It doesn't matter if you've got a big budget or a minuscule one; whether you specialise in documentaries, animation or live-action; whether you live for sci-fi, horror or rom-coms; or hail from Russia, China or Brazil - as long as your film is less than a minute and a half in length, you can submit your short film to this year's competition for free!

We're interested in seeing as many original, imaginative and engaging films as possible and giving the best of these works and the talent involved the support and exposure they deserve via the Depict competition, which provides a platform to showcase and valuable industry networks. If your film makes the Depict 2019 shortlist, you'll be invited to showcase your film at Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival (24 - 29 Sept 2019), the UK's longest running competitive short film and animation festival.

Encounters Short Film Festival in Bristol, where a good short can often make a bigger splash. - The Guardian

Distributors, producers, funders, exhibitors, fellow filmmakers, and enthusiastic fans of the short film format – not to mention our stellar judging panel, which last year included twice Oscar® and BAFTA nominated Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey - will all be there, so it's the perfect opportunity to get some priceless exposure and industry experience. You’ll be in with a chance of winning up to £2500 prize money thanks to sponsors including The Royal Photographic Society and Aardman Animations as well as other exclusive prizes and opportunities to help you get to the next stage of your career courtesy of partners such as Channel 4’s Random Acts, BFI NETWORK, BAFTA, NFTS and Shooting People.

Previous Depict winners have had their work screened at international film festivals, been picked up by commercial distributors, carved themselves successful careers in the film industry and beyond.

Image: Head over Heels, 2019

The Main Depict 2018 Award of £1,500 and a lifetime membership to our friends at Shooting People went to Head Over Heels from Russia, made by Leonid Grigurko, who had the following to say about his experience:

“It’s the first time I have attended a foreign film festival and I had a unique and incredible experience. I have overcome the geographical and language barriers between our countries and as a result I realise that there are no barriers... A Big thank you to all of you at Depict and Encounters for appreciating my film. You are all in my heart.”

Previous Depict filmmakers Director Brett Harvey (Obbin Up The Brea, 2015) and cinematographer Adam Laity (The Peace of the Wild Things, 2014) collaborated in 2016 on the release of their first feature Brown Willy, whilst Depict '18 British Special Mention Award winner Aimie Wiiemse (Echo, 2018) has benefited from mentoring c/o BAFTA as well as access to a Short Course at the National Film & Television School. Reflecting on her win Aimee said:

“Being shortlisted for Depict was a delight but winning the British Special Mention Award was just the most amazing surprise ever! I never dreamed that a 90 sec short made on an impulse like mine could take me so far and open doors to exciting, new opportunities.”

Image: Echo, 2019

Sound like your kind of challenge? As long as your film is under 90 seconds or less, you can enter your film to Depict - it is always totally free to enter your movie and you can submit your movie this year via FilmFreeway, making it easy to get your work to us!

Submissions close on Mon 1 July 2019 so there is plenty of time to read the rules and get some more inspiration by checking out our archive of nearly 20 years of teeny, tiny shorts. So pack your tiny film with masses of creativity and send it to us - good luck!

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