February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Festival founder Nicholas Mason says he receives only 10 to 12 Irish entries each year.
“Ireland is such a distinct country,” he said. “It has its own colors and its own sense of humor. That’s why it’s always great to have them.
“When you’ve got an Irish film in the festival, it’s usually a better festival. Irish filmmaking is brave, sometimes fearless. When it comes to casting, they nail it.”
The victorious short filmmaker will win the opportunity direct a feature film in the U.S., which will be produced and distributed by the festival team. If the winner comes from outside the U.S., the festival will help them to obtain the requisite 0-1 visa as part of the grand prize.
The categories for this year’s festival are: Best Film Award, Best Animation, Best Student Film, Best Documentary and Best Edited Film. Deadline for film entries is July 31. This year, the festival is also introducing a Best Screenplay competition for short film scripts. Deadline for screenplay entries is June 30. For more information, visit the Festival website at www.MSfilmfest.com.