Youth Film Fest, Josiah Media Festival, is Now Accepting Entries Through the End of Summer
URBAN-15’s annual youth film festival, the Josiah Media Festival (JMF), opened for submissions at the beginning of this month in anticipation of its 19th year.
URBAN-15 is a group dedicated to the celebration and support of artists and performers, particularly devoted to uplifting unique art forms that empower and speak to various communities across Texas and the world. It’s been around for over 40 years, and in that time it has gone through a number of changes, but the core of its mission has remained consistent – to create spaces where diverse types of art can be unapologetically shared and appreciated.
A Global Platform Rooted in San Antonio
The JMF is one of the newer offshoots of URBAN-15 (in proximity to its near half-a-decade lifespan), and in its 19th year it celebrates being one of the longest running media festivals in the US. It is an international event that accepts submissions from all around the globe, but its heart lies with San Antonio.
Honoring Josiah Miles Neundorf’s Creative Legacy
The festival was named for Josiah Miles Neundorf, a gifted filmmaker and media artist from San Antonio who tragically passed away in 2006 after a battle with osteosarcoma. He was only twenty years old, but despite his short life he made an indelible impact on his community (as well as those outside it), influencing legions of artists and connoisseurs who witnessed his work. The JMF was born from his memory, and it continues to inspire countless artists across the nation in Josiah’s name by providing a platform for young adults to showcase their film, video and/or media-related artworks.
Elevating Underrepresented Youth Through Film
The JMF also prides itself on being an outlet for inclusivity, aiming to highlight entries from minority communities and providing space for Black and Latin American youths to demonstrate their filmmaking. Last year’s festival was especially notable in its partnership with the Eastside Youth Content Creators Program, aiming to uplift the work of Black students from San Antonio.
Entry Guidelines and Submission Categories
The JMF is open to any and all youth filmmakers, and to qualify for entry filmmakers must be 21 years of age or younger (or 21 or younger at the time the submitted film had been completed). All key crew members (excluding actors) must also have been 21 or under at the time of the film’s completion.
Films also cannot exceed 20 minutes and will be entered into one of their four official categories (Narrative, Documentary, Animation or Experimental) – but that’s pretty much it! Content-wise, any and all types of films will be accepted for consideration. Cash prizes will be granted to the first, second and third place winners, and the JMF is considered a ‘career-defining moment’ for all contenders. The festival will be available to stream online this December.
Deadline to Submit is August 1st
The folks over at JMF will be taking submissions from now through Aug. 1st, so enter now for a chance to have your voice heard and your story told!
For more information, check out their website HERE.
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