
FORT SMITH, Ark.– The Fort Smith International Film Festival, Ozark Media Arts Festival and Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission will host a statewide video contest for high school students (grades 9-12) to create a 30-second video commercial. The contest will run until Sept. 24 and winners will be announced Oct. 5 at the Ozark Media Arts Festival in Springdale. There is no fee to enter the contest.
Students should focus their video on the Keep Arkansas Beautiful mission of inspiring individuals to improve their communities by educating, preventing litter, promoting recycling, and keeping Arkansas beautiful. Videos must be submitted to Ozark Media Arts Festival on FilmFreeway at https://filmfreeway.com/OMAF.
“The Keep Arkansas Beautiful staff work with educators around the state to teach the children of Arkansas the importance of a clean, green, and beautiful Arkansas. We strive to inspire and encourage children and adults in Arkansas to do their part to help keep Arkansas beautiful,” Michael Barger, Keep Arkansas Beautiful education coordinator, said.
The winning student commercial will be featured on various television channels and showcased at the Ozark Media Arts Festival. The teacher of the winning student(s) will receive one free two-night stay for two people at an Arkansas State Parks lodge of their choosing (based on availability at the time of reservation). If the winner does not have a teacher advisor associated with their project, then the winner can nominate a teacher for the Arkansas State Parks lodge prize.
“These young filmmakers are our future,” Brandon Chase Goldsmith, Fort Smith International Film Festival executive director said. “I cannot wait to see what students across Arkansas create.”
The Ozark Media Arts Festival returns on Oct. 4 and 5 for its 13th year in downtown Springdale. As a student festival, it provides an opportunity for local and regional students from middle school to high school to showcase their work, compete, and gain exposure to the professional worlds of digital film, broadcast television, podcasting, photography, media marketing, and graphic design.