SHREVEPORT, LA — In a standing room only crowd of independent filmmakers from all over the country, the Prize Foundation, a non-profit focused on developing the creative economy, announced the finalists competing in this year’s award-winning Louisiana Film Prize at Prize Fest 2024 (www.PrizeFest.com). This years’ competing films set new records for the organization. For 2024, Louisiana Film Prize has its largest percentage of female filmmakers, the largest number of entries from BIPOC filmmakers ever and the highest number of first-time filmmakers (a tie with 2016). 

“From an independent film perspective, this year has been pretty mind blowing,” said Gregory Kallenberg, founder of the Louisiana Film Prize and Executive Director of the Prize Foundation. “Our town and our state have become a beacon for creators, and these filmmakers definitely showed up and did amazing work.” 

The twenty finalist films will now move on to be screened during Prize Fest, a celebration of film, food, music, and comedy happening in downtown Shreveport October 16 - 19 and will compete for a grand prize of up to $50,000, the world’s largest cash prize for a narrative short film. The festival will also offer a virtual option, with viewing and voting online open to an international audience. The grand prize winner will be determined by a unique combination of voting from audience members and a panel of judges composed of film and industry veterans, tastemakers, and celebrities. The grand prize winner will be announced during a private awards brunch on October 20. 

“These twenty films were incredibly difficult for our global Film Prize Jury to select, but I believe that they made the right choices, “ said Kallenberg. “Now, these films head to Prize Fest in October where they will be shown on the big screen and in front of sold out audiences. We can’t wait to host the biggest and best Film Prize ever!” 

This year, the Top 20 films will play from October 17-19 in theaters around Shreveport and Bossier. The audience does the have the opportunity to vote, but they must see all twenty films. More information at PrizeFest.com/Film 

The event has made an undeniable yearly impact on both filmmaking in Northwest Louisiana and the local economy (over the past 12 years, Film Prize has brought in over $25 million in economic impact for the area) achieved by encouraging filmmakers from around the world to journey to the area to make their films and then return to Shreveport for the film festival/ competition itself. 

In order to qualify for the Louisiana Film Prize, filmmakers created a short film (5-15 minutes) in which the production was shot in the state of Louisiana. The winning filmmaker, as voted by festival attendees and a panel of film industry judges, receives a $25,000 cash prize. However, the cash prize is doubled to $50,000 if the film was shot in Caddo Parish. 

In addition to the grand prize, the Top 5 films receive a $1,000 reimbursable grant that can be used towards fees and travel to screen their short film at other festivals. Prize Foundation also provides up to five Founder’s Circle Grants which provide a $3,000 reimbursable filmmaking grant that helps offset costs for filmmakers to come back and film a short for Louisiana Film Prize 2025. To date, the Prize Foundation has awarded over $500,000 in cash to independent filmmakers.

For more information about the festival and to purchase passes, visit prizefest.com.