Full Spectrum Features and Chicago International Film Festival, in partnership with the Illinois Film Office, present: Shortcuts Short Film Contest.

Illinois Filmmakers who are looking for their next big break are invited to enter their work in the 2020 Shortcuts Contest. Shortcuts is an opportunity for burgeoning Illinois filmmakers to express their creative visions in the short film format. The film business has been part of Illinois from Charlie Chaplin’s first American films, to today’s TV series Chicago Fire, Med, PD, and Empire. Our state is also home to a thriving independent film scene, where filmmakers of all backgrounds can acquire the skills and resources to share their stories with the world. We hope this contest helps nurture new talent and encourage Illinoisans to be part of this exciting industry.

eligibility

1. Entrants must be between the ages of 18 and 22 (at the time of the project’s production)

2. Entrants must be Illinois residents or students attending Illinois colleges or universities

3. The project submission must have been produced between 2018-2019

4. Submissions must be 15 minutes or less in runtime

Participants may use any format film, video, graphics and/or animation to tell a narrative, documentary or freeform visual expression. All entries will be judged by a panel of film industry professionals.

PRIZE

The winner will receive a $500 cash prize and their film will screen during the 2020 CineYouth Film Festival, Cinema/Chicago’s festival designed to encourage youth filmmakers in their creative endeavors.