AtomaCon is an annual 3-day media convention held in Charleston, South Carolina. After a successful first year, we're happy to return for 2021!
In addition to 3 days of films, enjoy our Media Arts programming track. Meet and greet with industry veterans and media experts with over 20 hours of panels, screenings, and Q+As.
As a geeky convention, we're looking for short films under 20 minutes that fall into typical "geek" genres - science fiction, fantasy, horror, and fan films. However, if you've got something that doesn't quite fall into those genres, like a documentary about cosplay or an experimental stop-motion short starring GI Joes, we'll take a look at that too. We love retro comedies, parodies, gaming films, and and anything that a sci-fi convention would love.
Female, POC, LGBT, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to submit. Both AtomaCon and its film festival are female-run, and we are dedicated to showcasing voices that are not traditionally lifted on the film circuit. Additionally, we like to see good, thoughtful roles given to minority and female actors, and for their characters to be treated with dignity instead of tokenism and victim-hood. And that goes for ALL entries!
We also have a special regional category for filmmakers from Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Be sure to submit in our regional film category if you would like to be considered for our Best Regional award!
All selected entrants will be given a complimentary 3-day membership to AtomaCon 2021. Selected entrants will also be offered a group rate of $25/membership for any cast and crew that wish to travel with them.
We will be announcing sponsored prizes as sponsors come aboard, but for now, we offer awards in the following categories. All award winners receive a membership to the following year's AtomaCon (2021):
- BEST SHORT
- BEST ACTOR
- BEST ACTRESS
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
- BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS
- BEST WRITING
- BEST REGIONAL (SC/GA/NC)
- DIRECTOR'S CHOICE
Additionally, genre prizes and additional technical awards may be offered for the following categories, when relevant:
BEST HORROR/SUSPENSE
BEST SCIENCE FICTION
BEST FANTASY
BEST COMEDY
BEST FAN FILM
BEST NONFICTION/DOCUMENTARY
BEST MICROSHORT (Under 3 Minutes)
BEST MUSIC