Breakout Challenge – A Long-Term Short-Film Challenge

Kickoff begins September 16, 2011 - Are you tired of having to sacrifice quality in order to crank out a short film in just 48 hours?  So are we!  The Breakout Film Challenge from IFP Phoenix concentrates on taking your time and getting the best possible quality from your short film.

IFP Phoenix welcomes all filmmakers from all corners of Arizona to compete in the first ever Breakout Film Challenge.  Novice, hobbyist, professional?  We want to see your best!  In fact, most Arizona film schools and colleges are currently in session, making this competition a perfect opportunity to make a film for the competition that satisfies a course requirement.  But as an added benefit, that film will also be guaranteed screening and possibly win prizes which include submission to film festivals across the country.  No better way for student filmmakers to break out!

What is the Schedule for This Competition?

Since we’re looking for quality from our filmmakers with this competition, we are giving 60 days (7 weeks) to complete your short film.  This time table allows even the busiest day-job filmmaker time to plan and execute on a quality short film.   A suggested schedule for the participating teams is as follows:

• September 16 : All teams are all given the details about the “themes” being required for this challenge.  Your creative process begins immediately.  Need help with ideas?  Attend the screenplay seminar the next day with Howard Allen!
• September 24 : by this time your screenplay should be taking shape, perhaps a few drafts into it.  You’ll want to put your casting call out and begin scheduling actors to be in your film.  Begin preliminary producing for locations and crew.
• Ocbober 1 : Casting should be decided.  Your final script, locations, and crew should be close to being locked down.  All final details are solidified before production begins.  Some teams may be shooting already by this weekend.
• October 8 – 22 : Teams will be in production.
• October 22 – 29 : Teams will be editing their finished films.  Visual effects added, music composed, title sequences rendered.  Film trailers are also being edited during this time too.
• October 29 – November 5 : Final post-production audio is mixed and rendered, final color correction is completed and rendered.  Last, not least, your marketing package is put together with trailer, key art, and write-ups.
• November 7 : Final films and marketing materials are submitted by midnight, for competition eligibility.

What if I JUST heard about this and still want to make a film?

You can still make a film if you didn’t register by the September 16th kickoff!  We’ll send you all the details that you need to make a quality film.  Your deadline will still be the same as the other teams, so you’ll have more than just one challenge to overcome, but we know you can do it!  Heck, we’ve seen you do it in 48 hours, so don’t tell us that a few weeks late start is really going to set you back.

We Encourage Helping Each Other!

You heard it!  We would love to see our local filmmakers help each other out on multiple films.  Perhaps you direct your own project, but then decide to help as the cinematographer on someone else’s film, and then do some visual effects work for yet another team?  Actors have shared this secret for years, why not crew?  But wait… why would I help someone compete against myself?  Simple: either way you WIN.  What we all need to realize as Arizona filmmakers, is that contributing your skills to any project that succeeds is a success for the entire Arizona filmmaking community.  Not to mention that by helping other teams, you are networking and learning to make valuable relationships and connections that can lead to future filmmaking opportunities!  It’s a win/win!  Our only word of advice: if you are participating on multiple teams, be forthcoming with this information with the teams you help.  

Script to Screen Challenge!

Think you can impress IFP/Phoenix with your film making prowess?  We are offering a director who does well in the Breakout Challenge the opportunity to fully develop a winning script from our Screenplay Challenge with IFP/Phoenix as associate producer.  Get access to our resources, equipment, contacts and even funds!  Click this link for more details.

More Information

Visit the Breakout Film Challenge page to Register Your Team online.

Contact the Filmmaker Challenges Director, Keegan Ead

Contact the Executive Director of IFP Phoenix, Webb Pickersgill