Welcome!

So you’re on the registration page for the  72 Film Fest 2012, our SEVENTH year.

That might mean one of four things:

• You found us through the brand new 72 SCRIPT FEST contest and are curious what we’re all about.
• You are a returning team with your eyes set on the “Best of the Fest“.
• You’ve come to this thing for a few years, and you think you got what it takes.
• You are just looking for an awesome way to spend a couple weekends making movies and watching ‘em on the big screen.

Any which way- 72 Film Fest welcomes you and the talented folks you are gathering to be a part of your team.

What do we have in store for 72 Film Fest 2012?

If you haven’t heard, 72 SCRIPT FEST happened in JUNE and it’s NOT just a screenplay contest. The finalist screenplays will move on and become CRITERIA for the teams during this year’s 72 Film Fest.   72 SCRIPT FEST was open to writers everywhere.  We hope this will not only bring new participants to our contest, but it will bring a whole slew of new audience members for your movies.

With writers dedicating 72 hours to the creation and writing of the screenplays to be used during 72 Film Fest, we want the teams to step it up and raise the stakes. Read our FAQ for more information. Is your team up to the challenge of adapting an existing screenplay like they do in Tinseltown?

Here’s the basic rules: 

• Preserve the integrity of the screenplay.
• Don’t be afraid to make it your own.  
• Make the best movie you can. 

For more information about 72 Script Fest, head on over here.
For more information on The Criteria (Screenplays) Read the FAQ below.

What does your registration fee get you?

• Your movie will screen at the historic Weinberg Center in front of a packed audience on either Friday or Saturday Night.
• Get Two Tickets to the Film Fest – Friday or Saturday Night’s Event ($20 Value)
• Register by August 31st and receive Two Two-Day Tickets - Friday and Saturday Night’s Event. ($34 Value).
• Register within first 72 Hours of Registration being open (April 20th-23rd) You will also receive one extra Two Day Ticket. ($17 Value)
• Your Team Name, Bio, Picture and Website link will be included on our 2012 Team Page.  Great Exposure!

Remember: The more teams that register early, the bigger show we can produce.

Register NOW!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

THE FILM CONTEST

WHAT IS 72 FILM FEST?

A Time Based Competition where filmmaking teams have only 72 hours to write/direct/edit and score a short film based on specific criteria given out to each team.

SO WHAT IS THIS CONTEST EXACTLY?

On a Thursday night in October (October 11th) Filmmakers from around the region will collect at the LAUNCH PARTY in Frederick Maryland. After meeting, greeting and grooving to some beats, teams will be given specific criteria to go out in Frederick City to write, direct and edit a short film within the next 72hours.  Movies are turned in Sunday Night October 14th from 7-9pm.  To be eligible for judging teams MUST turn in their entry before the 72 Hour Clock strikes.

HOW ARE YOU ANY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER CONTESTS LIKE THIS?

In the past our criteria was specific to the team.  No two filmmakers had the same criteria. Filmmakers chose from a variety of criteria all based around a central theme.  Last year we gave opening and ending frames, and asked teams to make a story that fit in between. The year before we gave teams “fairy tales” and asked teams to reinvent them.   Previous years included polaroids, first lines of novels,  themes like “death and reproduction” and “idolatry” and proverbs like “The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.”

For 2012, we are giving the finalist screenplays from 72 Script Fest as part of the criteria.

WHAT FORMS OF MEDIA DO YOU ACCEPT THE ENTRY ON?

HD or SD files. Specific file information and instructions are posted here before Launch and handed out at Launch.

WHAT IS YOUR RULE ON RELEASES?

You need to get location, talent and music releases.  We’ll give you more specific information at Launch Party as well as link to a generic release form for you to use. You must turn in all releases with your film on Sunday Night.

WHAT IS THE RULE ON COPYRIGHT?

We want you to have rights to your image and music.  We understand not all of you are able to create music for your films, but there is enough in the public domain to score your film (or you can negotiate rights from content owners).  Using copyrighted music may prevent you from being screened and judged, and will prevent you from being included in our compilation DVD available on Amazon/CreateSpace/Wonder Book and others.

DO I KEEP ALL THE RIGHTS TO MY FILM?

Of Course. The film remains your own and after screening you can do whatever you want with it.  We reserve the right to screen the version turned in at 72 Film Fest events, for promotional purposes and use it in our DVD compilation.   Because you are adapting a screenplay this year, there will be specific ownership issues to consider.  Basically you will own your movie, but any future adaptations of said film will need to be worked out with the writer.  Our agreement will be online soon so you and your lawyer (or cousin that claims to be one because he’s seen almost every episode of Night Court) can go over it.

WHY DO YOU CALL IT FILM FEST WHEN EVERYONE SHOOTS ON VIDEO?

While we have various educational backgrounds, semantics was not the concentration of any of our studies. Besides,72 Video Fest sounds stoopid.

I LIVE IN (PENNSYLVANIA), NOWHERE NEAR FREDERICK.  CAN I PARTICIPATE?

Absolutely.  We do not discriminate against ANY team, no matter age/gender/species/experience/team size or even current residential location.  The truth is as long as someone from your team shows up at the Launch Party and Turns in the movie, and you had a million dollars to become a cosmonaut, you could shoot your entire movie on the moon.  Careful though, we hear re-entry messes with SD cards.

I’M UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE, SO CAN I STILL COMPETE?

Of course you can. All we ask is that you bring a legal guardian with you on the night of the Launch Party to sign the waiver forms on your behalf.  Make sure your parents know that movies can range the gamut from G to R. The parent or guardian must be willing to take responsibility for your team in the same way a Team Leader would.

I’M A WRITER (ACTOR/GENIUS ETC…) AND I DON’T HAVE A CAMERA BUT I REALLY WANT TO BE INVOLVED, I MEAN I’M JONESING OVER HERE FOR SOME PARTICIPATION-Y GOODNESS.

We will be having a talent meet and greet at Area 31 later this year.  We will also be posting a page on 72Fest.com for people to connect.  Feel free to use our message board here or on our FaceBook page.  If that still doesn’t work, come out to Launch and we’ll try to match you up with someone.

I HEARD TEAMS GET SOME FREE TICKETS. MY TEAM IS LIKE 80 PEOPLE LARGE. HOW MANY OF THEM CAN GET IN FREE TO THE FESTIVAL?

We don’t limit team size, but like past years, we give out two tickets per team.  That’s a $20 buck value back at you. If you happened to register within the first 72 hours of Registration Opening (June 1-3) you get an extra 2 Day Pass.

THE CRITERIA (The Screenplays)

WHAT IS THE CRITERIA EXACTLY?

You will be pulling a finalist screenplay from 72 Script Fest.  They are 4-7 pages in length and they are to be adapted into a short film within the 72 Hours you are given.

WHOAH. THAT’S WAY DIFFERENT THAN PAST YEARS.  WHAT DOES “ADAPT” MEAN?

We don’t want a “reinterpretation” or “reimagining” of the screenplay.  We want you to adapt it.  Does that mean you have to shoot it word for word, scene for scene etc?  Not necessarily.  Although some of these screenplays are very strong out of the gate and could be shot with little to no adaptation providing you have a lot of resources at your disposal.  But most likely you will need to adapt it to your skill level, your cast, your crew and available locations.  However, preserving the Integrity of the Screenplay is the number one rule.

WAIT A MINUTE.  WHAT IF THE SCREENPLAY IS ABOUT 5 OLD MEN AND I’M A TEAM MADE UP OF TEENAGERS?

You  will have some key details at your disposal BEFORE you choose a screenplay.  Things like Cast List, Locations, and a basic understanding of what skills you may need to make a movie off the draft you pull.  The earlier you REGISTER, the more choice you will have.  Still, you should be safe, and use one of our MEET AND GREET PARTIES or our FIND TALENT AND TEAM Forum on the website to connect to other possible talent, just in case.  We want 72 Film Fest to be a place to connect talented individuals from around the area.

I’M NOT SURE I LIKE THE IDEA OF ADAPTING SOMEONE ELSE’S SCREENPLAY.  WHAT IF THE SCREENPLAY I PULL IS NOT MY CUP OF TEA?  

We understand Film is a Director’s Medium”…and if the director doesn’t necessarily connect to the screenplay it could create issues.  First, look at this as an experiment to exercise your creative muscles.  Yes, it’s possible you will pull a screenplay that is the polar opposite with how you normally approach filmmaking.  But that doesn’t mean you can’t make it your own.   Second, you will have some information about the screenplay at your disposal before you choose the screenplay.  Register Early to have more choice.

CAN I JUST TAKE AN IDEA IN THE SCRIPT AND MAKE A NEW SCRIPT FROM IT?

In short, No. In the past we have allowed and awarded abstract interpretations of the criteria. In many cases we encouraged it. But for this year, we want the filmmakers to preserve the integrity of the screenplay and it’s core characters and story.  It’s possible you will pull a screenplay that you will connect to and want to shoot as close to the screenplay as time and budget allows.  It’s also possible you will need to make some changes to dialogue, location, style etc to fit within budget and time constraints.  And it’s also possible that you will have a great idea how to turn a good script into a great movie. Here’s the basic rules: Preserve the integrity of the screenplay.  Don’t be afraid to make it your own.  Make the best movie you can. 

WHAT IF I GET A SCRIPT THAT I DON’T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PULL OFF?

BUT I’M WORRIED I WILL MESS UP SOMEONE ELSE’S SCREENPLAY…

Don’t worry about “messing up” a screenplay.  72 Script Fest has it’s own set of awards and prizes going out to the WRITERS.  For 72 Film Fest, it’s about the FILMMAKERS having fun and making the best movie they can.  Have faith in yourself.  Look at this as a fun experiment to exercise your creative muscles.  Concentrate on putting together the best movie you can make in 72 Hours.  Besides- if the writers don’t like the movie that comes out of their screenplay, it’ll be just like 99% of Hollywood.

WHAT THE HELL ARE CREATIVE MUSCLES?

I have no idea.

THE FESTIVAL

WHERE IS THIS THING?

Launch Party location will be announced soon. The Festival is at Weinberg Center for the Arts.

I WANT DETAILS. HOW MUCH? WHAT’S HAPPENING? WHAT DO I GET FOR MY COLD HARD CASH?

10 bucks each day. 17 bucks for both.  October 19th and 20th.  Your ticket gets you into the screenings and the exclusive After Party.  We will also have tickets for sale at the Launch Party at a discount.

Tickets are available at the Weinberg Center box office. Call the Box Office at (301)228-2828. We recommend buying tickets BEFORE the date of the show as the line can get kinda long.

WHAT’S HAPPENING ON WHAT NIGHT AGAIN?

We’ll announce that soon. It will be different than previous years.

WHERE CAN I PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT?

The Weinberg Center Box Office.

The Weinberg Center Box Office is located at 20 W Patrick St Frederick MD 21701. Box Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm. Saturday 10am-2pm. Also open 1 hour before every show. Call the Box Office at (301)228-2828.   Word of advice: The line can get a little very long the night of the event.   Buy early to avoid that or better yet, show up when the doors open at 5:30pm and chill with us.

I WANT SOME MERCH.  CAN I HAVE SOME MERCH ALREADY?

Merch keeps us alive.  It also keeps you from being naked. Pretty soon you can go to the merch page and pick up TShirts or past years DVDs.  Keep in mind – For most people, it does take more than one DVD to prevent nakedness.

ARE YOU GOING TO DO AUDIENCE FAVORITE BALLOTS AGAIN THIS YEAR?

Yes.  Yes we will.

Register NOW!