NEWS AND EVENTS

Missoula, MT) — The Montana Meth Project is calling all treasure state filmmakers as the organization gathers submissions for a national 30-second commercial competition featuring a grand prize of $20,000 and nationwide air time for the declared winner.

“This contest is an outstanding opportunity for Montanans to show the rest of the country why we have been the standard bearer for Meth prevention, how creative we can be and that as a state we are dedicated to fighting Meth use,” said Amy Rue, Executive Director of Montana Meth Project.

Aspiring and established filmmakers from around the United States are encouraged to create an impactful commercial centered on the theme of “Life or Meth.” The submissions will then be evaluative by four of the countries Meth Project Executive Directors. The 10 best submissions will be invited to participate in an exclusive panel to be held at Series Fest in Denver, Colorado June 22-26, 2016.

The 10 panelists will then be filtered down to the top three via an online-voting competition held July 2016 with the final winner to be determined by a celebrity panel of judges and announced September 1, 2016.

Additional prizes of $2,500 and travel for two to Series Fest in Denver will also be awarded to the top production in each of these Meth Project partner states: Colorado, Montana, Idaho and Georgia.

“We have all had our experiences with Meth in our towns and our state. This contest provides a great venue for Montanans to raise their voice, tell their story and share it with the world,” said Rue.

Past Meth Project directors have gone on to accomplish great things in the film industry. The list of winners includes Academy Award-winning directors Darren Aronofsky, Wally Pfister, and Alejandro González Iñárritu.

Previous Meth Project commercials have influenced viewers through graphic, hard-hitting campaigns that followed young adults from first-time users to full-blown addicts as a means of educating people about the dangers of using methamphetamine, a highly addictive drug that severely alters a person’s brain activity.

With this competition the goal remains very much the same. Create authentic, impactful messages that will influence the next generation of teens to keep their distance from the drug and reinforce Montana Meth Project’s message of “Not Even Once”.

“Montana has been leading the fight against Meth abuse for over 10 years now,” said Rue, “so it would be fitting to see someone from our state take home the top honors, forge their path in the industry and join the impressive list of Montana Meth Project Directors.”

All entries will be screened and approved by the Montana Meth Project and will be judged on the following criteria: cinematography, screenwriting, sound, acting, editing, originality, and the thematic integration of “Life or Meth.” Once submitted, each applicant will be competing nationally in an online contest.

Entries will be accepted February 15 through May 31, 2016 at lifeormethcontest.com. Contestants will also find a link to the submission platform on the Montana Meth Project Facebook page.

About the Montana Meth Project

The Montana Meth Project is a Montana non-profit organization headquartered in Missoula, Montana and implements large-scale, research-based campaigns and community action programs to reduce Meth use in the state. The Program has demonstrated significant results in changing attitudes and behaviors toward Meth.

Through their Meth Prevention Lesson, a classroom program geared toward middle and high school students that utilizes MethProject.org, the Montana Meth Project has reached an additional 14,523 teens, with 266 new classes taught during 2014.

The Montana Meth Project is funded by generous contributions from foundations, corporations and private individuals. For more information, visit www.montanameth.org.

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Media Contacts:

Amy Rue
Montana Meth Project
406-721-2538
arue@montanameth.org