ATTN: Pittsburgh filmmakers, comedians, and film lovers!

The 10th Annual Sweded Film Festival is officially open for submissions. If you’ve ever wanted to remake a blockbuster using cardboard, thrift store costumes, and pure chaotic creativity, now’s your time.
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Prizes
👯 Jury Prize: $200 (New this year)
 1st Place: $200
 2nd Place: $75
 3rd Place: 5 Movie Pass
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What Is A Sweded Film?
Great question, thanks for asking!!! A Sweded film is a DIY recreation of a famous movie, 5 minutes or less, inspired by Be Kind Rewind. Think: handmade props, lo-fi effects, friends as actors, and big imagination over big budgets. Check out some examples here:
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How To Enter
1. Register (entry fee: $10) 
2. Email info@rowhousecinema.com to dibs your movie
3. Make your Swede
4. Submit by June 15 at midnight (EST)

 Festival screenings: June 26 – July 2, 2026
 Awards ceremony: July 2 at Row House Cinema
 Audience voting, fancy jury + cash prizes

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Film Guidelines
* Length: 3–5 minutes
* Rating: PG-13ish
* Must recreate a well-known film
* Dibs required (to avoid duplicate entries)
* Keep it scrappy: phones and DIY props encouraged
* If you’re filming with your phone, hold it horizontally! 

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Technical Specs
* Resolution: 1998 x 1080 (flat format — not 1920 x 1080)
* Frame rate: 24 fps (not 23.98)
* Audio: up to 5.1 surround
* File types: .mp4, .mov, .m4v
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Music & Copyright
If you reference music from the original film, it must be a parody version. That means no direct use of copyrighted tracks, only playful reinterpretations, like humming the theme, kazoo solos, recorder renditions, or other clearly transformative takes.
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Notes
* Submissions may be rejected for content or technical issues
* Rights are shared between the filmmaker and Row House
* Entry fees are non-refundable
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Make it fast. Make it weird. Make it unforgettable.