Ottawa International Film Festival 72 Hour Challenge Launches Feb. 6

This weekend – Ottawa’s rising film stars might be in your neighbourhood! The Ottawa International Film Festival 72 Hour Challenge launches on Thursday, February 6 at The Lieutenant’s Pump (361 Elgin St.) at 6:30 p.m., pinning amateur to professional filmmakers in a timed competition like no other.

Using assigned wildcard locations, props, businesses, dialogue and music from Ottawa bands revealed only on the night of the announcement, participants have exactly 72 hours to bring a 3-12 minute short film from script to screen. All will be revealed at the launch.

Over 10 renowned industry executives will be judging the films, including Adele Cardamone-Martel, executive producer at CBC Ottawa, Robert Menzies, Producer at Zed Filmworks, Michael Baker, Producer at Bunk 11 Pictures, and Saad Bashir, Director Economic Development and Innovation at City of Ottawa. Online voting for audience favourite award will begin on February 12 with all films hosted on Oiff.ca.

According to Invest Ottawa, in 2013 alone over 21.5 million was contributed to the local economy by film productions and OIFF 72 hopes to contribute to that number in 2014. There are 20 participating teams already registered.

The 2014 winners will have their short screened at our October festival and be awarded a filmmaker’s dream prize package of equipment, post-production audio support, makeup and hair services, and an original music score written by Ottawa film score composer Tim Levans for their next film. Additionally, the Ottawa Fringe Festival will consider all 2014 OIFF 72 finalists for a spot in their Stiff Quickies film festival and OIFF 72 entries can be submitted to CBC Ottawa’s Short Film Face Off (regional selection) or Absolutely Ottawa’s Ottawa Shorts program.

Our top 10 films will be screened on Wednesday, February 26 at a special award ceremony at Mercury Lounge, with special guest Mayor Jim Watson and indie-folk darling Her Harbour performing.

For more information visit info@oiff.ca.

Official hashtag #OIFF72

RSVP on Facebook here