1) Who started the BMPAs, and why?

2) How did you choose the judges?

3) What kinds of motion pictures and scripts can I submit?

4) Why is the writing competition only for spoofs?

5) Why doesn't the short-film competition have separate categories
for dramas, comedies, documentaries, etc.?

6) Why are there student rates, but no student categories?

7) I made my motion picture while I was a student, but I've
graduated since then. Can I still submit for the student rate?

8) I wrote my script when I was a student, but I've graduated since
then. Can I still submit for the student rate?

9) May I enter the BMPAs more than once?

10) When will the winners be announced?

Can't find what you're looking for? Please feel free to contact the BMPAs for answers to your questions.

1) Who started the BMPAs, and why?

In 2003, when 7 Fluid Oz. partners Aaron and Seth Howland traveled to film festivals across the United States, they found that the one question filmmakers overwhelmingly ask one another is this: "Where did you get your funding?" Because filmmaking is perhaps the most expensive art form, funding is scarce. 7 Fluid Oz. founded the Boston Motion Picture Awards with the purpose of helping up-and-coming filmmakers get a head start raising funds for future projects.

To learn more about the BMPA History and Philosophy, click here: About BMPA.

2) How did you choose the judges?

While the BMPAs are a Boston-based program, Aaron and Seth Howland have worked hard to find judges from a variety of cultural and geographical backgrounds, and with a broad range of filmmaking experience. To date, all judges have been chosen from the following groups:

A) Industry professional who have worked with 7 Fluid Oz. in the past
B) Industry professionals who met 7 Fluid Oz. at film events around the country
C) Industry professionals who are widely known and/or have worked on widely known productions

3) What kinds of motion pictures and scripts can I submit?

Acceptable submissions are as follows:

     International Short Film Competition:

• Submitted motion picture must be 30 Minutes or under.
• Submitted motion picture must have a production budget of $50,000 US or under (not including deferred payment).
• The Boston Motion Picture Awards reserves the right to request a detailed accounting of the submitted film's budget.
• Submitted motion picture must have been completed after January 1, 2006.
• If the submitted motion picture is in a spoken language other than English, you must submit an English subtitled version of the film.
• If the submitted motion picture's screenplay was adapted from other material, you must have acquired the rights to the original work.
• All necessary rights, permissions, and clearances (including, but not limited to, rights to all music used in the motion picture) have been obtained for public promotion, exhibition, and/or sale of the submitted motion picture.

As far as form and genre go, almost anything is acceptable. Dramas, comedies, documentaries, music videos, animation, and experimental motion pictures are all accepted. (In other words, unless it's a commercial or a training film, you're probably safe.) If you're unsure whether your motion picture qualifies, please feel free to e-mail us.

To view the competition's complete rules, please click here: BMPA Rules.

     International Spoof-Writing Competition:

• Submitted screenplay must be no more than 10 Pages (not including cover page).
• Submitted screenplay must be entirely your own work, and you must own the rights to the screenplay.
• Submitted screenplay must not be, or at any time have been, optioned, sold, or produced.
• Submitted screenplay must be in English.
• Submitted screenplay must be in proper script format.

As far as content goes, the script must be a parody (or "spoof"). While we have no specific rules regarding what you can and cannot parody, we recommend something from the following list: films, television shows, books, plays, literary/film genres, people, characters, and/or current events. If you have a question regarding a possible entry, please feel free to e-mail us.

To view the competition's complete rules, please click here: BMPA Rules.

4) Why is the writing competition only for spoofs?

Good question. This is the first year we've had a writing category, and we wanted to start off by drawing on our strengths. The Boston Motion Picture Awards decided that a spoof-writing competition would be in everyone's best interests because the winner of the competition will have the opportunity to have his/her screenplay produced by 7 Fluid Oz. Productions LLP (the production company owned by the founders of the Boston Motion Picture Awards), and while 7 Fluid Oz. has produced dramas, as well as comedies, they recently had a lot of success with a spoof of The Da Vinci Code, entitled The Albino Code. The short film was written by, and stars, Dennis Hurley (one of the "Spoof-Writing" judges) and went on to be screened at four US film festivals. In addition, clips from the movie were featured on CNN, MSNBC, and Inside Edition, as well as other television shows, and the movie was covered in a wide array magazines, newspapers, radio programs, and blogs.

5) Why doesn't the short film competition have separate categories for dramas, comedies, documentaries, etc.?

Most film festivals and competitions have separate categories for dramas and comedies, as well as for narratives, documentaries, and music videos. For the following reason, though, The Boston Motion Picture Awards do not have separate categories:

Making a drama is not necessarily harder than making a comedy, and making a narrative film is not necessarily harder than making a documentary. Too often at festivals you'll find several motion pictures worthy of recognition, but they're all in one category, such as comedy, so only one can win an award. Meanwhile, the winning film in another category, such as documentary, isn't nearly as well made as the comedies that didn't win in their own category. The purpose of the BMPAs is to recognize and reward excellent filmmaking, no matter the form or genre.

6) Why are there student rates, but no student categories?

While student filmmakers often have the advantage of being provided equipment by their schools, which greatly reduces their budget, they still can pay up to $35,000 in tuition every year. In addition, many of these students are holding down jobs just to make ends meet while they attend school full time. For this reason, the Boston Motion Picture Awards have elected, just as most other festivals have, to allow students to submit for reduced rates.

The BMPAs do not, however, have separate categories for students. Why? Having traveled around the country to various film festivals, the BMPA Founders have observed that some of the best films screened at these festivals come from students.

7) I made my motion picture while I was a student, but I've graduated since then. Can I
     still submit for the student rate?

In short, yes. As long as you made the motion picture while you were a student, you're welcome to submit for the student rate, even if you've graduated since then. Please remember that the Boston Motion Picture Awards reserves the right to confirm your enrollment during the time your motion picture was completed.

8) I wrote my script when I was a student, but I've graduated since then. Can I still
     submit for the student rate?

In short, no. While we like to cater to students, it's much more difficult to prove when a script was written than it is to prove when a film was made. Moreover, films are far more expensive to make than screenplays are to write. Because of this, we've decided that you must be a student at the time of your screenplay submission in order to receive the student discount. Please remember that the Boston Motion Picture Awards reserves the right to confirm your enrollment at the time of your submission.

10) When will the winners be announced?

The 2007 Winners are scheduled to be announced on November 15. If there is a high volume of entries, however, this date could be pushed back. After confirming each winner's identity (and enrollment in school, if applicable) prizes will be awarded.

Can't find what you're looking for? Please feel free to contact the BMPAs for answers to your questions.