In our continuing effort to introduce our remarkable filmmakers to new and diverse audiences, we proudly and loudly announce the
Shortz! Film Fest Roku channel!

Now if your film screens at our festival, you'll have the option to present it to a wider digital audience.

You may be asking yourself, that's great but what will this amazing new distribution channel going to cost me. Well, it's free. Tha's right...zip, zilch,zero. It's our way of saying we think your films are GREAT and deserve a larger audience.

If you are a past screening filmmaker and want to have your film included, you will soon be receiving an email from us requesting some additional Roku specific information. If you haven't screened at our festival, head over to www.shortzfilmfest.com/web/submit-your-shorts and get you films submitted for this year's fest. But, do it quick, regular submission ends next Friday night, then the submission price will double.

The channel will be available in the next few weeks so keep an eye out for it in the channel store.

The Shortz! Film Festival Crew

Join the fun for BCM’s First Ever Screening Room Event June 9th 6-8pm

Don’t miss this this opportunity to show your work and hang out with other Indy filmmakers like yourself in a creative and cutting edge community environment

Light refreshments and snacks will be served during the networking event after the screenings. You can mix and mingle with audience, cast, crew and directors…the possibilities are endless…

Submission Guidelines

Final Deadline MAnd the fun doesn't stop there! Be sure to attend the BCM Summer Shorts Movie Jam, July 27-July 28

Berkeley Community Media
2239 MLK Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704

IIT’S GONNA BE AWWWESOME!!!!!

Hey Shortz! Film Fest fans, MovieMaker magazine is asking the film community to nominate their favorite film festivals for a chance to be named in their Top 25 coolest film festivals listing.
Now, we know that the Shortz! Film Festival is your absolute favorite fest ever (ok, maybe we are stretching that just a tiny bit), but now it's time for the rest of the world to know just how cool it is and share in our fun.
Click here to quickly pop over to their website and cast your vote for Shortz!
By the way -  You can nominate as many festivals as you want, just not the same festival twice.

Thanks!

The Shortz! Film Fest Team

Our friends, and on-going sponsor, ChicoBag is proud to present the North Valley premier of the award-winning documentary

'TRASHED'

Academy award winning actor Jeremy Irons explores some of the most pressing environmental issues in an eye-opening film.  “We hope the film will demonstrate that by changing the way we live our lives, we can contribute to our own survival and well-being and ultimately that of the planet.” -Jeremy Irons

 When:Monday, April 22nd

Where: Sierra Nevada Big Room

Why: To benefit local non-profits and do something nice for the community

Come out for an inspiring night benefiting local nonprofits: Kids and Creeks, Butte Environmental Council and 5Gyres.

 Arrive early to talk with representatives from the great organizations involved, see an art installation by 5Gyres and grab a beer before the film!   This will be a waste-free event so bring a reusable pint or get one as a gift for your donation.

A donation of any amount gets you in the door. Special gifts from ChicoBag and Klean Kanteen will be given to those who donate $10 or more.  All donations will go toward education on water conservation and protection, waste reduction and plastic pollution.

And the fun begins!  Films are arriving, event details are being worked out, and the popcorn is ready to be popped!

CALLING ALL FILMMAKERS

from here to timbucktoo! 

NOW IS THE TIME TO SHINE!

Show us those great little films you've worked so hard on. 

Let us show them to the whole community on Aug.10th & 11th at the El Rey Theater.

Just go to the "Submit Your Shorts" tab on the Shortz! Film Fest website.

Submit now 

Megan Peterson, Co-Director of Heathens and Thieves, is helping long time friend, Jonathan Kesselman, and many fans, to make the sequel to the Jewxploitation Cult Classic ‘The Hebrew Hammer’ a reality.

The Hebrew Hammer vs. Hitler

     "is a smart yet silly satire that is an equal opportunity offender. Imagine 'History Of The World Part 1' crossed with 'Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure,'" as written by Jonathan Kesselman.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the synagogue ...

When Hitler gets his hand on Time Sukkah technology™ and begins rewriting Jewish History, Mordechai Jefferson Carver (The Hebrew Hammer) and Mohammed Ali Paula Abdul Rahim set out through time to stop him. Can the Hammer and Mo prevent Hitler from un-inscribing the Jewish people from the book of life?

A funding campaign for The Hebrew Hammer VS Hitler is currently underway at www.Jewcer.com

The original film, The Hebrew Hammer, which launched at Sundance and had a limited theatrical release before being picked up by Comedy Central in a five-year deal, was voted one of the top all-time holiday movies by both Vanity Fair and the Boston Globe.

To learn more or to help out, visit

The Hebrew Hammer vs. Hitler

 Facebook-The Hebrew Hammer II

and Twitter-HammervsHitler

We went to the El Rey theater to tonight to see the terrific western Heathens & Thieves. Brought to us by Chico native Megan Peterson who co-directed the multi award-winning feature film. Shot in northern California, HEATHENS AND THIEVES is a western noir drama starring Don Swayze and Gwendoline Yeo, who was also at the screening, along with many family and friends.

Check out the trailer and find them on Facebook for more information on how you can see the film.
 

Thank you Megan and all the cast and crew for such a great film!

Looks like the boys and ghouls in Berkeley are planning a screaming good time in October. 

It's their 6th Annual BCM Horror Film Festival Saturday, October 27th.

For more info go to www.torridproductions.com/betv

Well here we are, the Shortz! Film Fest is over and we all have that post-fest depression. Don't get me wrong, the fest was a HUGE SUCCESS. We nearly doubled the number of people attending over last year, and we had twice the number of film submissions. If we keep growing like this the Shortz! Film Fest is going to be huge very soon. The bummer is that we have to wait a whole year before we get to do it again. But don't let that get you down, because we ARE going to do it again next year.  Now is the time to get excited about your next film projects, get them shot and edited, and enter them in the fest.  We will begin taking film submissions in March, 2013.
Because next years fest is going to be bigger and better than ever. What can you do right now to get ready for the 2013 Shortz! Film Fest?  Well you can head on over to the OPEN FILMMAKER ALLIANCE at openfma.com and get yourself signed up.  There you can create a filmmakers profile for yourself to let others know what your interests are, and post your film projects and ideas.  You can also view other peoples projects and information, and sign on to film projects that interest you. The important thing is that you get evolved in filmmaking! 
We hope to see you in your SHORTZ!

With another hugely successful festival behind us we wanted to again thank our Filmmakers, Sponsors, Judges, Audience members and The El Rey theater. We had such a great time and were so honored as coordinators to bring this festival from concept to life, and it makes us proud to announce the following contest winners.

Audience Choice (chosen by ballot during Satudays program)
Briefs (2 minutes or less)
3rd Place - Watershed
2nd Place - Wurms
1st Place - Lady In The Kitchen
Shorts (more than 2 minutes, less than 40)
3rd Place - Submit
2nd Place - GruSum
1st Place - A Midsummer Nightmare - The Betrayal

Judges Choice ( chosen by our judging panel)
Briefs
3rd Place - Lady In The Kitchen
2nd Place - Remorse
1st Place - Wurms
Shorts
3rd Place - Azadi Freedom
2nd Place - The Quickie
1st Place - A Midsummer Nightmare - The Betrayal

Thanks again to all of you for making this festival our best yet.