We are looking for filmmakers and artists of all levels. To create and upload short films of 2–3 minutes to the Internet Archive to help us celebrate Public Domain Day. At our celebrations on January 24 (in-person screening & party) & January 25 (virtual celebration), 2024!
Our short film contest serves as a platform for filmmakers to explore, remix, and breathe new life. Into the timeless gems that have entered the phone number database public domain. From classic literature and silent films to musical compositions and visual art. The contest winners draw inspiration from the vast archive of cultural heritage from 1928. We want artists to use this newly available content to create short films using resources. From the Internet Archive’s collections from 1928. The uploaded videos will be judged and prizes of up to $1500 awarded!! (see details below)
Winners will be announced and shown
At the in-person Public Domain Day Celebration. At the Internet Archive headquarters in San Francisco on January 24, 2024, as well as our virtual celebration on January 25. All other participating videos will be added. To a Public Domain Day Collection on archive org and featured in a blog entry in January of 2024. Here are a few examples of some the internet archive is looking for creative short films made by you! of the materials that will become public domain on January 1, 2024.
Books: e.g. Orlando by Virginia Woolfe, Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall, and Black Magic by Paul Morand.
Public Domain Day Periodicals: E.g. issues from Life, The New Yorker, and Time.
Music! E.g. Dorothy Field’s “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby” and Cole Porter’s “Let’s Misbehave.
Movies: E.g. Steamboat Willie, The Fall of the House of Usher and Buster Keaton’s Steamboat Bill Jr. and The Cameraman.
Possible themes include, but are not limited to
Weird Tales of 1928
Sleuthing the Public Domain Public Domain Day
What can 1928 teach us fax list about 2024?
Make a 2–3 minute movie using at least one work published in 1928 that will become Public Domain on January 1, 2024. This could be a poem, book, film, musical composition, painting, photograph or any other work that will become Public Domain next year.