GO WEST Short Films Submission Criteria
LENGTH:
Minimum running time 2 minutes, maximum 30 minutes
STYLE:
Short films can be in any style; live-action, animated, or mixed media.
FORMAT:
Submissions can be made to the Go West Film Festival by FilmFreeway (filmfreeway.com)
SELECTION AND ACCEPTANCE PROCESS / DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION:
Submissions will be selected based on the following criteria: 1) technical quality, including visual elements, sound, and editing; 2) artistic quality, including the aesthetic experience offered to the viewer and, as applicable, the effectiveness of the actors; 3) story and the quality of the script (as applicable); and 4) adherence to the “western” theme (more information below). Films selected for inclusion in the Go West Film Festival are chosen at the sole discretion of the GWFF Board of Directors.
If the short is chosen for exhibition, the filmmaker will be informed via email.
After notification of acceptance, the filmmaker must provide a copy of the film preferably on DCP format or downloadable file. Prior to the festival we would also appreciate as backup a hard copy of the film as Region 0 or Region 1 DVD or Blu-ray.
While Go West Film Festival does not offer filmmakers any monetary awards for the films it considers and accepts, the festival is committed to publicly acknowledging the accomplishments of its contributors. We extend to filmmaker participants the benefits of greater public awareness of their work through festival publicity, festival laurels to add to film credits and publicity, and for in-person attendees the opportunity to meet and make connections with film festival organizers, programmers, film scholars, filmmakers, members of the business community, and other cinephiles.
THEME:
In honoring both classic and contemporary Western film, the Go West Film Festival encourages a broad and creative interpretation of the “western.” Submissions that address issues of race, gender and the environment are particularly welcome.
TRADITIONAL: A narrative piece taking place in the American West from the mid to late 1800s onward. Traditional Western narratives might typically involve, for example, cowboys, outlaws, frontier life, or other elements of the classic Western genre.
DOCUMENTARY: Documentary work might begin with questions such as the following: What does the West mean to you? What has been your experience traveling or living in the West? Among other approaches, a non-fiction film might capture a day in the life of a rancher, farmer or another person whose identity is tied to the West; consider an issue of public concern in the West; or examine an aspect of western history.
SUB-GENRE: Overlaps between the western and other film genres have resulted in sub-genres. As examples, sub-genres include the road movie, the horror film, and science fiction films which retain an essential connection to the American West. We welcome creative ideas and new directions.
Please email us at: howdy@gowestfilmfest.org
