F O C U S : THAW 97 is a festival of alternative film, video and
digitally-produced moving images. The festival was organized in the
spring of 1996 as a forum for the presentation of new experimental works
which have often been unrecognized, overlooked or refused by
conventional exhibition circuits.

Thaw implies emergence, movement, and a loosening of the rigidity that
often locks the artistic moving image into preconceived categories. The
festival seeks to present a wide range of new work. There are no
restrictions based on content. Independent productions, especially those
which challenge the conventional standards of their media through
experimentation in form and content are strongly encouraged.

E L I G I B I L I T Y : THAW 97 is organized by media artists as a
venue for groundbreaking works using film, video and digital media.
Intelligent and impassioned works in any of these formats is welcome.
Entries must have been completed after January 1, 1994. Anyone and
everyone, including amateurs, professionals and students, are encouraged
to submit.

A W A R D S : Cash prizes will be given for the best work in each
category. A panel of distinguished media artists and critics will
select entries of particular merit to receive these awards. These,
together with other works of merit, will be publicly screened during the
festival, which is to be held at the University of Iowa in May 1997. The
amount of each award will be based upon number of entries received.

F O R M A T : We will accept entries for our review purposes in the
film and video categories only on VHS-NTSC. Digital media submissions
may be made on CD-ROM. (Other formats may also be accepted, but please
inquire by phone or e-mail before sending them.) After the selection is
made for the festival screenings in May 1997, we may contact you for a
copy of the work in its original format, where applicable.

[…]

Entry fee-

$15 per entry for works of 30 minutes or less in duration, or for
Digital Media works, including Websites

$25 per entry for works longer than 30 minutes

[…]

Entries must be received by March 1, 1997

[…]

E-mail inquiries can be directed to thaw97@uiowa.edu

For ongoing updates on the festival's progress,
http://www.uiowa.edu/~thaw

Inquiries by telephone: (319) 335-5402 or (319) 358-1053

Fax: (319) 335-1774

[…]