The top twelve finalists of Project Earth Doc Challenge have been announced! The challenge, which is hosted by AudAwards in partnership with Fusion, centered on creating a short documentary tied to an assigned environmental theme and specific topic. Filmmakers from around the world were invited to register and participate.
The top 12 finalists will screen on the FUSION TV network and its online/mobile distribution channels, which reaches 40 million households in the U.S. They will also premiere at and the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF), in March 2017, and DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary festival (Nov. 10-17, 2016), where the Jury Award winners will be announced, selected by the industry jury and FUSION management. Finalists will also be recognized during the festival for Doc Challenge Honorable Mention, Best Directing, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Use of Genre and Best Score. There will be additional screenings of the top 12 finalist films including The International Audience Awards Film Festival at the Laemmlee Theater in North Hollywood, April 1 – 3, 2017 and at The International Wildlife Film Festival in Missoula, Montana, Spring 2017.
JURY AWARDS
Doc Challenge Award: $2500
FUSION Award: $3,000 + $3,000 donation to a green non profit + a Filmstro soundtrack license for movie up to $1M budget worth $1999
AUDIENCE AWARDS
1st Place Audience Award: $1000 + a Filmstro soundtrack license for movie up to $1M budget worth $1999
2nd Place Audience Award: $700
3rd Place Audience Award: $300
FilmStro offers the world’s first soundtrack creation studio. Score your film and make a masterpiece! In addition to the prize money, the first place audience award and jury selection each won a FilmStro soundtrack license, worth $1,999, for movies with a $1M budget or less.
And without further ado, here is the top 12 finalists of Project Earth Doc Challenge!
Team Name |
Film Name |
Director Name |
| Team BLTT | Novelty of Climate Change | Tommy Tang |
| PNW Salmon Squad | Pacific Salmon | Charles Johnson, Ben Jensen and Anthony Whitfield |
| Twisted Hat Creations | Riverland | Michael Paradise |
| Kaandid Films | The Larger Net | David Orr and Kate Webber |
| Kodama Productions | FILTER FEEDERS | Rory Moon and Amy Zhang |
| Sandcastle Films | The Big Oyster | Colleen Cassingham and Roberto Drilea |
| just. Studios | Buzzkill | Ian Frank and Justin Simpkins |
| A&A | Sink or Swim | Antony Alvarez and Andy Flores |
| Vision Group | Southwest Perspectives- Water | Nathan Hill |
| Chase a cloud | The Bulgarian Solution | Stani Milev |
| Heart of a Grizzly | Heart of a Grizzly | Deny Staggs |
| Diving Solo | Stonefly | Alexander Finden |
The industry jury panelists are:
Maryanne Culpepper is the former president of National Geographic and now works as Executive Director of the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital. She is an award winning documentary and nonfiction series writer and filmmaker.
John Bredar is WGBH’s Vice President from National Programming. Bredar spent 26 years as senior executive Producer at National Geographic Specials and has produced 25 documentary films.
Dennis Aig has produced/directed documentary and dramatic productions for the Walt Disney Company, National Geographic Television, PBS, Lifetime Television, the Outside Channel, the History, Channel, and the Independent Television Service. Aig is the current Interim Director of the School of Film and Photography at Montana State University.
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