Nonprofits: Submit Your Films to Lights. Camera. Help. Fest

Local film nonprofit organization Lights. Camera. Help. is currently accepting submissions for their 2010 film festival, which will take place from July 29 to August 2. Filmmakers and nonprofits still have plenty of time to participate. The film festival does not charge a fee to submit a film, and all proceeds from ticket sales go directly to the prize winners.

Any film that heavily features a cause is eligible to submit to the Lights. Camera. Help. Nonprofit Film Festival, including films by or about nonprofit, non-governmental and/or grassroots organizations. Dramatic, documentary, experimental, and animation films are all welcome. Details on the submission process are available on the Lights. Camera. Help. Nonprofit Film Festival web page. All films must be received in the Lights. Camera. Help. office by June 30, 2010. The fest awards cash prizes for best feature film, best short film and the best public service announcement (PSA). 

If you want to attend the fest, film passes will go on sale starting on May 24. Early submissions include works from Global Voice Productions, Best Friends Animal Society, One Story Productions, ChannelAustin, Scottish Rite Learning Center and others. One of the feature-length films submitted is The Ancient Astronomers of Timbuktu, supporting history preservation in that region -- see the promo video here.

The first Lights. Camera. Help. Film Festival, held in 2009, received over 140 documentaries, PSAs and short films, with 20 finalists selected for the special screening. Check out my coverage of the 2009 closing party and awards ceremony.

As a supporter of humanitarian causes, I'm amazed to see what's become of an Ugandan filmmaking adventure of three young California filmmakers seven years ago. After creating the documentary Invisible Children: Rough Cut, a film that exposed the tragic realities of northern Ugandan night commuters and child soldiers, Invisible Children is now an international nonprofit organization that implements cutting edge programs in Uganda. From rebuilding schools to providing scholarships to savings and loans initiatives, their programs are primarly funded by proceeds received from their film tours and donors. If you missed the Invisible Children: Legacy Tour at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar last month, you will be able to see one of their short films, Red is for Emmy, at this year's Lights. Camera. Help. film fest.

View the trailer for Red is for Emmy -- but be sure to have a tissue handy!