Welcome to the 2018 MPAC Film Fest! A premiere platform showcasing select short media content from emerging and established independent storytellers with unique voices and innovative visions. Taking place October 11-13, 2018, the Bi-Annual MPAC Film Festival presents compelling new independent films.

The Festival fosters valuable alliances and working relationships between independent artists and the film industry. Principal line-up includes:

- Opening Ceremony
- Artist Lounge Opens
- Special Screening of UMC's 5th Ward - Episode I with Director Talk Back with Greg Carter and Alfred Cervantes
- Kickoff Party with live DJ in Artist Lounge

Speaker Series: "Intersections of Entertainment and Activism", "Social Media Storytelling: The Fast & Fury of Cell Phone Filming", "From Artist to Activist: How to Use Your Platform for Social Change"

Interactive Panels: "Women and Artists of Color: Redefining Ourselves in Front of and Behind the Camera", "Lights, Camera, Action: Being a Media Mogul - Business, Economic, and Wealth Creation", "Catalyze Film Culture: The Social Media Influencer"

- Short Film Screenings with Filmmaker and Director Talk Back
- SPEAK! Monologue Competition
- Vendors Row: There is something for everybody
- Closing Awards Presentation

∆ REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED BY ALL FOR ENTRY: Passes not guaranteed to be sold onsite. Please purchase online. Don’t delay. Use code FLASH30 for 30% off and register today! ∆

• Free registration bags to the first 100 early registrants!

• Capacity is limited, please arrive early for seating for all activities.

• Tickets for non-UHD college students with valid 2018 ID priced at $50 for all 3 day access (Use code COLLEGE50).

The MPAC Film Festival is produced by Mack Performing Arts Collective (MPAC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization dedicated to "Cultivating the Interest of Performing Arts by Exposing, Educating and Entertaining.” MPAC prides itself on procuring Hollywood celebrities and leading industry experts to give back to the next generation of talent by teaching education workshops, participating in panel discussions and networking events through our education program, benefiting the youth and young adults, aspiring and veteran talent of performing and visual arts primarily in the areas of acting, theater, TV/film/radio, comedy, music and writing.

The Festival has nine (9) competitive categories and three (3) special recognition awards:

- Best Dramatic Short
- Best Comedic Short
- Best Family Film
- Best Foreign Language Short
- Best Suspense/Thriller/Horror
- Best Original Screenplay
- Best Student Short
- Best Director
- Best in Fest
- MPAC First-time Filmmaker Recognition
- MPAC Local Young Filmmaker Spotlight (Filmmakers under 17)
- MPAC Activism Award (Film themes tackling Race Relations/Social Awareness)

∆ All Winners will be listed on MPAC-Arts.org special recognition page, as well as receive an email notification of winning status change, a printable digital certificate, and a MPAC Award-winning Laurel within two (2) weeks of the Closing Awards Ceremony. Additionally, winners will receive a Certificate of Recognition from the office of State Representative Shawn Thierry. (International) Winners, please allow 8 to (10) weeks to receive.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD WINNERS

** MPAC ACTIVISM AWARD (Social Awareness): DANIEL MONTOYA for the Documentary ‘him’ (TX)

** FIRST-TIME FILMMAKER AWARD: FOROUZAN JALAIL for GLOOMY GREEN (Iran)

** YOUNG FILMMAKER SPOTLIGHT: MICHAEL MYLES HAYES, nine (9) year old Writer and Director of BEAST FACTOR (TX)

2018 MPAC FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS

BEST STUDENT SHORT
** SNACK LIST by Alyce Rogers (FL)

BEST STUDENT SHORT (Honorable Mention)
** BEAST FACTOR by Michael Myles Hayes (TX)

BEST FAMILY FILM
** CONNECTED by Christopher Satola (CA)

BEST FAMILY FILM (Honorable Mention)
** THE RING by Brandon Curless, Eric Jones, and Lea Jones (TX)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
** FIFO by Sacha Ferbus (Belgium)

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
** ‘him’ by Daniel Montoya (TX)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
** THE SALVATION by Christopher Satola (CA)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY (Honorable Mention)
** THAT SMELL by Kyle Lavore (NY)

BEST COMEDIC SHORT – ROMANTIC COMEDY
** MIXED SIGNALS by Tracie Laymon (TX)

BEST COMEDIC SHORT – DARK COMEDY
** WHITE PICKETT FENCE by Jacqueline King-Howell (TX)

BEST SUSPENSE/THRILLER
** DAVID by LaKisha Lemons (TX)

BEST SUSPENSE/THRILLER (Honorable Mention)
** MUGARTHIRAI (MASK) by Harish Gokul (India)

BEST DRAMATIC SHORT
** TAPFERKEIT by Joseph (Tim) Quinn (UT)

BEST DRAMATIC SHORT (Honorable Mention)
** A SHORT STORY ABOUT LOVE by Christopher Satola (CA)

BEST DIRECTOR
** LAKISHA LEMONS for the Suspense/Thriller DAVID (TX)

BEST DIRECTOR (Honorable Mention)
** DANIEL MONTOYA for the Documentary ‘him’ (TX)

And, with unanimous recommendations from 11 judges and 8 AWARD WORTHY nominations, the MPAC Film Festival Award for BEST IN FEST goes to... DAVID by LaKISHA LEMONS!!

Award-winning laurels link: https://filmfreeway.com/laurels/43709/MPACFilmFest

ELIGIBILITY & SCREENING REQUIREMENTS
• Please review requirements. Refunds will not be made for filmmakers who submit films that are ineligible. Please reference the following:
• All films must have been completed on or after January 1, 2017.
• Minimum run time: 3:00 minutes.
• Maximum run time: 30:59 minutes.
• Each Filmmaker can submit up to three (3) works, as separate entries. If you choose to submit more than three (3) during the 2018 season, then all works submitted may be disqualified and no refunds will be given.
• There is no premiere requirement for short films and episodic content.
• All Genres accepted, except violently graphic, explicit nudity and/or pornographic material.
• Films in a language other than English must be subtitled in English for Festival consideration or film must include English subtitles.
• Please observe the running time frames for your submission:
o High School Short films: Grades 10-12 (between 3:00 - 7:00 minutes, including credits)
o Short films (between 3:00 - 15:00 minutes, including credits)
o Long short films (between 15:01 - 30:59 minutes, including credits)
• Works-in-progress will not be accepted during the 2018 festival.
• Top Race Relations/Social Awareness themed works will receive special recognition.
• All films will be rated by a minimum of three (3) judges. All films with an average of 7.0 or higher and/or unanimous recommendations are automatically moved to the Semi-finalist category awaiting a ‘TOP 25’ finalist position. Semi-Finalists not receiving a Finalist standing may still be screened, but just not competitively. Films ranked as a Finalist will receive an Official Selection screening letter.
• Emails received can expect a response within 48-72 hours, on following Tuesday - Friday, 12 PM - 11:59 PM/CST. Please be mindful of content length.
• Filmmakers must deliver final format (as indicated in “instructions for submitting”) for Festival screenings no later than Friday, October 5, 2018.

JUDGING MATRICES
Films are weighted in eight (8) separate categories, rated and averaged as follows:

-Originality / Creativity
-Direction
-Writing
-Cinematography
-Performances (overall ensemble)
-Production Value (overall quality)
-Pacing
-Sound / Music

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING
• Completed submission form, submitted electronically via FilmFreeway.
• We prefer all screeners to be submitted digitally online.
• Entry fee payment
• Due to the anticipated number of entries, feedback will not be provided during the 2018 season. If requested, a response may not be given.
• Do not submit a press kit. We may request press kits only once a film has been accepted.

ADDITIONAL RULES, REGULATIONS & GUIDELINES
1. Entrants confirm and warrant that they have the required legal authority to submit the entry into the festival and to use all music, images, and content in the entry.

2. The Finals: Official Selection notifications can be expected between September 20-25, 2018. Official selections are films that will be screened in the 2018 competitive line-up. Congratulations in advance! Select Semi-Finalist films (films not making the ‘TOP 25’) may be chosen to screen, but just not competitively. Screenings will take place on Thursday, October 11, 2018, and Friday, October 12, 2018. No ‘Official Selection’ film may be withdrawn from the festival program after it has been selected. Final Selections will be listed on MPAC-arts.org no later than October 5, 2018. ** Judging decisions are final. **

3. We reserve the right to use portions of the film or any related screenshots for promotional and marketing purposes leading up to the event. We will not use any portion of the film whether visually or in text format that will give away the ending or spoil the film for viewers in any way.

** By submitting your film, you agree to the rules and guidelines stated above and if any of the guidelines are not followed completely and your film is deemed to be disqualified, ineligible, or not chosen, you understand that no submission fees will be refunded in part or in full.

Further, the undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless MPAC Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity and screening.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Tim Quinn

    Great festival. I was excited to win for Best Dramatic Short. The staff is very professional and great communication. I highly recommend this festival.

    October 2018
  • I could not afford to attend, but the communication was on point. Very informative and kind. I will definitely submit to this fest again. I truly appreciate the courtesy of having our short drama “The R Word” makes its world premiere at MPAC.

    October 2018
  • Lakisha Lemons

    MPAC Film Fest is by far one of the best festivals I have ever experienced. The caliber of the panelist this festival brings to the Houston Film scene provides filmmakers with direct insight from working producers, filmmakers currently in Hollywood. At this festival I was able to enjoy films from filmmakers across the country. I am forever grateful for the MPAC experience and I look forward to the next festival.

    October 2018
  • Johnnard Harper

    Everything was organized. Best festival I’ve been to in a very long time. Job well done!!

    October 2018
  • Well Communicated. Requesting the team to send award winning laurels for our short film Mugathirai (Mask) to my email address harish.gokul89@gmail.com

    October 2018