The Shine

Forget about the tuxedo, the parachute, and the collagen injections — this is a film festival you can have fun at!

Since 2000, the annual Fandance Film Festival at Norwescon has brought the madness of filmmaking to us all. Every year, we watch all the latest, greatest, funniest, weirdest, and most bleeding, squealing, giant-smashing-roboting edge entertainment still available without extensive tipping (mind you, we’re not saying no…). The festival is a celebration of low- and no-budget cinema, brought to wondrous lurching life by amateur filmmakers from all around the Pacific Northwest.

More than just the movies, this 120-minute extravaganza of entertainment also includes the filmmakers who regale you with terrifying tales of their productions. Be there or be a regular right quadrilateral!

The Fandance Film Festival is also the final phase of the Hellbender Filmmaking workshop. The Workshop walks participants through every step of making a movie, from conception to the premiere of the finished product.

The Pitch

The integral part of this is, of course, the movies. We need ’em! The shorter, the better (ten minutes maximum length — no minimum length). Any genre is fine (but if you’re smart, you’ll realize that this is a sci-fi/fantasy type convention), but the judges reserve the right to be way grossed out by what they see. We reserve other rights as well (including not showing something), but we can’t spell them out here, and if you tried pronouncing them your tongue would become a macramé Klein bottle and there’s no two ways about that!

The Fine Print

Look for official rules and submission information for Norwescon 40’s Fandance Film Festival later this year!

The Rules

1. It really ought to be ten minutes or less. We’re flexible about this, but it’s got to be good. “Long” is not a synonym for “good.”
2. Send a DVD copy of your short. Something that can be played in an ordinary DVD player. Check it before you send it, to make sure it’s readable. We’re not responsible. Yes, a DVD. No, not a YouTube link. No, not a jumpdrive. A DVD.
3. You must be attending Norwescon, or at least have a membership, and preferably be at the convention that weekend. We’ll probably call you out or call you up for a Q&A at the end of your movie and/or for an intro. Plan accordingly.
4. Include your email and other contact info. If we don’t have your contact info, we can’t contact you.
5. Include a signed and dated statement declaring “I release all rights to broadcast/display/present this movie to Norwescon for the purposes of the Fandance Film Festival and other supporting situations/advertisement only, including the right to duplicate it for mechanical/projection purposes.”
6. There is no entry fee for the film festival. You dohave to be at the convention legally, so that costs a little. However, if you’ve never been to Norwescon before, it’s a total treat and well worth the cost. Assuming you’re some kind of geek. Which you are, if you’ve gotten this far.
7. This year’s submission deadline is March 10th, 2016. If you can’t make the deadline, at least contact us. Maybe we can work something out. If you show up at the convention with a movie in hand, don’t expect much.

The 10-9

Send submissions to:
The Fandance Film Festival
c/o Hellbender Media
11105 SW Cottonwood Lane
Tigard, OR 97223

Any questions, contact us!