NIU film and video artists can have the chance for a cash prize and a handshake from “Silence of the Lambs” director Jonathan Demme within the next month.

Student and professional artists throughout Illinois are invited to submit their film work in the 16th Festival of Illinois Film and Video Artists. The cash prizes total $1,000 and competition finalists will receive Certificates of Merit.

The award-winning projects and other selected competition works will be screened for the public during the Festival of Illinois Film and Video Artists May 17-19 at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago. Demme will present the awards to the winning artists May 18 at 8 p.m.

Although students and professionals compete in a combined competition, “students usually sweep the boards at the festivals,” said Lisa M.R. Formosa, associate director of the festival.

Student entries usually come from schools with strong film programs, she said.

“Northern already has three entries in this year’s festival. We frequently get entries from NIU,” she said.

The jury panel for the festival, which is sponsored by Columbia College’s Department of Film and Video and the Illinois Arts Council, consists of three men and three women.

The panel includes the film critic for the “Chicago Reader” and the executive director for Chicago Cinema. Anthony Loeb, chairperson of Columbia’s film and video department, will again serve as director of the festival, which he founded in 1975.

The festival was originally limited to Chicago artists only, but as it grew larger, it was expanded to include the entire state in 1978. In 1984, the festival’s format expanded again to include video.

Narrative, documentary, animated and experimental 16mm films and video tapes under 30 minutes in length can be entered in the competition and a $10 fee is required for each entry. Works primarily for the purposes of instruction, education, promotion or advertising will not be considered.

Entries will be judged on the basis of originality, resourcefulness, entertainment value and production quality, without regard to production cost or subject matter.

The deadline for entries is Friday, April 19, but Formosa said late submittals are accepted, provided they are cleared with her in advance.

For complete festival rules, entry forms and additional information, contact Formosa at (312) 663-1600, extension 434.