Final Draft

2008 LA Film Festival Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the 2008 LA Film Festival!

- Target Filmmaker Award for Best Narrative Feature: The Prince of Broadway, directed by Sean Baker, written by Baker and Darren Dean

- The Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature: The Wackness, written and directed by Jonathan Levine

- Jury Prize for Best Performance went to Jennifer Lawrence who starred in Lori Petty's autobiographical The Poker House

- Best Narrative Short Film: Magic Paris, written and directed by Alice Winocour

- Best Animated or Experimental Short Film: I Have Seen the Future, directed by Cam Christiansen, written by Kris Demeanor, animated by Christiansen and Scott Underhill

- Audience Award for Best Short Film: Frankie, written and directed by Darren Thornton

* * *

- Target Documentary Award for Best Documentary Feature: Loot, written and directed by Darius Marder

- The Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature: Anvil! The Story of Anvil, directed by Sasha Gervasi

- A Special Documentary Jury Commendation was awarded to Pressure Cooker, directed by Jennifer Grausman and Mark Becker

- The Audience Award for Best International Feature: Man on Wire, directed by James Marsh

- Best Documentary Short Film: City of Cranes, directed by Eva Weber

- The Audience Award for Best Music Video: "Run,” directed by Melanie Mandl, music by Air

Jun 30, 2008 9:27 PM | Link | Comments (0) | Add Comment | Report Content

LA Film Festival Opens Tonight

The Los Angeles Film Festival, held annually for ten days in June, showcases the best of American and international independent cinema. With an expected attendance of over 100,000, the festival screens over 175 narrative features, documentaries, shorts, and music videos. Now in its fourteenth year, the festival has grown into a world-class event, uniting new filmmakers with critics, scholars, film masters, and the movie-loving public.

This year's festival runs from June 19 - June 29 in Westwood Village.

For more information, go to: www.LAFilmFest.com

Jun 19, 2008 1:15 PM | Link | Comments (0) | Add Comment | Report Content

Writers on the Verge - Ta’Raun Dunnigan

Final Draft’s own Senior Technician, Ta’Raun Dunnigan, just returned from screening his short film, The Fall, at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival Shorts Corner. Directed by Cineapse Pictures’ Aaron Wallace, The Fall was also an Official Selection of the 2007 ABFF.

The Fall is about a man (Mo) who races to save his former fiancé from committing suicide, all while reconciling his past actions.

To learn more about this film, and to view other films from Cineapse Pictures, visit www.cineapse.com

or go to:
Writers on the Verge

Jun 11, 2008 8:08 AM | Link | Comments (0) | Add Comment | Report Content

Script Frenzy Wrap Party

Final Draft joined the frenzy with The Office of Letters and Light’s 2008 Script Frenzy Wrap Party on April 30, 2008. This international writing event includes over 8,000 participants, making it the largest contest of its kind. The goal of the event is inspire its global village to write a feature-length screenplay in exactly one month.

Jun 5, 2008 1:28 PM | Link | Comments (0) | Add Comment | Report Content

Scripteast Awards - May 21, 2008

At this year's Cannes Film Festival, Scripteast unveiled the winner of the Krzysztof Kieślowski TVP Award for the Best Eastern and Central European Script. Benedek Fliegauf, writer of The Womb, received the unique statue by Adam Fedorowicz and a cheque of 10.000 €. ScripTeast is a project based training program which is designed specifically for scriptwriters from Eastern and Central Europe. Final Draft will be sponsoring Scripteast starting in 2008. This partnership will supply Final Draft Screenwriting Software for the organization's international roster of writers.

Jun 3, 2008 2:36 PM | Link | Comments (0) | Add Comment | Report Content

Big Break Deadline Approaching

Final Draft’s 9th Annual Big Break International Screenwriting Contest offers writers $30,000 in cash and prizes, plus mentorship and Hollywood meetings. With cash, rewards, mentorship, and industry exposure, Big Break lives up to its name. Winners and finalists have had their screenplays optioned and produced and have secured high-profile representation as well as lucrative writing deals. Enter by June 1 for your Big Break! June 15 extended deadline includes $10 additional processing fee. www.finaldraft.com/bigbreak

May 30, 2008 7:28 AM | Link | Comments (0) | Add Comment | Report Content

FINAL DRAFT Inc’s Take A Meeting in Los Angeles: September 5 - 7 & in New York: November 7 - 9

Final Draft, Inc., publisher of Final Draft®, the #1-selling scriptwriting software, today announced that its Take A Meeting event is open for registration. Meetings cost $79, for which registrants receive 15 minutes of dedicated face time to meet and present ideas in a relaxed environment. In return, prospective writers receive invaluable advice from executives about how to improve their concepts and further develop their projects. The Take A Meeting event is an ancillary service that supports Final Draft, Inc.’s mission to educate and provide access for writers.

Marc Madnick, CEO/Founder of Final Draft, Inc., states, “We are very excited about bringing industry decision-makers from reputable companies together to meet one-on-one with aspiring writers. While other events allow writers and executives to meet face to face, our Take A Meeting event offers writers more time to develop a rapport and gain professional feedback on career choices, stories and ideas.”

“In addition to cultivating industry relationships,” Shelly Mellott, VP of Events and Publications at Final Draft, Inc. adds, “participants will also benefit by attending seminars and classes made available at no extra charge.”

The seminars comprise the educational component of the event and will focus on the craft and business of writing and selling scripts, while the kick-off morning event sponsored by Cinestory will help build attendee confidence and set a positive tone by facilitating exercises to help foster good presentation techniques.

Mellott adds, “Writers will gain access to valuable information from leading professionals and will leave inspired, having learned from and met other writers and executives in the business.”

2008 Dates: Los Angeles and New York
Sept. 5-7 – Los Angeles
Nov. 7-9 – New York

For more information, visit: www.finaldraft.com/takeameeting

May 28, 2008 2:38 PM | Link | Comments (0) | Add Comment | Report Content

Surf’s Up at the 2008 Maui Film Festival

The Maui Film Festival, to be held June 11 through June 15, 2008, at the Wailea Resort and the state-of-the-art Maui & Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului, will open with the film Bottle Shock and close with Down the Barrel at its under-the-stars Celestial Cinema.

The Festival will honor Pierce Brosnan, Felicity Huffman, Virgina Madsen, and Dennis Quaid, who will attend to accept their awards. Now in its 9th year, the Maui Film Festival will carry on its tradition of presenting great film and great film artists, events, panels and more on one of the world's most beautiful islands.

Festival Director Barry Rivers said, "All of us on Maui are greatly honored to have this year's 'ohana (family) of luminaries, Pierce Brosnan, Felicity Huffman, Virginia Madsen and Dennis Quaid grace the Maui Film Festival at Wailea's Intimate Conversations and Tributes. Their combined talent, energy and charisma will truly be a night to remember."

The Festival will honor Pierce Brosnan, Virginia Madsen, and Dennis Quaid on Thursday, June 12, at a tribute and intimate conversation at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. Brosnan (Mama Mia, Die Another Day) will receive the Maverick Award, which honors a film artist for their commitment to making movies that matter and their efforts to work for both environmental justice and the triumph for all Life on Earth. Academy Award nominee Madsen (Sideways, The Astronaut Farmer) will receive the Navigator Award, which honors a film artist for carving a path of distinction through the turbulent waters of the entertainment industry without sacrificing their fundamental commitment to excellence. Past recipients include William Hurt and Greg Kinnear. Quaid (Far From Heaven, Vantage Point) will receive the Galaxy Award, which honors a film artist whose ongoing delivery of star-making performances forever guarantees a spotlight in the constellation of cinematic stardom. Past recipients include Joan Allen.

Academy Award nominee Felicity Huffman (Transamerica, Desperate Housewives) will receive the Nova Award on Friday, June 13. This award honors a film artist who's stunningly original and seamless performances consistently infuse each character they play with unique insight and wisdom. Past recipients include Claire Danes. The Festival will also screen the film Phoebe in Wonderland, which Huffman also stars in with Elle Fanning, Patricia Clarkson, and Bill Pullman.

FILM SCREENINGS:
Based on a true story, Bottle Shock, which will open this year's Festival, recreates the early days of the California wine industry and the now infamous 1976 "Judgment of Paris," a 'blind' wine tasting where California wines trumped the French and shocked the world. This dramady stars Bill Pullman, Alan Rickman, Chris Pine, Rachael Taylor, Freddy Rodriguez, Eliza Dushku and Dennis Farina.

The Festival will close with the screening of Down the Barrel. The film follows Kelly Slater's pursuit of an unprecedented eighth World Championship Tour title, Kalani Robb's insight into the North Shore's miracles, Joel Parkinson's demonstration of Australia's obsession with surfing, and Rob Machado's Zen approach to the sea from North Short Oahu to Tahiti, Australia, California and France in this spectacularly photographed adventure.

Other films screening as part of the Celestial Cinema program include: Encounters at the End of the World, director Werner Herzog's documentary on Antarctica; The Fall, directed by Tarsem; The Great Buck Howard, starring John Malkovich, Colin Hanks, Emily Blunt and Tom Hanks; Miss Conception, starring Heather Graham; Young @ Heart, the documentary of the Young @ Heart choir whose average age is 82; and the world premieres of Hawaiian Starlight, a seven-years-in-the-making cinematic symphony shot in time-lapse using the telescopes on top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii, and Water Man, a documentary featuring surfing legends Laird Hamilton and Gerry Lopez among others on an Indonesian journey in search of perfect waves.

In addition to the Celestial Cinema, The Maui Film Festival offers four other distinct venues for attendees to enjoy. For a complete list of films, go to www.mauifilmfestival.com.

EVENTS:
Maui Film Festival attendees will also continue to enjoy its signature culinary events. On Wednesday, June 11, there will be the Taste of the Islands Opening Night Twilight Reception at The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui. Thursday, June 12, the late night Starry Night MoonDance will take place at Tommy Bahama Tropical Cafe at the Shops at Wailea. On Friday, June 13 the Taste of Chocolate will be held at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. Then on Saturday, June 14, the culinary artists of Wailea Resort will also present the Taste of Wailea overlooking the Celestial Cinema at the Wailea Gold & Emerald Golf Courses. Finally on Sunday June 15, Makana will perform a special Father's Day Concert at the Celestial Cinema.

The 2008 Annual Maui Film Festival at Wailea will be held June 11-15, 2008. For additional information, call the Film Festival Headquarters at (808) 572-3456 or visit www.mauifilmfestival.com.

May 22, 2008 3:57 PM | Link | Comments (0) | Add Comment | Report Content

Hollywood Networking Breakfast® on Thursday, May 29

Check out Sandra Lord’s Hollywood Networking Breakfast®.

This award-winning event (“Best Networking Event in LA”) provides access to Hollywood's power players, and has featured Academy®, Golden Globe and Emmy® award winners and nominees. A valuable resource for attendees, the event has facilitated many collaborations and networking opportunities.

This month's event is on Thursday, May 29.

The special guest panel will be:

- JASON NADLER, Head, UTAOnline, The Internet Division of UTA Talent Agency

- BARRETT GARESE, Agent, UTAOnline, The Internet Division of UTA Talent Agency

Jason U. Nadler is the head of UTAOnline, the broadband division of top Hollywood talent and literary agency, United Talent Agency. The division is run by four agents who are devoted to scouting out up-and-coming creators of Internet content — particularly video — and finding work for them in Web-based advertising and entertainment, as well as in traditional media. With the recent writers’ strike, the Internet has become a viable market for creative talent, the networks and studios. As one of the industry’s first dedicated online media agents, Jason Nadler, along with agent, Barrett Garese, discovers and represents premier video content creators, bloggers, and other digital artists working on the Internet.

Location: Beverly Hills Country Club, 3084 Motor Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90064

Date: May 29, 2008 (for on-time registration, checks must be postmarked by 5/22/08)

Cost: On-time registration: $40, Pre-confirmed late registration: $45, Walk-ins: $50

Time: Check-in starts at 7:20 am. The breakfast begins at 8:00 am and lasts until approximately 10:30 am.

* As a special treat, everyone will get 15 seconds to introduce themselves to the room. This is a popular, but optional feature. Be prepared. Networking concludes the morning’s activities, so be sure to bring business cards and a notepad. *

Business Casual Attire Required (no jeans, t-shirts, sweats, or other inappropriate clothing). For specific requirements, as well as detailed reservation info, go to Changing Images in America. Changing Images in America is a non-profit organization, promoting diversity in entertainment.

For more information, go to Changing Images in America.

May 20, 2008 8:55 AM | Link | Comments (0) | Add Comment | Report Content

Final Draft supports Grade/High School Short Film Competition

Final Draft supported the Grade School/High School Short Film Competition at the Phoenix Film Festival.

Final Draft supplied winner Michael Morone with scriptwriting software that will serve him throughout his career. Prelude, directed by Michael Morone, tells the story of a deaf woman who becomes involved with a deaf pianist. When their relationship is forced apart, all they are left with is a short, sweet, and resonating prelude.

May 14, 2008 9:40 AM | Link | Comments (0) | Add Comment | Report Content