Organisers of the International Youth Silent Film Festival – IYSFF- New Zealand Nationals have announced the submission deadline has been extended by two weeks due to the current Covid-19 Alert Level restrictions.

Submissions for the 2021 competition will now close at midnight on Tuesday September 14.

Tauranga's Baycourt Community & Arts Centre is the home of the IYSFF in Aotearoa, and its manager Reena Snook says extending the deadline by two weeks is the right decision to make under the circumstances.

'The IYSFF NZ team know it is a very stressful and difficult time for everyone in Aotearoa,” says Reena.

'We want our young Kiwi filmmakers to have the opportunity to produce the best film possible, and we feel extending the deadline by an extra two weeks will help them to achieve that.”

The IYSFF is an annual global competition challenging filmmakers, aged 20 and under, as of April 15, 2021, from across the United States of America, Montenegro, Hungary, Australia, The United Arab Emirates, and New Zealand to create a three-minute silent film set to one of ten musical scores composed specifically for the festival by award-winning organist and composer Nathan Avakian.

For each submission, filmmakers must choose one of the 10 pre-recorded musical themes upon which to base the film: Charmed, Action, Horror, Slapstick, Mystery, Science Fiction, Western, Noir, Discovery, and this year's new soundtrack Reflection.

The Top 15 finalists and award winners at the IYSFF NZ National Awards Final 2019 held at Baycourt Community & Arts Centre in Tauranga. Photo: Merkin Media.

The festival was founded in 2009 by Jon ‘JP' Palanuk who, after attending a live theatre organ concert at the time, was so inspired by what he heard that he decided to create a competition for young filmmakers to create their own silent movies.

The global competition made its New Zealand debut at Baycourt Community & Arts Centre in Tauranga in 2016.

Tauranga is fortunate to have a Wurlitzer Organ aka The ‘Mighty Wurli' which is the largest type of musical instrument in the world.

There are only three Wurlitzers in New Zealand, and Tauranga's is the only one in such an original condition.

The theatre organ consists of a console that dramatically rises from beneath the stage, connected to thousands of pipes; a piano keyboard, a xylophone, castanets, bells and drums.

Reena says the Wurli is a tremendous asset for Tauranga and the IYSFF NZ Nationals is a wonderful opportunity to introduce the iconic theatre organ to a younger generation.

Invented circa 1894, silent film was the earliest kind of filmmaking and was ‘state-of-the-art entertainment' up until 1929 when sound film appeared and actors could speak on film.

Without spoken dialogue technology, silent filmmakers had to tell their stories with exaggerated action, printed title cards which provided commentary, and clever plots which could be pulled off pictorially.

Live music, played by a skilled organist, accompanied silent films in the theatres, and added to the experience of seeing these stories on the big screen.

Acclaimed Australian organist David Bailey performing on Baycourt Community & Arts Centre's Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ during the IYSFF NZ National Awards Final 2019. Photo: Merkin Media.

Once submissions close, a panel will then select the top 15 films to be screened and celebrated at the IYSFF NZ National Awards Final at Baycourt Community & Arts Centre, on Thursday November 11 2021.

Not only are there ten category awards up for grabs, the Top Two Kiwi films will also represent Aotearoa at the IYSFF Global Awards 2022 held in Portland, Oregon, US.

Reena believes the IYSFF is an amazing opportunity for young creatives to share their stories and imagination with Aotearoa and the world.

'The IYSFF NZ is a perfect platform for young Kiwis to express their unique perspective on issues currently facing our communities, country and the world, through a creative and inspiring medium.

'On behalf of the IYSFF NZ team and Baycourt I want to wish all our filmmakers the best of luck this year.”

The IYSFF NZ Nationals 2021 is delivered with support from major media partner The Breeze Tauranga 95.8FM.

For more information or to enter, visit the IYSSF's global website at www.makesilentfilm.com

For rules, soundtracks, or to make a submission visit the IYSFF's website at www.makesilentfilm.com or for more information about the IYSFF NZ National 2021 competition visit www.baycourt.co.nz/youth/iysff-nz-nationals