New York’s Beneath the Earth Film Festival is a year-long search for independent films that serves as a catalyst for outstanding projects to reach a global audience. Our goal is to uncover and promote work of the highest standard created by emerging filmmakers who push beyond what film currently is and influence the possibility of what it could be.
Through our online entertainment platform, which launches this Fall, we ultimately hope to bring a new type of entertainment experience to the home viewer and in turn give new directors an opportunity to prove themselves in the industry, reach a wide audience and build a devoted following.
How It Works
Four seasonal competitions are held throughout the year during which work of high production quality, clever writing and strong performances are offered the chance to be reviewed by authorities in the film world. The winners of each season then go on to compete for the culminating grand prize. All winners will receive recognition and exposure as well as a monetary prize.
Categories:
Documentary Short (under 60 minutes)
Documentary Feature (over 60 minutes)
Feature Film (over 60 minutes, all genres)
Short Film (under 60 minutes, all genres)
Animated Short (under 60 minutes)
Animated Feature (over 60 minutes)
Music Video (music video under 15 minutes)
Experimental Short (under 60 minutes)
Prizes & Recognition
Contestants can submit their film to one or more of the festival’s categories. A Best Picture will be selected in each category.
In each seasonal competition, the best picture of each category will win:
$100.00 cash prize
Placement and recognition on the Beneath the Earth entertainment platform.
Eligibility to win grand prize.
Grand Prize winners in each category will win:
$500-$1,000.00 cash prize*
Placement and recognition on the Beneath the Earth entertainment platform.
Valuable media exposure and promotion.
*Short films and music videos receive a $500.00 cash prize, while feature length films receive $1,000.00.
Audience Award
Finalists in the seasonal and the final competitions are eligible to win the Audience Award. The Audience Award is determined by online vote and is granted to the film with the highest number of votes during the designated voting period. The Audience Award winner will receive placement and recognition on Beneathearth.com.