True West Film Center presents Fresh Takes: True West Student Film Festival, a one-day showcase celebrating emerging filmmakers from the Sonoma County region. Featuring original short films produced by local elementary and high school students, the festival line up reflects the creativity, diversity, and individual voices of the next generation. Held at the new True West Cinemas in downtown Healdsburg, the festival will present selected films on the big screen before a theatrical audience and award a variety of prizes. Fresh Takes is presented in collaboration with the Sonoma County Office of Education.

Awards & Prizes

Prizes will be awarded for each of the categories listed below.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Best Elementary School Technical Achievement (Cinematography, Editing, etc.)
Best Elementary School Story
Best Elementary School Picture

MIDDLE SCHOOL
Best Middle School Technical Achievement (Cinematography, Editing, etc.)
Best Middle School Story
Best Middle School Picture

HIGH SCHOOL
Best High School Technical Achievement (Cinematography, Editing, etc.)
Best High School Story
Best High School Picture

FESTIVAL BEST
Best Narrative Picture at Festival
Best Documentary at Festival
Best Story at Festival
Best Line of Dialogue

Rules & Terms

1. Filmmakers must reside or attend school in Sonoma or Lake County. Exceptions for surrounding counties and beyond are invite-only.
2. Films must be produced by at least one student working in a behind-the-camera (non-acting) role.
3. Films must have been produced within the last two years.
4. Films may not exceed a running time of five (5) minutes.
5. Films are welcome to be any genre (animation, live-action, narrative, documentary, etc.)
6. Content of films should be enjoyable for an audience of all ages.
7. English and Spanish-language films are welcome.
8. Films must be submitted through Film Freeway for consideration.
9. Films must be submitted under one of the age-grade categories listed below. In the case of a film project made by students belonging to differing age-grade categories, the film must be submitted to the category corresponding to the higher grade or age range.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FILMS
● Entrant(s) must be 5-10 years of age or enrolled in elementary school at time of film’s production.

MIDDLE SCHOOL FILMS
● Entrant(s) must be 11-13 years of age or enrolled in middle school at time of film’s production.

HIGH SCHOOL FILMS
● Entrant(s) must be 14-17 years of age or enrolled in high school at time of film’s production.