It’s time to officially get excited folks, as Optima Batteries has officially announced the second annual Optima Ultimate Film Festival for this year.

With a new and expanded schedule for this year, enthusiasts can expect this year’s event to be bigger than the first. Optima Batteries has partnered with Formula Drift and the Woodward Dream Cruise this year, and will host two regional events leading up to the finale at SEMA.

Images Source: Optima Ultimate Film Festival

“Performance enthusiasts across the country are creatively pushing the limit, all while their cameras are rolling, and we’re excited to be a catalyst for people to come and experience these incredible films,” said Cam Douglass, director of marketing for OPTIMA Batteries, Johnson Controls. “We know fans are hungry to connect with the industry’s action and passion, and we remain committed to bringing this content to them in a variety of ways.”

As per the new schedule, enthusiasts have the three separate opportunities to submit their films for judging. The event will also correspond live screening events for each entry:

• April 8th – May 20th entry period for the first regional event on June 17 at Formula Drift in New Jersey
• May 21st – July 22nd entry period for the second regional event in August at the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit
• July 23rd – September 20th entry period for the finale event on November 2 during the SEMA Show

Image Source: Optima Ultimate Film Festival

The OPTIMA Ultimate Film Festival judges will be once again searching for the most exciting, moving, and adrenaline filled video entries in the two categories, which are Short Film and Action Cam.

Short Film entries will qualify as video entries that are 7 minutes or less and must be shot in a documentary or story style with focus on the enthusiasts lifestyle, car, or aftermarket performance parts that motivate the enthusiasts’ lifestyle. Action Film entries must be two minutes or less and demonstrate a performance vehicle in action, and must be shot exclusively in action using a point of view camera equipment (think GoPro).

Each film that’s submitted between April 8th – September 20th will be selected for either a regional or finale events by a panel of select judges. These select judges will judge all entries based on the video’s compelling storytelling, authenticity and creativity, respectively. Optima has relayed that enthusiasts should consider the following attributes when submitting their films. “Films should take a unique approach, be grounded in filmmaking and share true individual experiences.”

As of last week, enthusiasts nationwide can submit their unique and compelling short-form or action-cam video content as entry to the Optima Ultimate Film Festival. Finalists will receive a chance to be honored at the finale during SEMA 2016 and featured for one-hour on live national TV during MAVTV.

For more information on the event, including official rules, FAQ, and a full rundown of the submission criteria details, head over to the Optima Ultimate Film Festival’s website here.

You can also checkout the event’s YouTube channel here for last year’s submissions from SEMA 2015.