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

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Lights. Camera. Help. FestivalSubmissions are now open for the fourth annual Lights. Camera. Help. Film Festival, which will take place September 12 - 15, 2012 at the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum. This cause-driven nonprofit film festival does not charge a fee to submit a film prior to June 15 -- after that a $20 fee applies, but note that all proceeds from ticket sales go directly to the prize winners.

Filmmakers and nonprofits have until June 30 to participate. This year the festival expects to award over $5,000 to the causes represented by the winning films in three categories: best PSA (up to 3 minutes), best short film (3-29 minutes) and best feature (30 minutes and up).

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, and filmmakers are strongly encouraged to focus on storytelling rather than straight PSAs. Details on the submission process are available on the Lights. Camera. Help. Nonprofit Film Festival entry submission page. All films must be received in the Lights. Camera. Help. office by June 30, 2012.

To help promote this year's festival, LCH created a short promotional video. LCH co-founder Aaron Bramley stated in a press release, "The video helps us demonstrate the types of films we're looking for. We love films that not only look and sound great but also appeal to viewers in a way that compels them to want to help make the world a better place." Watch the inspirational video below:

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 well as the 2010 film finalists. Watch the 2011 PSA Winner Meet the Digits below, an amusing and engaging film about an ordinary family needing the support of the Ronald McDonald House Austin while their daughter Lucy undergoes medical care.

If you want to attend the fest, film passes will go on sale in late May. Check here or at the Lights. Camera. Help. web page for updates.