Submit Your Film

5th Annual SMMASH Film Fest Entry Form (Click here for a printable version)

Attention Filmmakers! Please read the following guidelines and instructions carefully to ensure that your production is eligible for entry in this year’s SMMASH fest. If you submit a film without following these guidelines, you will be responsible for buying us all a year's worth of aspirin to make up for the headaches you will undoubtedly cause.

Film Eligibility
The 5th Annual SMMASH Film Fest will be held October 21-27th, 2005 at the Excelsior Dock Cinemas, located next to Lake Minnetonka in Excelsior, Minnesota (see "Directions" for details). Narrative features, narrative shorts, documentaries (both in feature and short length), experimental films and animation are all acceptable and welcomed. Films entered in SMMASH must meet the following criteria in order to become eligible to receive a screening and/or the awards.

1) The film must have been produced, directed, written, edited by, or starring an individual who currently resides in the Midwest (MI, OH, IN, IL, IA, MN, WI, KS, MO, NE, SD, ND, OK, TX) or lived in the one of these states for at least four years.
2) For those filmmakers currently living in any of the Midwestern states mentioned above, a current address and phone number are necessary.
3) For filmmakers who have resided in one of these states for at least four years, proof of residence must be included to be considered eligible. Proof of residence may include, but is not limited to: A copy of a formerly valid driver license; A formerly valid college or university I.D. or parking pass card; a former address and phone number with third-party reference confirmation phone number, or a copy of registration paperwork for a Midwestern college or university. Any information of a former Midwestern residency that can be backed up by a third-party confirmation will be accepted and considered eligible.
4) Seniors at a Midwestern college or university will be considered eligible insofar as they can prove they have attended a Midwestern college or university or have resided in one of the applicable states for three consecutive years prior.
5) The film entered must not have been completed earlier than January 1st, 2000. All films completed during 2000 to 2005 are welcomed at SMMASH.
6) Judgment as to the eligibility of each work submitted will be the sole responsibility of our three-judge panel. The decisions of the judges will be final.

Film Guidelines
1) Do not submit works in progress.
2) Do not submit industrial or instructional works.
3) A Feature film is considered to be 50 minutes or longer.
4) A Short film is considered a work less than 50 minutes.
5) All films must submit two (2) ½” VHS copies (NTSC system only) or two (2) DVDs.
6) All films submitted must be available on a DVD mode for presentation.
7) All early entries must be postmarked by September 10th, 2004 (final deadline is Sept. 24th).
8) Entries must come with a completed entry form and submission check.
9) Films selected for presentation will be announced and notified no later than Sept. 28th
10) The presentation copy of a selected work must arrive no later than October 14th.
11) Please notify us via email or phone of any changes or cancellations.
12) Entries wishing to promote their work with a poster may submit four copies to be displayed at the festival (if you don't have a poster and would like to have one designed and produced at a fair price, please contact us).

Entry Procedures (Send us the following!)
1) 2 copies on ½” VHS videotape of film (NTSC system only please) or two (2) DVDs.
2) Completed entry form (either complete and submit the online form or print this page and send it in with your tape).
3) Any press or publicity materials to help us promote your film.
4) Enclose check for entry fee.
5) Proof of past or present Midwestern residency (see #3 under Film Eligibility).

Film Fees and Mailing Instructions
The non-refundable entry fees for SMMASH are as follows:

Early Deadline: September 10th, 2005
Features: $40.00
Shorts: $30.00

Final Deadline: September 24th, 2005.  Late entries must add ten dollars ($10) to their entry.

All entry fee checks must be made out to Reel Cinema. All Packages should be sent to...

Reel Cinema Entertainment
4808 Hibiscus Ave
Edina, MN 55435
Attn: SMMASH

Questions? Comments? Call SMMASH’s film coordinator, John Swon at (612) 799-0742, or email him at smmashfilmfestival@yahoo.com

SMMASH Awards
12 awards or "Tasties" will be given away to participating filmmakers on Sunday, October 30th at our gala Awards show. After creating and announcing the five nominees in each category, our three-person panel of judges will determine ten of the awards, while ballots available to the audience will determine the other two. Winning filmmakers receive a "Tastie" Award. All filmmakers participating in SMMASH are eligible to receive one or more of the following Tasties listed below. 

Best Feature
Presented to the Best Feature as selected by the panel.

Best Short
Presented to the Best Short as determined by our panel.

Audience's Taste (Feature and Short) - 2 Awards
Presented to the Feature and Short films selected by the votes of the audience.

Best Documentary
Presented to the Best Documentary as selected by the judges.

Best Screenplay
Presented to the Best screenplay (Feature or Short) as selected by the judges.

Best Actor
Presented to the actor with the best performance (Feature or Short) as determined by the panel.

Best Actress
Presented to the actress with the best performance (Feature or Short) as picked by the panel.

Best Supporting Actor
Presented to the supporting actor with an outstanding performance as viewed by our panel.

Best Supporting Actress
Presented to the supporting actress with an outstanding performance as viewed by our panel.

Best Director
Presented to the Best Director (Feature or Short) as picked by our panel.

Lifetime Achievement
Presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to film in the Midwest as determined by our panel.

Entry Form (Click here for a printable version)