Bay Area's 1st Drone Film Festival Takes Flight Feb. 28

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Entries are now being accepted for the inaugural Bay Area Drone Film Festival, which will take place on Sunday, February 28, 7 p.m., at the 500-seat AMC Mercado-20 at 3111 Mission College Blvd, Santa Clara. Tickets are available ($20/VIP $30) at www.BayAreaDroneFF.com.

The mission of the festival is to promote drone education and entertainment to the public, and increase safety awareness to drone videographers, photographers and enthusiasts, according to Festival Organizer and Director Clay M. Coleman.

The live show will screen 15-20 short videos. At least 50% of the footage in each entry must have been shot using a drone. Winners will be awarded prizes valued at more than $10,000 including professional drone kits, accessories, drone lessons and more.  Drone enthusiasts can enter their best drone videos and photographs through January 24. The cost to enter ranges from $10 to $25, and there's a 20% discount if the filmmaker watches a drone safety video. Early-bird entry fees are offered before December 15. An entry will be disqualified from the film festival if it's clear that FAA guidelines were not followed in its creation.

The 12 award categories are:

• Landscape/Travel/Natural Wonders
• Narrative/Statement/Cause
• Technical Flying/First Person View
• Yuneec Drone Footage
• Comedy
• Best of the Bay (for Bay Area videographers)
• Action
• Helping People/Benefiting Humanity
• Still Photography
• Reel/Clips
• Best Drone Death (crash)
• KnowBeforeYouFly.org Safety Video

The KnowBeforeYouFly.org Safety Video category puts the spotlight on drone safety. The winning video, which will be used to promote the "Know Before You Fly" campaign, must include the basic tenets of drone safety.  All entries in the film festival will be disqualified if it's clear that FAA unmanned aircraft safety guidelines were not followed in its creation.

According to Coleman, a 25-year veteran air traffic controller with the FAA, a life-long photographer and an avid drone enthusiast, "Drones are becoming an integral part of society in many positive ways, including delivering first aid to remote locations, assessing damage after a natural disaster, search and rescue, 3D mapping, agricultural inspection, journalism, tower and bridge inspection, law enforcement, as well as creative photo and video applications." 

Film festival major sponsors include MultiCopter Warehouse, Yuneec Electric Aviation, KnowBeforeYouFly.org, and DARTdrones.

SOURCE Bay Area Drone Film Festival

Related Links

http://www.BayAreaDroneFF.com