Over 90 student films will play at ArtBreak

Film Prize Junior returns this year on April 21-22, with an awards ceremony on April 23. The festival, presented by the Prize Foundation and Louisiana Economic Development, will be part of SRAC’s ArtBreak Festival at the Shreveport Convention Center. Film Prize Junior had a record-breaking 92 films submitted from 50 schools across Louisiana, 28 of which are Title One schools. Student filmmakers and their teachers, families and friends can view the films during in-person screenings at the festival and then vote for their favorite films. Online press kits written by the filmmakers will be available for each movie during the festival at www.Film- PrizeJr.com.

The nationally unique program is free and open to high school and middle school students across Louisiana, providing mentorship and interactive workshops throughout the year. Students are engaged in the collaborative, multidisciplinary art form of filmmaking and creative entrepreneurship and guided through the entire process from pen to production to marketing the film during the festival to an audience which helps determine the winner.

In addition to viewing and voting for films, the festival will host a virtual red carpet for the student filmmakers to discuss the creation of their films. Film Prize Junior will also provide industry-led mentorship panels at the festival for students and their teachers and Production Island. In this interactive exhibit, students will have guided hands-on access to cameras and lighting and sound equipment. All the events for teachers and students are free to attend, and the Prize Foundation will provide travel stipends to offset the costs for students outside of the region to attend the festival.

During the festival, student filmmakers will be able to connect with each other, attend panels and compete for media and equipment grants for their schools as well as scholarships. Awards will be presented to both high school and middle school films for Judges’ Choice and Audience Choice, as well as Best Animation and Best of Genre for Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller and Documentary.

The awards ceremony will be held on April 23 at the Shreveport Convention Center.

To learn more about Film Prize Junior, visit filmprizejr.com.