Film Prize 2025 | Shoot a Short Film. Win $50,000 Cash!

Shoot a short film.
Win $50,000 cash!

Films and Documentation are due Tuesday, July 8, 2025 by 11:59pm CT.

How to Compete in Film Prize

Register your short film project.
Projects must be no shorter than 5 and no lonter than 15 minutes in length.
Shoot in Louisiana to compete, eligible for a maximum of $25,000 cash prize.
Shoot in Caddo and/or Bossier Parish, La, eligible for $50,000 cash prize.
Document your production to prove when and where you filmed.
Film Entry and Filmmaker Portal due by 11:59pm CT on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.

Film Prize is way more than a big cash prize.

We believe that filmmakers are at their best when they connect with each other, the audience, and mentors who can help them on their journey as creative professionals. Film Prize encourages exactly this collaboration, community building, and development in a way that no other film festival or competition does.

Film Prize is the perfect place for a filmmaker to get a taste of the real world. Our requirements for participation more closely resemble the studio/distribution world than a traditional film festival, and that prepares filmmakers for the road ahead.

FILM PRIZE IS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

How to Compete in Film Prize 2025

Participating in Film Prize is easier than you think. And we’re here to help along the way.

If you have any questions about the process, you can connect Chris Lyon at chris@prize.foundation.

Step 1: Shoot a Short Film

To enter Film Prize, competitors must shoot a short film, between five and fifteen minutes in length. Principal photography, defined as 90% of final runtime, must be conducted in Louisiana to be eligible for a $25,000 grand prize. If the winning production conducts principal photography inside Caddo Parish and/or Bossier Parish (parishes are what we call counties in Louisiana) the prize is raised to $50,000.

Film Prize staff is on-hand to provide support and guidance throughout the production process, assisting with identifying potential locations, equipment rentals, casting agencies, and even crew. This way, there are as few barriers to entry as possible, especially for those traveling from outside the Filming Zone who may not be familiar with the resources available to them.

Step 2: Document the Production

To be eligible for the Louisiana Film Prize, filmmakers must prove their production’s eligibility by providing documentation to festival staff upon submission. Filmmakers can provide any kind evidence for their production so long as it proves WHEN and WHERE principal photography was conducted and it is verifiable by an independent third party. Common types of evidence include but are not limited to: production receipts, location agreements, permits, photos from set with GPS and date/time data included, and similar items. If you have a question as to what counts, reach out to festival organizers for assistance!

Step 3: Submit Your Film and Your Filmmaker Assets

Filmmakers must complete and submit a rough cut their film AND complete the Filmmaker Portal which is a repository for project loglines, poster, still frames, director headshot and bio, cast and crew information, evidence, etc, no later than Tuesday, July 8, 2025 by 11:59pm Central Time. No films will be accepted after this time. Films may be as polished as you like. The Selection Committee understands rough cuts and will see the story beneath.

The Top 20 Finalists will be announced Friday, August 8, 2025 at a live event in Shreveport, Louisiana. The presentation will be live streamed online for those who cannot attend in-person.

Step 4: Attend Film Prize at Prize Fest in October

The Top 20 finalists are invited to Shreveport, Louisiana October 16-19, 2025 to experience Film Prize in-person. Each finalist is awarded $250, a hotel room for the duration of Film Prize, VIP passes, access to Mentor Judges, and more.

Regardless of selection, all filmmakers can benefit from the communal experience, networking, and mentorship that takes place at Film Prize during Prize Fest in October. We encourage you to plan to attend the festival to connect and grow together.

Plus, we know how to throw one hell of a party, so there’s that.

Step 5: Achieve Film Prize Fame and Glory

As you can see, Film Prize is different, and that difference is what makes Film Prize the most amazing short film festival in the world, not just the biggest prize. The experiences and connections made at Film Prize have spawned new production collaborations, career connections, feature films, and so much more. Between fellow filmmakers and mentors from across the country, there really is no better step you can take than to make a project for Film Prize and bring your A-game. The only thing missing is you.

Step 1: Shoot a Short Film

To enter Film Prize, competitors must shoot a short film, between five and fifteen minutes in length. Principal photography, defined as 90% of final runtime, must be conducted in Louisiana to be eligible for a $25,000 grand prize. If the winning production conducts principal photography inside Caddo Parish and/or Bossier Parish (parishes are what we call counties in Louisiana) the prize is raised to $50,000.

Film Prize staff is on-hand to provide support and guidance throughout the production process, assisting with identifying potential locations, equipment rentals, casting agencies, and even crew. This way, there are as few barriers to entry as possible, especially for those traveling from outside the Filming Zone who may not be familiar with the resources available to them.

Step 2: Document the Production

To be eligible for the Louisiana Film Prize, filmmakers must prove their production’s eligibility by providing documentation to festival staff upon submission. Filmmakers can provide any kind evidence for their production so long as it proves WHEN and WHERE principal photography was conducted and it is verifiable by an independent third party. Common types of evidence include but are not limited to: production receipts, location agreements, permits, photos from set with GPS and date/time data included, and similar items. If you have a question as to what counts, reach out to festival organizers for assistance!

Step 3: Submit Your Film and Your Filmmaker Assets

Filmmakers must complete and submit a rough cut their film AND complete the Filmmaker Portal which is a repository for project loglines, poster, still frames, director headshot and bio, cast and crew information, evidence, etc, no later than Tuesday, July 8, 2025 by 11:59pm Central Time. No films will be accepted after this time. Films may be as polished as you like. The Selection Committee understands rough cuts and will see the story beneath.

The Top 20 Finalists will be announced Friday, August 8, 2025 at a live event in Shreveport, Louisiana. The presentation will be live streamed online for those who cannot attend in-person.

Step 4: Attend Film Prize at Prize Fest in October

The Top 20 finalists are invited to Shreveport, Louisiana October 16-19, 2025 to experience Film Prize in-person. Each finalist is awarded $250, a hotel room for the duration of Film Prize, VIP passes, access to Mentor Judges, and more.

Regardless of selection, all filmmakers can benefit from the communal experience, networking, and mentorship that takes place at Film Prize during Prize Fest in October. We encourage you to plan to attend the festival to connect and grow together.

Plus, we know how to throw one hell of a party, so there’s that.

Step 5: Achieve Film Prize Fame and Glory

As you can see, Film Prize is different, and that difference is what makes Film Prize the most amazing short film festival in the world, not just the biggest prize. The experiences and connections made at Film Prize have spawned new production collaborations, career connections, feature films, and so much more. Between fellow filmmakers and mentors from across the country, there really is no better step you can take than to make a project for Film Prize and bring your A-game. The only thing missing is you.

A Selection of Past Finalists and Winners

Below is a small selection of the over 200 finalists and winners over the past 12 years of Film Prize competition. Filmmakers hold the rights to their films and more recent finalists are still on the festival circuit, which is why there are no films from more recent competitions.

War Paint

J.C. Doler

Top 5 Finalist, Film Prize 2018

Nice to Meet You

Michael Landry

Top 5 Finalist, 2020
Winner, Best Actress: Teri Wyble

Addie and the Lightning Bugs

Alexander Jeffery

Top 20 Finalist, Film Prize 2022

Nowhere Arkansas

Robert Linsley

Top 20 Finalist, Film Prize 2019

Credit

Patrick and Susan Kirton

Top 5 Finalist, 2022

Seed of the Free

Jency Griffin Hogan

Top 20 Finalist, Film Prize 2017

Ms. Blue

Mary McDade

Top 20 Finalist, 2020

Gloria

Camille Gladney and Christine Chen

Top 20 Finalist, Film Prize 2018

Peeping Todd

Josh Munds

Top 20 Finalist, Film Prize 2022

Exit Strategy

Travis Bible

Grand Prize Winner, 2017

Candyland

Taylor Bracewell

Top 5 Finalist, Film Prize 2017

Esmerelda

Paul Petersen

Top 5 Finalist, 2018

And That is Why I Succeed

Travis Bible

Top 20 Finalist , 2019
Winner, Best Actor: Richard Kohnke

Maven Voyage

Rachel Emerson

Top 5 Finalist, Film Prize 2019
Winner, Best Actress: Rachel Emerson

Stiff Arm

Matthew Ramsaur

Top 20 Finalist, 2019

Best in Show

Jaya McSharma

Top 20 Finalist, 2019

Invitation

Lara Hill

Top 20 Finalist, 2019

The Bespoke Tailoring of Mister Bellamy

Alexander Jeffery

Grand Prize Winner, 2015
Winner, Best Actor: Stan Brown

Dandelion

Mary Alfred Thoma

Top 5 Finalist, 2014

The Stand

Eva Contis

Top 5 Finalist, 2016

The Honeypot

Melissa Kristin

Top 20 Finalist, Film Prize 2018

Same Time Next Week

Kalah Roberts

Top 20 Finalist, 2019

Native

Travis Champagne and Stephen Kinigopoulos

Top 5 Finalist, 2016

Mr. Marvelous

Evan Falbaum

Top 20 Finalist, 2019

Register for Film Prize

In order to compete for this year’s Louisiana Film Prize, you must register your project below. Read the complete rules at prizefest.com/film/rules