Kansas City Improv Festival

About the Kansas City Improv Festival:

In 1994  Kansas City’s Lighten Up Improv Co. gave birth to the first independent improv festival, and they named it Spontaneous Combustion.

“SpoCom” presented groups from Minneapolis, Iowa and Lawrence shared the stage with locals, butlater, SpoCom reached many other groups in Seattle, Boulder, Minneapolis, Frederick (Maryland) and Chicago.

After four years SpoCom became The US Improv Festival. Invited by KC’s new troupe, Funny Outfit, big-name directors like LA’s Dan O’Connor, Chicago’s Rebecca Sohn and Joe Bill, Rob Reese and NYC’s Jeff Wirth were all added to the mix.

With a new name, the fest continued to grow, and so did its young performers. SNL’s Jason Sudekis, Sonic guy TJ Jagodowki, 30 Rock’s Jack McBrayer and Second City performers Mark Sutton, Corey Rittmaster and Tim Mason.

In 2007, City 3- former students of the Lighten Up Improv Co.’s high school improv league- teamed up with original producers and the fest was dubbed, The KC Improv Festival.

In 2007, City 3–former students of the Lighten Up Improv Co.’s high school improv league–teamed up with original producers and dubbed the fest The KC Improv Festival. They passed it off to the KC Improv Company, which produces today’s festival. They’ve built on the festival’s reputation for taking care of audiences and performers, and taken it to the next level.

 

INDEPENDENT FILM QUARTERLY FILM & WEBISODE FESTIVAL

Los Angeles, California – USA
January 30 to February 2, 2013

Upcoming Deadline: December 28

The 3rd Annual Independent Film Quarterly Film & Webisode Festival (IFQ Festival) brings together the best in film and new media works in a competitive festival engineered by Independent Film Quarterly. The festival presents short- and long-form creative works that each demonstrate a unique personal vision, and honors the efforts of up-and-comers, established professionals, and tomorrow’s industry leaders, alike. Participants can enjoy red carpet galas, networking events, and a venue right in the thick of the entertainment capital of the world.

IFQ Festival winners will benefit from a profile interview featured in Independent Film Quarterly. The festival also presents valuable industry seminars on topics of domestic and international distribution, and has shepherded its winners to distribution deals through Netflix, VOD Video on Demand, CurrentTV, and global distributors respected the world over. Feature-length films, documentaries, screenplays, shorts, webisodes, and mobile content are all welcomed by IFQ. Submit your work to the Independent Film Quarterly Film & Webisode Festival today and get ready to share it with the world!

 

PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Palm Beach, Florida – USA
April 4 to 11, 2013

UPCOMING DEADLINE
December 31, 2012 – Late Deadline

The 18th Annual Palm Beach International Film Festival (PBIFF), is offering eight days of world premieres, special events, and a program of feature, documentary, and short films that will amaze, entertain, and inspire. From its opening night reception to its closing night celebration, PBIFF is an energized and unforgettable foray into the magic of the movies. Set against the backdrop of one of the most beloved beach communities in the United States, fueled by enthusiastic volunteers, and supported through strong ties to its community, PBIFF is proud to treat each of its visitors like the industry powerhouses they are – or soon will be.

PBIFF boasts an impressive roster of alums, including Oscar-winner Bobby Moresco (Crash), Academy Award nominees Jason Reitman (Up in the Air) and Joel Zwick (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), and Spirit Award nominee Ricki Stern (The Trials of Darryl Hunt). Participating filmmakers compete for a variety of awards across several categories and benefit from festival transportation to and from the Palm Beach International Airport, discounted hotel rates, transportation to all festival events, and passes to films, panels, galas, and industry panels. Throughout the whole experience, PBIFF’s friendly staff and volunteers ensure that each festival guest gets the most out of his or her time in Palm Beach.

PBIFF is motivated by the films and the filmmakers it serves and is dedicated to expanding opportunities and visibility for top-notch cinematic achievements. PBIFF invites independent theater owners and bookers from across the U.S. to screen films and meet filmmakers during the festival in an effort to help independent artists get their projects seen by larger audiences. The festival also hosts a number of events where filmmakers can mix and mingle with industry guests; PBIFF is truly a place where career-launching relationships are built and future collaborations are born.

The festival is dedicated to making a positive and long-lasting difference in the lives of

young people who share the festival’s spirit of creativity and its passion for film. That’s why, every year, proceeds from PBIFF are directed towards Palm Beach County schools to provide new technologies, grants, and scholarships for the innovative pioneers of the future. Major industry players including Anthony Hopkins, Adrian Brody, Brett Ratner, Samuel L. Jackson, and Edward Norton have also contributed their services and resources to PBIFF’s cause and have enriched the festival experience for years on end.

Recent PBIFF honorees include long-time Palm Beach resident and Academy Award nominee Burt Reynolds, The Blind Side’s Quinton Aaron – who also doubled as a guest deejay, and Academy Award nominees James Cromwell (LA Confidential) and Richard Jenkins (The Visitor). Much like its host city, the festival offers a warm, social, and unpredictable energy alive with the spirit of possibility. See for yourself why Moviemaker Magazine raves, “Class is the name of the game…and PBIFF has it in droves”…submit your film to the Palm Beach International Film Festival today!

THE TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL

New York, New York – USA
April 17 to 28, 2013

UPCOMING DEADLINE
December 28, 2012 – Withoutabox Deadline

The Tribeca Film Festival spurs the economic and cultural revitalization of the lower Manhattan district through an annual celebration of film, music, and culture. It also helps filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, exposes the general community to the power of cinema, and promotes New York City as a major filmmaking center. The festival is currently seeking world premiere feature films for this amazing 12-day event.

It showcases a diverse range of films including American indies, international premieres, documentaries, and genre films, including a World Narrative Competition Section and a World Documentary Competition Section. Tribeca also has a partnership with ESPN to showcase sports films. Alumni include such names as Jeff Nichols, Lisa Cholodenko, Seth Gordon, Paul Greengrass, Ed Burns, Alma Har’el, Zak Penn, Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady, Jeff Garlin, Tomas Alfredson, James Franco, Ricki Stern, Anne Sundberg, Cameron Crowe, and Ti West.

TFF provides a one-of-a-kind festival experience and an unparalleled opportunity for exposure in New York. A premiere at Tribeca truly means the world is watching. For the chance to unveil your latest work at this prestigious festival, submit your world premiere feature film to the Tribeca Film Festival today!

NexTv Talent Search for Directors & Actors

Los Angeles, California – USA
Winners Announced: March 28, 2013

UPCOMING DEADLINE
December 21, 2012 – Late Deadline

MISSION AND OBJECTIVE
The NexTv Talent Search for Directors & Actors aligns the industry’s top decision-makers with some of the brightest film and television talents of tomorrow.

MORE ABOUT THE COMPETITION
This year’s NexTv Talent Search for Directors & Actors includes an optional “viewer’s choice” mini-competition, through which audience selection will determine five of the NexTv finalists. Participating submissions will be posted on the NexTv website one month after their receipt by NexTv, allowing online voters to cast their ballots for a favorite submission of the month. Whether your film is beloved by NexTv’s online audience or by its esteemed panel of industry judges, or both, success in the NexTv Talent Search can offer a considerable boost to your career. Actors and directors: submit your creative samples to the NexTv Talent Search for Directors & Actors today!

NexTv understands the value of industry mentorship and offers tremendous advantages to emerging talents ready to embrace their futures. Winners in each competitive category – including Comedy Director, Drama Director, Unscripted Director, Actor Age 17 and Younger, and Actor Age 18 and Older – will be announced in a press release delivered to more than 10,000 industry professionals and will be featured in a multimedia industry showcase that hints at a bold new future for Hollywood. The NexTv Grand Prize-winner will receive all of these benefits, as well as a trip to Los Angeles to embark on meetings with high-level industry players like Lynette Ramirez, Sr. Vice President of Development and Production at George Lopez Presents.

Applicants are encouraged to submit any materials – such as shorts, webisodes, monologues, or reels – that display their talents and excite viewers. Finalists will be selected based on overall quality of work and on perceived viability in the industry marketplace. Directors who submit samples of their work to NexTv will receive a free copy of The Producer’s Handbook, a guide filled with checklists, contracts, and expert advice on the business of industry salesmanship and personal branding. Actors who submit their creative samples will receive a free copy of The Actor’s Handbook, which unlocks the secrets to taking control of an acting career in just eight weeks.

 

Over The Fence Comedy film festival

16 Annual September 01, 2013 to September 10, 2013

Australian’s prime Comedy Film Festival has opened the call for entries

Short Film
Short films that take comedy into new, daring and excellent new realms of humour – black, tragi, adventure, slapstick, docu/mockumentar etc……..
up to 15 mins.
Longer Short Film
Comedy short films from 16+ minutesCan include a comedy series or feature film

OTF Vision are:
1. To encourage and stimulate new comedy production.
2. To exhibit broad range of work for and to local audiences.
3. To dedicate a film festival to the genre comedy.
4. To celebrate comic culture, humour and verve.
5. To entertain, and
6. To inspire

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Over The Fence, one of the world’s great Comedy film festivals is backl!
Our criteria for a comedy short film is simple `a film which is driven by, or, ultimately concludes with an excellent sense of humour’.

OTF International is now calling for entries for the 16th Over The Fence Comedy Film Festival showcasing the funny, satirical, quirky, outrageous, fantastic and bizarre humour of emerging, new and independent filmmakers from around the world.

REEL EARTH FILM FESTIVAL

Palmerston North – New Zealand
June 14 to 22, 2013

Inviting environmentally focussed films of all genres, types and lengths from around the globe to submit. Award categories are: Best Feature Length, Best Short, Best Ultra-Short, Best Science Communication, Best Environmental Sustainability, and Best New Zealand Emerging Talent.

UPCOMING DEADLINE
December 15, 2012 – Regular Deadline

MISSION AND OBJECTIVE
The Reel Earth Film Festival operates from the belief that storytelling can change attitudes, affect behavior, and benefit the planet. It aims to make a positive impact on the environment by celebrating socially-conscious filmmakers and spreading their works to audiences in and beyond the festival.

MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Palmerston North not only plays host to Reel Earth, but is also the home of Massey University and several leading science, research, and environmentally-focused organizations. Both the city and the festival offer a warm, exciting, and intellectually curious environment full of people who care deeply about the planet and each other. Submit your socially-conscious or environmental-themed works to Reel Earth today for the chance to participate in a festival where knowledge and creativity work hand-in-hand!

The 9th Annual Reel Earth Film Festival, is the Southern Hemisphere’s leading nature, science, and environment-oriented film festival. A destination event for proven and emerging talents with a passion for film and Earth’s delicate global community, Reel Earth is an inspiring symposium addressing a broad range of topics and offering a diverse lineup of powerful cinematic works. Official selections may take the form of probing documentaries, animated works, or fictional narratives, among other genres and styles.

Reel Earth is committed to making a positive difference on the environment by connecting audiences with authentic stories of the evolving world around them. Selected top films featured during Reel Earth’s 11-day festival are granted even greater public exposure and the chance to further spread their powerful messages by touring throughout New Zealand. Last year’s program – including an animated journey into the life of plastic, an eight-year-old’s take on climate change, and a world in which water and oil are transposed – wowed Reel Earth visitors and shifted more than a few perspectives.

Reel Earth boasts an impressive roster of award-winning films from past editions, including Lizzie Gillet’s The Age of Stupid, Rupert Murray’s The End of the Line, Monte Thompson’s Call of Life, Peter Wedel’s The Bill, and Kevin White and David Donnefield’s A Simple Question: The Story of STRAW. All visiting filmmakers are ensured complete access to Reel Earth’s screenings, receptions, and special events, including the opportunity to participate in the unique Filmmakers in Schools program which invites guest filmmakers into local classrooms during the festival to inform and inspire students.

FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL

Maitland, Florida – USA
April 5 to 14, 2013

UPCOMING DEADLINE
December 7, 2012 – Late Deadline

The 22nd Annual Florida Film Festival (FFF), is an oasis for filmmakers and film lovers and a respected regional showcase for the best in foreign and American independent cinema. Named one of the “Top 10 Festivals in the World” by Chris Gore, author of The Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide, and declared one of the “20 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” by MovieMaker Magazine, FFF presents a jam-packed program of unforgettable films, incredible parties, memorable tributes, and enlightening seminars. The dynamic slate transplants the best and boldest aspects of Hollywood to the arts-driven Southeast, just outside the bustling tourist center of Orlando.

The festival presents honors to top films in a variety of categories, including Grand Jury Awards, Special Jury Awards, and Audience Awards. As a qualifying festival for the Academy Awards in both live-action and animated short film categories, FFF has the potential to launch talented filmmakers and their promising careers to unimagined heights. Just a few noteworthy festival alums who have gone on to much success after premiering early works at FFF include Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild), Brett Morgan (Crossfire Hurricane), and Jay and Mark Duplass (Cyrus).

MISSION AND OBJECTIVE
The Florida Film Festival offers a one-of-a-kind celebration of the very best in American independent and foreign cinema. As diverse and as invigorating as the place it calls home, FFF offers 10 days and nights of thrilling entertainment and networking opportunities for those eager to advance their industry careers.


DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Dallas, Texas – USA
April 4 to 14, 2013

UPCOMING DEADLINE
December 7, 2012 – Regular Deadline

MISSION AND OBJECTIVE
The Dallas International Film Festival celebrates and honors filmmakers for their engagement in their creative communities and seeks to assist in future endeavors through increased exposure and financial reward.

MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Fostering interaction between filmmakers, audience members, and the Dallas community has long been a hallmark of DIFF. The festival attracts participants from all corners of the filmmaking process, including Academy Award-winners Kathryn Bigelow, Helen Hunt, Charlize Theron, Robert DeNiro, and Adrien Brody. Bursting with master classes, lively screenings, and panel discussions, DIFF connects filmmakers of all experience levels with the artists they admire and the answers they crave. What’s more, the entire experience unfolds with just the kind of folksy, warm-hearted spirit you’d expect to find in one of most beloved cities in Texas.

See for yourself why Save the Date director Michael Mohan raves, “So far in my travels, Dallas has been the most filmmaker friendly. The crowds are the best. The organization is the best. The hospitality is the best.” Submit your film to the Dallas International Film Festival today!

The 7th Annual Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF), is an 11-day celebration of remarkable films and their indelible impact on audiences. Last year’s DIFF drew more than 32,000 film lovers with a program of international premieres, red carpet galas, and filmmaker panels that opened eyes and broadened horizons. Promising another stellar slate and turnout this year, DIFF is proud to once again bring high-caliber entertainment to the warm and welcoming American Southwest.

DIFF creates an inclusive vibe that puts all exhibiting filmmakers on the highest pedestal; from the first-time short-form filmmaker to the award-winning industry veteran, all are treated with the same hospitality, press coverage, and respect. Each filmmaker is paired with a local host, often a leader in the film community, to help make their Dallas experience a memorable one; many past filmmakers have connected with individuals that have been instrumental in the success of their future projects through this host program. DIFF also offers travel and accommodation assistance when possible to ensure that selected filmmakers can personally present their films at the festival.

DIFF honors top narrative, documentary, and short films, and also offers a category reserved for films shot in or about the Lone Star State. In 2013, the festival will also celebrate Italian cinema through a special programming section. Grand Jury prize-winners in feature-length categories will walk away with a $10,000 USD unrestricted cash prize, and filmmakers who win in the Texas Competition will receive a Panavision camera rental package for the filming of their next project valued at $30,000. For the third year, The Embry Family Foundation will present the Silver Heart Award, a $10,000 cash prize, to a film dedicated to creating social change and fighting injustice.

Crossroads Film Festival

14 Annual April 12, 2013 to April 14, 2013

MISSION & OBJECTIVE
The Crossroads Film Festival provides Jackson, Mississippi and the Southeast region with a forum for independent film and video, in addition to being an advocate for film and video production in the American Southeast. The festival seeks to showcase the best films and videos from around the world for a culturally diverse audience.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
If you think you know Mississippi … think again! Jackson, Mississippi is the cultural crossroads of the south (hence the name – Crossroads Film Festival) and is the place where all the good stuff gets thrown together. This is where the music of delta Bluesman Robert Johnson runs straight into the home of the International Ballet Competition. We are home to Tennessee Williams, Willie Morris, Eudora Welty, William Faulkner, James Earl Jones, Oprah Winfrey, Morgan Freeman, and some of the world’s greatest historians, photographers, and musicians.

The Crossroads Film Festival is also home to some real quirky and creative folks, fried catfish, sweet tea, and a film festival to rival the best of them. Come challenge Mississippi’s creative class & be showered in Southern hospitality. There’ll be cash prizes, Southern celebrities, workshops, daily receptions and nightly jukin’ with live music. It’s all about your story.