The film festival will be held during the SMPTE 2015 Annual Technical Conference & Exhibition (SMPTE 2015), Oct. 26-29 in Hollywood, California, wich entries accepted until September 9. Awards will recognize creative use of technology to tell different types of stories in different ways.

The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, the worldwide leader in motion-imaging standards and education for the communications, media, entertainment, and technology industries, and the Hollywood Professional Alliance, the organization serving the professional community by providing expertise, support, tools, and the infrastructure for the creation and finishing of motion pictures, television, commercials, and an array of content for a growing number of platforms, believe they’ve a responsability in the creation of opportunities to new cinematographers, so they’ve decided to go ahead with this competion.

“SMPTE is committed to supporting the next generation of technologists, and the SMPTE-HPA Student Film Festival is a rich addition to our existing student engagement programs,” said Barbara Lange, executive director of SMPTE. “The event will showcase the impressive creative talent of the Society’s youngest members.”

Festival entries must fit into one of three award categories:

• Best creative use of technology to engage the audience in the story (run time 5 minutes, 30seconds)
• Best portrayal of entertainment technology in the film — documentary format (run time 5 minutes, 30 seconds)
• Best creative use of virtual reality in storytelling (run time 3 minutes)

A fourth award, for best in show, will be voted on by the festival attendees and awarded on the evening of the festival.

“The merging of creativity and technology, at the heart of the combination of SMPTE and HPA, is also driving the future of content creation,” said Leon Silverman, president of the HPA. “We want to encourage the next generation’s vision and ability to tell stories in new and exciting ways. “

The SMPTE-HPA Student Film Festival is open to full-time students currently enrolled in an accredited college, university, or film school. This is an international festival, and entries from all parts of the world are encouraged. As the festival focuses on technology, students should ideally major in an area that emphasizes engineering, science, advanced technologies, or fundamental theories associated with motion imaging, sound, metadata, and workflows consistent with SMPTE’s field of interest.

Eligible students are required to have completed four courses toward their major course of study and be in good academic standing. Supporting documentation and identification must be presented in order to qualify. The application form, requirements, and rules and regulations are online at www.smpte.org/filmfestival. Entries will be accepted now through Sept. 9.

SMTPE membership is not a prerequisite; however, students may join as student members for just $35 or for free if this is their first year of membership and they apply via the Student Membership Challenge. Further information is available at www.smpte.org/student-membershipchallenge.