Giphy wants to elevate the humble GIF from meme-factory punchlines into… well, works of art.
The GIF search-engine startup has unveiled the Giphy Film Fest to celebrate “micro-film” creators, offering one grand-prize winner a $10,000 cash prize as well as a five-year website-hosting subscription from sponsor Squarespace.
Starting Wednesday (Aug. 15), Giphy is soliciting submissions for original GIFs of 18 seconds or less in five categories. Entries will be judged by a jury of creatives. Finalists will be screened at an invitation-only event Nov. 8 at New York City’s Metrograph theater, followed by the announcement of the grand-prize winner.