The Flying Robot international Film Festival, the drone film festival I started 3 years ago, returns to the historic Roxie Theater in San Francisco on November 16th. This event is always a culmination of a ton of work and passion, and that includes all the submitting filmmakers. We’re looking at a sold out show and several participating filmmakers coming in from out of town. I’m super stoked to see the audience reaction to several of the films that made the cut. My long time friend and collaborator, Ryan Junell, outdid himself on the title animation sequence, which I’ll post after the festival. So much to love about this year!
I am excited to announce that the second annual Flying Robot international Film Festival is now accepting submissions for the 2016 festival. Drone filmmakers, builders and racers of every stripe are encouraged to submit their short films in the world’s premiere international drone film festival. There are 8 categories this year: Epic Landscape, Cinematic Narrative, Drones For Good, I Made That!, Promotional, FPV Racing/Aerial Sports, WTF LOL and Student Film. Something for everyone.
Our 2015 inaugural festival attracted 153 submissions across 7 categories representing 35 countries. We awarded over $10,000 in cash and prizes to winning films in all categories. We are doing the same this year.
Submissions deadline is September 15th, so there’s plenty of time to get your drone masterpiece in! Check the FRiFF site for all the details.
The inaugural Flying Robot international Film Festival took place last night at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco. As the festival director, I couldn’t be more pleased. We received 153 submissions representing 35 countries across 7 categories. We gave away over $10,000 in cash and prizes and we sold out our first screening. We had a number of awesome sponsors participating who donated drones and drone related prizes. A huge THANK YOU to all the filmmakers who submitted, the sponsors who donated, the volunteers who toiled away to make all the events a success and of course, everyone who showed up to be a part of history. This was historic and we certainly plan on being back next year.
Without further ado, here is the complete list of winning films and runner-ups as decided by the FRiFF panel of 15 judges. We will be in contact with all the winners about their prizes shortly.
Best in Show: All Away – Colin Solal Cardo
Cinematic Postcard
Running into the Air – Sebastian Wöber
I recently opened the doors on a new project I’ve been working on. FRiFF or the Flying Robot international Film Festival is a film festival focused on short form cinema created from the perspective of flying cameras. You know, drones.
The Flying Robot International Film Festival takes off.
I had the idea for a drone film festival after witnessing the rise of so much epic aerial filmmaking over the past few years. Now that consumer camera drones are readily available and fairly inexpensive, we’re seeing a huge uptick in aerial cinema on YouTube and Vimeo. I want to highlight the best stuff out there and really encourage filmmakers to take it to the next level.
There are six categories of films that we are accepting submissions for. Breathtaking aerial cinematography of exotic landscapes and sunsets will always be mesmerizing. Combine that with a decent story and you’re a good candidate for the Cinematic category.
In the Drones for Good category, we will highlight projects that use drones for the betterment of humanity. There are a growing number of examples of drones being used for good, such as the Syrian Airlift Project, which sends drones over the border to war-torn Syria to drop off medical supplies. Conservation Drones use fixed-wing drones to protect forests and monitor endangered wildlife.
A flying camera drone at an abandoned NSA listening post in Berlin.
Aerial sports is an area that’s really taken the world by storm. FPV racing and aerial head-to-head drone dogfighting films will do well in the Aerial Sports category. The Aerial Sports League and the US Drone National Championships are two organizations that have brought in large numbers of participants and spectators. Just watching an FPV race from the perspective of a racer quad is mind blowing.
I Made That! is a natural category as there are many maker dads and hacker pilots building their own flying robotic contraptions. Films that depict these creative works are very welcome.
WTF LOL is meant to highlight the hilarious and the ridiculous. It’s one of those things that you know when you see it.
Student Films, because our kids are our future. This category is free to enter until the regular deadline (the other categories are $5-10 per entry).
Winners in all six categories as well as a “best in show” winner, as determined by our panel of esteemed judges, will receive valuable prizes in the form of flying robots, cameras and accessories. The festival will culminate in screenings and an awards ceremony in early November in San Francisco.
If you’ve been making drone videos or just starting out, I highly encourage you to submit your best work and maybe you’ll fly away with a new robotic friend.
