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Season 4 blasts šŸš€ off on 5.25.25ā€¼ļø

It's simple. Make a one minute film. Submit.

With three seasons behind us, our exceptional, international micro short film competition is growing exponentially, receiving superior quality submissions from across the world.

Zeal Reel Micro Short Film Competitionā„¢, one of a few Competitions to give a cash prize to support filmmakers in their production journey, is designed to test filmmakersā€™ creativity and champion those who thrive in this short art form.

We emphasize one-minute micro shorts are an exercise in concise, comprehensive storytelling. However, to be brief is just part of a one-minute micro short. To captivate an audience with a visually stunning, well-written, character-based, closed-ended one-minute film that's worth watching, is the other part.

TEXANS šŸ¤  where y'all at? Hopefully rounding up your crew!

If you are a filmmaker based in the State of Texas, USA, we want to showcase your work. We're on a mission to build our industry right here in the Lone ā­ļø Star State. We offer additional consideration for your entry(ies). In addition to a cash prize given for the overall best film, we give an additional cash prize to the winning Texas-based filmmaker. A vote by attendees at our cinema exhibition determines the winner of the audience award prize. Let's see how bigger and bad'r Texans can be, y'all.

Your 60 second film can introduce you to the world. We want you to show us your Zeal for storytelling and submit your one minute short TODAY!

When we conclude the season, our supporters are mingling with our filmmakers at the swankiest budget-friendly orange carpet screening in Houston.

If you haven't already joined us, you MUST attend our soiree and cinema exhibition. Where you'll quickly discover we're NOT your average film festival.

Awards & Prizes

Grand Jury Prize (Best Micro Short Film) $2,500 USD
Texas Talent Award $1,000 USD

Cast/Crew Recognitions Include
Best Director
Best Cinematography
Best Original Music
Best Sound Design
Best Editing
Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Costume/Wardrobe
Best Makeup/Hair
Best Production Design

Film Recognitions Include
Best Dramatic Film
Best Horror Film
Best Romantic Comedy Film
Best Comedy Film
Best Dark Comedy Film
Best Science Fiction Film
Best Documentary Film
Best Mocumentary Film
Best Action/Adventure Film
Best Animation Film

Rules & Terms

šŸ‘€Submission Highlights are below.
āš–ļøSee all Official Rules at https://lazyparkentertainment.com/zr-official-rules/.

ā€¢ Submissions must be sixty (60) seconds in length or shorter, including credits.
ā€¢ Submissions must have been completed after November 1, 2023, and must be available for screening on November 13, 2025.
ā€¢ Submissions must be a motion picture, narrative or documentary, and must not be one-minute clips from longer films.
ā€¢ Submissions per entrant is unlimited. Each entry is a separate fee.
ā€¢ Submissions co-owned/co-created only need one person to serve as the entrant be it producer, writer, or director.
ā€¢ Submissions must be in high definition.
ā€¢ Submission can only be entered for one (1) category.
ā€¢ Entry fees are non-refundable.
ā€¢ Submitted material must not contain obscene, unlawful, or objectionable content.
ā€¢ Submissions in a language other than English, must include English subtitles.
ā€¢ Submissions that are publicly available online prior to the exhibition date may be screened, but will be ineligible for prize consideration.
ā€¢ Zeal Reel MSFC reserves the right in its sole discretion to reject or disqualify any ineligible entries, without a refund.
ā€¢ Zeal Reel MSFC requires the Grand Prize winner and the Texas Talent Award winner to complete and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability/Publicity Release before any prize money is released. Failure to fully complete and return the Affidavit within the allotted time will result in forfeiture of the prize.

10 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Molly Vernon

    Great communication and positive festival experience. It was so nice to have a festival director, participants, and viewers all enjoy the company, the food, and the films! Kudos to Shawn Harris for all her work in developing this festival in Houston, Texas!!!

    March 2023
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  • Donal O'Dea

    Thrilled to have won the audience Prize for 'Call of Nature' and so happy to have recieved a zoom call from Shawn to explain how, why and what it won. I got a sense that the festival is trying to promote short form creativity in a way that no other micro film festival is doing. I'm only sorry that I wasn't there for the live event. If you have a micro short make sure you put this at the top of your 'To Enter' list for next year!

    March 2023
    Helpful
  • Dean Watts

    Great festival, nice people, good films, lots of fun!

    April 2022
    Helpful
  • Matt Mckisson

    I went to the original festival in 2019 sort of by accident, and it turned out to be a lovely concept that I'm glad I was a part of in 2021 with my film "Use A Seat Belt". The curator was always very responsive with the questions I had over the course of the few months preceding the festival, and overall I think the night went very well, I got to meet a lot of wonderful film makers and film lovers.

    November 2021
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  • Gregg Jaffe

    I didn't attend the fest but enjoyed very easy communication regarding my film and was pleased to have won "Best Comedy" for my short film. They also did a nice job promoting the filmmakers leading up to the fest itself. I'd be very happy to submit more in the future.

    February 2020
    Helpful