Student filmmakers from around the region will gather again this fall to take part in the fourth installment of the YellowHammer Film Festival, held both at Troy University and virtually on Zoom. This year’s festival will feature award-winning student and professional filmmakers.

Previous years have seen speakers from HBO, Netflix Animation Studios and Academy Award-Winning films, as well as winning student filmmakers from various schools.

The festival was created in 2021 by Associate Professor of Design Chris Stagl as a platform to bring creative filmmakers and animators together during the pandemic, but it has since turned into a platform to showcase the best of student filmmakers from across the nation – but still with a focus on Alabama creators.

This year, Stagl welcomes TROY alum Nate Hobbs to join him as the festival’s co-director, and together they will work with industry judges to help score films, animations and new categories Photography and Poster Design.

“Over the past three years we have awarded over 100 prizes to outstanding films from over 40 states—including the Alabama-specific prize The YellowHammer Award—which is given to an Alabama high school and college student for their outstanding contributions,” said Hobbs, a previous winner of the award. “One of the things I love about this festival is that you can volunteer to work it, help make it a success and submit a film, but all of the judging is done by industry professionals. Affiliations don’t matter. If your film isn’t strong enough it will not be selected for an award. It’s a very humbling experience, just like working in this industry.”

While Hobbs will be focused on film and artist management, Stagl is focusing on growing the sponsors list.

“Last year we had three new film technology companies sign on with Tilta, Rokinon and GlideGear. This year we’ve added DigitalFoto, a camera accessories company, and Freewell, who specializes in lens filters,” Stagl said. “Last year we were lucky enough to be funded by ASCA, Alabama State Council on the Arts and The Alabama Film Office as well. Our prize pool last year consisted of over $5,000 in prizes that were made possible by all of our incredible partners and sponsors.”

Types of creative works eligible for entry include short films under 10 minutes in length and their corresponding posters, commercials, social media videos, animation, motion graphics, music videos, news packages, photos and experimental films. All work must have been completed in the past two years.

The event will be held on October 24 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the Troy Campus, location TBA, and online.

For more information on YellowHammer 4, visit yellowhammerfilmfestival.com.

To submit entries, visit filmfreeway.com/YellowHammerFilmFest. For more information on how to get involved, email info@yellowhammerfilmfest.com.