NEON and Kodak Launch Analog Short Film Contest in Partnership with ’Anora’ Filmmakers Sean Baker and Drew Daniels

As part of NEON and Kodak’s ongoing commitment to support independent filmmaking and fresh creative voices, they are launching an analog short film contest, in collaboration with acclaimed writer/director Sean Baker and cinematographer Drew Daniels. Baker’s Palme d’Or winning film, Anora, starring Mickey Madison and shot on KODAK 35mm film by Daniels, will open in theaters beginning October 18.

The Anora x KODAK contest will offer ten filmmakers the opportunity to create a short film on KODAK Super 8 or 16mm film, coupled with mentorship, in-kind product and services from Kodak, the iconic film manufacturer, NEON, ARRI Rental, and the Anora filmmakers. The ten finished short films, each running eight minutes or less, will premiere at a special screening event hosted by NEON and Kodak in early 2025.

With the theme "Tell Us Your Love Story" inspired by Anora’s romantic comedy drama, the contest invites U.S.-based filmmakers of all levels—from students to seasoned professionals—to tell us how they would craft their own love stories on analog film.

Vanessa Bendetti, Head of Motion Picture and Entertainment and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company, shared her enthusiasm, "We are very excited to offer emerging filmmakers the opportunity to create a short cinematic love story with support from Kodak, NEON, ARRI Rental and the exceptional Sean Baker and Drew Daniels. The contest reflects Kodak’s long-held commitment to supporting the next generation of creators, and NEON is an important partner to Kodak. NEON’s artist-first approach honors their filmmakers’ creative visions, including the preference to shoot on film" Bendetti added, "Super 8 and 16mm are user friendly formats, and yet, offer all the process-driven and image-quality benefits of the analog film medium. We can’t wait to see how the selected filmmakers capture the theme of love in their own unique ways"

Filmmakers interested in participating must submit a Short Film Brief and Artist Statement. Submissions will be accepted beginning on October 16, 2024. The submission period will close on October 31, 2024. Filmmakers who have been selected will be notified by December 4, with production beginning thereafter. Filmmakers must be 18 or older to be eligible. For complete details, including the Official Rules, submission form and guidelines, and more information, visit https://www.kodak.com/go/anoraxkodakfilmcontest.

About Neon
In only six years, NEON has garnered 32 Academy Award^® nominations (7 this year), 6 wins, including Best Picture, and has grossed over $300M at the box office. The company continues to push boundaries and take creative risks on bold cinema such as Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite, which made history winning four Academy Awards®, becoming the first non-English-language film to claim Best Picture. The film also unanimously won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and grossed over $54M at the domestic box office.

The current NEON slate includes: Osgood Perkins’ Longlegs with Nicolas Cage and Maika Monroe which passed $100M at the global box office to become NEON’s highest grossing release; acclaimed documentary Seeking Mavis Beacon from filmmaker Jazmin Jones, which premiered at Sundance and was released widely in theaters on September 13; Anora from filmmaker Sean Baker starring Mikey Madison, which won this year’s Palme d’Or at Cannes and releases on October 18; and The Seed of the Sacred Fig from director Mohammad Rasoulof, which NEON acquired out of Cannes and will be released on November 27.

As a burgeoning leader in the production space, NEON’s recent and upcoming in-house productions include: David Robert Mitchell’s They Follow starring Maika Monroe; Brandon Cronenberg’s Infinity Pool; Bishal Dutta’s It Lives Inside; and Joshua Oppenheimer’s The End, a golden-age musical starring Academy Award® winner Tilda Swinton.

NEON launched its international sales outfit ahead of the Venice Film Festival in 2023, handling titles including: Kogonada’s A Big Bold Beautiful Journey starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell; Ben Shirinian’s The Housewife starring Naomi Watts, Tye Sheridan, Michael Imperioli, and Norman Reedus; and Steven Soderbergh’s Presence, which made its world premiere in Sundance, where NEON picked up the worldwide rights.

NEON has amassed a library of over 110 films, with noteworthy releases including: Anatomy of a Fall from Justine Triet, which won the Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay and earned NEON its fourth consecutive Palme d’Or win at its world premiere in Cannes; Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days, which was the Japanese nomination for the 96th Academy Awards®; and Robot Dreams from Pablo Berger, which received an Academy Award® nomination for Best Animated Feature. It also includes the Oscar®-nominated documentaries All the Beauty and the Bloodshed and Fire of Love; 2022’s highest grossing documentary, Moonage Daydream; and three-time Academy Award® nominee Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness; Flee,which made history becoming the first film to score an impressive trifecta of Oscar® nominations; The Worst Person in The World, which was nominated for Original Screenplay and International Feature Film at the Academy Awards®; Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or winner, Titane; and Craig Gillespie’s I, Tonya, which garnered multiple Academy Award® nominations, one win for Allison Janney and amassed over $30M in domestic box office.

About Kodak
Kodak (NYSE: KODK) is a leading global manufacturer focused on commercial print and advanced materials & chemicals, including film. With 79,000 worldwide patents earned over 130 years of R&D, we believe in the power of technology and science to enhance what the world sees and creates. Our award-winning products, combined with our customer-first approach, make us the partner of choice for commercial printers and filmmakers worldwide. For additional information on Kodak, visit us at Kodak.com or follow us on Instagram at @Kodak_Shootfilm.

About ARRI Rental
ARRI Rental’s mission is to be instrumental in realizing the creative visions of international film and program makers. As a service business within the ARRIgroup, ARRI Rental is focused on building client relationships through the provision of first-class camera, lighting, and grip equipment to the movie, television, advertising, and events markets. High-quality hardware, innovative workflow solutions, and an unsurpassed level of service ensure long-term customer connections and a rock-solid brand reputation. We aim for warm welcomes, friendly expertise, personalized solutions, and relationships built on trust.

Operating through a network of rental facilities across North America, Europe, and the UK, ARRI Rental’s combined resources allow it to develop exclusive, proprietary technologies. These include the ALEXA 65—the world’s only true 65 mm digital cinema camera system—as well as diverse and customizable lens options across all formats, among them the DNA, ALFA, Moviecam, and HEROES lenses. Exclusive grip offerings include the HEXATRON off-road crane vehicle and versatile Hover Dolly, while our modular BrikLok LED panels facilitate limitless lighting setups.  

ARRI Rental prides itself on providing custom solutions to its clients, whether that be unique camera configurations, new or specially detuned lenses, bespoke rigging, or purpose-built lighting. Collaborating with clients on these customized solutions is at the heart of how we nurture enduring industry relationships.