Dances With Films Official Press Release - as Promised

the heartbeat of indie film

Dances With Films 15

May 31 - June 7, 2012

Call for Entries - Regular deadline: March 7

Come celebrate our 15th year of championing the truly indie filmmaker! Dedicated to discovering and championing unknown works from around the globe and providing them with a unique opportunity to screen in front of critics, audiences, and industry heavyweights.

DWF presents nearly 100 films each year to the Los Angeles filmmaking and film-going community. We are looking for full-length narrative and documentary features and shorts, as well as music videos of any type or genre - as long as they’re captivating and intriguing for as many minutes as they’re on screen.

Back this year is also the DWF Powerhouse Panels, which last year included Steven Wegner (Alcon Ent.), Jay Cohen (Indie Finance, The Gersh Agency), Tricia Wood (Casting Director of My Week With Marilyn) President of Fox TV Studios David Madden, JC Spink (BenderSpink,The Hangover), David Gale (Executive Vice President, MTV New Media) and many others - DWF will be expanding these sessions to include four days of panels by some of our industry’s top professionals.

In addition, DWF introduced the wildly popular “Cocktails & Conversations With...” A series of intimate, nuts & bolts Q&A sessions with some of film’s most gifted visionaries, including Academy Award® winning luminaries Alan Heim (Editor Network, The Notebook) and Russell Carpenter (DP Titantic, 21) among other greats, sitting down in the DWF Filmmaker’s Lounge.

Aside from DWF’s Grand Jury and Audience awards is the INDUSTRY CHOICE AWARD. All films participating in the festival are considered for this honor. In addition to the acclaim this special award generates, the winner receives a mentorship meeting with jurors, who for 2012, include acclaimed producers Steve Wegner (The Blind Side) and Mark Ordesky (Lord of the Rings).

Don't have a film to submit? Perhaps you would like to create one instead. Back for year 6 is the 2-Minute, 2-Step Short Film Challenge. You submit the script, we select up to 8 scripts then provide equipment and advisers to help co-produce a two minute or less film in four hours that screens the next night at the festival! Instant Film!

The LA Times called us "A breath of fresh flair," because we pride ourself on giving opportunities to filmmakers who may have been overlooked by other film festivals. Through the community that DWF has built and the success of its alums, DWF stands out as a one-of-a-kind opportunity for truly independent artists. DWF boasts a following of Oscar nominees, series creators, leading actors and many others working artists in the industry today.

For more information, http://www.danceswithfilms.com/

DEADLINES

March 7, 2012 – Regular Deadline

March 31, 2012 - Late deadline

MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Success stories abound at DWF. After screening their feature film EASTER, Will Scheffer and Mark Olsen went on to create the hit HBO series BIG LOVE. As Audience Award-winner John Mann said after he was signed by WME immediately following his DWF screening, "DWF kicked me up to the next level." He is now writing MAGIC 8 BALL for Paramount and THE NUTCRACKER for Universal.

Please join us on our Facebook Page and/or our monthly newsletter. Also, DWF Staffer, Robert Mellette writes the fabulous Dances With Blogs where you can step behind the scenes to follow our selection process. It’s quite a fun read.

The Hollywood Reporter calls DWF “the defiant fest of raw talent,” and with good reason. If your film shares the spirit of Dances With Films, submit today!