Prize Foundation
Prize Foundation is a Shreveport, Louisiana-based non-profit operating Prize Fest, an annual creative arts festival featuring cash-prize competitions in film, music, food, comedy, photography, and tacos. It serves emerging filmmakers, musicians, comedians, chefs, and photographers with cash prizes, industry mentorship, and community events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersShreveport, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Prize Foundation does
Prize Foundation (legally Film Prize Foundation, Inc.) is a Shreveport, Louisiana-based non-profit organization that operates Prize Fest, an annual multi-day creative arts festival held each October in Downtown Shreveport. Founded in 2012 and operating with approximately 7 employees, the foundation runs six core competition verticals: Film Prize (short films, awarding up to $50,000 in cash and described as the world's largest cash prize for a short film), Music Prize ($10,000 grand prize, including the MPCon industry conference), Food Prize (the Society of the Golden Fork dinner series culminating in a Festival finale), Comedy Prize ($2,500), Photo Prize ($1,000 Golden Lens Award), and Taco Wars. Film Prize Junior, launched in 2016, extends the program into a statewide youth film education competition for middle and high school students across Louisiana.
The organization's technology footprint is minimal and centered on operational tooling rather than proprietary technology: web-based submission and management portals for filmmakers, musicians, comedians, and photographers, plus the Prize Directory, a marketplace connecting Film Prize entrants with local Louisiana cast and crew. The foundation has secured Mentor Judges and programming relationships with major industry institutions including Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, Lionsgate Film and TV Music, Beggar's Banquet, Comedy Cellar, and SXSW Comedy.
Prize Foundation generates revenue through three primary streams: festival passes and event tickets (sold via its own website and FareHarbor, plus in-person at events), corporate and government sponsorships (Louisiana Entertainment, Louisiana Office of Tourism, Caddo Parish Commission, Community Foundation of North Louisiana, City of Shreveport, Phillips Kallenberg Investments), and charitable donations. Annual attendance is approximately 10,000-15,000 people across Prize events. The organization holds multiple registered trademarks across its competition brands and is actively operating, with Prize Fest 2026 scheduled for October 14-18, 2026.
Prize Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Prize Foundation
- Legal name
- Film Prize Foundation, Inc.
- Website
- https://prizefest.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Prize Foundation is a Shreveport, Louisiana-based non-profit operating Prize Fest, an annual creative arts festival featuring cash-prize competitions in film, music, food, comedy, photography, and tacos. It serves emerging filmmakers, musicians, comedians, chefs, and photographers with cash prizes, industry mentorship, and community events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Prize Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Creative Arts Competitions & Festival
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Arts, Crafts & Maker Fairs (MPAGAFAJ), Family, Kids & Education Fairs (MPAGAFAH)
Keywords
Where Prize Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shreveport
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Prize Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Others, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Festival Passes and Tickets: Sale of festival passes and tickets for Prize Fest events including Food Prize: Come and Get It, Comedy Prize, Film Prize screenings, Music Prize showcases, and general festival admission.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship revenue from local and regional businesses including Louisiana Entertainment, Louisiana Office of Tourism, Caddo Parish Commission, Community Foundation of North Louisiana, Phillips Kallenberg Investments, City of Shreveport, and various corporate sponsors for individual competitions.
- Donations: Charitable donations from individuals and organizations supporting creative arts development in the Shreveport/North Louisiana region.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Festival passes tailored to individual Prize experiences |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Taco Wars general admission |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Taco Wars VIP Experience |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Prize Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Prize Foundation runs Prize Fest, an annual multi-day creative-arts competition and festival in Downtown Shreveport, Louisiana, combining seven cash-prize creative competitions (Film Prize up to $50,000, Music Prize $10,000, Food Prize, Comedy Prize $2,500, Photo Prize $1,000, Taco Wars, and Film Prize Junior) with industry mentorship, MPCon music conference, and the Prize Directory cast/crew talent platform. The organization sells festival passes and competition registrations, accepts charitable donations, and is funded by corporate and government sponsorships.
Product overview
Prize Foundation operates Prize Fest, a multi-day creative arts festival and competition ecosystem in Shreveport, Louisiana. The organization runs seven distinct creative competitions: Film Prize (short film, up to $50,000), Music Prize (live music, $10,000 grand prize), Food Prize (culinary arts, Golden Fork competition), Comedy Prize (standup, $2,500), Photo Prize (photography, $1,000), Taco Wars (taco festival), and Film Prize Junior (student filmmaking). The portfolio also includes the Prize Directory, a talent marketplace connecting filmmakers with local cast and crew. Competitors access these programs through web-based portals (Filmmaker, Musician, Comedian, Photographer) for submission and management. All competitions combine cash prizes with mentorship from industry professionals and community building events.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Society of the Golden Fork: A seasonal dinner series within Food Prize featuring curated chefs who are evaluated by society members to advance to the Food Prize Finals at Prize Fest.
- MPCon
- Prize Island
- Prize Directory
- Come and Get It
Products and services
- Film Prize (Louisiana Film Prize) A short film competition awarding up to $50,000 cash to filmmakers who shoot short films in Louisiana, featuring 20 finalists who premiere at Prize Fest, mentorship from industry professionals, and an Oscar-qualifying screening package via Fort Worth Film Commission. Open to filmmakers worldwide.
- Music Prize A music competition awarding $10,000 to the grand prize winner, with finalist musicians performing live before an audience and judges at Prize Fest. Includes the MPCon music industry conference featuring mentors such as Russell Ziecker (Lionsgate Film and TV music) and Sonya Kolowrat (Beggar's Banquet). 200+ finalists over 11 years.
- Food Prize A culinary competition featuring the Society of the Golden Fork dinner series across spring and summer, culminating in the Food Prize Finals during Prize Fest. Rising Ark-La-Tex chefs create original dishes evaluated by society members, with the Come and Get It signature event pairing six local chefs with six celebrity chefs.
- Comedy Prize A standup comedy competition awarding $2,500 to the winner, with 10 finalist comedians performing across two live shows at Prize Garage during Prize Fest before celebrity judges including Charlie Sotelo (Founder SXSW Comedy) and Liz Furiati (Comedy Cellar).
- Photo Prize A photography competition awarding $1,000 for the Golden Lens Award and $500 for People's Choice, inviting photographers to capture the essence of Shreveport and Bossier City. Co-sponsored by Bossier Parish Community College Foundation.
- Taco Wars An annual taco and tequila festival celebrating Latino culture, featuring local taquerias competing for the Golden Taco ($1,000) and Best Salsa ($500) awards. Vendors retain 90% of taco revenue from on-site sales; event includes live music and cultural activities. Food/drink tickets sold at $1 each.
- Film Prize Junior A statewide youth film education program and competition for Louisiana middle and high school students, teaching storytelling through filmmaking. The program has run since 2016 and serves thousands of students across the state.
- Prize Fest An annual multi-day creative arts festival held October 14–18, 2026 in Downtown Shreveport, Louisiana, bringing together the Film Prize, Food Prize, Music Prize, Comedy Prize, Photo Prize, and Taco Wars competitions with mentorship, networking, red-carpet events, and community building for emerging creative professionals.
- Prize Directory An online cast and crew directory connecting Film Prize filmmakers with local production talent in Louisiana. Features searchable roles including actors, directors, cinematographers, and crew positions, with open cast and crew calls for verified Film Prize entries.
- Startup Prize An entrepreneurial competition program creating opportunities for rising creative professionals to elevate their craft and grow their careers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Winner of Founder's Circle grant returned the next year and won Grand Prize
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Prize Foundation
Customer profileSegments7 records
Ideal customer profiles8 records
Prize Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Prize Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Fort Worth Film CommissioncorePartnership to offer Oscar-qualifying screening package for Film Prize winners. The partnership provides a week-long Oscar-qualifying screening commitment and promotional support for the Grant Prize Winner, enabling filmmakers to reach the 98th Academy Awards.
- Sundance Film FestivalminorMentor Judge representing Sundance Film Festival attends Film Prize to connect with filmmakers and identify talent for future festival programming.
- Tribeca Film FestivalminorMentor Judge representing Tribeca Film Festival attends Film Prize to connect with filmmakers and identify talent for future festival programming.
- Cleveland International Film FestivalminorMentor Judge representing Cleveland International Film Festival attends Film Prize to connect with filmmakers.
- Louisiana Economic DevelopmentcoreSponsors Film Prize University panel discussions during Prize Fest, supporting professional development programming for filmmakers.
- Louisiana EntertainmentcoreLouisiana state entertainment promotion agency providing ongoing sponsorship and promotional support for Prize Fest and its creative competitions.
- Louisiana Office of TourismcoreLouisiana state tourism agency providing sponsorship and promotion to position Prize Fest as a driver of tourism to the Shreveport/North Louisiana region.
- Bossier Parish Community College FoundationminorCo-sponsor of Photo Prize competition, connecting photographers with educational institution resources.
- Russell Ziecker (Lionsgate Film and TV Music)minorMusic industry professional serving as Mentor Judge for Music Prize, providing mentorship and industry connections to finalist musicians.
- Sonya Kolowrat (Beggar's Banquet)minorMusic industry professional serving as Mentor Judge for Music Prize, providing mentorship and industry connections to finalist musicians.
- Charlie Sotelo (Founder SXSW Comedy)minorComedy industry professional serving as Comedy Prize Judge, founder of SXSW Comedy festival.
- Liz Furiati (Comedy Cellar)minorComedy industry professional serving as Comedy Prize Judge, lead booker at Comedy Cellar.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Prize Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Aspen Shortsfest: Aspen Shortsfest, run by Aspen Film, is one of the world's most prominent short film competitions with cash prizes and Oscar-qualifying screenings. It competes directly with Prize Foundation's Film Prize for top-tier short film entries, industry attention, and filmmaker prestige.
- Cleveland International Film Festival: Cleveland International Film Festival is an Ohio-based competitive film festival with a 40+ year history of independent film screenings and competitions. Its mentor-judge partnership with Film Prize and similar competition format make it a directly comparable peer.
- SXSW (South by Southwest): SXSW is a large multi-disciplinary annual festival in Austin, TX covering film, music, comedy, and technology. Like Prize Foundation, it provides a multi-track creative competition and conference platform with mentorship, networking, and cash or exposure-based prizes for emerging artists across disciplines.
- Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival: Cinequest is a California-based nonprofit festival combining film with creativity across disciplines. Its nonprofit festival model, emerging-creator focus, and multi-disciplinary programming closely parallel Prize Foundation's mission and Prize Fest structure.
- Palm Springs International ShortFest: Palm Springs International ShortFest is one of the largest short film festivals globally, with substantial cash prizes, industry mentorship, and Oscar-qualifying status. Its scale and prize structure place it as a primary direct competitor to Film Prize for short-film competition entrants.
- Austin Film Festival: Austin Film Festival is a Texas-based nonprofit film festival with cash prizes for screenwriters and filmmakers. Like Prize Foundation's Film Prize, it provides competition, mentorship, and screening opportunities for independent screenwriters and filmmakers, sharing regional South/Midwest submission talent.
- Slamdance Film Festival: Slamdance is an indie film festival run parallel to Sundance in Utah, dedicated to undiscovered filmmakers with cash prizes and screening slots. Its grassroots ethos and focus on emerging, first-time filmmakers directly overlap with Prize Foundation's Film Prize model.
Broad incumbents
- Sundance Film Festival: Sundance is the world's largest independent film festival held annually in Park City, UT. While much larger and focused exclusively on film, its mentor-judge relationship with Film Prize and adjacent focus on emerging indie filmmakers make it a major indirect competitor for high-prestige submissions.
- Tribeca Film Festival: Tribeca is a major New York-based film festival featuring independent film competitions. Its mentor-judge role in Film Prize and similar short film focus make it a larger-incumbent peer that Prize Foundation partners with and competes against for filmmaker attention.
Regional players
- New Orleans Film Festival: New Orleans Film Festival is a Louisiana-region film showcase highlighting independent cinema. It serves the same Gulf South short film creator community that Prize Foundation targets, making it a regional competitor for entries and audience attention in the same geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Prize Foundation social profiles
Digital presencePrize Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Prize Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Prize Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Prize Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Prize Foundation
What does Prize Foundation do?
Prize Foundation runs Prize Fest, an annual multi-day creative-arts competition and festival in Downtown Shreveport, Louisiana, combining seven cash-prize creative competitions (Film Prize up to $50,000, Music Prize $10,000, Food Prize, Comedy Prize $2,500, Photo Prize $1,000, Taco Wars, and Film Prize Junior) with industry mentorship, MPCon music conference, and the Prize Directory cast/crew talent platform. The organization sells festival passes and competition registrations, accepts charitable donations, and is funded by corporate and government sponsorships.
Is Prize Foundation a public or private company?
Prize Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Prize Foundation founded?
Prize Foundation was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Prize Foundation based?
Prize Foundation is headquartered in Shreveport, United States, in the North America region.
How does Prize Foundation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Festival Passes and Tickets are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships and donations.
Who are Prize Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Aspen Shortsfest, Cleveland International Film Festival, SXSW (South by Southwest), Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival, Palm Springs International ShortFest, Austin Film Festival and Slamdance Film Festival. Broad incumbents are Sundance Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival. New Orleans Film Festival is listed as a regional player.
Does Prize Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Prize Foundation.
What industry is Prize Foundation in?
Prize Foundation's product category is Creative Arts Competitions & Festival. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAG, Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations, with a secondary code of MPAGAFAJ, Arts, Crafts & Maker Fairs. Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 7990.