Sioux Center, Iowa — This January, Dordt University will be hosting the 15th and final Prairie Grass Film Challenge (PGFC).
The challenge is open to competitors high school age and older, and registration closes January 18. Participants have 48-hours to make a film starting January 20 at 4 p.m. The final awards ceremony will take place on Friday, February 18 at 8 p.m. in Dordt’s B.J. Haan Auditorium, with a screening of all films at 5:45 p.m. prior to the ceremony in the Dordt Science and Technology Center.
Jake Brouwer, a Dordt alumnus who participated from 2016 to 2019 says the PGFC was a fantastic learning experience for filmmaking. The quick turn-around required creativity, flexibility, and skill, and helped to hone some of his abilities behind the camera as well as his storytelling capabilities. The challenges, prompts, and fellow participants made for a busy but exciting competition every year! Receiving an award was great, but it was just as fulfilling to see what others decided to create.
The challenge began in 2006 and gives competitors a strict timeline and parameters to include in a film. The challenge offers three age groups: high school, college, and post-college. Teams compete from around the country for Best in Category, and for the ultimate prize, the “Dordty,” which is given for Best of Show. This year, a fourth category has been added, The Winners Circle, which invites all teams who have won the “Dordty” Award over the last 14 years to compete in this one-time category.
Mark Volkers, founder of the PGFC and digital media production instructor at Dordt University said the PGFC promotes and honors filmmakers from around the region. This has become the premier event of its kind in the Midwest. Children who grew up attending went on to compete in high school, college, and are now post-college competitors—and many have gone on to careers in media.
For additional details and to register for the last Prairie Grass Film Challenge, visit pgfc.film.
