PERRY – By Cari Doutre - March 25, 2021
Think you’ve got what it takes to be an award-winning filmmaker and walk away with a generous cash prize to prove it? Here’s your chance!
Walker Cinemas in Perry is hosting their second annual local film festival contest April 26-28, 2021. This event is free to the public for all attendees – and it couldn’t come at a better time.
“After a full year of operating since it’s initial temporary closure prompted by the pandemic, Walkers feels it’s time to roll out an even bigger film festival than last year with a four-week submission period and sponsorship from local businesses to create a cash prize for the winning filmmakers,” stated Walker Cinemas in a March 18, 2021 press release.
COVID-19 guidelines and safety measures will be in place during the three-day film festival. Auditoriums can be filled up to 50 percent capacity with every other row blocked off to ensure social distancing protocols. Walker Cinema added that sanitation efforts will be carried out thoroughly during the event.
While COVID-19 guidelines are being met, Walker Cinemas has guidelines of their own when it comes to submissions.
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Filmmakers must produce an original 10-minute or less film with a “G” or “PG” motion picture standard rating to be eligible for the contest. Film submissions will be featured on one of the three nights and at least one cast member must check-in with Walker Cinemas at the festival the night of the film’s screening.
The top three films will be determined based off of ballots casted by attendees that night. Attendees will be allowed only one vote per night and the film with the highest votes will be entitled to the cash prizes.
The film festival begins at 6 p.m. each night with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. The first 100 attendees each night will also be given a raffle ticket for one of three $100 Walker Cinemas gift cards.
“We had so much fun with the first film festival to the point that we have been itching to do another one since it wrapped up in June,” said Connor Bennion, a manager at Walker Cinemas.
“We’ve been brainstorming what we can do as a business to not only maintain the community’s interest in the theater, but even more how we can be there for other businesses and patrons who have supported us throughout the years, especially during the pandemic,” Bennion added.
Film entries must be submitted by Sunday, April 18, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.
For questions or inquiries regarding this event, and to submit a film, email Shawn Bennion at Walker Cinemas at: walkercinemasfilmfestival@gmail.com
Film submissions must be uploaded to a Google Drive with the link emailed to Walker Cinemas. Be sure to include the name of the film, all participants involved and the county you currently reside in in that email.
The top three films will be awarded a cash prize of up to $500.
For more information and updates on this event, follow Walker Cinemas Film Festival page on Facebook or visit their website posted below.
Volunteers and donations are also greatly appreciated.