Peugeot and DJI Team Up for Third Annual Drone Film Fest

One of Europe’s largest car makers is teaming up with the world’s largest drone company to again launch one of the world’s largest drone film competitions.

This week, Peugeot announced the third annual Peugeot Drone Film Festival, with a final event to be held in Frankfurt in April. Contestants may submit entries from now until February 28. The top three filmmakers from four categories will be invited to the Diaoyutai Mansion Frankfurt for a grand finale and a DJI workshop.

The top winner will receive a six-week package to travel Europe and make a drone film. The package includes 5,000 euros for expenses and use of two Peugeot Traveller MPVs as well as a complete DJI drone package.

A company statement notes:

“Peugeot has dedicated its own festival to this new film genre and has brought the development of this technique closer to filmmakers, creating an audience for these types of films, showing the use of state-of-the-art film technology as a gain and a new opportunity for creatives. After a festival 2016 with great inspiration for filmmakers, a festival 2017 with more than 400 submitted films, breathtaking recordings and high-quality film art, the festival starts its third edition.”

The Peugeot festival is one of many drone film festivals to take flight over the last few years. Others include (as reported in 2017 by DroneLife contributor Kara Murphy – quoted below with updated edits):

InterDrone Film Festival

Arguably the largest commercial drone exhibition in the world, the International Drone Conference and Exhibition allows conference attendees the chance to view finalists on the big screen during the September event.

Toronto Drone Film Festival

A major international drone film festival finally made it to Canada last year. Held in September by The Sky Guys, the fest takes place in conjunction with the Second Annual Big Drone Show. Submissions are not only free, but at the last festival, submissions also granted attendees a 70 percent discount to the two-day Big Drone Show conference.

New York City Drone Film Festival

Kara: “I was able to attend the third event, this past March, and was amazed at the quality of films, the spacious venue, knowledgeable panelists, and thoroughly informative master classes. Luisa Winters’ course on Color Correction was my favorite. Festival founder Randy Scott Slavin did a stellar job emceeing the event and moderating talks. For its size and scale, it’s efficiently executed from beginning to end.”

Los Angeles Drone Film Festival

The sister festival to New York City Drone Film Festival, the Los Angeles Drone Film Festival made its debut last October. This is one of the few festivals that boasts a still photography category.

Flying Robot international Film Festival

Normally held at San Francisco’s historic Roxie Theatre, the world’s first-ever international drone film festival is organized by Eddie Codel who says he likes to keep participation accessible to everyone, including students, with a low $10 Early Bird Deadline fee. In 2016, Flying Robot international Film Festival (FRiFF) received 180 submissions across 8 categories from 40 countries.