Thin Line Fest, the international film, national music and regional photography festival held in downtown Denton, Texas, is currently accepting submissions, festival organizers announced. The event, scheduled for April 19-23, will include no-charge general admission to attendees in 2017, its 10th anniversary. Major sponsors are Panavision and the Denton Record-Chronicle.

Thin Line remains the sole documentary film festival in Texas. Its name is representative of the event. “Thin Line refers to the space between two extremes,” Joshua Butler, festival director, said, “where we see the drama, the conflict and often the truth.” Film submissions for the documentary festival are classified as either Feature Films (40 minutes and up) or Short Films. While Thin Line remains true to its documentary roots, the thin line between reality and fiction is blurred a bit, in a category that includes mockumentaries, docuthrillers, altered reality and true-to-life narratives.

The film deadline schedule and fees for both feature and short film submissions are Early bird – Monday, October 31, 2016 (Short – $20, Feature: $30); Regular – Wednesday, November 30, 2016    (Short – $25, Feature: $40);Late –     Saturday, December 31, 2016 (Short – $30, Feature: $50); and Extended – Sunday, January 15, 2017 (Fee: Short – $30, Feature $75). Students with a valid ID will receive a 50 percent discount on the submission fee. Cash or cash-value awards will be presented for Best Feature Documentary ($10,000), Best Short Documentary ($5,000) and Best Student Short Documentary ($500).

This is the third year that Thin Line Fest has included photography and music along with film. “It is said that your portfolio is only as good as your weakest picture, and Thin Line’s photo portfolio last year was very strong,” Ed Steele, director of photography, said. “We are always pushing that ‘thin line’ a little further, and we decided to narrow photo submissions to one category – “Best of Show”. Deadlines and submission fees for photography are Early bird – Monday, October 31, 2016 (Single $8, Series $22); Regular – Thursday, December 15, 2016 (Single $10, Series $25); and Late – Saturday, January 14, 2017 (Single $15, Series $30). Photography cash or cash-value awards will be presented for “Best of Show”: First ($1,000); Second ($500); Third ($250) and Fourth ($150).

In addition to film and photography, Thin Line will once again host music for five days across multiple venues that for the first time will include an outdoor stage. “We are open-minded music lovers,” said Dallas Guill, co-music director, “and we are most interested in showcasing the rising talent of Denton and out-of-town acts, as well.” January 31, 2017 is the deadline for music submissions and there is no charge.

For film, photo and music submission links and more information about the 2017 Thin Line Fest, visit http://www.thinline.us.

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