Film Las Cruces has launched the “At Home! Movie Contest"

With everyone encouraged to stay at home during the Coronavirus, Film Las Cruces has launched the “At Home! Movie Contest” to help residents have some fun and create some entertaining and educational videos for the city and state.

The contest runs through April 20, with three categories: best short film, best family film and best public service announcement (PSA). PSA entries should focus on the benefits of social distancing in helping to stop the Coronavirus. There also will eb an award for the best film from someone less than 18 years of age.

While this contest is largely limited to residents of Doña Ana County, the contest will also offer a best PSA winner for a resident of New Mexico outside of Doña Ana County.

“During this time of social distancing, Film Las Cruces is happy to help create this opportunity to have a little fun and maybe even develop an informative public service announcement to help us reduce spread of the coronavirus,” said Don Gray Director of the Las Cruces & Doña Ana County Film Office. “We encourage families and children to tap into their creativity and teamwork to make some entertaining videos for us all to enjoy.”

Categories

SHORT FILM: Create a 3-5 minute short film. The film may be about any fiction or non-fiction subject matter that is suitable for a wide audience, including children. Participants are encouraged to be creative with their storytelling.

BEST FAMILY FILM: Create a 3-5 minute short film about any subject matter that is suitable for a wide audience, including children. The film must involve all members of a family living in the same household, either as cast members or crew.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (PSA) ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING: Participants in this category will create a 2-3 minute public service announcement about the importance of social distancing to lessen the impact of the Coronavirus.

Awards & Prizes

A $50 cash prize will be awarded to each category winner and “Best of Show.” All initial entries will be judged by a panel of industry professionals to determine the winners. The winners from each category will then go on to an audience vote for "Best of Show."

Online public voting for “Best of Show” will happen on the Film Las Cruces website, www.filmlascruces.com, from April 1-20.

Rules & Regulations

1. Participants must create their video between April 1-15 and not before the contest start date.
2. Submissions will be accepted through April 15.
3. Team members must adhere to all social distancing and federal/state government protocols regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19): https://www.coronavirus.gov // https://cv.nmhealth.org
4. Collaboration with others is allowed if done remotely. Physical interactions can only be with team members who live in the same household.
5. Participants can submit multiple projects for consideration, but only one per category.
6. Each person can only vote once for film finalists.
7. Family members of Film Las Cruces staff or board members will not be eligible for cash prizes.
8. All projects must be submitted through FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/At-Home-Movie-Contest

To learn more about the “At Home! Movie Contest,” visit: www.FilmLasCruces.com/At-Home-Movie-Contest.