DepicT!, our ultra-short film competition that asks filmmakers from around the world to create an original short film under 90 seconds long, is back and we’re looking for your mini-masterpieces to be in with a chance of being selected for this year’s shortlist.

It doesn't matter if you've got a big budget or a teeny tiny one; whether you specialise in documentary, animation or live-action; whether you live for horror, comedy or romance; or hail from China, Columbia or Croatia - 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 exposure they deserve via the DepicT! competition, showcase and industry networks. If your film makes our DepicT! 2017 shortlist, you'll be invited to showcase your film at Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival (19 - 24 Sept 2017), the UK's longest running competitive short film and animation festival.

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 Oscar® nominated Director of Photography Dick Pope - 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 BAFTA, NFTS, Channel 4’s Random Acts and Shooting People.

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

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.

The Main DepicT! 2016 Award of £1,500 and a lifetime membership to our friends at Shooting People went to Impacts from Croatia, made by Petra Balelkic, who had the following to say about her experience:

“This was my first time at the Encounters Festival as well as in Bristol in general and I could only say it has exceeded my expectations. The programme was very inspiring for me and all the people I met here are extremely friendly and positive.”

Previous DepicT! filmmakers Director Brett Harvey (Obbin Up The Brea, 2015) and cinematographer Adam Laity (The Peace of the Wild Things, 2014) collaborated last year on the release of their first feature Brown Willy, whilst DepicT! '16 British Special Mention Award winner Lee Charlish (Pig Dream, 2016) is being mentored by The Brothers McLeod (Greg and Myles) on behalf of BAFTA. Ninian Doff of DepicT! 2013 fame - who scooped both the Main DepicT! Award and The Shooting People RPS Audience Award with comedic gem Cool Unicorn Bruv - has gone on to make impressive music videos for the likes of Kasabian.

Ninian said of DepicT!:

"DepicT! is the perfect creative challenge. 90 seconds to do your best means its not some daunting shoot but a manageable task that forces your screen writing and editing skills to be super sharp. DepicT! is also a really good platform – a lot of people pay attention to it and just making the final screening at Encounters is a prestigious achievement. The fact that DepicT! is a competition which genuinely anyone can win, whilst also being a serious, professional filmmaking award, means it is pretty unique and well worth entering."

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 this year you can submit your movie using either Vimeo or YouTube, making it easier than ever to get your work to us!

Submissions close on Mon 3 July 2017 so there is plenty of time to read the rules and get some more inspiration by checking out our archive of 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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