Austin Fest Announces Contest Winners
The Austin Film Festival (AFF) has announced its 2008 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. More than 4,000 submissions were reviewed by an industry jury including Herschel Weingrod, producer of "Falling Down" and screenwriter of "Trading Places," "Twins," and "Kindergarten Cop," and Maggie Biggar, independent producer and Senior Vice President of Fortis Films. The following winners were selected by category:
Drama Screenplay: "Mine" Anita Skibski
Comedy Screenplay: "eLove" Betsy Morris
Latitude Productions Screenplay Award (This award is sponsored by Los Angeles-based motion picture production company Latitude Productions, which was founded by company President Curtis Burch.): "Shimmer Lake" Oren Uziel
Sci-Fi Screenplay: "The Man Who Would be Sherlock Homes" Walter Campbell
Drama Teleplay: "Pushing Daisies: Rumpology" Steve Daniels
Sitcom Teleplay: "The Office: The Crossword Contest" Beau Henry
In its 15-year history the AFF Screenplay and Teleplay Competition has served to jump-start many writing careers. In the competition's first year, screenplay competition winner Max Adams' script "Excess Baggage" was optioned by Columbia and made into a film starring Alicia Silverstone and Benicio Del Toro. Pamela Ribon, a finalist in the Sitcom category in 2001, is now a writer for ABC hit series "Samantha Who?" Matthew Federman and Stephen Scaia, 2003 Drama Teleplay Winners, began careers in writing for TV after their trip to Austin in 2003. The pair, who have written for shows including CBS' "Judging Amy," ABC's "E-ring," and the entire run of "Jericho," served as panelists at this year's festival.
Updated: 10/21/2008
Additional Contest Info: Austin Film Festival Script Competition
ScriptLinks
Post Your Script Here!Rod Knock
A newly single man encounters many comical mishaps in his work and social life, but he must prove himself worthy to his deriding buddies and his Latino lady friend.
THE WETTEST SPRING
In the late 1980's, Kurt Maxwell battles puberty and locker room myths, a family in the midst of dissolving, and on top of everything else, he must conquer Date Math at middle school.
THE LIGHT MAN
A woman at a music festival passes off two children to the light toy vendor.
PRETTY
Who can you trust when everyone loves you to death? When a trophy wife is manipulated by spouse and friends, she better find a way look out for herself or lose everything -- including her life.
Time Travel: Many Happy Returns
Two simple-minded brothers work part time at a science lab and find machinery in an unauthorized area that unknowingly transports them to Spain years before their time.
CLEAN LIVING
When her actor boyfriend delays marriage claiming money woes, Isabel tries to turn her inherited Smalltown cleaning service into a quick buck.
Med Frenzy - A Conspiracy
A single woman encounters an international unknown skin ailment and cannot get medical help, but in her desperate search for relief discovers the cause and a conspiracy between powerful government and industry entities—but who can she trust to investigate her claim? 9 locations
VITAMIN SEX
A frosty researcher determined to climb the career ladder with her brains not her body discovers data that suggests executives who have frequent sex are healthier and more successful.
JET LAG
Morgan Campbell is a bored teacher looking for adventures she can control without disturbing her carefully arranged life.
DREAMWEAVER
Need a sophomoric romp with sex, drugs, and rock and roll full of juvenile humor and a little bit of melodrama? The 16 to 24 market will love this.