The annual Glimmerglass Film Days film festival in Cooperstown is offering a new award for emerging filmmakers from New York or who filmed most of their work in the state.
The Hyde Bay Award for Emerging Filmmakers will have up to three selected finalist films, each a documentary short of 15 minutes or fewer. Otsego 2000, an environmental nonprofit, runs the festival and announced the award Thursday, Sept. 10.
“We hope people will spread the word,” Executive Director Ellen Pope said Monday, and the award can “start with a bang.”
She said the award was funded by a local film enthusiast who was leaving the area and wished to offer a parting “lasting donation,” but was “adamant about being anonymous.” Pope said that, on its own, the donation could fund at least 10 years of awards.
According to submission guidelines for the award, emerging filmmakers are those who have not “had more than three short films screened at film festivals” and have “not yet released a feature-length film.”
Applying filmmakers must live either in New York state or have filmed 50% or more of their short in the state.
Finalists will be selected by Film Days steering committee members Xander Moffat, Peter Hutchison and JoAnn Gardner.
Hutchison is an award-winning filmmaker himself, known for films including “Requiem for the American Dream,” “The Cure for Hate: Bearing Witness to Auschwitz,” and “Healing from Hate: Battle for the Soul of a Nation.”
He referred to the award instead as a “program” because of what it offers.
The finalists will receive a pass to the festival, which is scheduled for Nov. 11-15, up to $400 in travel stipend and up to five nights accommodation in Cooperstown during the festival. All finalists’ films will be screened during the festival.
“A lot of emerging filmmakers can’t afford that,” he said, adding that in today’s documentary film industry it can be tough to earn a living. “We are bringing filmmakers to have a full festival experience.”
That experience can be important for networking and getting on the film festival circuit, Hutchison said, adding that he considered himself to be among those who have benefited from GFD.
“I’ve always seen Glimmerglass Film Days as a real gem,” he said. “Hands down,” the festival is “the best regional film festival in New York, possibly New England.” He said it was an honor to join the steering committee.
The audience will vote amongst the finalists for a winner for “bragging rights,” Pope said.
The films must link to the festival’s theme, which according to the release is “Second Nature, and/or the broader Film Days goal of highlighting films that explore humanity’s complex relationship with the natural world.”
“The method they use is up to them,” Pope said, adding that films could include animation.
“Our themes are always a little ambiguous” to allow a broad variety of films, often taking second meanings, Pope said. She said films falling under the category could address topics like climate change, learning a new skill, role reversals and other subjects.
This year, she said, the overall festival is “aiming for 22 to 26 films” of feature-length, plus some shorts of about 30 minutes or less.
The festival started in 2013, and has grown since then.
The event is the festival’s 14th year of operation. Venues include the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Fenimore Art Museum, and the Fenimore Farm and Country Village, organizers said.
To learn more about the award, visit glimmerglassfilmdays.org/hyde-bay-award.