISTIC EXPERIMENTATION (slightly different mise-en-scene);

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, Eileen O'Meara, Logan Fry, Al Mertens, Martin Mulcahy, John Maslowski, Jason Klingensmith, Bianca Cassinelli, Juliette Blanche, Shaun Rylee, Mike Genz, Jonathan Riles, Alex Caperton, Matthew Diulus, Jason Boyer, Johnny K. Wu... (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 50% of all selected titles will get an Award (or 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 global contests, 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!

VENUE PROJECTION FACTS (for tech-nerds and geeks)

-- we're NOT a commercial movie theater (hotel based event)
-- projection screen size is 9x5 feet
-- projected in FHD from our hard-drive to QT Player (no need for DCP)
-- sound output via wired external speaker station

IN-PERSON EVENT FACTS

- small dedicated and super-friendly volunteer staff;
- max. 100 attendees (mostly artists and cinema 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;
- GIFTS with goodies for every artist who attends (free T-shirt, too);
- our popular "micro-budget pizza" and cheap wine served (FREE);

VIRTUAL EVENT FACTS (online show)

- the programs are shown online the same day;
- award ceremony recorded for YouTube (shown later);
- we can ship awards to winners (but not for free, details will be emailed);

You will NOT see the FOLLOWING "mise-en-scene":

- shiny rich "LA executives", invited to praise THEMSELVES (F... no);
- annoying "popcorn crowd" who DON'T understand your art (not here);
- "agents" who purchase films/scripts at festivals (no such thing);

CHECK KINODROME OUT (on the WEB):

- read reviews written by past participants on FilmFreeway;
- search KinoDrome Festival on YouTube (clips from the festival);
- simply google "KinoDrome Festival" and you'll find various links;

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, get accepted (maybe even nominated for an Award), and have a SHOW!