THE LEE STRASBERG 3×5 FILM COMPETITION
YOU HAVE 5 DAYS TO MAKE A 3-MINUTE FILM!
What is the 3×5 Film Competition?
The Lee Strasberg 3×5 Film Competition is an independent short film festival. Creators are given a prompt and have five days to create a three-minute film. The contest culminates in a public screening of the selected films and an award ceremony announcing the competition winners.
Why enter The Lee Strasberg 3×5 Film Competition?
The Lee Strasberg 3×5 Film Competition is a celebration of the creative spirit. It is a unique platform that values the innovation of up-and-coming talent and celebrates cinematic creativity. The competition provides an opportunity for filmmakers at all levels to exhibit their work in a supportive environment. All films selected will be screened at the prestigious Marilyn MonroeTheatre in West Hollywood, California and will be judged on their overall creativity and technical quality.
How to Enter:
- All teams must have a captain who is a current LSTFI student or alum. Non-students are welcome to participate, but only students or alumni may serve as team captains.
- Team captains (the primary contact for the team) must declare their intention to enter by completing an entry form no later than Sunday, November 30th.
- On Wednesday, December 3rd, team captains will be contacted with a prompt(s) and a final submission form.
- All completed films must be submitted through the official submission form (provided to team captains on Wednesday, December 3rd).
Dates and Deadlines:
Deadline to register teams: Sunday, November 30, 2025
Story Prompt Sent: Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Deadline to submit finished films: 2:00pm PST on Monday, December 8, 2025
Notification of selections: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Competition Screening: Friday, December 12, 2025
Competition Entry Fees:
General: $10
Pay via PayPal to [email protected] when submitting film.
Competition Judges:
- LSTFI Staff & Faculty
Rules:
- All films must have a total run time (TRT) of 3 minutes or less ( including credits).
- LSTFI is not responsible for any injuries or damages as a result of participating in this contest. We encourage safe and smart filmmaking.
- We reserve the right to disqualify any films or filmmakers that do not follow the competition guidelines or the Institute’s code of conduct.
- At least one team member must be a current or alumni student of LSTFI.
Categories:
- General – All films will be entered into this category
- Smartphone – Films shot on smartphones
- Foreign Language Film (subtitles)
- Drama
- Comedy
- Genre (horror, sci-fi, noir, etc.)
Awards:
Cash Prize(s)
- Best Acting: $100 prize or a private two-hour coaching with LSTFI faculty.
- Best of Fest: $100 prize or a private two-hour production and/or development meeting with LSTFI Film Faculty.
Competition Laurel(s)
- Competition Laurel(s) and awards are determined annually and may vary depending on that year’s entries.
Screening Details:
All filmmakers are invited to attend the in-person screening in the Marilyn Monroe Theatre in Los Angeles. Seating is first-come, first-served.