Organizers of the Louisiana Film Prize kicked off the fifth year of the contest Tuesday at Artspace in Shreveport. The Film Prize, with its hallmark $50,000 purse, is expected to continue to grow in the independent filmmaking world.
Founder GregoryKallenbergsays there’s a geographic rule change this year. Crews will be allowed to shoot their short films inNatchitoches. This expands the northwest Louisiana seven-parish footprint for production eligibility.Kallenbergsays it gives crews more visual options.
“There has been a request from filmmakers for the past couple years because [Natchitoches] has such a beautiful main street. There are people who want to do period pieces that they can’t find exactly what they’re looking for in Shreveport and Bossier City,” Kallenberg said.
The Film Prize concept has spun off in recent years. Kallenberg added the Startup Prize for entrepreneurs, a Music Prize for bands, and most recently, a Food Prize for chefs vying for the Golden Fork with its $5,000 grand prize. Kallenberg says the mainstay is film. Last year, a record 127 short films were submitted -- many came from out-of-towners.
“The Film Prize is doing about $3 million of economic development, and that’s just creative types doing their thing,” Kallenberg said. “That’s people from Los Angeles coming in and hiring local cast and crew. That’s everyone eating at restaurants or staying at hotels. We’re starting to become an economic engine.”
The Film Prize organization has added a slate of national sponsors, Kallenberg says, like CenturyLink this year. The top 20 films also compete for five smaller grant awards worth $3,000 each.
Rough cuts must be submitted by July 12.
The Film Prize festival takes place Sept. 30 through Oct. 2 in downtown Shreveport.Louisiana Film Prize piece
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