If it’s January, most people’s film festival thoughts run to Sundance and it’s various knockoffs playing concurrently in Park City this month. But, January means we’re gearing up for the underground film festival season, which pretty much runs from the end of March in New York and Boston and ends in October in Lausanne. At least, that’s how it’s been running the past two years I’ve been keeping track. So, over the next several days I’ll be posting various “call for entries” posts for this year’s events. Of course, I could throw them all up tonight, but where’s the fun in that?

So, let’s start off way up north in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada with the Antimatter Underground Film Festival, which will celebrate it’s 11th year in business. Antimatter has also been an interesting fest because it’s, as far as I can tell, the most massive shorts-only underground fest of them all, running nine full nights. This year the fest will run Sept. 19-27.

However, now that they’re entering their tween years, Antimatter is getting a little cheeky and breaking out of the shorts-only game. Busting out of their previous under-30 minutes rule, this year Antimatter is imposing no time limit constraints. Have a 10-hour opus? Send it on in! Plus, no need to classify your film to enter. They’re also completely doing away with categories this year. Here are the entry dates:

EARLY DEADLINE:
April 16, 2008
FEE: $15

FINAL DEADLINE:
May 30, 2008
FEE: $25
(Note: Entries must be RECEIVED by the deadline dates.)

And if you’re wondering what they’re looking for, here’s Antimatter’s extensive manifesto.

Antimatter exists to provide a public platform for underground productions of film and video—imaginative, volatile, entertaining and critical works that exist outside of the mainstream. It is a forum for innovative and radical ideas overlooked or marginalized by contemporary culture.

Antimatter is a noncompetitive series of screenings chosen by jury/curatorial committee.

Antimatter is the neutral ground designed to support the independent/individual voice regardless of the subversive or dangerous nature of its content, stylistic concerns or commercial viability.

Antimatter is dedicated to film and video as art. It is anti-Hollywood and anti-censorship. Antimatter is a laboratory for audience development and education, exhibiting works in alternative venues, outside of the traditional black box of the cinema.

Antimatter is dedicated to producing quality documentation/interpretive materials for print and internet dissemination locally, nationally and internationally.

Antimatter screenings are presented to the public for nominal charge.

For more info and submission forms, please visit the official Antimatter Underground Film Festival website.