Bison Bison Film Festival is accepting submissions

The Bison Bison Film Festival is giving student filmmakers a chance to put their movie on the big screen. If you have a movie ready you can submit it now at BisonBisonFilmFestival.com If you don’t have a movie ready, there’s still time. The early bird deadline is Dec.16, then the regular deadline is Jan. 31. Early birds submission fee is $10 and the regular fee is $25. Christina Rich-Splawn, who is on the board said you have to be attending an accredited film or broadcasting school in south Kansas or anywhere in Oklahoma.

“The most important thing is it’s students competing against students and students interacting with students," Rich-Splawn said. "It’s an educational aspect, and most of those students don’t get to see their film on the big screen, they see it on the computer and it blows their mind when they see it on the big screen.”

Another educational aspect is the workshops offered the day of the festival. There will be two open forums workshops, one with the judges and another with the Oklahoma Film and Music Office. Then two concurrent workshops about writing press releases and costuming. Rich-Splawn said the top films will hit the Poncan screen March 28.

" We have four top awards," Rich-Splawn said. "Three of them are awards of excellence and $1,000 each, and then there will be a special Ponca City award of $500 for any film that is filmed 50 percent in Ponca City."

The number of top films varies depending on the length of the selected films. Submitted films can be up to 30 minutes and they will show as many as they can in an two and half hour slot. Last year they were able to show 10, but if the top films are all 30 minutes there could only be four or five.

You also have a chance to support this festival this week. The Rocky Horror Picture Show, showing at The Poncan this weekend benefits the festival.