One Frame at a Time
If you are a fan of Wallace and Gromit films or have fond memories of Gumby and Pokey you know that these animations are done in the technique of stop-motion photography.

If you are a budding film student or fan of this method of movie making here’s your chance to show off your talent in Zeigeist Films’ Stop-Motion Animation Contest.

What the Contest Is About
This competition is seeking entries that are done in stop-motion animation. The film should be no longer than three minutes in length. The theme of the work is “panic.”

The Judging
Although the technical merits of the entries will be a factor, more importantly, the pieces will be judged upon their entertainment value and originality. The judges of the contest will select their top 10 favorites from all submissions received.

The Prizes
The winning film will be included in the US edition of “A Town Called Panic” DVD which is scheduled for release sometime in 2010. The winner will also receive 5 copies of the DVD. Nine-runners up winners will receive one copy of the DVD plus a movie poster. Winning entries will also be featured on the “A Town Called Panic” YouTube channel.

Tips on Making the Film
The contest sponsors have provided two links for those who want tips on how to produce stop-motion animation. These instructions can be accessed by clicking here and here.

The finished animation must be in .mov, .mp4, .wmv, or .avi format and should not be larger than 100MB in file size. Entries can be submitted via disc or uploaded to the contest site. Retain the original files for your animation as the winning entry will be included in the “A Town Called Panic” DVD.

Guidelines and Other Info
Submissions should be in the style and flavor of the stop-motion animation film A Town Called Panic. The theme of “panic” is open for interpretation but should be a key element in the subject matter of the film.

All work must be original and must not have been part of any other film festival, television presentation, or DVD. The contest is exclusively open to residents of the USA.

The deadline for this contest is March 1, 2010. The complete rules to the contest can be seen by clicking here.