REGISTRATION: The New Year Edition of the Guerilla Short Film Challenge

GUERILLA SHORT FILM CHALLENGE 2024: THE NEW YEAR EDITION

Attention Utah-based storytellers of all ages and all skill sets; Have you ever wanted to make a short film but weren’t sure where to start? If this is the case, then the Guerilla Short Film Challenge might just be right up your alley. Start the new year off right and get in on this creative filmmaking adventure.

Challenge participants will be given criteria and a few rules and guidelines, and then…It’s off to the cinematic races. Filmmaking teams will have just over a month to create 5-minute short films using any resources available to them. If you’re newer to the game, fear not as the folks at Film and Media Alliance of Southern Utah and Southern Utah’s Guerilla Short Film Challenge are always but a call away for advice and assistance.

Adding to the magic of the overall Guerilla Challenge experience is our screening event. That’s right! After all the completed Guerilla shorts are submitted, these creative offerings will be showcased on the big screen in front of what we’re confident will be a wildly enthusiastic crowd. What’s more, there will be cash prizes awarded to the strongest films of the bunch.

The shorts will be voted upon by an esteemed panel of judges and we’ll also throw an Audience Choice award into the mix. What’s more, the first place winning film might just have an opportunity to have a premiere slot at the upcoming Desertscape International Film Festival. Trust us when we tell you that experiencing these films in a theatrical environment is one of the most rewarding aspects of the process.

In terms of criteria, what might The New Year Edition of the Guerilla Short Film Challenge have in store for participants? You’ll find out when registration opens on Wednesday, January 31st at 6 PM (MST.) Once you register, we’ll email you the Challenge criteria.

It’s only $45 per filmmaking team and each submission will come with one free ticket to the Guerilla Screening event which will take place on Saturday, March 16th at The Electric Theater. As far as said criteria,  no clues here (we don’t want to spoil the surprises) only to say that if you’re interested in taking part, register sooner rather than later because there will be a couple of very cool incentives for those who sign up between Wednesday, January 31st at 6 PM (MST) and Friday, February 2nd at 6 PM (MST.) Among these incentives; $5 off the registration price and an extra minute towards your project’s running time. This is to say nothing of the fact that we’ll be limited to 30 total sign-up slots, and given the popularity of the Challenge through the years, those spots are likely to fill up relatively quickly.

The Guerilla Short Film Challenge is a wonderful opportunity to create but it’s also all about the art of collaborating, problem-solving, and thinking quickly on your feet. Furthermore, it’s a great way to develop storytelling skills whether you’ve made a film before or not.

We hope to see familiar faces and new participants in equal measure when the New Year Edition of the Guerilla Short Film Challenge registration portal opens on Wednesday, January 31st at 6 PM (MST.) You’ll be able to locate the Registration link here on this event page, over at the homepage under "Upcoming Events" at fmasu.com, or on Southern Utah’s Guerilla Short Film Challenge Facebook page.

Don’t forget to spread the word amongst your filmmaking friends!

WHAT: The New Year Edition of the Guerilla Short Film Challenge Criteria Reveal and Registration

WHEN: Starting on Wednesday, January 31st at 6 PM (MST.) For those who register by Friday, February 2nd at 6 PM (MST), you’ll receive $5 off the regular $45 registration price as well as an extra 60 seconds towards your film’s running time. Translation; 6 minutes instead of 5 minutes.

WHERE: Registration will take place online. Links will be posted at fmasu.com and on Southern Utah’s Guerilla Short Film Challenge Facebook page.

COST: Only $45 per film submission ($5 off to those who register in the first 48 hours.)

*The submission fee is non-refundable as these fees will go towards cash prizes and event production costs.