The Howcast Emerging Filmmakers Program launched its first contest today — the How-To Video Challenge! It’s a call for filmmakers, web video artists, and inventors to show off their coolest, baddest, flat-out flyest how-to videos. We’re counting on some exciting creative approaches to the how-to format….maybe a new shooting, editing or animation technique; a household hack or tech mod we never heard of; or even a short film that subtly weaves in a how-to lesson.

We lined up a top-notch panel of judges to select our winners including, Peter Baxter, Slamdance Film Festival; Jeff Cooperman, The Colbert Report; Katherine Sharpe, ReadyMade Magazine; Tim Sullivan, Magical Elves (Project Runway, Top Chef). I think finalists will be thrilled to have their work judged by these industry pros, but that’s just the icing on the cake, because our first prize winner will score $2000 and promotion across online, mobile and off-line platforms. (Second and third prize winners will also take home some nice booty — 2nd prize is a Sony Webbie HD camera with accessories and 3rd prize is a Nano and Apple Store gift certificate.)

The contest is the perfect opportunity for us to reward the creativity of the filmmakers we work with and to challenge a whole new community of film and video makers and DIYers. Reinventing the how-to video is a fantastic assignment for these creative folks and we can’t wait to see what they dream up. When we say we want our socks knocked off, we really mean it.

Important Dates:
Entry Deadline: July 28
Voting Period: July 29 - August 10
Winners Announced: August 20

Good luck and happy shooting,
Heather
Managing Producer, Emerging Filmmakers Program