Louisiana Film Prize has Record Year, Announces Finalists
Filmmakers around the country to compete for $50,000
SHREVEPORT, LA — In a standing room only crowd of independent filmmakers from all over
the country, the Prize Foundation, a non-profit focused on developing the creative economy,
announced the finalists competing in this year’s award-winning Louisiana Film Prize at Prize
Fest 2024 (www.PrizeFest.com). This years’ competing films set new records for the
organization. For 2024, Louisiana Film Prize has its largest percentage of female filmmakers,
the largest number of entries from BIPOC filmmakers ever and the highest number of first-time
filmmakers (a tie with 2016).
“From an independent film perspective, this year has been pretty mind blowing,” said Gregory
Kallenberg, founder of the Louisiana Film Prize and Executive Director of the Prize Foundation.
“Our town and our state have become a beacon for creators, and these filmmakers definitely
showed up and did amazing work.”
The twenty finalist films will now move on to be screened during Prize Fest, a celebration of film,
food, music, and comedy happening in downtown Shreveport October 16 – 19 and will compete
for a grand prize of up to $50,000, the world’s largest cash prize for a narrative short film. The
festival will also offer a virtual option, with viewing and voting online open to an international
audience. The grand prize winner will be determined by a unique combination of voting from
audience members and a panel of judges composed of film and industry veterans, tastemakers,
and celebrities. The grand prize winner will be announced during a private awards brunch on
October 20.
“These twenty films were incredibly difficult for our global Film Prize Jury to select, but I believe
that they made the right choices, “ said Kallenberg. “Now, these films head to Prize Fest in
October where they will be shown on the big screen and in front of sold out audiences. We can’t
wait to host the biggest and best Film Prize ever!”
This year, the Top 20 films will play from October 17-19 in theaters around Shreveport and
Bossier. The audience does the have the opportunity to vote, but they must see all twenty films.
More information at PrizeFest.com/Film
The event has made an undeniable yearly impact on both filmmaking in Northwest Louisiana
and the local economy (over the past 12 years, Film Prize has brought in over $25 million in
economic impact for the area) achieved by encouraging filmmakers from around the world to
journey to the area to make their films and then return to Shreveport for the film festival/
competition itself.
In order to qualify for the Louisiana Film Prize, filmmakers created a short film (5-15 minutes) in
which the production was shot in the state of Louisiana. The winning filmmaker, as voted by
festival attendees and a panel of film industry judges, receives a $25,000 cash prize. However,
the cash prize is doubled to $50,000 if the film was shot in Caddo Parish.
In addition to the grand prize, the Top 5 films receive a $1,000 reimbursable grant that can be
used towards fees and travel to screen their short film at other festivals. Prize Foundation also
provides up to five Founder’s Circle Grants which provide a $3,000 reimbursable filmmaking
grant that helps offset costs for filmmakers to come back and film a short for Louisiana Film
Prize 2025. To date, the Prize Foundation has awarded over $500,000 in cash to independent
filmmakers.
For more information about the festival and to purchase passes, visit prizefest.com.
About the Louisiana Film Prize
The Louisiana Film Prize invites filmmakers across the country to make a short film between five
and fifteen minutes long to compete for the largest short film cash prize offered in the world. The
chief requirement is that the films must be shot in Louisiana. The top twenty films that have
been submitted are then screened for audiences and judges in October and a winner is chosen
based on the voting from those two factions.
About the Prize Foundation
The Prize Foundation is an award-winning nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization and festival based in Shreveport, LA. Founded in 2012, the Prize Foundation’s
mission is to promote economic growth, workforce development, youth job training, creative
class entrepreneurial buildout and increased tourism through education, entrepreneurship,
conferences, contests and festivals in Shreveport and Northwest Louisiana. The Prize
Foundation operates six major initiatives year-round: Film Prize, Film Prize Junior, Startup Prize,
Food Prize, Music Prize, and Fashion Prize. Each Prize has a qualification process,
engagement with economic and cultural resources, and an educational component.
Top 20 Films and Filmmakers
For more information about the Top 20 films, HEAD HERE for director headshots,
film posters, and stills and behind the scenes images.
Baila
Directed by Kelly Sherman
Blood and Milk
Directed by Eve Crusto
Chicken Bones
Directed by Abby Waters
Connected
Directed by Melissa Goslin
Fast
Directed by Clayton Henderson
Game Day Ritual
Directed by Alejandro de los Rios
Love is Neat
Directed by Taylor Deville
Mallets
Directed by Adrian Jordan Jr
Memories for Tomorrow
Directed by Matthew Eli Judd
Miniature Life
Directed by Stevie Cavalier
Most Likely to Succeed
Directed by Ty and Rachael Hudson
Napoleonic Code
Directed by Michael Cusumano
Plaid Skirts
Directed by Kat Durel
Sex Date
Directed by Mike Nicholas
Stall to Stall
Directed by Kaitlyn Brown
The Stage
Directed by Jeremy Enis
Three Sessions
Directed by Erica Michelle Singleton
Toots
Directed by Chris Alan Evans
Trip
Directed by Mack Cormier
Vice
Directed by Jency Hogan