Interest stirred

Each week, Rick and I get emails from people who are enthusiastic about the upcoming festival, and they have suggestions or simply offering moral support.

It's very important to stress that the festival is for ANYONE who makes media -- be they students or corporate types.

Eligibility and requirements

Deadline for submissions is midnight, July 15, 2007.

Anyone of any age who is a current resident of Taos County is eligible to enter the “Local Genius: Taos Media Arts Festival.” Persons maintaining vacation, part-time, or temporary employment residence are not eligible.

For this first event, there will be no entry fee.

Works submitted for entry must have been completed between June 1, 2005 and June 1, 2007.

Entrant will be required to sign a statement that he or she owns copyright to all content -- music, images and sound -- contained in their production.

Productions may originate on film, video or digital media. However, all entries must be submitted on DVD or VHS tape. If selected, the production must be provided to the festival on DVD, ready for screening.

Entries will be subject to a jury process within one week of the deadline for submissions.

Selections will be announced to media-makers by Aug. 1, 2007. All decisions are final and are not subject to appeal. Screenings will take place Friday, Aug. 17, 2007, at the Taos Community Auditorium.

Since this is the first year of this endeavor, there will be no festival awards presented. However, if the number of entries and audience interest is warranted, there may be a “People’s Choice” selection made by polling the audience.

“Local Genius” DVD

Following the festival screening, all selected productions will be compiled into a special collector’s edition DVD titled “Local Genius: Taos Media Arts Festival 2007.” No more than 500 copies will be made of this production. A portion of the proceeds will be given to a local charity, with the rest applied to festival expenses, and toward the possibility of making this an event occurring every two years.

Mission Statement for the festival

Local Genius: Taos Media Arts Festival exists to provide a venue for Taos County electronic media makers. In doing so, it seeks to encourage informed, conscientious and responsible communication for, by and about Taos and its multicultural citizens.

Finally, a festival for, by and about the people of Taos County.

Local Genius Media Arts Festival

August 17, 2007

Taos Community Auditorium

A juried showcase for short digital media:

features
documentaries
animation
music videos
Web or Flash-based animation

Any Taos County, full-time resident is eligible to enter, regardless of age. Entries must be created between June 1, 2005 and June 1, 2007.

Announcing Local Genius -- Taos Media Arts Festival

Announcing the advent of "Local Genius -- Taos Media Arts Festival," a TaosExperience.com presentation.