What’s your love letter to Little Haiti?
About the Program
In an ongoing commitment to support Miami’s filmmaking ecosystem Oolite Arts is back for year two of Local Love Letters! This initiative will provide $5,000 to 10 filmmakers to create new short films featuring Little Haiti as the backdrop. While open format in terms of content, we’re challenging filmmakers to use their favorite spots in Little Haiti as the locations for their short films. The filmmakers will have up to two months to complete their films, which will screen at a community event later in 2023.
This program is generously co-funded by the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be a full-time Miami-Dade County resident
- Pitch a short film utilizing your favorite local Little Haiti spot, either as the subject or the backdrop
- Be at least 18 years of age, and a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
Application
- Applications are being accepted online and require the following:
- A logline of your short film (1-2 sentences)
- A brief summary of your short film’s story (100 words max)
- A description of how your short will look and feel (150 words max)
- An explanation of your ideal audience for the short (100 words max)
- A short bio or a CV (200 words max)
- A prior work sample (under 1 minute)
What is not included
Oolite Arts does not cover housing, travel, or visa costs for participating cast or crew.
If you have additional questions, please contact Danielle Bender via email at [email protected] and Hansel Porras Garcia at [email protected]
Apply
Applications open Feb. 14.
Contact
If you have questions, please contact Cinematic Arts Sr. Manager Danielle Bender at [email protected] or Executive Assistant Hansel Porras Garcia at [email protected]
FAQs
What is Local Love Letters?
In an ongoing commitment to support Miami’s short filmmaking ecosystem Oolite Arts is launching Local Love Letters, providing $5,000 to 10 filmmakers to create new short films featuring South Florida as the backdrop. While open format in terms of content, we’re challenging filmmakers to use their favorite spots in Little Haiti as the locations for their short films. Filmmakers will have 2 months to complete the film, which will go on to screen at a community event.
This program was generously co-funded by the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation.
When will applications for Local Love Letters be accepted?
Applications for Local Love Letters are open from February 14 – March 17, 2023.
Who is eligible to apply to Local Love Letters?
Applicants must be 18 years or older, Miami-Dade County residents and must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.
What are you looking for in applicants of Local Love Letters?
Local Love Letters is open to both experienced and amateur filmmakers, as well as film professionals. Applicants should have creative ideas to incorporate their favorite Little Haiti location into their film.
Can I pitch a short film that is unrelated to Little Haiti ?
Your short film does not need to be about or filmed entirely in Little Haiti. Local Love Letters encourages filmmakers to use their favorite location in Little Haiti as a location in your film.
I have already started working on a short film on this subject. Can I submit it?
You are eligible to submit a work in progress. However, all judging will be based on the application guidelines. The proposed short film must run between three and five minutes long.
Can I submit an animation? Or does it need to be filmed on Little Haiti?
Yes. You can submit a proposal for an animated short, as long as you are using your favorite spot on Little Haiti as a location depicted in your short.
Are filmmakers from Broward or Monroe counties eligible to apply?
No. Local Love Letters is only open to filmmakers who reside in Miami-Dade County.
Who decides the winners?
The winners of Local Love Letters will be determined by a jury of nationally-recognized film professionals with expertise in both documentary and narrative filmmaking.
When will the winners be announced?
Local Love Letters applications close on March 17, 2023 at 6 p.m. and selected proposals will be notified by April 2023. You will have until May 2023 to complete your short film and send Oolite Arts a final piece.
What support will I receive?
The top 10 proposals will be awarded $5,000 each to complete their proposed short film. These filmmakers/artists are responsible for securing their own production crew. Oolite Arts does not cover housing, travel or visa costs for participating cast and crew
How long do I have to complete my short film?
Once winners are notified, all selected works are due to Oolite Arts by May 2023.
How many applications can I submit?
As many as you like, though we’d suggest no more than three. Give us your strongest and most focused material.
Will Oolite Arts own the rights to my film?
No. Each winning filmmaker retains all ownership and rights to their completed film. The artist gives Oolite Arts and other partners in this initiative a nonexclusive license to show the Local Love Letters work in perpetuity
Who should I contact with any questions I may have?
Please direct all questions via email to Danielle Bender at [email protected], and Hansel Porras at [email protected]
Local Love Letters: Miami Beach
Oolite Arts and the City of Miami Beach teamed up to launch Local Love Letters, an open call short film contest that will provide filmmakers with $5,000 to create short films set in their favorite Miami Beach locations.
