The 2008 Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films - "Palm Springs ShortFest": CALL FOR ENTRIES!

By Tim Kennedy

The Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films & Short Film Market, also known as Palm Springs ShortFest, one of the most acclaimed short film showcases in the World, is scheduled August 21-27, 2008 at the Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs. Film submissions are now being accepted through May 23, 2008.

Now in its 14th year, the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films has become known world-wide for the extraordinary community of filmmakers it attracts, and for the quality and scope of its programming. This celebrated event is the largest festival of its kind in America, showcasing over 350 short films each year from more than 40 countries, with a library of more than 2200 films available to film buyers, industry and press in its concurrent Short Film Market.

Festival events include seminars, master classes and scheduled 'one-on-one' meetings with industry experts and filmmaking professionals, free to all filmmakers who participate in the Festival. Best of all, all films submitted to the Festival are eligible for free inclusion in the Short Film Market and made available to all attending industry and press for viewing at our Film Market headquarters & screening center.

The Festival includes twenty awards in six competitive categories (including student and non-student work), with cash awards or film production prizes in each category (over $100,000 worth of prizes, in all), as well as "Best of the Fest" and "Future Filmmaker" awards.

All first place winners in the Live Action, Animation and Best of the Fest categories are automatically qualified for nomination consideration by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Since the Festival's inception, 58 short films featured at the event have gone on to garner Academy Award nominations (including five of this year's nominees).

For reduced submission fees, the early entry deadline is February 28, 2008. The regular entry deadline is April 11, 2008.

We encourage all interested filmmakers to submit their films and participate in one of the world's most acclaimed Festivals dedicated to the art of short films.

Entry forms are available at www.psfilmfest.org or by calling (760) 322-2930.