Wichitans make top 20 in international film competition

A group of Wichita filmmakers has made the finals in an international online competition.

Led by director Naythan Smith, the group made the top 20 in the “100 Hour Film Race,” where filmmakers around the world created films less than five minutes in duration. They had 100 hours to do so, from 7 p.m. Dec. 3 through midnight Dec. 7. Each film had to include an assigned theme (mistaken identity), prop (a mask) and action (drinking from a straw).

More than 120 teams participated from countries including Australia, Canada, Mexico, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Six industry professionals judged the films and narrowed the field down to 20. More than $20,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded.

Online voting is currently in progress to determine the film race’s audience award at www.filmracing.com/100hour2015awards. The Wichita team’s film is titled “Congratulations.”

Awards will be announced Jan. 28.

The rest of the crew included Andre Kahmeyer, Peter Espinosa, John Doornbos, Alexander Matthew, Alanna Arena, Sommer Camp and Amber Dunn.

This story was originally published January 14, 2016 at 5:13 PM with the headline "Wichitans make top 20 in international film competition."