Washington, DC’s pop culture convention – Awesome Con (awesome-con.com) – brings its annual Short Film Festival online for the first time beginning tomorrow. Fans from around the world can watch over 10 hours of free screenings spanning science-fiction, action, horror, documentary, comedy, and drama, from both independent filmmakers and Hollywood professionals. The lineup includes works from and featuring Rider Strong and Shiloh Strong, Ted Raimi, Larisa Oleynik, James Van Der Beek, Diablo Cody, Hailee Steinfeld, and J. K. Simmons.
Awesome Con traditionally welcomes 70,000 fans to Washington, DC each year, but like most events in 2020, its physical edition could not take place because of coronavirus. Instead, the event presented an online edition earlier this year. And now, to wrap up 2020, Awesome Con brings one of its most popular features online for the first time too – the Awesome Con Short Film Festival.
Launched five years ago by Awesome Con in collaboration with Astray Productions, the event sought to shine a spotlight on Mid-Atlantic filmmakers and celebrate them in front of DC’s largest gathering of film and popular culture fans. Quickly growing to welcome filmmakers from around the world, the Awesome Con Short Film Festival blends the high-brow prestige of the film festival world with the excitement of a pop culture convention enjoyed by all ages, and Awesome Con and Astray Productions will present the largest Awesome Con Short Film Festival online from December 9 – 13 this year.
“This year’s Awesome Con Short Film Festival saw over 3,000 submissions from around the world,” said Astray Productions founder and Awesome Con Short Film Festival organizer Joe Carabeo. “It was a tremendously challenging process to draw all our submissions down into a week of events, and I know this year’s fest is our biggest and strongest yet!”
The Awesome Con Short Film Festival schedule, including film synopses and filmmaker biographies can be found at awesome-con.com/acshortfilmfest.
Opening Night – Wednesday, Dec 9 at 8 PM Eastern
Hosted by actress Megan Caulfield. Film Festival overview, trailers, and interviews.
Sci-Fi, Action & Horror – Thursday, Dec 10 at 8 PM Eastern
Over three hours of short films and filmmaker interviews.
Comedy & Drama – Friday, Dec 11 at 8 PM Eastern
Over three hours of short films and filmmaker interviews including the World Premiere of Joe Carabeo’s newest film, DELETE.
Docs & Awesome Films – Saturday, Dec 12 at 8 PM Eastern
Over three hours of short films and filmmaker interviews.
Full Festival Marathon – Sunday, Dec 13 at 12 PM Eastern
Enjoy all the festival’s films presented in an all-day matinee.
Closing Night – Sunday, Dec 13 at 8 PM Eastern
Hosted by actress Megan Caulfield. Award presentations and winner screenings.
Fans can watch all of the Awesome Con Short Film Festival’s films for free at Awesome Con’s Facebook page – facebook.com/AwesomeConDC. All of this year’s films will be available to view globally through Sunday, December 20, 2020.
As another first, in addition to juried Best Cinematography and Best in Show awards, the Awesome Con Short Film Festival will present its inaugural Audience Award, with fans encouraged to vote for their favorite of the festival’s entries. All awards will be announced on Sunday, December 13.
Entries will open soon for the 2021 edition of the Awesome Con Short Film Festival, returning to take place in person again in Washington, DC at the next Awesome Con – Friday, August 20 – Sunday, August 22, 2021.
For more information, please visit the Awesome Con Short Film Festival website and follow the event on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
About The Author
