EFC 2024

Montclair Film’s EMERGING FILMMAKER COMPETITION (EFC) celebrates the work of filmmakers who are in the 6th through 12th grades. These films, adjudicated by a jury of film professionals, represent a wide range of styles and voices that showcase the diverse talents of young people who are using cinema to tell their stories. Categories include Drama, Comedy, Documentary, Animation, Horror, Experimental, Social Impact plus a new Children’s Resilience in Film category.

NEW! $500 Cash Prizes for EFC Grand Prize Winner and the Shine Global Children’s Resilience in Film Award!

Thanks to our sponsor, Shine Global, this year we will award the EFC Grand Prize winner a $500 prize. Additionally Shine Global is presenting the Shine Global Resilience award. Films about resilience in the face of adversity can submit to this category. The winner of the Resilience award will also receive $500, and will be invited to attend Shine Global’s award ceremony (not including travel and accommodations.)

Emerging Filmmaker Rules:
Students’ films can be entered into one of the following divisions:
Storytellers: Grades 6 – 9
Visionaries: Grades 10 – 12

Filmmakers in the Storyteller division may submit a film up to 4 minutes in length.
Filmmakers in the Visionaries division may submit a film up to 5 minutes in length.
Award categories include: Drama, Comedy, Documentary, Horror, Animation, Experimental, Social Impact, Shine Global Children’s Resilience in Film

All Films Must Be Submitted through FilmFreeway.
Rules, regulations, video specs/details, and additional information can be found on FilmFreeway.

Key Dates
Submissions Open: 12/1/2023
Submissions Deadline: 4/19/2024
Award Ceremony: 6/1/2024

Need Help?
Teachers: If you would like to set up someone from our Education team to speak with your students, please contact Education@Montclairfilm.org.

This event is for New Jersey Filmmakers only.