KinoDrome: International Motion Picture & Screenplay Festival

Please, read everything below, including our REVIEWS (we're one of best reviewed "smaller festivals" on FilmFreeway). Save us in your "favorites". We ARE different and we are here for YOU.

ABOUT US

KinoDrome is: an IMDb verified 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 typical "We are sorry but..." letter after you submit your artwork. If you follow our submission rules and submit completed artwork of decent production value - you WILL become an official selection. It applies to: films, scripts, photographs (read more below).

SCREENWRITERS!

The writers create NARRATIVES and they should be more APPRECIATED by everyone in this industry. So, at our festival - your name and your script's title will be presented on the big screen, too! All properly formatted scripts will be accepted. All Official Selection script titles and authors will be featured on the screen at the beginning of award ceremony! No other festival does it. NOTE: we don't provide script coverage or 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. Yes, you should pay attention to some basic filmmaking techniques and rules, decent cinematography, sound quality, and overall production value, 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 and MISSION

KInodrome was born in 2018, in Cleveland, Ohio , USA, as a non-corporate true independent 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 “micro budget” film and media production is exploding all around the world. The equipment is available and affordable, and a lot of people want to express themselves. Therefore, there’s need for more public shows, more contests, and more festivals. 2018 festival was our initial event and it was great. 2019 event was another success w/more artists. In 2020 we held a virtual event (online) due to Covid crisis and we gave out the record number of awards (new categories)! Several award winning titles from our festival had additional public shows (at other festivals) and today they are - multiple exhibited and award winning films or scripts! 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 (see our website for other names).

THE PUBLIC SHOW EXPERIENCE

It’s a fantastic feeling to see your visual creation on the bigger screen, in an auditorium, and to be recognized by film enthusiasts (or other artists). Being accepted to screen at the film festival – you’re publicly showing your art 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.

KINODROME FACTS

-- 50% of award winning titles from female artists (unlike Hollywood);
-- age range of award winning artists: from 17 to 77 (or higher);
-- award winners from America, Europe, Asia, and Australia;
-- many artists (and winners) from our home-state of Ohio;
-- many (award winning) films were created on smartphone;
-- 20% of award winners are very talented FIRST time filmmakers or writers!

WHAT TO EXPECT AT OUR FESTIVAL?

- small dedicated and super-friendly volunteer staff;
- about 100 attendees (mostly artists and art enthusiasts);
- small comfortable venue (hotel conference auditorium);
- enough room and time to network with attendees;
- enough space/time to take pics in front of step-and-repeat banner;
- mini-mixer after awards ceremony, with FREE food (and some wine, too);

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

- shiny rich "executives" who are invited to praise THEMSELVES;
- annoying "popcorn" crowd who DON'T understand your art;
- posers in suits, pretending to be "important biz people";
- mainstream b/s of any kind;

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.

CHECK US 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;

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 helps beginner film artists with IMDb database, including: film title listings, name listings, corrections, etc. All for FREE. We help first-time filmmakers. We want you to succeed. Why? Because we appreciate your dedication to finish the film and send it to small non-corporate festivals that appreciates your art.

"KINODROME" WEB-NEWS-SERIES

It's our web TV 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.

CONCLUSION

KinoDrome is a non-mainstream, non-corporate indie festival that supports less established motion media artists, film students, amateur filmmakers, lower-budget content producers, under-represented screenwriters, and visual artists who "push the envelope". We ARE here for YOU. Submit with confidence.

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.