Attention Female Pilots! The Boston Drone Film Festival Wants Your Drone Footage
Image Credit: Wix Stock Library
Film festivals have been an integral part of art and culture for decades. They give artists a platform to show their work and give audience members the chance to witness the works of small creators. Many videographers have realized the creative potential that drones hold, and for them, companies and organizations have worked together to bring about drone film festivals.
Drone film festivals have been cropping up all over the world, and if you’re in the Boston, MA area this Fall, you’ll finally have the chance to be a part of their first-ever drone film festival. The Boston Drone Film Festival was founded by members of the film and photography studio Above Summit. Above Summit was co-founded by Jovan Tanasijevic and Emilie Pickering, who are also serving as Director and Creative Director in the BOSDFF crew.
The festival coordinators have been mindful about including women of various expertise in the involvement of the event. Festival Manager Julia Curiale states that BOSDFF has “several very talented women on board.” Namely, they have enlisted Loretta Alkaly who, after working 30 years at the FAA and retiring, is currently working as an independent aviation attorney and associate professor at Vaughn College for Aeronautics.
BOSDFF is also working with members of women-focused organizations. Women Who Drone Ambassador Kara Murphy will be teaching a workshop at the festival and our CEO Elena Buenrostro will be serving as one of the festival jury members. Members of Women in Film and Video of New England and Sharon Rossmark of Women and Drones will also be present.
The festival will be held on Friday, November 15th and Saturday, November 16th, 2019. Day 1 will be the film screening and reception along with the presentation of awards and giveaways. On Day 2, attendees will have opportunities to network and learn from a drone industry professional at Red Sky Studios as well as attend panel discussions, workshops, and demonstrations.
BOSDFF features 14 categories which require all films submitted to contain 50% drone footage and all photos must be shot with a drone :
Landscape | Student Film
Documentary | Freestyle FPV
Showreel | Cinematic FPV
SportsArchitecture | Photography
Urban | Nature Photography
Single Take | 360 Photography
Film Editing | 360 Video
With support from brands such as Autel Robotics, Anker Power, LensProToGo, Team BlackSheep, Boris FX, Insta360 and Pelican Case, category winners will win prizes like an Autel EVO Drone, a Lens Pro To Go Gift Certificate, an Anker Innovations Soundcore Boost Speaker, and more of their newest products!
And the most exciting part? The grand prize is a 10-day all gear & travel inclusive adventure backed by the event’s exclusive Platinum Sponsors. The trip will traverse through the southwest US and include a hot air balloon ride, white water rafting through the Grand Canyon, mountain biking, surfing, and hands-on experience with FPV and drones.
The submission deadline is Monday, October 7th, 2019, and the festival is open to International drone pilots of any experience level. Nominated films will be screened at WGBH, a PBS member television station licensed to Boston, Massachusetts, which will be followed by an awards ceremony. You can submit your work HERE. You can purchase tickets NOW through Eventbrite or through their website under "Event Tickets".
The Schedule:
11/15/2019 - 5pm-10pm / SCREENING + AWARDS @ Yawkey Theater WGBH
Film Screening and Reception
Awards and Giveaways
11/16/2019 - 10am-7pm / DRONE CAMP @ Red Sky Studios
3 Panel Discussions + Networking Opportunities
8 Workshops + 2 Demonstrations
I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron
