The Empire Strikes Back Uncut Launches and the Star Wars Fan Film Awards Return (Disney News Release)
The Empire Strikes Back Uncut, a fan-made crowdsourced mashup video of the iconic Star Wars sequel, debuts on StarWars.com alongside an announcement heralding the return of the Star Wars Fan Film Awards this October!
The Emmy® Award winning Star Wars Uncut, which began as a labor of love by developer Casey Pugh and evolved into a massive internet project involving nearly a thousand fans, recreated the original Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope shot by shot with homespun footage contributed by amateur filmmakers around the world. Following its success, a sequel version for The Empire Strikes Back was announced with another call-out for submissions, this time garnering over 1,500 responses from fans sending short 15-second segments using their own actors, props, animation, artwork, or action figures to tell the story of The Empire Strikes Back. The result is a marvelous patchwork of styles and technique that is a humorous, inventive and affectionate homage to one of the Star Wars saga¹s most beloved movies.
In the spirit of The Empire Strikes Back Uncut, Lucasfilm is also announcing the return of the Star Wars Fan Film Awards, which will begin accepting submissions this October with the best selections to screen in a special ceremony at the upcoming Star Wars Celebration event in Anaheim next April. Originally launched in 2002, the Star Wars Fan Film Awards officially acknowledged and embraced the fan film genre, giving fans an official forum to express their love of Star Wars through film. Though briefly retired in 2012, the Star Wars Fan Film Awards are being re-launched this year, welcoming multiple genres to be judged in several different categories. Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy will select a winner for the “Filmmaker Select Award.”
“The Star Wars Fan Film Awards are a wonderful way for us to acknowledge the extraordinary talent and passion of our fans that have supported us throughout the years,” says Kennedy. “Since Star Wars has inspired so many to take up a camera and begin their own filmmaking careers, we¹d like to share some of that inspiration with an audience and encourage those filmmakers to follow their bliss. I¹m looking forward to witnessing the incredible creativity I know our fans are capable of!”
A set of two tickets to Star Wars Celebration Anaheim will be awarded to the best films in each of seven categories, including Filmmaker Select, Best Animation, Best Non-Fiction, Spirit of Fandom, Best Comedy, Best Visual Effects, and Audience Choice. Entries can be no longer than five minutes and must be submitted by individuals at least 13 years old and legally residing in the US or Canada (except Quebec). No purchase necessary to enter to win. For a full list of rules and restrictions, please go to starwarsfanfilmawards.com. To learn more about Star Wars Uncut and The Empire Strikes Back Uncut, please visit starwars.com/esbuncut.
