A night of dance film in downtown Cincinnati at the Contemporary Arts Center! This is a one night only exciting program curated by me, Cat Rider (an artist and filmmaker born and raised in Cincy), with the guidance and support from the amazing people at Cindependent Film Festival. The CAC has opened their black box theater screen to a night of dance film, and I couldn't be more honored and excited.

This event will consist of pre-screening festivities and dance performance in the lobby of the CAC, followed by our main event: a 90 min (approximately) line up of short dance films ranging in genre, topic, and style. While we are working on the exact details of the night, we are locked in for August 16th! Submitters: please keep an eye on your email following submission as we'll send you details as they are confirmed.

This will be a ticketed event: pricing and details coming soon.

vessel: a receptacle that carries, a conduit for substance, an entity that holds and translates and moves concepts, commentary, emotions, ideas, states of mind, and states of being.

I'm Cat Rider, and I'm from Cincinnati, OH. I've been making dance films since 2018, and this niche genre of filmmaking is my passion. Often, I'm traveling away from my home city to make this art. I've had the absolute privilege to work with dancers and artists from around the globe to create dance films that have meant the world to me, and even more so to screen at festivals both mainstream and underground. Watching and experiencing this medium with others in theaters, in galleries, in artist collective spaces, and in coffee shops projected on a bedsheet has been transformative, validating, and inspiring to say the least. I love dance film with my whole soul and I want to begin to bring it forward and raise it up in the midwest, starting with Cincinnati. So I'm curating one night of dance film. Put August 16th on your calendars and plan on heading down to the Contemporary Arts Center for a program filled with movement.

Awards & Prizes

Films that are selected for the screening will receive customized laurels, as well as a small stipend (amount to be decided as we continue to fundraise).

Rules & Terms

Films must be under 15 minutes!

There is no completion date regulation on this event. You can send me a film you finished 5 minutes before the deadline, or 20 years ago. Work can be student work, amateur work, and/or professional work.

The nonrefundable entry fee must be payable in US dollars.

When submitting to the event you are agreeing, if selected, to screen the submitted film during the date of the event (August 16th, 2025).

Cat Rider, as curator of Vessels: A Night of Dance Film, reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any project submitted. There is no limit to the number of entries per submitter.

If selected, you will be contacted by a team member of the event to coordinate a file transfer. You must transfer a version of you film that is in the resolution and codec required by the venue in order for the screening to go smoothly. These details will be emailed.

PRESS MATERIALS: If selected, you will be asked to provide some materials to help promote the event: screenshots, posters, BTS photos, director/ performer bios.

By submitting your film, you agree that you own the copyright of all elements of your film. Cat Rider, as the curator, will not be legally responsible for any copyright infringements that may arise in regards to your film. Basically, please make sure you dotted your Is and crossed you Ts... please, in regards to copyrights.