FilmShift offers Student showcases for both our film festival and screenplay competition.
Films and scripts entered into competition at The FilmShift Festival are eligible to win prizes along with our Shifty Awards.
These competitions are for young filmmakers who are serious about the craft and want to grow as filmmakers. Both our film and screenplay competition are fun and exciting ways for students to get a jumpstart on their filmmaking careers.
Getting your work accepted into or given an award at a festival can also be a valuable accomplishment to add to a resume or college application.
Student Films Showcase
The FilmShift Festival gives students the chance to present their work to a mass audience, and in turn, it gives the audience the opportunity to see rookie filmmakers on the rise.
Some genres of films that we’re seeking include, but are not limited to: Drama, Comedy, Thriller, Horror, Documentary, Music Video, and Animated films.
Twenty percent of the festival’s gross ticket sales will be donated evenly to 2 non-profit groups: The Jimmy Fund (a juvenile cancer research foundation,) and Metrowest Family Theater (an inclusive community theater group).
The Shiftys
Films and scripts entered into competition at The FilmShift Festival are eligible to win cash and prizes along with our Shifty Awards.
For films, professional and student works compete together for the same set of prizes.
For screenplays, professional and students compete for a separate set of prizes. Both feature-length and short screenplays will compete for the same set of prizes. We present Shifty Awards in the following categories:
Best of Festival
First Place
Our First Place winner will receive a $500 cash prize.
Second Place
Our Second Place winner will receive a copy of Jungle Software’s “Gorilla” budgeting for independent filmmakers. Our Second Place winner will also receive a 12-month online subscription to Filmmaker magazine, provided by Filmshift. Jungle Software generously donated the software.
Third Place
Our Third Place winner will receive a 12-month online subscription to Filmmaker Magazine, provided by Filmshift.
Special Awards
The Shifty Uplifty Award
Presented to films that uniquely inspire and uplift through the art of film. This award is also given to films that best exemplify the ideal that we should treat all people with respect, understanding, and compassion. (As compassionate as we are, we will award no more than 5 films in this category in order to maintain the value of the awards.)
The Shifty Lime Time Award
Presented to films or filmmakers with particularly creative or strong contributions to the “Green” and/or 10% Shift revolution. (No more than 5 films to be awarded in this category.)
Audience Awards
Determined by the festival viewing audience’s vote and overall rating of the films.
Honorable Mention
Certificates of Merit will be given to a handful of films screened at the festival in the following categories:
- Feature
- Short
- Documentary
- Music Video
- Animated
Filmshift Student Screenplay Competition
FilmShift is committed to advancing the craft of screenwriting as well as the progress of student screenwriters through our annual student screenplay competition.
We accept both feature-length and short film scripts of all genres and styles that tell strong and original stories. Student writers are encouraged to submit their work to compete for a variety of prizes and awards.
The Shiftys
Scripts entered into competition in The FilmShift Student screenplay competition are eligible to win cash and prizes along with our Shifty Awards.
We present Shifty Awards in the following categories:
Best of Festival
First Place: Final Draft screenwriting software, generously donated by Final Draft Software.
Second Place: One year subscription to “Script” magazine, generously donated by Final Draft Software.
Third Place: One year subscription to “Script” magazine, generously donated by Final Draft Software
Certificates of Merit will be given to a handful of screenplays (No more than 5 screenplays entered will receive this award.)
Special Awards
The Shifty Uplifty Award
Presented to screenplays that uniquely inspire and uplift through the art of film. This award is also given to screenplays that best exemplify the ideal that we should treat all people with respect, understanding, and compassion. (As compassionate as we are, we will award no more than 5 screenplays in this category in order to maintain the value of the awards.)
The Shifty Lime Time Award
Presented to screenplays with particularly creative or strong contributions to the “Green” and/or 10% Shift revolution. (No more than 5 films to be awarded in this category.)
