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Call For Submissions: Win $25,000 For Your Film!

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BET and the Black AIDS Institute in association with the Kaiser Family Foundation and the YWCA are sponsoring the Rap-It-Up/Black AIDS Short Subject (RIU/BASS) Film competition as part of the Rap-It-Up AIDS Awareness campaign to highlight the issue of AIDS and HIV infection within Black communities.

The RIYU/BASS Film Competition (The Competition) and its partners in this endeavor encourage all creative individuals to submit screenplays, treatments, or story outlines for a short film up to a maximum length of 25 minutes that highlights the issue of AIDS, HIV infection prevention, or the effect of AIDS on individuals and families in the African American, Afro-Caribbean, and/or Afro-Latin communities in the United States. Those interested are encouraged to use their creativity to evoke a 'fresh' and culturally unique angle on these issues in a way that will resonate with our community. The winning films will be shot on the Digital Video (DV) format.

Ten (10) finalists and one (1) winner will be selected from the pool of submissions and The Competition will contribute up to $25,000 toward the production of the winning short films. The winner(s) will be announced August 8, 2005. The winning short films will be shot, edited and completed no later than November 11, 2005, and will air on or around December 1, 2005. The winning films will also be submitted to film festivals around the world.

The contest is open to members of all races and nationalities. However, all submission should focus on the issue of AIDS in the African American, Afro-Caribbean and/or Afro-Latin communities in the United States.

Selection/Advisory Committee
The Selection Committee made up of prominent members of the African American entertainment creative community and HIV/AIDS experts will select the winner(s) from a pool of ten (10) finalists.

Past Judges have included:

Danny Glover, (Actor)
Sheryl Lee Ralph (Actor)
Hill Harper, (Actor)
Lee Daniels Pproducer Monsters Ball, The Woodsman)
Paris Barclay (Director/Producer NYPD Blue, City of Angels, The West Wing, ER)
Shari Frilot (Programmer, Sundance Film Festival)
Gaylene Gould (Programmer, Toronto Film Festival’s Planet Africa Series)
Jeff Friday (Founder, ABFF/producer of One Week)
Nina Henderson Moore (BET - Executive VP News, Public Affairs and Program Acquisitions)
Phill Wilson (Executive Director, Black AIDS Institute)
Dr. Diana Williamson (Crossroads Medical)

A completed APPLICATION PACKAGE (one (1) one original and five (5) copies) with the required $75.00 entry fee must be received (not postmarked) on or before May 27, 2005. No exceptions will be made. As such, applicants are encouraged to submit their material well before the deadline. A discounted entry fee of $50.00 will be accepted for application packages received on or before May 2, 2005.

Application PackageRequired Documents:

1. Resume/Bio (two page max per person)
2. Two (2) 8 x 10 Black and white photos
3. “Statement of Purpose” indicating inspiration for wanting to be a part of this competition (1 page max.)
4. Screenplay (Documentary projects are not eligible) written by applicant. (30 page max.)
5. Brief summary of the story/screenplay submitted (1 page max.)
6. Completed Application and Application checklist
7. Signed Submission Agreement and Affidavit
8. Entry Fee, made payable to the Black AIDS Institute ($50.00, early deadline by May, 2 2005; $75.00 May 27, 2005 deadline)

Optional Documents:
1. List of any secured cast and/or crew that will be working on the project (While this is not required, it is strongly suggested for applicants that don’t have much experience in filmmaking. If you can demonstrate that the assistance of an ‘experienced crew’ is part of the project, this will help counteract a lack of filmmaking experience)
2. DVD of previous works, six (6) copies
Contact/Mailing Applications:

All Applications should be sent to (and any questions forwarded to):

RIU/BASS Film Competition
Attention: Tracy Taylor
Black AIDS Institute
1833 W. 8th Street, Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90057

Any questions regarding the application process can be forwarded to: BlackAIDSFilms.com or (877) 757-AIDS.

Suggested Themes:
The competition is particularly interested in films that explore the following themes.

Information. How does information or the lack there of impact the HIV prevention in Black communities? One of the driving forces of the spread of HIV in Black Communities is the lack of accurate information. Knowledge is a powerful weapon against HIV/AIDS.
Testing. What are the barriers to HIV testing in Black communities? The vast majority of African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans and Afro-Latinos who are in America infected with the AIDS virus don’t know it.
Treatment. What are HIV treatments and what prevents Blacks from seeking treatment for HIV? 70% of HIV positive people in America are not in proper treatment and care for HIV. AIDS is not the death sentence it once was. Early treatment can prolong life.
Community Involvement. How are African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans and Afro-Latinos responding to the AIDS crisis in America? AIDS is spreading through Black communities because not enough people from the community are involved in efforts to stop it.

Timeline

May 2, 2005: Deadline for Early Submissions
May 27, 2005: All submissions due
July 15, 2005: Finalists announced
August 8, 2005: Winner(s) announced
August 22, 2005: Meetings with finalists to outline their production timelines and to coordinate helping them with the resources they need.
September 1, 2005: Production on projects to begin
November 11, 2005: Films completed and ready for air.
December 1, 2005 (on or around): Films air on Black Entertainment Television