Texas Film Belt Project Rules

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Thank you for your interest in participating in the inaugural Texas Film Belt Project!

Here are the general eligibility requirements for the 2025 Texas Film Belt Project:

• Films must be shot entirely in Texas within 50 miles of Interstate 10 (the “I-10 Corridor”). (Post-production may be completed anywhere.)

• Interstate 10 itself must be featured in at least one scene. The highway or frontage road is acceptable. It might even be a shot looking out the window of a business onto the highway. Identifiers preferred but not required.

• Original narrative projects only. We will not consider remakes, sequels/prequels, fan fiction, or documentary productions.

• Film submissions should be no longer than ten (10) minutes, including credits. Shoot in 16:9 aspect ratio. MP4. Rating requirements are not set but films that include obscene material as defined in Section 43.21, Penal Code of Texas will be deemed ineligible. 

• Due to the potential for distribution of the winning films as an anthology, all films must be produced as non-union and the filmmaker must have written agreements with all cast and crew together with satisfactory location and music releases.

The submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. CT on Aug. 31, 2025.

The Top 12 Films will be selected by a panel of three judges based on the following criteria: 

Writing, Directing, Sound, Production, Acting and how they incorporate I-10 into the storyline.

A selection of films submitted will be screened on September 20, 2025 in Orange, Texas at the Jeff Hartman Center for the Performing Arts. The top 12 films will be announced at the end of the day in an awards ceremony.

In addition, the panel will award a special cash prize of $1,000 to the best film shot in Orange County, Texas. (Note: If no films are shot in Orange County, Texas, there will be no cash prize.)

The Top 12 Films will form a film block that will be screened at multiple locations along the I-10 Corridor.

We are also excited to offer an opportunity for junior filmmakers grades K-12 to compete! 

The eligibility requirements for the junior competition are the same as for the general competition except that submissions should be no longer than five (5) minutes, including credits.

The submission deadline for the junior competition is 11:59 p.m. CT on Aug. 31, 2025.

The Top 5 “Junior” Films will be selected by a panel of three judges based on the same criteria as the main competition: 

They will be announced on September 20, 2025 in Orange, Texas at the Jeff Hattman Center for the Performing Arts and may be included in the traveling film block in the judges’ sole discretion. There is no cash price for the junior competition.

For both competitions, the panel’s decision is final and may not be appealed.

IMPORTANT: If your film is selected for screening on September 20, 2025, you will be asked to sign an agreement authorizing the organizer to seek further distribution for your film, including potential commercial distribution as part of a Texas Film Belt Anthology. Therefore, it is imperative that you have all documentation required to prove chain-of-title to your film as well as necessary consents from all cast, crew, and any other elements of the film (e.g., music, artwork). You may also be asked to prepare additional deliverables such as a poster or trailer. Failure to supply the necessary documentation and/or deliverables will result in your film being dropped from the anthology.

For the avoidance of doubt, there is no guarantee of exhibition or commercial distribution of your film by submitting!