Santa Anita Park in California and HRTV are sponsoring a first-ever non-fiction documentary competition entitled “A Day at the Races,” which will be open to film students and filmmakers wishing to make a five-minute or less Santa-Anita based film.
“A Day at the Races” entries will be judged by a panel of racing and entertainment professionals and will offer a first prize of $10,000, a second prize of $5,000, and a third prize of $3,000. An additional $10,000 first prize will be awarded to the winner through an online poll.
Application entries will be accepted beginning Jan. 20, with the first day of shooting scheduled for Feb. 9. Shooting will continue through March 25 and all film submissions will be due no later than March 28, with winners to be announced on Santa Anita’s closing day, April 22.
“We’re very excited to be partnering with Santa Anita to initiate this project,” said HRTV President Scott Daruty. “Dating back to its opening in 1934, Santa Anita has been synonymous with great film production.
“The movie Seabiscuit was filmed almost entirely at Santa Anita in 2003 and it was a huge hit. We’re now about to roll out HBO’s dramatic series LUCK (on Jan. 29). We think there’s going to be a great deal of interest in this first-ever film festival.”
There is a general entry fee of $200 and students may enter for $50 with valid student identification by February 15. Those entering after that date may do so for $250 and $75, respectively.
“This project is going to enable us to reach a group of highly creative people who are anxious to help us tell our story,” said Chris Quinn, Santa Anita’s vice president of sales and marketing. “It’s exciting to think about aspiring film makers at a number of local colleges and universities, as well as a wide range of independent filmmakers, converging on Santa Anita to produce a short-subject film of this nature. It should be a lot of fun.”
Each entrant will be given two film festival credentials which will allow shooting access to all public area at Santa Anita. Additionally, each entrant will be given 10 Club House passes good for admission throughout Santa Anita’s winter/spring meeting.
Final submissions should be made to www.hrtv.com. All entries must be made in person at Santa Anita. Credentials must also be picked up and payment made in person at Santa Anita.
For more information and to submit finished projects, visit www.santaanitalive.com.