The annual search is on again for the best young Kiwi filmmakers in New Zealand, with submissions now open for the 2023 International Youth Silent Film Festival – IYSFF - New Zealand Nationals.

There're many ways to make films these days, multiple platforms to upload them to, and countless video rabbit holes to go down.

So, what makes the IYSFF NZ competition unique?

Not only do young filmmakers have the chance to see their films on the big screen in both New Zealand and the United States; they can also win awards and cash prizes too.

This year there are prizes for the top three placed films plus seven ‘Best Of' category awards to be won. In addition, the top two Kiwi films will go on to represent the country at the annual IYSFF Global Awards in Portland, Oregon, USA, in 2024.

This annual global competition challenges filmmakers to create a three-minute silent film set to one of 10 musical scores composed specifically for the festival. The music and the visuals work hand-in-hand to take viewers on an epic journey, while freeing filmmakers from the pressure of trying to record audio.

This year the IYSFF competition has increased the age limit to 22, as of April 15, 2023, allowing more creative minds than ever before to enter this unique festival.

The competition reaches across the globe from the USA, Europe, and The United Arab Emirates through to Australia, and New Zealand.

Submissions for the 2023 competition close at 11.59pm on Friday September 1. For more information or to enter the NZ Nationals, visit the IYSSF's global website at http://www.makesilentfilm.com

On Thursday November 2 the top 10 finalists will be screened at the NZ National Awards Final at the home of the IYSFF in New Zealand – Baycourt Community & Arts Centre in Tauranga.

'Experiencing the NZ National Awards evening for the first time in 2022 helped cement for me what an incredible opportunity this competition provides for young Kiwi creatives. The IYSFF is an important date in our annual Baycourt programme and we're delighted to continue our support into its eighth year and beyond,” says Baycourt Manager Reena Snook.

Since the IYSFF made its New Zealand debut at Baycourt in 2016, four Kiwi films have gone on to win higher honours at the Global Awards. This includes The Climb and Overexposed, both bringing home first place awards in 2022 and 2019 respectively, The Chase winning second place in 2018, and A Random Act of Kindness taking out third place in 2019.

Representing New Zealand at this year's Global Awards will be NZ Nationals 2022 winner Crash by 12-year-old Ben Young and second place winner The Unusual Suspects by Sveta Hackett and Emma Wagner, both aged 17. All three filmmakers hail from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

The IYSFF NZ Nationals 2023 is again delivered with generous support from major media partner The Breeze Tauranga 95.8FM. Local breakfast show hosts Jolene James and Max Baird say, "we love supporting this amazing event – the creativity and talent of young film makers blows us away every year.”

For rules, soundtracks, or to make a submission visit www.makesilentfilm.com. To find out more about NZ Nationals visit www.baycourt.co.nz/youth/iysff-nz-nationals

IYSFF NZ 2023 Poster Competition

Great movies have equally great posters, so if you're entering this year's competition why not have a go at creating a poster for your film?

The IYSFF NZ Poster Competition gives filmmakers, graphic designers and any keen artists a chance to flex their creativity by designing a poster that captures and distils the essence of their films in one image.

'You've heard the saying, ‘a picture is worth a 1000 words', and that's true so true for movie posters,” says IYSFF NZ coordinator Jannine Spiers.

'A movie poster is there to summarize the film in one image to help draw attention towards the upcoming flick and generate some hype.”

To enter the IYSFF NZ Film Poster Competition, designs need to be A3 size, feature the film's title and director, and include the IYSFF official logo which will be supplied to entrants upon request.

Submissions for the IYSFF NZ Poster Competition will close this year at 11.59pm on Saturday October 1. To enter, please email your poster in digital format to iysff@tauranga.govt.nz.