To enter Film Prize, competitors must first register their project before production begins. Submissions must be between five and fifteen minutes in length. Principal photography, defined as 90% of final runtime, must be conducted in Louisiana to be eligible for a $25,000 grand prize. If the winning production conducts principal photography inside Caddo Parish and/or Bossier Parish the prize is raised to $50,000.

Once registered, Film Prize staff is on-hand to provide support and guidance throughout the production process, assisting with identifying potential locations, equipment rentals, casting agencies, and even crew. This way, there are as few barriers to entry as possible, especially for those traveling from outside the Filming Zone who may not be familiar with the resources available to them.