Friday, March 25 is the last day to submit entries to the Central Coast Film Society Student Film & Digital Media Arts Competition. The contest showcases the talents of Central Coast students by helping them build the necessary skills for submitting to other festivals.  

“We are thrilled to be able to bring this fun student showcase and to give local creators a platform to show their creative works, and reward them for their talents,” said Sarah Risley, board president of the film society.

Student submissions are accepted in all categories, through the FilmFreeway festival page: https://filmfreeway.com/CCFSStudentFilmCompetition.

Those who make the finalist round will be notified by email on April 1; the in-person finals event will take place April 6 at San Luis Obispo High School.

“Everything is free for the students and the audience,” said Daniel Lahr, the film society’s executive director. “We want to make sure that their outstanding work is recognized and rewarded, and we want that opportunity to be given to everyone regardless of where on the Central Coast they are from.”

The challenge covers all aspects of film and media arts, including: 

Filmmaking 
Screenwriting/Creative Writing
Photography/Cinematography
Highlight Reel (Editing, Animation, Special FX)

All students who submit their films or creative works will receive constructive feedback from the Central Coast Film Society (CCFS) board members. Finalists will have their work reviewed by a panel of judges from the industry and academia to earn awards for excellence and available $250 scholarships for each category.

The CCFS Board will grant an additional $100 scholarship to the creative work that best captures the spirit of the Central Coast. Additional scholarships may be available, pending sponsors and individual donations: https://www.nfggive.com/guidestar/83-0787181.

“Above all, we know that the students who participate will receive invaluable insights, constructive feedback, and encouragement from this exceptional panel of judges,” said Risley. 

Rules for the competition are:

All the creative submissions must be from high school students living on the Central Coast, specifically Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura and Monterey counties.

Creative submissions must fall within G, PG or PG-13 ratings (films outside of those ranges will be disqualified); and all submissions must be available for public display (online or future in-person event).

Each student may submit only one creative work in a particular category.

For more information visit https://filmfreeway.com/CCFSStudentFilmCompetition.