Fledgling filmmakers should get their cameras ready — the local organization Art on the Square is calling for entries for Athens' first film festival.

The Southern Shorts Film Festival will be Oct. 17 with winning entries to be screened at a premiere party Oct. 16, said Alissa Rose-Clark with Art on the Square.

The site of the festival is to be determined.

Proceeds from the festival will go to Art on the Square to promote the arts in Athens. Funds raised at the premiere party will be divided between AOTS and Spirit of Athens, which support downtown revitalization.

Films submitted for the festival should be five to 15 minutes long and are due Oct. 1. They can be submitted in two categories: an unthemed, or open category, and one called Secret Athens, in which filmmakers can create a short movie about the pasts of local business, people with interesting pasts, ghost tales or other tales of local interest.

More information will be announced at www.aots-athens.com.

Some young Athenians got their first taste of filmmaking at a camp held Saturday at the Club House Cafe in downtown Athens.

Students in grades 7-12 learned the basics of filmmaking, pre and postproduction filmmaking, storytelling, writing scripts, film techniques and lighting from Don Tingle, workshop director for Alabama Film Co-op.

AOTS has created a blog to help the students with filmmaking issues and plans to assist with resources for those interested in producing a film. The blog, at www.southershotsfilm.blogspot.com, is for anyone interested in making films or who has insight into helping amateur filmmakers.

The blog will host guest bloggers from the filmmaking business who will offer tips and other helpful information.

For more information about AOTS, go to www.aots-athens.com.