You don't have to be Jewish to join the 14th annual Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival's short video contest, just someone who loves making movies or, more to the point, wants to learn how.

The festival presents a pre-production workshop Sunday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. at the Tampa Jewish Community Center, 13009 Community Campus Drive in Tampa. The workshop will be conducted by area industry professionals including Rose Rosen, a Tampa casting director who has worked on numerous  films (Edward Scissorhands among them), commercials and television shows; and indie producer and film professor Greg LeSar.

The workshop will provide an overview of this year's theme, plus tips on casting, locations, shoot schedules, production and post-production techniques.

It's all in preparation for next festival in March, 2010. Entries will be accepted through Dec. 31. 

Videos may be up to five minutes long focusing on one of the two topic choices: 1) Judaism, the Jewish people, or being Jewish or 2) interfaith issues and opportunities. Cash prizes up to $750 will be awarded in several age categories. Winners will also be shown at the festival.

For moe information, check out the video posted above, or contact contest coordinator Pamela Behar at amela.behar@jewishtampa.com or 813.769.4703.