February opportunities for Louisiana filmmakers: So much room for activities

Some of you are in a dank, dark cutting room molding a lump of footage into a sculpted voice. Some of you already have a film in your pocket and are looking for a megaphone. Wherever you are in the creative process, there are entire networks devoted to helping foster the talents of Louisiana filmmakers. 

Here are a few upcoming events designed to amplify the voices of the Louisiana independent film community.

Louisiana Public Broadcasting is accepting short film entries for the 2023 PBS Short Film Fest until February 22nd

This is an especially exciting opportunity for first-time filmmakers looking for an outlet for their work. The guidelines are navigable for any filmmaker and selected short films get the chance to reach a national audience through Louisiana Public Broadcasting’s parent branch, PBS. 

LPB put out the call asking for short films between three and 15 minutes in length, fiction or non-fiction, with high-quality production value. Their specific wording was:

“The most appropriate films for this festival are those who have creative or compelling storytelling, as well as high production quality.”  

Films must be submitted to filmfest@lpb.org by Wednesday, February 22nd, and must include contact information, a description, and technical parameters which can all be viewed here on the LPB website. Nominated short films will have the opportunity to screen at the 12th annual PBS Short Film Festival in July of 2023. Films aren’t limited to live-action narrative: the 2022 Short Film Fest Juried Prize winner was a nine-minute animated film called Chilly and Milly directed by William D. Caballero.

NOVAC is holding a workshop for aspiring commercial directors on Thursday night

For the filmmaker who likes spontaneous action on a weeknight, NOVAC will host a workshop for beginner commercial directors between 6 and 9 p.m. at its 4422 S. Carrollton Avenue location in New Orleans. 

New Orleans-based writer and director Abraham Felix will guide attendees through an overview of navigating the commercial world and knowing where to start. Felix was recognized by both the Clio Awards and Sabre Awards in 2022 and his short film Change won the 2020 New Orleans Film Fest Jury Award. 

The specific topics that will be covered include the path to representation, how to brand yourself as a director, navigating the landscape and politics of commercial directing, and how commercial directing differs from other forms of directing.

The workshop costs $30 and those interested can register here on the NOVAC website.

The New Orleans French Film Festival is ready to announce its schedule and sell you tickets

The 2023 New Orleans French Film Festival hosted by the New Orleans Film Society has announced that it will post its complete schedule and lineup on Thursday, February 9th on the French Film Fest website. Several French-language films have already been announced and include the drama Everything Went Fine starring Sophie Marceau, the zombie-comedy Final Cut directed by Michael Hazanavicius, and the psychological horror elitist melodrama The Origin of Evil directed by Sébastian Marnier.  

The festival also opened up the sale of its all-access passes as it prepares to screen virtually and at the Prytania Theatre in New Orleans from March 9th to 13th. All-access passes are available for $95 or $80 for New Orleans Film Society members. It’s also an awesome opportunity for local students and teachers, as they’re able to acquire a discounted “student and teacher pass” at the rate of $35. 

More information on tickets and the 2023 New Orleans French Film Festival lineup can be found here on the NOFS website.

Fable House is a video production company based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that specializes in production for film, video, commercials, and TV. Our team are experts in physical production, post-production, and VFX. We produce content for major brands, TV networks like Syfy and Lifetime, and provide production services to Louisiana’s never-say-die indie filmmakers.