Tampa Bay Company Is Offering $10,000 To Creator Of Best Short Film

TAMPA BAY, FL — After being awarded $50,000 in the inaugural BUC Ventures competition at Tampa’s Berkeley Preparatory School, WAVES, a St. Petersburg-operated mobile video-hosting app that connects independent filmmakers to a global audience, is planning to share the wealth with budding local filmmakers.

WAVES announced its debut in app stores with the launch of Headline Horizons, an inaugural digital film competition that challenges creators to produce short films that showcase raw storytelling talent.

The competition is free to enter and open to independent filmmakers of all levels and backgrounds, and the winner will receive a $10,000 prize. The submission period opened last week and closes on Jan. 28.

Films eligible for Headline Horizons can be of any genre or style, should be no longer than 40 minutes, and must be uploaded through the mobile app. The WAVES team will consider originality, creativity and storytelling talent when choosing the winning film, while the audience will select the finalists and second-place film.

The winners will be announced on Feb. 2 on WAVES' website, social media channels, including Instagram and YouTube, and through the app.

“The contest gives artists a reason to create and a shot at starting a career,” said Jake Rabani, CEO of WAVES. "A $10,000 check can change anyone’s life, but all filmmakers who enter will improve by pinning their work up against others and getting real-time feedback — some even walking away with a whole new film in their portfolio. The audience gets to enjoy all the art. Everyone wins.”

The BUC Ventures competition investment fund supports alumni-run startups and businesses in the form of physical and intellectual capital. WAVES uses a community-driven algorithm to create an experience based on quality, not quantity, operating with zero paid advertising.

“YouTube and TikTok have proven it doesn’t take a million-dollar movie budget to change the world,” said Rabani. “We’re looking for undiscovered talent. The film industry is shifting fast and toward a future with practically zero entry barriers. That’s why we’re in search of some great films and stories to headline our launch.”

To enter Headline Horizons or to learn more about WAVES, visit the website or download WAVES: The Future of Film from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store.