MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - It’s hard to believe, but it’s time once again to get your short films ready to enter into the third annual “Look at Us, Yuba-Sutter” short film festival. Last year’s event was the biggest yet with lots of great films being submitted by a variety of filmmakers covering a wide range of topics.

The deadline for entries for the 2023 festival is fast approaching. This year, submissions are due no later than August 27, by 11:59pm. The short film format is an opportunity for local amateur, professional and student filmmakers to demonstrate their cinematic visions and then be recognized at a public event.  The only rules for submissions are that the films must have been made in Yuba and/or Sutter Counties, be no longer than twelve minutes and be family friendly or PG13. The idea is to focus on our community and channel the collective creativity of our residents. 

The film festival at which all films will be screened will be held on Saturday, September 16 starting at 4pm at the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts, 754 Plumas Street in Yuba City.  Admission is $10. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

So why a film festival? The cinematic arts are more and more accessible for everyone as the technology has become readily available to anyone who wants to tell a story using this artistic medium. The short film format seemed like an ideal way to create a program by providing an opportunity for local filmmakers to demonstrate their cinematic visions and then be recognized at a public event. The festival also helps to feed interest in the new Yuba-Sutter Film Commission which is marketing the region to outside production companies.

The three filmmaker categories are Student (7^th – 12^th grades and Yuba College students), Amateur and Professional.  Film genres include Animation, Documentary/Mockumentary, Scripted/Fictional, and Music Video.  Professionals from the film industry will act as judges and audience members will be able to vote for a People’s Choice Award. Films can be no longer than thirteen minutes in length including titles and will be judged based on engaging and interesting stories, camera technique, understandable audio, thoughtful lighting and editing transitions and use of music to create mood.  “Lights, camera, action!”

For more information about this event including a copy of the full contest guidelines, contact Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture at 530-742-ARTS or email [email protected].