MTV to the World: Next Big Filmmaker Will Come From Louisiana Film Prize

MTV has caught the Louisiana Film Prize bug and they're not afraid to tell the world!

If you've ever attended Louisiana Film Prize in the past four years that it has been in Shreveport-Bossier, you've caught the Viva bug. It is by far the coolest event that happens in this area, as filmmakers from all over the world flock to Northwest Louisiana, shoot a film and try to win $50,000 (the largest cash prize for a short film in the world). They also pour money into our economy to the tune of millions of dollars.

So it's no surprise the MTV has caught the Viva bug too.

According to Katie Calautti, who served as one of the esteemed judges at this year's festival, Film Prize combined with Music Prize and Food Prize is a "small-scale SXSW, plus heaps of southern hospitality." She believes that the next big filmmaker will come from this competition.

Aside from the grand prize, the top five films get distributed on iTunes, which sets them up on a path to winning an Academy Award. Calautti explains this later in the article after spotlighting the films. She also talks about the other judges. We're talking some major players here like Kevin Rahm, who played Ted Chaough in "Mad Men." This year's films also featured some start talent like Tamzin Merchant, who currently stars in "Salem."

Calauttie then emphasizes that a film festival like Louisiana Film Prize has major potential to put these filmmakers, actors, etc. on a path to the Oscars. This comes from the partnership with ShortsHD. It's this avenue that ensures the winning short films are seen by Academy members for consideration for nomination. In addition, ShortsHD makes the films available for sale on iTunes, Amazon and Verizon. Be on the lookout for them in 2016.

You can start to see the pieces falling together as to how the next big filmmaker will come from a festival in Shreveport-Bossier.

Can you believe something this big, with this much potential for altering the film world, takes place in our own backyard?

As Calautti puts it, "It’s a truly unique event to participate in, from any angle – it stimulates the local indie film scene, creates economic impact via the filming process and encourages community involvement through screening and voting. Other fests could learn a thing or two from Prize founder Gregory Kallenberg’s example. To quote the festival’s signature mantra, “Viva la Film Prize!”'