More evidence of the rude health of the modern silent, and of contests to reward its production, comes from the Coney Island Film Festival in New York. This is a competitive film festival, and budding filmmakers are invited to submit contributions in eight categories: Feature, Short, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, Experimental, Animation, Music Video, and Silent Film. The latter is a new category (the festival is in its eighth year), and there doesn’t seem any stipulation other than what one might infer from the title (so, are you allowed to add a soundtrack?).

The Regular Deadline for submissions is April 25th, 2008 (postmarked), entry fee $25. The Late Deadline is June 25th, 2008 (postmarked), $35, and the Extended Late Deadline is July 3rd, 2008 (postmarked), $45. The festival itself takes place 26-28 September 2008. More information from the festival site.