We’re always on the lookout for the best opportunities available to new and emerging filmmakers on SP, and one of the most promising and exciting we’ve recently come across is Lexus Short Films.

An initiative offered in partnership with The Weinstein Company since 2013, they’re looking to help filmmakers make the films they want to make with budget, scale and support.

By developing and mentoring the next generation of young and emerging filmmakers, they aim to give back to their industry, to see new, interesting and independent work made with the resources required, and hopefully in the process discover and support the next Steven Soderbergh, Barry Jenkins, or Ava DuVernay.

Their call for entries is now open for the 4th edition, and well worth investigating. Selecting from open submissions, four filmmakers will be selected to each write and direct a short film produced by The Weinstein Company, with the resources, equipment, mentoring, and promotional and distribution support this affords.

The theme for the produced films this year will be TRANSFORMATION, ideas that elevate the ordinary to the extraordinary. They encourage inventive, creative filmmakers, and want to foster up and coming talent and new voices. As far as initiatives like these go, this is pretty open, hoping to attract entries across genre, style and approach, and encourage freedom and independence in the selected filmmakers.

Submissions are free, with filmmakers sending a 2-25min short film that they have written and directed via withoutabox. All submitted entries will be viewed, anyone stands a chance for the break. Send your best work, and get selected to make more.

You can see learn about previously selected filmmakers and view videos about their process making the final films (their full films are embeded below) here to get a sense of the scale of this opportunity and of the creative freedom afforded, as well as the transformative potential for granted filmmakers.

There’s no obligation to include or mention Lexus in the film, and there’s few limitations as to what can or cannot be included. Whilst Lexus branded, and Weinstein Co. backed, this is not an advert, this is one of the largest and boldest film studios giving back, and letting new talent thrive.

Those films, before premiering online and on Amazon Prime, played over 65 festivals, and picked up a host of awards and accolades. See that your work receives the same treatment. Submissions are now open through to August 24th, get involved.

 

The Nation Holds Its Breath (Kev Cahill)

Friday Night (Alexis Michalik)

Howling (Damian Walshe-Howling)

Game (Jeannie Donahoe)