The Department of Mass Communication and the Common Reader Program at SHSU invite you to submit a short film to the "10th Annual Mass Communication Common Reader Film Festival inspired by this year's Common Reader book, "I Never Thought of It That Way" by Monica Guzman. We would like to encourage all students to produce short films with the central theme "Curiosity With Respect: Bridging Differences Without Erasing Them."

Please submit your films here on FilmFreeway. This call is open to all currently enrolled SHSU student.
Late Waiver for film submitted after Nov.2nd is: CommonReader2025

Awards & Prizes

Best Film

Laurels will be sent electronically to group members.
A jury composed of SHSU faculty and/or professionals in the field will choose the best film in the competition.

This award will go to the film that tells the most compelling story first and foremost. Other technical aspects will also be taken into consideration.

Laurels will be sent electronically to group members.

A jury composed of SHSU faculty and/or professionals in the field and students in the Mass Comm Department will vote on who will win the following awards:

Best Film
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Sound Design
Best Adherence to the Theme
Best Actor/ Actress
Best Supporting Actor/Actress
Audience Choice

During the event, audience members will get a chance to vote for their favorite film and the film with the most votes will get the Audience Choice Award

Rules & Terms

All filmmakers submitting to the 2025 Annual Mass Communication Common Reader Film Festival with the theme "Curiosity With Respect: Bridging Differences Without Erasing Them" accept and agree to comply with the following Terms and Conditions:

1. The central theme of the film must address "Bridging Differences Without Erasing Them"

2. Narrative (fiction), documentary, animated, experimental or essay films are accepted.

3. All entries must be submitted via FilmFreeway, by the deadline.

4. We accept films in any language. However, films not made in English must have English subtitles.

5. The person submitting the film agrees that it may be screened at the Festival if selected.

6. You own the copyright to your film as its author and represent and warrant that you have (and will continue to have during the duration of the Festival and thereafter) all necessary licenses, rights, consents, and permissions that are needed to screen your film. Filmmakers will provide evidence of such on our reasonable request.

7. You agree that your film may be used for promotional reasons by SHSU, including but not limited to screening at Channel 7 KSHU, streamed through our website, and posted on social media.

8. The film has a run time of 1-10 minutes and must have been produced by at least one SHSU student.

9. You MUST list all the SHSU students involved in this project in your cast and crew page.

10. You MUST write a short synopsis (50 words max.) for your film, which will be used as your film's description on YouTube.

11. You must upload your film directly to FilmFreeway AND allow for it to be downloaded.

12. The film you submit in this form is the one that will be screened at the festival. Make sure to test the file and that everything is working properly before submitting.

13. It is at the sole discretion of the pre-selection committee which films will be screened. Not every film submitted will be selected for the festival.