The Melbourne International Cinema Extravaganza M.I.C.E. aims to be one of Melbourne's leading cinema extravaganza, raising awareness and celebrating these wonderful totem animals- Mice.

It will attract filmmakers from all around the world and celebrate their brilliant creations. With a strong focus on all the millions of life saving mice who sacrifice their lives to the research and study of terminal illnesses/cancer world wide.

It is a unique platform for new talent and a celebration of cinematic creativity, innovation and extravagance with artists new creations being judged right here in Melbourne City.

Films with a focus on terminal illness will be welcomed to help, educate, raise awareness, and bring hope to all the sufferers and families.
Art, Music and Film is a dynamic, healing way to help sufferers and their families as well as entertain all those who come along to this wonderful celebration.

A celebration that will engage, entertain, enlighten and bring together local and International films and give recognition to these wonderful, remarkable, brave little animals with a big, corageous heart.

“I came up with this film festival idea whilst at my screening of my first film in my trilogy, FATE-It is what it is! This was at the 2013 New York City Independent Film Festival, in Time Square. New York is filled with masses of people running in all directions- like mice! Very similar to Mice in cages of scientific research and health trials. These humans were like mice, all going somewhere, doing something and 95% of them chasing their own creation and creativity. And almost 50% having suffered or been scared with terminal illness at some point in their lives. I came back to Melbourne city and saw the same thing. We are all mice and these amazing totem animals of this festival have such a significance to our lives. They are life-saving!
I want this festival to begin to bring awareness just to how lucky we are to have mice in our life and celebrate their existence in a Melbourne International Cinema Extravaganza- MICE.
It was the beginnings of creating brilliance. Don't wait – Create! And we shall do just that with all the amazing courage of all of us working as a team of creative little mice, exhibiting dynamic, wonderful, International films and in turn celebrate the life-saving mice!”
R Lobosco.
Creator/Director of MICE Festival.
One of the judges in the 2016 MICE festival.

Awards & Prizes

13 M.I.C.E. Awards-
NB- You receive extra points if your film has our totem animal, a mouse.

-Best Actor
-Best Actress
-Best Direction
-Best Drama Film- any length
-Best Comedy Film- any length
-Best Student Film any length
-Best Documentary- any length
-Best Short- up to 20min
-Best Mini Short- up to 10min
-Best Ultra Short - 4 min or less
-Best Music Video
-Best TV/Web Series Pitch- 15 min or less (teaser)
-Best Screenplay/Script

All 13 winners will receive a 'Triple S,' - Surprise Special Something!

All 13 winners will be able to submit another film in the 2020 M.I.C.E. Festival, Fee-Free.

M.I.C.E Prizes to Top 3 Winners -

-BEST DRAMA FILM

-BEST COMEDY FILM

-BEST SCREENPLAY/SCRIPT

You will Receive -

An InkTip prize package.

Each prize package includes one (1) InkTip script listing so your winners can promote themselves and their scripts to InkTip's large network of producers and reps.
Every InkTip producer has been vetted via resume and references and demonstrated the ability to get movies made. Companies who are InkTip members include: ABC, Anonymous Content, APA, CBS Films, HBO Films, ICM, Paradigm, Paramount Pictures, Hallmark Channel, FX, Universal, WME, Echo Lake, Zero Gravity, Bad Robot, and 20th Century Fox.

Best of Luck to all!

Rules & Terms

-M.I.C.E. Festival accepts all genre films from around the world.
-All films must be in English or have subtitles in English.
-All entry fees are in U.S. Dollars, per film and non-refundable.
-Online Submissions are accepted via FilmFreeway, Vimeo or Youtube secure links. Please be sure to supply any necessary Passwords.
-Entries must be submitted no later than the deadlines listed.
-Films can be of any Completion Date and there is no Premiere requirement for films.
-Student Films are welcomed and a "Student Film Award," is listed.

-M.I.C.E. Festival does not offer “notes” or specific critique of any films not accepted for exhibition, and reserves the right to not accept a submission without providing justification.
-Works in progress WILL be accepted for submission.

-You must be over 18 years of age to qualify to enter the festival.
You authorize that your work is cleared for festival exhibition and accept full legal responsibility for the intellectual property therein. Entry into the festival constitutes permission to exhibit your work at the M.I.C.E. Festival.
-You are the copyright owner or producer.
-You have the right to enter the movie in the festival.
-The movie does not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, contract rights, or any other intellectual property rights of any third person or entity, or violate any person’s rights of privacy or publicity.
-The festival does not pay for mailing/shipping/courier costs.
-M.I.C.E. Festival DOES NOT PAY SCREENING FEES. By submitting your film via FilmFreeway you acknowledge that the festival will not pay to present your work.

-If your film is selected, you will have to provide two (2) DVD copies that are screen-ready and in English OR with English subtitles. DVD specifications: PAL compatible, All Regions.
Your DVD must be labelled with:
Film Title
Running Time
Director’s name
Contact
-The submission and/or screener DVDs must be sent to the Festival with the following statement: “Without commercial value, for cultural purposes only”. In order to facilitate customs clearance, please indicate a maximum value of AU$10 or less.

-After a film has been an official selection, the filmmaker will be notified, via FilmFreeway email.
-If selected, the festival will require an Electronic Press Kit.
-Once a film has been selected it cannot be withdrawn from the festival program.
-Participation in the festival implies that the participants and winners in all sections will use in all publicity (posters, announcements, etc.) the name and the logo of the M.I.C.E. Festival and the Awards.
-Although every possible care will be taken with DVDs, drives and files while in our possession, we cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage.
-The festival is hereby granted the rights to utilize excerpts from any film submitted for promotional purposes of the festival. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements, rules and regulations.
-The festival reserves the right to use any promotional materials you send us (such as stills, posters, trailers, etc.) for marketing, publishing and broadcast purposes of the festival.
-The festival does not return DVD copies and/or any other materials (such as stills, media kits or posters).
-The festival encourages filmmakers to promote their film's screening to industry professionals, distributors, the press and the general public.
-In no event will the festival be responsible or liable for any damages or losses of any kind, including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special or punitive damages arising out of any contestant’s access to and use of the website and participation in the competition.

-You accept responsibility for obtaining any and all clearances necessary to exhibit your film at the festival, warrant that you have the rights necessary to exhibit your film at the festival, indemnify and hold harmless M.I.C.E. Festival and its affiliates against any claim arising out of submission and/or exhibition of your film at M.I.C.E. Festival.

-By entering the competition you hereby accept these competition rules.