PlazaMAC Comedy Short Film Contest
Hosted by the Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center – Patchogue, New York

Think you can make people laugh in 3 minutes or less?

The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center in Patchogue, New York invites filmmakers, comedians, students, and creative storytellers to participate in our First Annual PlazaMAC Comedy Short Film Contest.

This fast, funny filmmaking challenge asks creators to produce a family-friendly comedy short (3 minutes or under, including credits) while incorporating three surprise elements into their film. How you use them is entirely up to your creativity.

Every submission must include:
• The line of dialogue: “Stupid is as stupid does.”
• A cat teaser wand toy appearing somewhere in the film
• A character named “Captain Oopsie Daisy”

Whether it’s slapstick, parody, clever dialogue, visual gags, animation, or absurd comedy, we want to see how inventive filmmakers can be under a short time limit and a few ridiculous rules.

Selected films will be screened at the Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center during a special comedy showcase event where audiences and judges will celebrate the funniest and most creative entries.

Venue Bio
Located in the heart of downtown Patchogue, the Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center is a community-supported, nonprofit art house cinema dedicated to celebrating the power of film as both entertainment and cultural expression. Founded in 2011, the Plaza is a cozy single-screen theater that showcases independent, foreign, and classic films while also hosting festivals, filmmaker discussions, educational programs, and media arts workshops.

With approximately 68 seats and a welcoming atmosphere, the Plaza provides a unique venue where audiences can experience cinema, creativity, and community together. In addition to film screenings, the Plaza supports emerging filmmakers through workshops, special events, and film competitions designed to inspire creativity and storytelling.

Awards & Prizes

Awards & Prizes

The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center Comedy Short Film Contest celebrates creativity, humor, and clever filmmaking. Selected films will be screened at the Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center in Patchogue, New York, on October 3, 2026, at 7pm, where audience members and judges will enjoy an evening of short comedy films. Doors open at 6pm.
Grand Prize

🏆 Best Comedy Short Film
• $500 Cash Prize
• Official Award Certificate
• Screening at the Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center for an entire month before our regularly scheduled programing.
• There may be additional prizes TBD

Award Certificate Categories
😂 Best Joke
• Certificate Awarded to the film featuring the funniest single joke or comedic moment.

🐱 Best Cat Toy Moment
• Certificate Awarded to the most memorable or hilarious use of the cat teaser wand toy.

💩 Best Line delivery of the name “Captain Oopsie Daisy”
• Certificate Awarded to the best line delivery.

Rules & Terms

Rules & Regulations
Film Requirements
• Must be 18 years or older to submit.
• Films must be 3 minutes or less, including credits.
• Entries must be original works created by the submitting filmmaker(s).
• Films should be appropriate for audiences 13 years of age and up.
• Multiple submissions are allowed, but each film requires a separate entry.
• Must be Live-Action only. Narrative.
• No documentaries, animation, and no use of AI.

Required Elements
To ensure every film shares the same creative challenge, all submissions must include the following three elements:
1. The line of dialogue:
“Stupid is as stupid does.”
2. A cat teaser wand toy appearing somewhere in the film.
3. A character named “Captain Oopsie Daisy.”

These elements may be used in any creative way—literal, visual gag, background reference, or key plot point.

Content Guidelines
To maintain a family-friendly environment:
• No explicit sexual content and no nudity
• No hateful or discriminatory content
• Limited profanity (PG13-style humor preferred)
• No use of AI.

Comedy styles may include:
• Slapstick
• Situational comedy
• Parody or satire
• Physical comedy
• Family-friendly absurdist humor

Technical Guidelines
• Accepted formats: MP4 or MOV preferred
• Minimum to Maximum resolution: 1080p to 4k recommended
• Films must be live-action.

Rights & Permissions
By submitting a film, filmmakers grant the Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center the right to screen the film as part of the PlazaMAC Comedy Short Film Contest event and for limited promotional use related to the event.

Filmmakers must have the rights to all music, images, and materials used in their film.