Submit your Family Film or Screenplay to the Festival:http://festivalforfamily.com
Watch the best of Family from October 2016:
 FEATURE Screenplay: CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES October 2016 Reading Written by Cate Carson |
 BEST SCENE Screenplay – PARADISE AT MAIN AND ELM October 2016 Reading Written by Barry Brennessel |
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Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Watch the October 2016 Winning Family Feature Screenplay.
CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES
Written by Cate Carson
SYNOPSIS:
Genre: Family, Drama, Fantasy
After losing her mother, a vexed 9 y.o. girl discovers a dream machine hidden in her deaf father’s workshop, but an unexpected friendship with a quirky boy becomes the real cure to her loneliness.
CAST LIST:
NARRATOR – Michelle Alexander
CHARLOTTE – Katelyn Varadi
OLIVER – Gabriel Darku
MS. GRAY – Sandy Kellerman
OLDER CHARLOTTE – Julie C. Sheppard
OLDER OLIVER – Rikki Wright
Get to know the winning writer:
What is your screenplay about?
After losing her mother, a vexed 8 y.o. girl discovers a dream machine hidden in her deaf father’s workshop, but an unexpected friendship with a quirky boy becomes the real cure to her loneliness.
What genres does your screenplay under?
Family/Holiday/Dramedy
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
Everyone experiences grief and everyone needs love to heal. This film is one that can speak to all ages and will bring audiences on an adventure while making them laugh and cry, but most importantly – feel.
How would you describe this script in two words?
Quirky and endearing
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Liar Liar, Forrest Gump and either the Die Hard series or Lethal Weapon series. This is a very tough question.
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
Two years
How many stories have you written?
Probably around 10
What motivated you to write this screenplay?
I heard of someone named Charlotte Sometimes, fell in love with it and built a character and story around it.
What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Making sure the whimsical fantasy elements aligned well with the real world. Making sure everything had a purpose. I was grateful for the extensive feedback from this festival because it helped me more critically analyze and fix this portion of my screenplay.
Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I am also a director, actor and producer. I own a company called Sensorium Pictures. Besides film I love creating other types of art, photography, the outdoors and am passionate about finding my place as a humanitarian. I have always wanted to help people and telling their stories is only one avenue for doing that.
Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Write and keep writing. Try to show your work to people who are better than you. There will always be someone with value to add. Submitting to a few festivals with script feedback can be a tremendous help – especially after you have exhausted your inner circle and want fresh eyes. Your friends and family count only if they know what they’re talking about.
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Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Casting: Sean Ballantyne
Editing: John Johnson
Submit your Family Film or Screenplay to the Festival:http://festivalforfamily.com
Watch the best of Family from September 2016:
 THE CHAMPION, 17min, USA, DocumentaryWATCH Audience FEEDBACK September 2016 Film Festival |
 BACK TO THE FUTURE?, 10min., USA, Comedy/Sci-FiWATCH Audience FEEDBACK September 2016 Film Festival |
 TV SPEC Screenplay: MODERN FAMILY September 2016 Reading Written by Chai Karve |
 BEST SCENE Screenplay – 3 FAMILIES September 2016 Reading Written by J.D. Poland |
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Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Watch the September 2016 Winning FAMILY Short Screenplay.
| CAPITAL STEPS Written by Jennifer Renner SYNOPSIS: Genre: Family, Drama, Comedy Two fifth-grade boys try to learn how to play the game of politics. CAST LIST: NARRATOR – Sean Ballantyne |
Get to know the writer:
What is your screenplay about?
Two fifth-grade boys find themselves entrenched in the world of politics.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Family, comedy .
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
It is a comedic look at many of the foibles of modern politics that would hopefully lead to discussions about politics while providing a few laughs.
How would you describe this script in two words?
Farcical civics
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
I wrote the first draft of this screenplay about seven years ago, then put it away. I found it earlier this year and started rewriting it.
How many stories have you written?
More than a handful, less than a ton.
What motivated you to write this screenplay?
For some reason, the ridiculous behavior of politicians has been on my mind lately…
What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
It was, at times, difficult to keep the story simple and straightforward while still maintaining some level of believability (though this is a satire and meant to be seen as such).
Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Participating in interesting experiences that I can use in my writing.
Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Just keep writing and don’t let the man get you down.
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Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Editor: John Johnson
Casting Director: Sean Ballatyne
Submit your Family Film or Screenplay to the Festival:http://festivalforfamily.com
Watch the best of Family from August 2016:
 101 CUPCAKES, 13min, Australia, Family/DramaWATCH Audience FEEDBACK |  NOVEL Prologue – THE ACE OF KINGS August 2016 Reading Written by Dan Levinson |
 LUCY, 16min, Greece, Family/DramaWATCH Audience FEEDBACK |
 GHOSTBOY, 9min., UK, Animation/ComedyWATCH Audience FEEDBACK |
 AWESOME BEETLE’S COLORS, 3min, Latvia, Animation/MusicalWATCH Audience FEEDBACK |
 INSIDE, 3min., Belguim, Animation/Comedy WATCH Audience FEEDBACK |
 5476 Miles, 4min, UK, Animation/Music VideoWATCH Audience FEEDBACK |
 SPARROW DUET, 4min, USA, Animation/ExperimentalWATCH Audience FEEDBACK |
 A SMALL VOICE, 2min, UK, Animation/DramaWATCH Audience FEEDBACK |
 BOTTOMLESS, 2min, USA, Animation/BiographyWATCH Audience FEEDBACK |
 SEA OF INK, 3min, USA, Animation/DramaWATCH Audience FEEDBACK |
 1916, 4min, UK, Animation/DramaWATCH Audience FEEDBACK |
 TIME SMASH, 2min., USA, Animation/Sci-FiWATCH Audience FEEDBACK |
 JAILBREAK, 1min., USA, Animation/Crime WATCH Audience FEEDBACK |
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Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Watch and see the best of the August 2016 Family/Animation Film Festival
| AUDIENCE FEEDBACK VIDEO: |
INSIDE, 3min., Belguim, Animation/Comedy
Directed by Pepijn Claus
A story about a worm, a beetle and a very hungry bird…
Director’s Statement:
Film Type:Animation, Short, Student
Genres:Comedy, Cartoon, Animals
Runtime:3 minutes 19 seconds
Completion Date:September 10, 2015
Production Budget:1,200 EUR
Country of Origin:Belgium
Country of Filming:Belgium
Aspect Ratio:16:4
Film Color:Color
First-time Filmmaker:Yes
Student Project:Yes
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WATCH PAST FILM FESTIVAL EVENTS and the FEEDBACK VIDEOS of EACH SELECTED FILM
 JUNE 2016 Film FestivalWatch Audience Feedback Videos from June 30th event |
 MAY 2016 Film FestivalWatch Audience Feedback Videos from May 26th event |
 APRIL 2016 Film FestivalWatch Audience Feedback Videos from April 28th event |
 MARCH 2016 Film FestivalWatch Audience Feedback Videos from March 31st event |
 FEBRUARY 2016 Film FestivalWatch Audience Feedback Videos from February 25th event |
 JANUARY 2016 Film FestivalWatch Audience Feedback Videos from Jan. 28th event |
 NOVEMBER 2015 Film FestivalWatch Audience Feedback Videos from Nov. 26th event |
 OCTOBER 2015 Film FestivalWatch Audience Feedback Videos from Oct. 29th event |
 SEPTEMBER 2015 Film FestivalWatch Audience Feedback Videos from September 24th event |
 AUGUST 2015 Film FestivalWatch Audience Feedback Videos from August 27th event |
 JULY 2015 Film FestivalWatch Audience Feedback Videos from July 30th event |
 JUNE 2015 Film FestivalWatch Audience Feedback Videos from June 26th event |
 MAY 2015 Film FestivalWatch Audience Feedback Videos from April 28th event |
 APRIL 2015 Film FestivalWatch Audience Feedback Videos from April 30th event |
 March 2015 Film FestivalWatch Audience Feedback Videos from March 26th event |
Watch and see the best of the August 2016 Family/Animation Film Festival
| AUDIENCE FEEDBACK VIDEO: |
GHOSTBOY, 9min., UK, Animation/Comedy
Directed by Jonathan Brooks
An exciting tale of mystery, mayhem and friendship, ‘Ghostboy’ teaches the very important lesson to not judge a book by it’s cover…
Director’s Statement:
DIRECTORS’ NOTES
Nearly 10 years had passed since I first sketched the character of Ghostboy. I felt it was something that would never materialise into anything and become a wasted idea like so many other ideas. After wrapping on a previous short film, I was looking for my next challenge. That’s when Ghostboy came about, though all I had was a few sketches and a short poem, I still had the basic structure of the story. It wasn’t until much later that the character of Alfie was introduced as well as his family, but the essence of Ghostboy was still there.
This would be my first animated film to direct and aimed at an entirely different audience that I hadn’t attempted to reach before. Being made for kids was in fact one of the main aspects which convinced me in to making Ghostboy. It opened up a new way of storytelling and filmmaking I hadn’t been able to try in my previous films. I knew this was going to be a fun project to direct but at the same time my most challenging.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Film Type:Animation
Runtime:9 minutes 10 seconds
Completion Date:December 17, 2015
Production Budget:6,000 GBP
Country of Origin:United Kingdom
Country of Filming:United Kingdom
Film Language:English
Shooting Format:Digital
Aspect Ratio:16:9
Film Color:Color
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WATCH PAST FILM FESTIVAL EVENTS and the FEEDBACK VIDEOS of EACH SELECTED FILM
| JUNE 2016 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from June 30th event |
MAY 2016 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from May 26th event |
APRIL 2016 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from April 28th event |
| MARCH 2016 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from March 31st event |
FEBRUARY 2016 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from February 25th event |
JANUARY 2016 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from Jan. 28th event |
| NOVEMBER 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from Nov. 26th event |
OCTOBER 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from Oct. 29th event |
SEPTEMBER 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from September 24th event |
| AUGUST 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from August 27th event |
JULY 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from July 30th event |
JUNE 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from June 26th event |
| MAY 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from April 28th event |
APRIL 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from April 30th event |
March 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from March 26th event |
Watch and see the best of the August 2016 Family/Animation Film Festival
LUCY, 16min, Greece, Family/Drama
Directed by Stamatis Giannoulis
Myrto and Kimonas, an elderly childless couple have just lost their pet dog Lucy of natural causes. The events that will unfold the day they take their beloved pet to the vet will make them reconsider their relations and give them the opportunity to realise that nothing can substitute their love which, they now put to the test for whatever they have left…
Director’s Statement:
After decades of servicing cinematography and having an experience from various posts and productions both domestic and international, I decided to direct the short film “Lucy”, the writing debut of Alexis Giannoulis. Although family, the approach was a strictly professional one right from the beginning and whilst I worked with Alexis on polishing up the shooting script, I respected all the major initial points of the story and had a smooth, effortless cooperation.
Having had a fair amount of experience as a DoP, always close to the directors of the films I’ve worked in, the direction of Lucy, a sentimental film was both a small challenge and pleasure for me since most of the crew was made up by highly skilled professionals, many with international experience, and a veteran casting which, despite any objective difficulties or shortcomings, cooperated with me in a very professional way contributing the most to the making of the film.
Being a personal story touching on more than one major, universal and deeply humane issues (such as the relationship between an elderly couple, childlessness and the sacrifices that had to be made), the challenge was first for the starring actors to find their way together and look as they should on the screen and then to be able to achieve a result that wouldn’t be too mellow yet neither too cold for both the actors and the audience. Managing the actors and achieving the right dose of sentimentality were the main challenges I, as the DIR and all the rest of the creative crew had to come up against.
I hope both the festival committees and the wider audience to have a joyful viewing of Lucy and that we have at least achieved a respectable outcome and film.
Film Type:Short
Runtime:16 minutes 27 seconds
Completion Date:November 24, 2015
Production Budget:9,800 EUR
Country of Origin:Greece
Country of Filming:Greece
Film Language:Modern Greek (1453-)
Shooting Format:RED
Aspect Ratio:16:9
Film Color:Color
First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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WATCH PAST FILM FESTIVAL EVENTS and the FEEDBACK VIDEOS of EACH SELECTED FILM
| JUNE 2016 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from June 30th event |
MAY 2016 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from May 26th event |
APRIL 2016 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from April 28th event |
| MARCH 2016 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from March 31st event |
FEBRUARY 2016 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from February 25th event |
JANUARY 2016 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from Jan. 28th event |
| NOVEMBER 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from Nov. 26th event |
OCTOBER 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from Oct. 29th event |
SEPTEMBER 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from September 24th event |
| AUGUST 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from August 27th event |
JULY 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from July 30th event |
JUNE 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from June 26th event |
| MAY 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from April 28th event |
APRIL 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from April 30th event |
March 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from March 26th event |
Watch and see the best of the August 2016 Family/Animation Film Festival
| AUDIENCE FEEDBACK VIDEO: |
101 CUPCAKES, 13min, Australia, Family/Drama
Directed by Jane Eakin
Healing comes in many flavours. An uplifting story about love, death and the healing power of cooking.
Director’s Statement:
101 Cupcakes is a story that is very close to my heart. It is a gentle and affecting women’s story, that connects with everyone who watches it. This film is a cutdown of the original, and hasn’t lost any of it’s power to transport you.
Film Type:Short
Runtime:13 minutes 30 seconds
Completion Date:January 17, 2016
Production Budget:37,000 AUD
Country of Origin:Australia
Country of Filming:Australia
Film Language:English
Shooting Format:Digital – cannon
Film Color:Color
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WATCH PAST FILM FESTIVAL EVENTS and the FEEDBACK VIDEOS of EACH SELECTED FILM
| JUNE 2016 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from June 30th event |
MAY 2016 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from May 26th event |
APRIL 2016 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from April 28th event |
| MARCH 2016 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from March 31st event |
FEBRUARY 2016 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from February 25th event |
JANUARY 2016 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from Jan. 28th event |
| NOVEMBER 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from Nov. 26th event |
OCTOBER 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from Oct. 29th event |
SEPTEMBER 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from September 24th event |
| AUGUST 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from August 27th event |
JULY 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from July 30th event |
JUNE 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from June 26th event |
| MAY 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from April 28th event |
APRIL 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from April 30th event |
March 2015 Film Festival Watch Audience Feedback Videos from March 26th event |
Submit your Family Film or Screenplay to the Festival:http://festivalforfamily.com
| THE FACTS OF LIFE Written by Chris Beadnell Read 10 Questions with the writer SYNOPSIS: Genre: Family, Comedy A parent’s nightmare, the dreaded ‘birds and bees’ chat. This loving father steps up to the plate to answer the questions from his inquisitive daughter. He is nervous as he awkwardly navigates his way through an explanation. But, humorously, the circumstance changes at the end. CAST LIST: NARRATOR – Sean Kaufmann |
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Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
 SUBMIT your Short Screenplay or TV SPEC ScriptVoted #1 TV Contest in North America. |
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FESTIVAL for FAMILY 