What’s the big idea about energy? That’s what high school and college student filmmakers have shared with TXU Energy and the Dallas Film Society as part of the 4th Annual TXU Energy Light Up the Red Carpet Student Film Contest. Now it’s up to viewers to choose the ideas that could take home top honors. Between now and Dec. 14, online votes for the best short film concept will determine which students will work with industry mentors to finish creating their films and compete for the chance to walk down the red carpet and share roughly $35,000 in prizes.

Online voters can choose the high school and college film idea they like best via txu.com/studentfilmcontest. Participating filmmakers have been challenged to explore energy conservation, efficiency or management and to answer a simple question through their films: What does energy mean to you?

The top 10 high school and college student finalists will be posted to the contest site Dec. 17, the same day the contest opens to viewer suggestions on film ideas. At this point, viewers can win too: The contest will judge the viewers’ suggestions and award a $50 Visa prepaid card to those who post the best suggestions to enhance the finalist films via the contest website, up to three tips per finalist film. And, by the end of the contest, selected viewers who have shared enhancement ideas with the grand and first-prize winning filmmakers will be awarded an additional $100 Visa prepaid card.

The 20 students who win the chance to work with mentors will compete for the grand and first place prizes in the 2013 contest and will receive film editing software valued at roughly $300 to help complete their finished films by the contest deadline of Feb. 15. All other participants will have the chance to compete for the contest’s popular vote by submitting their finished films by the same date.

Winners will have the opportunity see their film on the big screen at the 2013 Dallas International Film Festival. This year, the grand prize of $7,500 goes to the top film in both the high school and college categories. First-place winners from each category will receive $3,000, and the films from each category that receive the most online votes will win the community choice prize and $1,000. Prizes will be split evenly between the winning students and their schools’ audiovisual departments.

Full details about the contest, including the official rules and a brief video overview can be found at txu.com/studentfilmcontest.

KEY DATES FOR STUDENT FILMMAKERS

About TXU Energy
TXU Energy is a market-leading competitive retail electricity provider, powering the lives of more Texans than any other retailer. TXU Energy offers a variety of innovative products and solutions, allowing both its residential and business customers to choose options that best meet their needs, including exceptional customer service, competitively priced electricity service plans, innovative energy efficiency options, renewable energy programs and other electricity-related products and services. Visit txu.com for more information about TXU Energy. REP #10004. 

About the Dallas Film Society
The Dallas Film Society celebrates films and their impact on society. A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the Dallas Film Society recognizes and honors filmmakers for their achievements in enhancing the creative community, provides educational programs to students to develop better understanding of the role of film in today's world, and promotes the City of Dallas and its commitment to the art of filmmaking. In addition to producing one of the largest festivals in the Southwest, the Society produces numerous year round events, screening series and partnership programs with arts organizations around the city. For more information, call (214) 720-0555, or visit dallasfilm.org.