There are now TWO categories in the 9th Annual NY Dog Film Festival presented by Purina® Dog Chow®
CELEBRATING DOGS! is the main category of short films that celebrate the love between dogs and their people and the shelters that bring them together. Filmmakers from around the world are welcome to submit their films for consideration.
SERVICE DOG SALUTE is a new category supported by Dog Chow that invites filmmakers to explore the unique ways posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) trained service dogs transform the lives of the military veterans they serve. *Please note: Eligibility in the SERVICE DOG SALUTE category is limited to individuals who are legal residents of the 50 United States, District of Columbia or Puerto Rico. NOTE CASH PRIZES & TRAVEL AWARDS BELOW!
*Submission fees are waived thanks to Dog Chow!
Write Tracie at TheDogFilmFestival@gmail.com for the waiver code.
NOTES ABOUT SERVICE DOG SALUTE FILMS
*PTSD service dogs for veterans are not the same as emotional support, therapy, or companion dogs. They are specifically trained to help their handler perform tasks they cannot otherwise perform on their own.
* While final content is up to you, a few ideas for your exploration:
* Illustrate one or more of a PTSD service dogs’ unique skills (eg: grounding, compression, night terror interruption, etc.)
* Demonstrate the effects a PTSD service dog has on their handler’s PTSD symptoms and quality of life
* Highlight the challenges veterans face surrounding PTSD service dogs (mental health stigmas, supply/demand, not covered by insurance, etc.)
* Preferred content should be ultimately uplifting in tone
* Films must be less than ten (10) minutes in length.
*AWARDS FOR THE MAIN CATEGORY - CELEBRATING DOGS!
While there are no dedicated prizes for films in the Celebrating Dogs! Category, being chosen to be part of the NY Dog Film Festival (NY DFF) automatically makes a filmmaker a winner! All chosen filmmakers who are able to attend [at their own expense] will receive a limited edition t-shirt, a VIP doggy "sWag" gift bag, and two 2 tickets (or more if requested) to the NYC showing.
*AWARDS & PRIZES FOR the DOG CHOW SERVICE DOG SALUTE Category (SDS):
* All eligible films received during the entry period in the Dog Chow SDS category will be judged by the NY DFF, with input from Dog Chow.
* Three finalists will be selected and notified by August 15 2024 by email. From the three finalists, one will be chosen as the winner and receive a $5,000 cash prize. The remaining two finalists will each receive a $1,000 cash prize.
* The three (3) finalists will receive a trip to New York City to attend the NY DFF premiere October 24 2024 (date may be changed). Trip includes roundtrip coach airfare for two (2) people from major airport nearest winner’s home (as approved by Sponsor in its sole discretion) to New York City, NY; two (2) nights hotel accommodations at a Sponsor-specified hotel (one standard room, double occupancy); ground transportation to and from airport/hotel/NY DFF; a stipend for meals; and two (2) tickets to the NY DFF premiere.
* The finalists are responsible for any other costs and expenses not specified herein as being awarded, including but not limited to ground transportation to/from home and airport and any baggage fees or special taxes associated with the airfare. Finalists and their guest must travel on the same itinerary. The guest must be at least 18 years of age or older unless the guest is a minor child/ward of the finalist who will be traveling with said minor, and will be required to sign a liability and/or publicity release prior to issuance of a prize.
* Both finalists and the winner are responsible for paying all applicable local, state and federal taxes associated with accepting their Prize.