Whenever I see a contest that’s got really confusing instructions or is about a really unappealing subject I always seriously consider entering. Why? Because if I think the instructions are confusing and if I think that the topic is unappealing then probably 90% of filmmakers will feel the same way. If a contest is hard to enter, enter it. It might take a lot of time and research to get a strong concept together but if you do a half-way decent job the sponsor will be thrilled that they got at least one non-crappy entry.

I mention all this because for the last few days I have been trying to wrap my brain around a contest called AntiHIVirus. Yes…it’s a video contest about HIV. Specifically, the goal is for filmmakers to create PSAs about HIV prevention.

But here’s the catch; the ads are to be aimed at an international audience. Therefore, contestants are encouraged to use little or NO DIALOGUE.

This is a very, very attractive contest to enter. Here’s why:

1. The winners are picked by judges
2. There is no public voting
3. There are three top prizes: $5K, $3K and $2K
4. The subject matter and the no dialogue thing will discourage a lot of people from entering.

There is one big “con” to this contest though.  All entries are hidden until after the submission period ends.  So you don’t know if 2 people have entered or 200 people have entered.  But really, who the heck wants to make a dialogue-free spec PSA about HIV??  I shoot video contest entries for topics that I think will be fun to cover.  And this contest does not seem fun at all.

After days of trying to think of  a good concept for this one I’m throwing in the towel.  The deadline to enter is October 13^th.  Can you come up with something by then?