Local Staff Promote Low-Budget Agreements at the DC Shorts Film Festival

On September 9, Washington, D.C./Baltimore Branch Screen Actors Guild staff members Lois Seffu and Allison Shanley attended the Eighth Annual DC Shorts Film Festival, which began September 8 and continues through September 18. The 11-day festival showcases 145 short films from more than 20 countries in four locations in and around the District. Along with 17 unique 90-minute screenings, the festival also includes Q&As with the filmmakers, free seminars for filmmakers, free family film screenings and three social gatherings. The films are competing for various awards, including a peer award, Filmmaker’s Favorite, and Outstanding Local Film.

Lois and Allison went to the festival to promote SAG’s low-budget agreements and the new online Production Center, where producers can sign agreements electronically, making it easier to complete the signatory documents and hire SAG professionals. While there, they met both local and international filmmakers, many of whom had submissions in the festival, and others who were there to view and support their peers’ work and attend the seminars.