Just as the Red River Revel successfully concluded its 47th edition in downtown Shreveport on Sunday [October 8, 2023], we now turn our attention to another big festival in Shreveport-Bossier. Prize-Fest 2023 gets underway this Friday, October 13. The two-week event features a wide variety of emerging talents, ranging from filmmakers to musicians and from comedians to cooks, from across the country and close to home.
Prize Fest began as the Louisiana Film Festival back in 2012. From there, it has expanded five fold. There’s now the Music Prize, the Fashion Prize, the original Film Prize, the Food Prize, and the Comedy Prize.
Shadi Darzeidan from Prize Fest explained what’s in store in weeks one and two. “Weekend one, everything’s taking place (the) 13th and 14th in the Remington Prize Garage, also known as the Music Prize Garage, as we transform the Prize Port. And then the 15th at the Phoenix Nightclub, also downtown Shreveport.”
The second weekend features the food and comedy competitions. On Thursday, October 19th through Saturday October 21st, the Film Prize takes center stage. The competition features 20 short films, with their creators all vying for the coveted $50,000 prize.
It's not just cash prices at stake – of that there is no shortage, which will be described presently. But first, Darzeidan describes a different kind of prize, which is arguably far more valuable in the long run. “Which is establishing themselves in our community and showing that, you know, their talents, their skills they’ve been crafting and developing have meaning, not just to them but to the people who are involved. And as a festivalgoer when you’re there, you really understand and see how much your presence means to these creatives. They come up to you, the filmmakers, musicians, they want your support because they know that’s what’s going to keep them going.”
But make no mistake, the cash is a key incentive. A victory can often help fund the next project by the “creatives,” as the artistic competitors are often called.
In all, there’s more than $100,000 in cash and prizes. The finalists have been preparing their work to be seen, heard, and tasted by the Prize Fest audience and the Prize Mentors — to win their votes. Based on advanced ticket sales, Prize Fest associate Kelly Pederson tells us there’s strong interest in this year’s competitions. “We have sold more tickets than ever, this year, with almost over four thousand. So, we are really looking forward to having these crowds come out, stay late, be loud, and really support these artists in this creative community we have.” For ticket and festival information you are encouraged to visit their website prizefest.com.
