Why doesn the short film competition have separate categories for dramas, comedies, documentaries, etc.?
Most film festivals and competitions have separate categories for dramas and comedies, as well as for narratives, documentaries, and music videos. For the following reason, though, The Boston Motion Picture Awards do not have separate categories: Making a drama is not necessarily harder than making a comedy, and making a narrative film is not necessarily harder than making a documentary. Too often at festivals you’ll find several motion pictures worthy of recognition, but they’re all in one category, such as comedy, so only one can win an award. Meanwhile, the winning film in another category, such as documentary, isn’t nearly as well made as the comedies that didn’t win in their own category. The purpose of the BMPAs is to recognize and reward excellent filmmaking, no matter the form or genre.
