our story
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The Setting
There's a nice change happening in entertainment. Because the Internet has given us the ability to find and share content very easily and quickly we are now able to find media outside of what Hollywood presents us. And we're finding content we would never have known about. Sure, a lot of what we're finding are videos of cats playing the piano, but what if we started looking for and sharing the good stuff?
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The Goal
Beneath the Earth is an online film festival that was created out of the idea that the Internet has given us new power to influence what content gets consumed and who gets noticed. We've already seen it happen in music, where musicians are discovered through the followings they create online. And now we'd like to see it happen for film and use this new-found power to shine the light on the little guy who's created something beautiful but hasn't been able to cut through the red Hollywood tape.
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Making it Happen
To shine the light on emerging talent, we've comprised our Grand Jury of film reviewers who not only love film but are highly vocal in the digital space. Together they reach over 1.1 MILLION people each month.
In addition to a cash prize, the winner of the Best Film in each category will receive the opportunity to have their film reviewed by each member of our Grand Jury who will publish the review on their site. The desired result is that we instigate word-of-mouth and create buzz that's invaluable to an up-and-coming filmmaker.
Festival Dates
The festival takes place online from 11/1/12 through 11/30/12.
Last Year's Judges
Guest Judges-
Christopher Zalla
Zalla is a writer, director and producer of film and television. His first feature film won the 2007 Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. Recent television credits include Law and Order, Law and Order: SVU, and Law and Order: Criminal intent.
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Claude Grunitzky
Founder and editor-in-chief of TRACE Magazine, Grunitzky also co-founded Trace TV a music video network available in 150 countries on various cable and satellite pay television platforms and has collaborated with artists like Spike Lee, Larry Clark, Kanye West and Lily Allen.
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Gabourey Sidibe
Oscar Nominee, Gabourey Sidibe made her acting debut in the film Precious. She currently appears in the Showtime network series, The Big C and has finished shooting her next film, Tower Heist, a Brett Ratner action-comedy.
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Marc Graser
Marc Graser is a senior writer at Variety. Previously, he was the editor of Advertising Age's newsletter Madison & Vine, covering the business of branded entertainment. He also reported on entertainment marketing for Advertising Age.
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Jay Anania
With about 40 years in the business, director Jay Anania's body of work includes, experimental, documentary and narrative films. He recently completed the critically acclaimed film, William Vincent, starring James Franco.
2012 Judge's will be announced in October. Grand Jury membership is by invitiation only. However, if you have a strong interest in being on our Jury, please contact us
Grand Jury
To shine the light on emerging talent, we've comprised our Grand Jury of film reviewers who not only love film but are highly vocal in the digital space. Together their sites reach over 1.1 MILLION people each month. Winners of the festival receive the opportunity to have their film reviewed by our Grand Jury. Submit your film.
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Andrew Wickliffe
Andrew WickliffeI've written about film and other media online since 2003. I have an MFA in Writing, which occasionally informs my film responses. |
Chris Hill
Chris HillI'm a film critic for the Huntington Beach News and CinemaAssassin.com. I have a passion for film and doing what I can to gain exposure for smaller projects and new talent. |
Dive Mistress
Dive MistressI love to talk to, argue with, and yell at people about movies. My blog, Zombots!, hosts my quasi-academic ramblings on horror film and culture. Too lazy to read? I co-host a podcast, TheAvod. |
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Iba Dawson
Iba DawsonI'm a life long movie fan and have blogged since 2007 on my site, iluvcinema.com, which was featured in TotalFilm.com’s "600 Blogs You Might Have Missed.” In addition, I have worked at several film festivals, including Tribeca, Virginia and Westchester (NY) County. |
Jose Solis
Jose SolisI started writing about film in 2003 and now collaborate with sites & publications in the US & Costa Rica. I'm currently pursuing my master's degree in Film Studies from ASU. |
Luke McQ
Luke McQI'm an Australian writer and musician and run a film blog at canetoadwarrior.blogspot.com. I've been published in textbooks and short story anthologies and have sold close to 10,000 of my zines in Australia. I also co-run the website Duderocket.com |
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Marc Ciafardini
Marc CiafardiniI've been an avid film fan for most of my life and founded Go,See,Talk in 2009 where I actively review films and follow/report on the happenings of the film world. |
Niall Murphy
Niall MurphyScannain literally is the Irish word for movies so I honestly couldn't think of a better name for a blog about them with an Irish focus. |
Red Beard
Red BeardThe smartest people you know have beards. We have beards, so we must be the smartest people you know. Check out our blog for blogs on movies, tv, books and more. |
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Rodney Twelftree
Rodney TwelftreeAn Aussie lad by birth, and a fan of films by choice, I have been reviewing cinema since around 1999. I like Michael Bay movies and anything with a social or moral message. |
Ryan Matsunaga
Ryan MatsunagaI'm a blogger, writer, podcaster, game designer, filmmaker and semi-professional detective. I've never spelled Wendsday right. Ever. |
This Guy Over Here
This Guy Over HereThis Guy Over Here celebrates the cinema of the 21st century. |
Last Year's Winners
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Best Film, Screen Play & Soundtrack
Photographs
Brendan Clogher & Christina Manrique -
Audience Award
After Ever After
Jeff Pinilla -
Best Cinematography
#OMGImTrending
Jorge Enrique Ponce
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Best Editing
It's Natural to be Afraid
Justin Doherty
Submit
Interested in entering your film into the festival? Find out what's required.








