Welcome to the bi-monthly Martini Shot Film Series! We want to recognize and reward the best international short films via live audience viewings at Lanza’s Café, one of the most popular coffee houses/cafes in the North Carolina Triangle area! We are home to three major Universities (The University of North Carolina, Duke and N.C. State), all with film and theater programs. In addition, many award-winning producers make their home in the Triangle area. Subsequently, if your work is selected, you will be seen by a healthy crowd made up of film students, film aficionados, writers, producers, actors and all around fans of the sport! And, if you are local or regional filmmaker, there will be opportunities to promote your craft, network with working filmmakers, and talk with industry professionals.

Our judges will select a minimum of six (and maximum of twelve) short films to fill a two-hour film block on a bi-monthly Saturday night, to insure a good crowd. There will be one audience choice Award. Determined by audience voting at the end of each series, with the award winner receiving a cash prize of $100!

Each screening will have an Audience Choice award of $100.

By submitting an entry, each entrant warrants and represents that the Entrant owns all rights to the entry he/she is entering into the Martini Shot Film Series (hereafter MSFS) without limitation including the video or digital recording and the performance contained in each entry. Each entrant further warrants and represents that the entrant has obtained contractual permission from each person who appears in the entry to show the film.

By submitting an entry, the entrant agrees to indemnify and hold the MSFS, it’s organizers, their respective affiliates, officers, directors, agents, co-branders or other partners, and any independent contractors engaged harmless from any and all claims, damages, expenses, costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) and liabilities (including settlements), brought or asserted by any third party against the MSFS arising out of the entrant’s entry materials in the MSFS, including but not limited to Official Screenings,

Selected filmmakers may expect the following:

1. Filmmakers whose films are accepted for the competition will be notified initially by email via FilmFreeway platform. All the privileges due to filmmakers will be specified in this correspondence.

2. All filmmakers with a film in competition will receive a pass giving free access subject to availability. Passes will not be sent by mail but emailed to the addresses provided with their entries.

3. MSFS will promote the schedule of screenings via media including newspapers, emails, the web, and other media outlets.

MSFS encourages filmmakers to help promote their films by promoting their screening(s) to their social media, industry professionals, distributors, the press and the general public. Filmmakers are encouraged to submit links to their own sites that promote their films toMSFS. The inclusion of such links on the MSFS website will be at the discretion of the MSFS organizers.

All entries to the MSFS festival should be submitted with a downloadable link via FilmFreeway at the time of entry or otherwise made available within 7 days of being requested for screening purposes during 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 and regulations. The individual or corporation submitting this film additionally grants the Martini Shot Film Series the right to one or more public screenings of the entry during the dates of November 21, 2022 through October 22, 2023.

The organizers of the Martini Shot Film Series reserve the right to decide all questions regarding rules and regulations. Submission of a film constitutes that the filmmaker accepts the rules and regulations set forth herein.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Vanessa Neff

    Martini Shot put together a great group of films for this event. Good variety, each offering something different. Quaint location with excellent food and beverage options available. Unfortunately, the severely stormy weather was not our friend that evening, but I was glad to have attended and met some interesting people. Thanks, Al Julian for being the host!

    February 2024
  • The PERPETUAL production team, cast and crew are so honored to be a part of the MARTINI SHOT Awards —- and to be a finalist. We hope to bring you more in 2024. The festival team is incredible. 🍿 BrianHuey.com —📚Author of the PERPETUAL series. 🎥 HueyMedia.com

    February 2024
  • Al seems like a genuine dude. He met us at The Foothills Film Festival, loved our film and invited us to be a part of his screening.

    October 2023
  • Very nice people. Communication is the best also.

    September 2023
  • Fantastic forum to showcase a variety of filmworks to a receptive audience

    March 2023