253 Film Competition

The 253 Short Film Competition (April 23–26, 2026) welcomes emerging and established filmmakers of all ages to compete and create short films over a 72 hour period that will be celebrated with hundreds of people at the 253 Short Film Party (May 8, 2026)! HOW IT WORKS: • Register your team (or sign up as a solo filmmaker competitor) online (only 33 teams can participate). • All teams meet at The Grand on April 23, 2026 at 6:30pm to receive the year's four required elements and the green light to begin filming. • Teams have 72 hours to write, shoot, and edit a short film. • Films MUST be no more than two-hundred and fifty-three seconds long (a nod to our area code). • Films must incorporate all four required elements. • Finalized projects are due at The Grand Cinema box office on the following Sunday night, April 26, 2026. • Judges review all films to determine winners in multiple categories. • All submitted films are screened at the next 253 Short Film Party on May 8, 2026 WHAT YOU GET: • Four tickets to the screening party • A discount code for tickets to the screening party to share with friends • Recognition at the screening party • Visibility for your creation before an audience of several hundred people PRIZES: • Jury Award & $500 cash prize • Audience Choice Award & $500 cash prize • "Best Use" of one of the (4) required elements & $100 gift card to a local restaurant • Best Emerging Filmmaker to a team/filmmaker participating for the first timePT30M2026-04-23253 Film Competition"253 Film Competition"

Showtimes

April 23, 6:30 pm

The Grand Cinema