Presented by Old Bank Studios and InFocus Film School, the Film Heist Filmmaking Competition is a brand new initiative that aims to help foster, train and support emerging filmmakers in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The goal of this competition is to give budding filmmakers an opportunity to align themselves with an InFocus Film School alumni (in a key creative role) to showcase their skills and help them gain recognition in the industry. By providing financial support and access to industry professionals, the Film Heist Filmmaking Competition hopes to give these filmmakers the boost they need to start their careers in the film industry.

An open networking event will be held at Old Bank Studios on June 22 where independent filmmakers and production teams can meet InFocus Film School alumni to partner with for the competition.

Filmmakers will submit film proposals via our online portal by August 8. From that point, 10 semi-finalists will undergo script workshops before resubmitting their scripts to a panel of industry professionals, who will decide the winning 4 teams.

Four films will be selected and awarded $5,000 each to be produced throughout October 2023.

Team 1 and Team 2 will shoot their films from October 20 – 22, 2023. Team 3 and Team 4 will shoot their films from October 27 – 29, 2023. Production teams are welcome to supplement their award winnings with further funding via grants, crowdsourcing, personal investments and other finance streams.

The four production teams will also receive mentorship from industry professionals who will guide them through the entire filmmaking process. From ideation to post-production, these mentors will provide invaluable insights and support to ensure that the films produced are of the highest quality. 

A Gala screening the winning films will be held in January 2024.

Submit your application today for a chance to be a part of this exciting initiative and kickstart your filmmaking career!