The work of aspiring filmmakers will be exposed to a broader audience during this year’s H2O [Hip-Hop Odyssey] International Film Festival (H2OIFF).Submissions are currently being accepted for the sixth annual event, which will stream a portion of the festivities online.Accepted films will compete for a variety of awards, including cash awards, opportunities for distribution deals-DVD, broadcast, and web streaming-as well as inclusion in hundreds of community screenings and events.Billed as the largest annual international Hip-Hop film festival, the H2OIFF showcases films that include one of the elements of Hip-Hop culture in the film’s theme, story or subject matter i.e. breaking (b-boy/girl), DJ’ing, MC’ing, graffiti/aerosol artistry, beatboxing, knowledge, culture and overstanding.The theme for the event, which will take place June 25 to 29 in New York City, is “Getting It Straight in 08: Celebrating Our History, Women, and Creative Control!”All genres of film such as documentary, narrative, experimental, animation, PSA (Public Service Announcements), freestyle/experimental, music video and trailer are welcome.Features that are categorized as “Under the influence” are only required to show content that is relevant to the overall culture. It may contain, but is not limited to, a focus on fashion, music, language, location, theme and/or characters influenced by Hip-Hop culture.A Festival winner will be announced during the Odyssey Awards, the event’s closing ceremony.Important Hip-Hop filmmakers, industry professionals and pioneers will also be recognized at the annual ceremony.Deadline for H2OIFF film submissions is April 1. No film will be accepted after this date.For details and to download a submissions application visit, http://www.hiphopassociation.org/h2o.
