Culture

Drop Your Shorts is returning to the Athena. Submissions are due this Sunday, Feb. 12. (Submitted)

Athena Cinema Asks Athens For Its Finest Shorts


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The Athena Cinema announces the return of “Drop Your Shorts,” an event showcasing community submitted work on the big screen. The event will take place on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. The event is open to the public and the theater encourages anyone with a short film to consider submitting. There is no entry fee to submit a film but admission to the event is $5.00.

“This fall, we had a great response to “Drop Your Shorts” and were able to screen over 20 short films from local and regional artists in one night. Our audience loved the films and voted on their favorites,” said Alexandra Kamody, director of the Athena Cinema. According to Kamody, the event is unique in giving amateur filmmakers a chance to see their work projected on a big screen in front of an audience. Most professional filmmakers don’t get the opportunity for theatrical screenings until much further in their careers if they are accepted to a film festival.

Yang Miller hosts the event and gives each filmmaker a chance to speak about their film. Miller is also responsible for deciding which films make the cut and in which order the films will screen. The rules are simple: the film must be under 12 minutes and there are no other rules!

The audience will vote for their favorite work and the winning film will be shown prior to a regular run feature for one month.

Due to a growing number of submissions, not all submissions will make the cut. Miller will make selections to fill the 90 minute time slot and the final lineup will be announced on the Athena Cinema website prior to the event.

To submit film or video to Drop Your Shorts, send an online link to your short film no later than Feb. 12. The maximum length for films is 12 minutes or under. (INSIDER TIP: Shorter is better and early submissions are given priority.) Send your video link submission to Yang Miller, using the subject: “Drop Your Shorts submission” to millery@ohio.edu

There is no fee to submit your short film (although admission to the event is $5) and we encourage children, students, and people of all ages to submit original work. We’ll review your submissions and ask for a high-resolution file if your film is chosen for exhibition. Preferred exhibition format is Quicktime Prores 422.