By Ray Pride Pride@moviecitynews.com
AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2012 SCREENPLAY & TELEPLAY COMPETITION WINNERS
AUSTIN, Texas-Oct. 21, 2012-Austin Film Festival (AFF) is pleased to announce its 2012 Screenplay and Teleplay Competition winners. Winners received cash prizes ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, reimbursements for travel and lodging while at the festival, and access to and recognition by some of the most important writers, agents, producers and filmmakers in the industry.
A record number of over 6,500 submissions were received this year and the Finalists were reviewed by an industry jury including: Larry Doyle (screenwriter, Duplex, I Love Your Beth Cooper), Christopher Kyle (screenwriter, Serena, Alexander), Craig Mazin (screenwriter, The Hangover II), John J. McLaughlin (screenwriter, Hitchcock, Black Swan), Stephen Schiff (Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps, True Crime), Herschel Weingrod (producer, Falling Down and screenwriter, Trading Places, Twins, and Kindergarten Cop), Noah Hawley (showrunner, “My Generation” and executive producer, “The Unusuals”), Kyle Killen (showrunner, “Lonestar” and “Awake”), and Nancy Pimental (Executive Producer, Shameless).
The following winners were selected by category:
* Drama Screenplay Award presented by the Writers Guild of America, East: Jack Davidson “Clouds of Sorrow”
* Comedy Screenplay Award: Dan Shea “The P.A.N.D.A. War”
* Enderby Entertainment Award: Adeline Colangelo “The Break-Up Nurse”
* Dark Hero Studios Sci-Fi Award: “The Domain” by Michael Raymond (This award is sponsored by Dark Hero Studios, a new production company co-founded by company President David Hayter)
* One-Hour Teleplay Pilot: “Horizon” by B.D. Flory
* Sitcom Teleplay Pilot: “Katie and Becca Grow-Up” by Leila Cohan-Miccio
* One-Hour Teleplay Spec: Dexter “The Second Coming” by David Radcliff
* Sitcom Teleplay Spec: Modern Family “Earthquake Party” by Abi Wurdeman & Phil Wurdeman
In its 19-year history, the AFF Screenplay and Teleplay Competition has served to jumpstart many writing careers. In the competition’s first year, screenplay competition winner Max Adams’ script Excess Baggagewas optioned by Columbia and made into a film starring Alicia Silverstone and Benicio Del Toro. Rachel Long and Brian Pittman’s 2008 Semifinalist script Stranded was recently acquired in 2010 by Enderby Entertainment (Daniel Petrie, Jr. and Rick Dugdale’s production company). The project is currently in pre-production with Petrie set to direct. Julie Howe, 2010 Comedy Screenplay Award Winner for Jasper Milliken, signed an exclusive deal with Experience Media Studios through a contact from an AFF judge and panelist after winning. Christopher Cantwell, a 2010 Semifinalist, recently had his script “Off the Grid” optioned by Indian Paintbrush and his script (along with co-writer Chris Rogers) Shadow Runners will be produced by AFF panelist alum Simon Kinberg. For a full list of our success stories, please visit www.austinfilmfestival.com.
About the Austin Film Festival
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. The AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation, and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships. www.austinfilmfestival.com
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