Video Contests, Film Festivals, and Awards

Lights! Camera! Action! Abilene is making waves with the International Short Film Festival to be held Nov. 1-2, 2013. Hundreds of today’s cinematic visionaries, from students to independent filmmakers, will compete in six major categories to win cash awards for the festival’s top films. Held at the historic Paramount Theatre, a 1930s restored movie palace listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 24fps International Short Film Festival is in its 15th year, comprising entries that also represent Official Selections at Sundance, Cannes, Berlin, Tribeca and more.

An unconventional film festival since its inception in 1999, 24fps showcases 30 Official Selections, which will be screened only once for the public in the Paramount Theatre as part of the two part exhibition program. These unique programs are designed to highlight the filmmaker as much as the work itself, giving filmmakers the opportunity to speak to the audience at the close their screening. The selected projects are pre-judged by a panel of industry professionals and represent an array of genres, including narrative, animated, experimental and new media.

Entries are encouraged at every level of experience.

“We charge the Official Jury to look at each film independently and ask them to consider how it communicates to them individually. Method of production is less important,” said festival director Barry Smoot, who also serves as the Paramont Theatre’s artistic director.” We ask them to consider how the artist has used whatever tools available to communicate their vision.”

The films will be presented over the course of three programs as a part of the 24fps 2013 Jury Exhibitions. Program A includes 10 films from around the world (each 20 minutes or less) starting at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1. Program B includes 10 additional films at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, with Program C concluding the festival at 7 p.m. Saturday, featuring the final 10 films. Awards will follow.

General admission tickets are $10. Festival Passes, which include access to all three programs, are $20. Tickets are available online at http://paramount-abilene.thundertix.com or can be reserved by phone by calling the Paramount Theatre business office at 325-676-9620.

For more information or high-resolution photography, please contact Sarah Covington at 214-252-0900 or [email protected]. Additional information on the 24fps International Short Film Festival can be found online at www.24fpsfest.com. The Paramount Theatre is located at 352 Cypress St. in Abilene.

Resources:

24fpsfest.com