The Louisiana Film Prize announced the kickoff for its 2013 contest Jan. 9 at the Robinson Film Center. Through the prize, filmmakers from all over are challenged to shoot a short film that must be filmed in the Shreveport-Bossier City area. The winner receives $50,000. New to the festival is the opportunity for the top five films to be screened at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Hundreds of people participated in last year’s event. Gregory Kallenberg, executive director of the Louisiana Film Prize, said he has had calls from as far as Los Angeles. Twenty films are selected as finalists to be screened during the weekend-long festival held in October. The winner is chosen by both audience vote and a panel of expert judges. New to this year’s contest are three additional Founder’s Circle grants. Five grants are awarded to finalists at the Louisiana Film Prize Awards Brunch the last day of the event. The grants reimburse the filmmakers up to $3,000 for expenses incurred for the following year’s festival.

– Mark Crawford

James Nimmers, Greg Washington, Luke Sexton

Brandie Brocato, Stefan Poole

Kevin Smith, Darin Smith

Andrea “Mona” Bowman, Ricky Lattimore, O.J. Thomas, Jevon “Super Man” Miller, Tralicia Allen, Thaddeus Pugh

Vernae Ewing, Katie and Todd Walker, Brecia Ewing