What are the deadlines and fees for submitting?
    We've simplified the entry fee and schedule to make it, well, simple. It goes like this:

    $30.00 per entry if you get it postmarked by July 31st
    $40.00 per entry postmarked between August1st and November 1st.
    Entries postmarked November 2nd (or later) will not be considered.

    Having been consistantly more impressed with the shortest of shorts, we are re-instituting our 30 minute time limit. If you can't make your short 30 minutes or less... you might want to consider another fest.
    That being said, we will offer, to the insistent - who have shorts over 30 minutes, entry to the fest... but not the competition. If your short is longer than 30 minutes and you'd like to get feedback from our screeners, you will be allowed to submit your work -but- it will NOT be considered in the competition.

What's with the name, Flickering Image Festival? Why the change?
    Fair enough. In our first journey into the world of running a festival, we chose the name "Actor's Bone" based on the website of co-founder Paul Molinaro and though we were able to overcome the "bone" jokes and prove that we were serious about running a high quality festival, we felt a name change would be best for our future festivals.
    The name Flickering Image comes from the website of co-founder N. Barry Carver and provides more insight into what our festival actually entails. This festival accepts not just film, but digital media, video, animated projects, and just about anything else that flickers on the big screen or a small one.

Who is behind the festival?
     There are two principal culprits responsible for the festival: N. Barry Carver and Paul Molinaro. Each brings unique entertainment industry experience to the festival. Working diligently behind the scenes are Tracy Eliott, Marianne White and a slew of others - who will be named later (in the winners' screening program).

Where's the festival located?
    Hollywood, California. Last year's screening of the ten winning shorts was at the American Film Institute's Goodson Screening Room. In previous years we used the L.A. Film School Auditorium (just a stone's throw from Hollywood & Vine). Click the "news" category for the latest info for this year.

When will the ten winners be screened in Hollywood?
   It's a different day every year but not hard to figure out. It's always the first Saturday after January 2nd every year. Please re-read that to make sure there's no confusion. The earliest day the festival can be is January 3rd and the latest would be January 9th. Check in the "news" category for the latest info for this year.

What's your festival mission?
    Yeah, a lot of festivals have some kind of mission statement, don't they? Well, when we got together to talk about doing our own festival many ideas were discussed. We wanted to build a festival that really showcases the best works submitted, not just take money from submissions to put our friends' projects on the big screen. Accountability is very important to us. We came up with a screening process by which ALL submitted projects will be viewed, beginning to end, by three screeners and each screener will fill out a detailed ballot. Completed ballots are returned to the entrant so they will see their score and each screeners written comments. We are the first festival to be so open about our selection process. There's no fast forwarding through projects by someone who has sat and watched twelve straight hours of submissions. Our screeners are selected not only for their experience in the entertainment industry but also because they pretty much begged us to be screeners. These people really want to see your entries.
    Of course that's not the end of it. Once the ballots are tabulated, the top 20% of the entries are watched by our judges. A day is set aside for them to gather, view, discuss and, eventually, place the finalists into the order of their finish. This final step guarantees, year after year, the search for truly unique, entertaining and high quality productions is continued by the same high-level of judging. Audiences, entrants, critics and buyers can be sure the ten winners are worthy of the title.
    Okay, if we have to sum up our mission, then let it be the following: "The Flickering Image Festival is about moviemaking - not politics and it is definitely not 'business as usual'. Fair, open and forward facing - this festival makes a difference to filmmakers and in festivals."

What are the guidelines for submissions to this year's Shorts Competition?
    We are accepting any short that was completed on or after January 1, two years ago. Projects must be submitted on VHS (NTSC format) or DVD (formatted for use on common, consumer-grade, players). If selected as winners, we will require a DV Cam / Mini-DV, Beta SP, or DVD copy.

What do the winners get?
    Aside from having their project flickered on a Hollywood silver screen in the first week of January, winners will also get a congratulatory ad in the January edition of Variety which just happens to hit the news stands right before that mega festival in Park City, Utah - making the Flickering Image Festival one heck of a kick off to the whole festival season.

Where are the entry forms?
    Entry forms are available for download in PDF format at http://ActorsBone.com/Shorts/fifentry.pdf

What's the "Contact Information" for more questions?
    Festival Leadership:
        N. Barry Carver and Paul Molinaro
    Address:
        Flickering Image Festival
        3233 Grand Avenue, ^#N-110
        Chino Hills, CA  91709
    Email:
        ShortsFest@ActorsBone.com
    Web Address:
        http://ActorsBone.com/Shorts

Anything else?
    Yes. We look forward to seeing what's in your shorts!