2010 NHFF CALL FOR ENTRIES NOW OPEN!

NH Film Festival Opens Call For Entries, Announces 2010 Dates for 10th Annual Film Fest Oct. 14 – 17 in Portsmouth, NH

FEB. 3, 2010
 PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – The New Hampshire Film Festival has officially opened its call for entries for 2010 and is now accepting film and screenplay submissions for the 10th Annual NHFF, Oct. 14 – 17 in downtown Portsmouth, organizers announced today. Online film entries close Aug. 15.

“This is the beginning of the process we go through each year to select the finest independent film that we can bring to Portsmouth,” said NHFF Executive Director Nicole Gregg. “We urge filmmakers and writers to enter as early as possible. There are many films and screenplays to consider and we’ve always been very fortunate to have such an incredible volume of submissions.”

Drawing nearly 9,000 attendees in 2009, NHFF has garnered national press coverage including from Moviemaker Magazine which called NHFF  “the film center of New England.” In 2009, NHFF received more than 700 films and 200 screenplays for consideration. Filmmakers should submit films through www.withoutabox.com upload service.

With a lineup of films from international festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, and Cannes, (NHFF had more than 20 international films in 2009) the NHFF program has evolved to compare to major film festivals, according to Gregg. NHFF entries are being accepted in the following categories: Feature, Documentary, Shorts under 30 minutes, Shorts 30 – 60 minutes, Student, Animation, and NH Films.

Submission deadlines
Early Bird entries: June 5. Early entries: July 5. Late entries: Aug. 5. All entries must be submitted through Withoutabox. Online entries close Aug. 15. For more information, contact NHFF Program Director Deb Barry, deb@nhfilmfestival.com or 603.647.6439.

NHFF will continue to host NH Day and Night on Thursday of the fest – Oct. 14 – this year and NHFF will announce prizes and juries as sponsorships, participating artists and other details are finalized for the year.

NHFF’s 2009 award winners included:
Best Short Comedy: Arran Brownlee and Corran Brownlee, “The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers;” Best Short Drama: Eric D. Howell “Ana’s Playground:” Best Animation: Sally Pearce, “Elephants;” Best Student Film: David Jibladze, “Beholden;” Best Documentary: George Kachadorian, “Shooting Beauty;” Grand Jury Award: Scott Teems, “That Evening Sun;” Best Feature: Tim Disney, “American Violet;” Best Screenplay: Ed Boyle and Kevin Carey, “Peter’s Song;” Audience Choice – Narrative: Brant Sersen, “Splinterheads;” Audience Choice – Documentary: Aron Gaudet, “The Way We Get By;” Best NH Documentary: Marc Dole, “Mito-Kids: Documenting Life;” and NH Filmmaker of the Year: Chase Bailey, “Crooked Lane.”