After creating a film or video, the next step is deciding how to put it out into the world for everyone to see and experience. There are many different social outlets—such as YouTube or film festivals, like Sundance—for submitting films.

SeeFlik offers an avenue to filmmakers who are not internet sensations like Justin Bieber or famous Hollywood directors like Steven Spielberg, but merely students.

It’s an emerging online film festival for students who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate film programs or are five years out of school. The film competition takes place twice per year online at SeeFlik.com.

“The challenge that faces all of these young emerging artists is that the world of the traditional film festivals—at least as it relates to short films—is it is very difficult to get exposure,” said Larry Meli, CEO of SeeFlik. “[SeeFlik] provide[s] these emerging artists with an opportunity to showcase their work in a real competition.”

According to Bruce Sheridan, chair of the Film and Video Department, Columbia decided to participate in SeeFlik to provide students with access to a well-organized online film festival so that they can compete with students from other film schools.

The competition winners receive $50,000 and a showcase in Hollywood with agencies such as cable networks to help jump start a filmmaker’s career, Meli said.

SeeFlik presents two awards—the Judges Award and Fans Favorite. The winner of the Judges Award is chosen by a panel of judges, including Michael London, Shane Black, Angelo Pizzo, Keir Pearson, Robert Kamen and Suzanne de Passe, according to a SeeFlik press release.

“We really wanted to pick a diverse cross-section that really covered the bases [in the film industry],” Meli said. “This group alone has 20 nominations or Academy Awards for their films, so that’s a pretty good group.”

He added that the Fans Favorite winner receives votes by people calling in and voting, much like “American Idol” contestants obtain votes.

The winner will be announced through SeeFlik and the media. There may even be a televised award ceremony, Meli said. He has been approached by cable networks to make that possible, he said.

According to Sheridan, SeeFlik will benefit filmmakers because they can get exposure and a chance to win significant cash prizes.

One Columbia SeeFlik contestant, sophomore film and video major Jordan Nelson, submitted his film titled “Prescription Dreams” to the SeeFlik festival after he noticed a poster in the 1104 S. Wabash Building. Nelson produced the film in his Moving Image Production I class.

“Prescription Dreams” is about a lonely man who has fallen deeply in love with a woman who appears only in his dreams. He takes prescription sleep medication to get closer to her, he added.

“The main thing I enjoy most about SeeFlik isn’t so much about the festival aspect of it, but more how it is simply another outlet for student filmmakers to display their work amongst their peers in a positive and organized environment,” Nelson said. “It’s too hard for student filmmakers to find this sort of outlet, so I’m very grateful to have found it.”

In an effort to get student filmmakers like Nelson recognition for their talent, SeeFlik does not reject film entries it receives, Meli said.

To avoid trouble for the student and the festival, he added that the only time a film will be turned away is if it is defamatory or misuses a product.

“There are so many wonderful, traditional film festivals that we didn’t think re-inventing that made much sense,” Meli said. “There were some great traditional film festivals already in place. We wanted to really employ the new technology and really be able to allow these students and alum[ni] to showcase their work in a new and different way on a new site.”