The fifth annual Media That Matters Film Festival is a celebration of short films, videos, digital stories and new media that inspire people to speak out and take action for social change.

The sixteen winners of the film festival competition get a national (United States) distribution deal with MediaRights -
DVD, broadcast, Web streaming and community screenings. "This is an opportunity for a social, political or environmental work to reach millions and to make an impact." Topics include: food politics, criminal justice, elections, LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights, health advocacy, racial justice, human rights and more. This is a global competition.

Filmmakers will receive a portion of all VHS and DVD sales, and many official selections will receive USD $1,000 grants to be used for further outreach and distribution campaigns.

The Media That Matters Film Festival is a project of MediaRights, a nonprofit organisation that works to help media makers, educators, librarians, nonprofits, and activists use documentaries to encourage action and inspire dialogue on contemporary social issues.

Projects must be 8 minutes or shorter (If the piece is too long,
consider submitting a shorter cut or a standalone excerpt.)

• All genres welcome: documentary, narrative, experimental, comedy,
animation, PSA (public service announcement), digital story, music video, game, interactive online project, youth media.

There is a submission fee of USD $20 (students free).

The submission deadline is January 19 2005.

Click here for more information and to apply online.

Click here to read about previous award recipients.