STEP 1 — READ this ENTIRE page before signing up.

 The first thing to know is that you must be thorough and pay close attention to details. Important information may not be repeated. It’s up to you to stay informed and on the right track. We will NOT bombard you. Your tenacity and attention will pay off. Promise! If you participated last year, you’ll notice some changes. So let’s get started…

What is the Austin Film Meet Short Film Challenge?

This project challenges a designated group of individuals who are committed to improving as filmmakers to work together as a group to create a short film from screenplay to screening with no budget and only available resources. Our crews and cast consist of only volunteers and those who submit to our program.

This program focuses on accountability, completion and the process of filmmaking. Practice resourcefulness, creativity, technique and teamwork skills. Get better at the difficult art of filmmaking with each film you help make.

All positions needed! All skill levels welcome – there’s a place for everyone!

The Austin Film Meet Short Film Challenge is a collective of individuals who come together to make films under the following conditions:

1. Everyone has something useful to contribute.
2. Learning is key to success.
3. In regards to the process of filmmaking, the journey is the destination.
4. Pay-it-forward pays back in the long run.

What is the time commitment?

Austin Film Meet Short Film Challenge hosts events for this program, online or in person, on various days and times, typically on weeknights but sometimes weekends. Individual Short Film Challenge teams also meet at various other times needed to complete the film productions. On-set production typically involves 2 to 4 shoot days limited to 10 hours each day. Exact time commitments are dependent on the specific project and your position on that team. We highly recommend that you attend as many AFM events  as you can, as these events are specifically tailored to supercharge your experience and help you learn as much as possible. However attendance at these events is not required to participate, except some events are mandatory for Directors and Producers of SFC projects. You may attend AFM events as often or as little as you’d like, but if you take an assignment on a Short Film Challenge team and make a commitment to helping with the production in a specific way, please follow through or allow us to reassign the job ASAP. Fellow filmmakers and the project will be depending on you!

The Short Film Challenge runs in sessions, typically 8-12 weeks. During this time projects go through Pre-production, Production and Post-production. Basic promotional materials will also be made during this time. Each session ends in a final screening party.

Is this for inexperienced or experienced people?

This program is intended to provide an opportunities for filmmakers of all experience levels. Ideally, teams will consist of a balanced mix of more experienced and less experienced individuals. It’s a great opportunity for beginners to work alongside an experienced person who wants to try wearing a new film hat. Not only does this program assist newcomers, but it also provides a unique opportunity to those who are more experienced. As well as being a chance to serve your community by passing on the knowledge and expertise you have, this program gives more experienced filmmakers an opportunity to make films with in-kind labor. This program relies on filmmakers of all areas and all skill levels. Keep your skills sharp! Mentor others while having a ton of fun and building strong friendships. Strengthen your skills or try a new filmmaking position. We welcome you!

How many projects will be produced?

We have multiple projects running in parallel. The exact number depends on how many people show up & want to be involved. Projects can be started at any time during the season, assuming it can be completed by the season due date. Films that miss the due date may screen at the following season’s screening event.

Can I work my preferred position?

Yes! Submit your info for all the positions that interest you. Your info will go to a shared database from which our teams will choose their crew. We do our best to get everyone who wants to participate a chance to contribute in their preferred areas, but we appreciate your patience and willingness to help in other ways, too. We hope you’ll stick around long enough to take turns working each of the crew positions.

May I direct or produce my own screenplay? 

All first-time Directors and Producers in this program are required to direct or produce someone else’s screenplay before they may direct or produce their own. Experienced Directors and Producers may work on their own screenplays. This is meant to help filmmakers learn to share creative control. This also helps prevent problems that may arise over emotional attachment to the work and gives more people a chance to participate.

Can I direct a project if I have no directing experience? 

This program offers a wonderful opportunity for filmmakers in new positions including new directors with no formal narrative directing experience. However, we expect that you will have some experience in several other areas of filmmaking. If you have limited or no film experience, please work other film positions first.

What happens to the films when they’re done? 

As is standard in film production, the producers, H.Cherdon Bedford and Austin Film Meet will own the final films, as well as the exact version of the screenplay indicated in the Screenwriter Agreement. Don’t worry! Our goal will always be to promote our filmmakers, their films and our organization. We will continue to promote the films and the filmmakers who made them and may submit them to festivals and screenings. Although there are not likely to be any profits made from the Short Film Challenge projects, any proceeds or income generated from the sale or distribution of the films will go back to the Austin Film Meet to better the organization and benefit future filmmakers of our programs.

How many people are on each production team?

Production teams consists of about 10 to 12 or more individuals, but may vary based on the project needs. Directors and/or Producers may remove or add additional support members to their team as needed. The recommended minimum positions are Producer, Director, Assistant Director, Cinematographer, Production Designer, Sound Designer, Sound Mixer/Recordist/Boom, Assistant Camera, Gaffer/Grip, Costume/Hair/MUA/SFX, Assistant Camera, Grip/Gaffer, Editor/DIT, Production Assistants (if needed), and definitely Still & Set Photography / BTS / Promotions. 

Can I audition to be cast in a project? 

Yes! You can submit your actor info here.

Can I bring my ego?

Please leave your drama at the door. Please come with a positive, can-do attitude. Always be kind, considerate, and remember it’s rarely all about you. Sometimes difficult decisions must be made quickly and for the sake of the project, not your feelings. You can always learn from others no matter how much you or they know. This is an opportunity to make lifelong friends and build a community that will support you through your filmmaking dreams. We can’t wait to work with you! So please, bring friends, but not your ego!

Is this too good to be true?

Austin Film Meet has existed since 2008, hosted more than 450 events and helped over 10,000 people in film and video. Our staff has decades of combined experience and knowledge in professional film and video production. More importantly, we love filmmakers and all the different people that it takes to make one happen.  We believe that any film completed is a bit of a miracle. Filmmaking is the most difficult art form and we love to champion creators as they grow. 

Is there a cost to participate? 

Unfortunately, it costs money to run an organization like ours, but luckily our fees are still quite low. To participate in the Short Film Challenge program, you must be an Austin Film Meet Member. JOIN NOW! Talent and those who provide donations or gear may participate with a Guest Membership. If you are unable to pay for a membership, you can always volunteer and receive a complimentary membership.

What now? 

Get serious! Make a movie! Commit to making your film dreams happen! From concept to screening, practice the craft of storytelling using film and video. Improve your filmmaking game with hands-on experience!

STEP 2 — Sign Up for Emails

 Sign up for the AFM Short Film Challenge email list.
Different than our main list, it’s specific to the Short Film Challenge.

STEP 3 — Please Join Our Social Channels

STEP 4 — Choose Your Challenge

We suggest submitting for all the challenges that interest you and recommend choosing 2-3 challenges each season.

Write a Screenplay!

Screenwriters! Austin Film Meet’s Short Film Challenge focuses on producing high-quality, narrative short films and your screenplay could be next!

What kind of screenplays are you looking for?

We seek short screenplays designed to be produced by our small crew with small casts of locally-based actors for almost no budget using only in-kind resources, community support and collaborative creativity for production. We want compelling stories with interesting, dynamic characters who have clear objectives and emotional conflict. We want characters that audiences love. We want to show, not tell. We want stories that make people feel a little better about the world, humankind and ourselves. You can do this!

How many pages/actors/locations do you want?

For the 2024 Fall Short Film Challenge, we want short narrative screenplays of any genre not exceeding 6 pages. Shorter screenplays have a higher likelihood of being produced. Also, screenplays must adhere to the 10 point limit. Count each page, actor and location as 1 point and do not exceed 10 points. Less is definitely more!

Are there any restrictions on content restrictions?

We absolutely hate to put restrictions on artists, but there are a few things that are too dangerous or make public screenings more difficult. Also, youth often participate in our program. So, unfortunately, for this program, we cannot produce any screenplays with the following:

No political propaganda or campaigning.
No excessive or gratuitous on-camera violence.
No overtly sexual content or extraneous sexual nudity.
No cussing, offensive language or messages of hate – we are spreading love here, people! 
No dangerous real-life stunts or overly-complicated fight scenes.
No complicated or overly time-consuming special effects.
No on-camera realistic weapons, real-life explosions or actual fires.

Please don’t be discouraged. There are plenty of original stories that need to be told that do not involve any of the above. YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Is there anything else I should avoid?

There are also some things that are acceptable but could be too advanced for filmmakers to take on for this Challenge. If your screenplay contains one of the following, we suggest finding a way to remove it or write around it. If that’s not possible, you can submit it anyway, but it may not be chosen. We call these “special things” and our filmmaking teams are advised to avoid screenplays that require more than one “special thing”. A “special thing” is anything that requires extra effort and attention beyond the standard shooting process. Just one “special thing” is acceptable, but more than one can cause complications. Some examples are:

Child actors. Animals. Realistic weapons. Specialized or hard-to-find vehicles. Specialized or hard-to-find locations. Airplane or train or bus – parked bus may be acceptable. Shooting inside a moving vehicle – parked vehicles are acceptable. Simple or uncomplicated fight scenes. Huge party scenes or anything requiring lots of extras – up to 2 extras is acceptable. Expensive or rare props that cannot be made easily and cheaply. Elaborate costumes or makeup or special effects makeup. Simple special effect like a barfing scene or rain. Complicated or time-consuming visual effects.

Can I do anything else to improve my chances of my screenplay being produced in this program?

While your content does not need to be FOR children, we appreciate family-safe content, which means no cussing, no violence, no inappropriate sexual content, nothing a little kid should not see. This expands our screening options for the film. You are not required to attend any Austin Film Meet events to submit a screenplay for consideration. However, our program includes many events designed to help Screenwriters.

How do I know if my screenplay is being considered by a Director or Producer?

If your screenplay is selected for consideration, you will be contacted by a Producer and/or Director who may ask you to make changes. Writers are not required to make any changes, but seeing as how filmmaking is a collaborative art form, we encourage you to remain open-minded. After you and the Producer and/or Director complete any changes and agree on a final screenplay, the Production team will ask you to sign a contract and will move on to Pre-production.

I submitted a screenplay in 2023 that was not selected. Can I submit the same screenplay again?

Yes! Please do. If you wish to withdraw your screenplay from consideration, please let us know.

If my screenplay is made, can I still produce it myself or sell it to someone else?

Yes! You may produce or sell any version of your script that is significantly different from the version that Austin Film Meet produces.

Anything else?

Yes! Please read this page entirely. Yes, it’s a lot, but it’s important info.

By submitting your screenplay, you agree to the following:

You are the sole owner and creator of the submitted content.
Austin Film Meet may share that screenplay with our members and Short Film Challenge participants.
You will withdraw your screenplay should it become optioned or scheduled for production not in our program.
Austin Film Meet may perform a table read of your screenplay.
Austin Film Meet may use your screenplay for educational purposes.

What do I need to submit my screenplay?

You will need to include a log line, a list of characters with short descriptions, number of locations and your PDF screenplay. Be sure to include a title page with your contact info. Please submit your screenplays via the button link below or go here.

Short Film Challenge Producer & Director Submission

So you wanna be a Producer or Director of a Short Film Challenge short film production? Fantastic!!

We need good Producers and Directors to see short film productions through from choosing a solid screenplay to celebrating with a screening party.

Working closely together, Producers & Directors will lead a team through the process of making a film from Pre-production, through Production, and Post-Production to a completed short film and then celebrate at a Screening Party.

Directors may produce their own screenplay through the Short Film Challenge program if they have directed a project before in the challenge. Some exceptions may be made for especially experienced directors.

Don’t know where to start? New to producing? No worries! All Short Film Challenge Producers and Directors work in conjunction with an additional Producer, H.Cherdon Bedford, with regularly meetings and check points to make sure you’re on track for success. You will be provided with checklists, contracts and guidance along the way. Austin Film Meet also hosts many educational events for filmmakers. Directors, Producer and sometimes key crew will meet with Producer H.Cherdon at several Check Points through out the project. This is to help make sure the project is on track. Also, Austin Film Meet hosts many educational events for filmmakers.

Being a Producer or Director is an important job! While it’s fun to enable the team, it’s a big responsibility. A whole team of people are counting on you. Being a Producer can be pretty time-consuming. Please make sure you have enough time available to give the project the proper attention. 

Applicants may have no or little directing or producing experience, but you should have a range of experience in other areas of filmmaking. If you are interested in producing or directing a project but have no filmmaking experience, we suggest working crew on a few productions first.

Also, pay it forward by working cast or crew on another Short Film Challenge project.

If you think you’re up for the challenge, please submit your information below. Once accepted, you can pair with a Producer or Director and find a screenplay together. We look forward to seeing you on your journey!

Short Film Challenge Production Team Submission

These are the Short Film Challenge crew departments and positions.

Here’s a breakdown of the primary film positions and what they do: Film Positions Explained

Production Design, Makeup, Costume & Art Department

DP much? Wanna learn about equipment & get some hands on experience with film lighting? We need Production Designers, Costumers, Makeup Artists & general Art Department Production Assistants.

Editing & Post-Production

The Post-Production department includes Editors, Assistant Editors, Colorists, and sometimes Visual Effects Artists. Opportunties are available.

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Past Austin Film Meet Short Film Challenge Projects

Cassidy vs. the Toilet Seat