Announcing the Quarantine Film Challenge

Announcing the Quarantine Film Challenge

---

Film Consortium San Diego is pleased to announce the Quarantine Film Challenge. Open to local, national and international filmmakers, this timed filmmaking competition launches Friday, April 3, 2020 and ends Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at midnight.  

Filmmakers will have until the July 15th deadline to write, edit, shoot and submit an under five-minute film about or inspired by their experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. All filmmakers are asked to comply with all current limitations and quarantine measures as mandated by local, regional or national governments. 

The Quarantine Film Challenge is a partnership between the Film Consortium of San Diego,  KPBS, San Diego International Airport’s Arts Program and Panasonic USA. The Film Consortium of San Diego will be releasing select films on social media and screening the best of the films during the 2020 San Diego Film Week in August. There will also be an audience choice award given to the film that gets the most “likes” and “shares” on social media.

“Life has changed dramatically since the beginning of the pandemic and one positive aspect of this is that many have had time to create art and showcase their creativity through the many platforms available to us in this digital age. The Quarantine Film Challenge hopes to inspire new or established filmmakers to tell their stories and capture this historic moment in films” says Jodi Cilley, Founder and President, Film Consortium of San Diego.

In addition, San Diego International Airport Arts Program will be putting a selection of the produced films on their website, and KPBS will broadcast a selection of the films on TV. The winner of “best film” will be awarded a $500 gift card to purchase a Panasonic Lumix Camera or lens at Nelson Photo Supplies, in San Diego, CA courtesy of Panasonic USA. 

“KPBS has long been a trusted companion, so during self-isolation we want to do what we can to make the situation a bit more bearable. The Quarantine Film Challenge is a good outlet for the creative community that will translate into some entertaining programs for the KPBS audience. This partnership means that creativity will prevail,” says John Decker, Director of Programming at KPBS.

“The Arts Program at San Diego International Airport has been collaborating with the Film Consortium San Diego for months to work to bring film programming to the airport. We continue toward that goal, and in light of the current world around us, the Quarantine Film Challenge is the ideal vehicle to further solidify this collaboration, providing our patrons with engaging film content. We look forward to showcasing selected films on our website, allowing local artists and other filmmakers to tell the story of this unique period in time through their medium of expression,” says Kim Becker, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority President and CEO.

In order to participate in the challenge, filmmakers must adhere to the following rules and regulations:

1. Write, Shoot and Edit a narrative film, documentary film or experimental film under 5 minutes
2. Film can be based on a true experience during the pandemic OR inspired by the pandemic
3. For films that are not clearly about or inspired by  the pandemic: The word Coronavirus, COVID-19, Quarantine, or Pandemic must be spoken on camera by one character in the film
4. Filmmaker must follow all guidelines of quarantine, social distancing, and personal hygiene and safety as required by your governing body (local, regional, or national).  Films that clearly do not follow these guidelines will be disqualified.
5. Filmmaker must Include 2 creative elements in the produced film as noted in the requirements listed on the submission website.
6. Filmmaker must complete all paperwork, release forms, etc. and hand in with film.

Filmmakers will be given until May 15 to submit their film for free and until Wednesday, July 15, 2020 to submit for a $45 fee. Films can be submitted at filmfreeway.com/QuarantineFilmChallenge before the deadline of July 15th at midnight.