(RED BANK – SEPT 20) The Count Basie Center for the Arts is accepting submissions for its Count Basie Center Teen + College Film Festival, with the mission to locate, showcase and recognize student filmmakers from 7^th grade all the way through college.

Students can submit their films now via FilmFreeway. In April, official selections will be screened at Basie Center Cinemas at 36 White Street in Red Bank, followed by an online presentation of selections, a virtual Q&A with industry experts, and an awards ceremony for the highest vote-getters.

The Count Basie Center Teen + College Film Fest is open to New Jersey students in 7^th and 8^th grade, high school, and college. Middle and high school students are required to reside in and attend schools in the state, while the college category is open to full-time students enrolled in New Jersey colleges, and New Jersey high school graduates attending college out-of-state but considering New Jersey as their primary, legal residence.

“Year in and year out, our student film festival proves that New Jersey is full of talented young filmmakers,” said Adam Philipson, President and CEO, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “Our goal is to give those creators a platform and make filmmaking as prolific and vital in New Jersey as creating music or other forms of art.”

This year’s Count Basie Center Teen + College Film Fest is presented by Bank of America.

Students can visit www.thebasie.org/filmfest for official information, deadlines, rules and regulations. A $15 early-bird entry fee applies before January 16, 2022 after which a $25 fee applies goes into effect until the submission deadline of March 27, 2022. See full info below.

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Timeline:

Early bird / reduced fee deadline: Sunday, January 16, 2022
Deadline: Sunday, March 27, 2022
Notification of selection: Monday, April 11, 2022
Film screenings: Weekend of April 22, 2022
Online presentation of selected films / Audience Choice voting: Monday, April 25 – Tuesday April 27
Virtual Panel Event/Award Ceremony: Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Awards & Prizes

Trophies will be awarded in the following categories:
Middle School (7th-8th grade)
-Best Film

High School Filmmakers (9th-12th grade)
-Best Narrative Film
-Best Documentary
-Best Animation
-Best Acting Performance
-Best Direction

College Filmmakers up to age 25
-Best Narrative Film
-Best Documentary
-Best Animation
-Best Acting Performance
-Best Direction

In addition, an Audience Award will be given to the selection with the highest online score on April 14th.

A “School Award” will also be given, consisting of Sony filmmaking equipment. To qualify, at least three different selections must be submitted by a single school; winner to be chosen by the highest average score of their films.

Official Selections with the overall highest-rated and Audience Award films will receive a world premiere celebration at the new Basie Center Cinemas in Red Bank, NJ.

Basie Center Film fest laurels will be awarded to all finalists.