Next month will mark the beginning of Heartland Truly Moving Picture’s first annual High School Film Competition when the call for entries opens January 15. The competition, which is the first of its kind for Heartland, will be open to all currently enrolled high school students who have not yet graduated. Film submissions will be judged on artistic excellence, technical merit and representation of Heartland’s organizational values (Hope, Integrity, Tolerance, Beauty, Reconciliation, Courage, Humility, Faith and Fidelity.) The inaugural competition’s theme will be HOPE.
 
Competition details: Call for entries will open January 15 and will close May 15, 2010. All films must run 10 minutes or less. Films must be submitted in DVD format. Foreign language films must be subtitled or dubbed. Entry fee is $15 and the first 100 entries are free.

Four finalists will be awarded $500 and two Festival Passes to the 2010 Heartland Film Festival where their films will be screened as part of a Shorts program. They will also receive recognition during the 2010 Heartland Film Festival Crystal Heart Awards Gala. One Grand Prize winner will be awarded $2,500, paid travel and accommodations for the filmmaker and one parent/guardian to attend the 2010 Heartland Film Festival, and two Festival Passes to the 2010 Heartland Film Festival where the winner’s film will be screened as part of a Shorts program. The winning filmmaker will also be honored onstage during the 2010 Heartland Film Festival Crystal Heart Awards Gala and receive an award statue.

Check back on January 15, 2010 when the Heartland High School Film Competition call for entries officially opens. Entry forms along with further information on rules and regulations will be posted at that time. Addition details to follow when the official release is serviced in January.