Written by Marcus Tremble Monday, 05 July 2010 10:42
Los Angeles, California - USA
August 18 to 22, 2010
In the Spotlight this week is the 6th Annual TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL, a Southern California event combining workshops, panels, and networking opportunities with film screenings in spectacular open-air locations. Topanga's intrinsic hospitality, welcoming spirit, and wild beauty make for an unforgettable experience.
Given the high percentage of entertainment industry professionals who call Topanga home, many festival attendees are also film veterans and de facto talent scouts. TFF past participants include Topanga locals Hawk Koch (Board of Governors, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences); actor/activist Wendie Malick; actor Dennis Haysbert; Randall Einhorn, cinematographer and director of "The Office"; comedian Andy Dick; and casting director Ronnie Yeskel. As Ms. Malick attests, "The Topanga Film Festival is a true original. A chance to see great films under the stars in one of the most magical spots on the continent. A little jewel of a festival."
The Grand Prize winner of the short film competition takes home the Coveted Coyote Award - handcrafted by a local artist - along with the Panavision New Filmmaker Award, a camera equipment rental package valued at $60,000 USD. The Diamond in the Rough Award includes production goods and services worth $1,000 or more, while the Best Screenplay winner gets preferred consideration for a two-week Switzerland writers' retreat mentored by a group of international luminaries from film and TV, and sponsored by Dreamago.
UPCOMING DEADLINES
July 6, 2010 Regular Deadline
July 16, 2010 Late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5 on these deadlines
MISSION AND OBJECTIVE
TFF is dedicated to the exhibition of independent and experimental film, and in 2010, seeks to expand its focus to promotion of film and trans-format digital content. The Festival endeavors to bridge cultures, create and expand community, provide cultural exchange, networking opportunities, and educational outreach.
MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Topanga is a close-knit creative community, nestled in a wildly beautiful canyon between Malibu and Santa Monica, California. Surrounded by 10,000 acres of state park, the area is known for its amazing topography, and a laid-back counterculture attitude - the Topanga state of mind. Topanga is perfectly suited to host this forward-thinking film festival, particularly in light of the wealth of film talent and film professionals scattered throughout its hilltops and canyons.
The 2010 Festival will honor the late Dennis Hopper with a high caliber screening of indie classic, EASY RIDER, paired with the award-winning documentary NO SUBTITLES NECESSARY: LASZLO & VILMOS. This year, an international networking day has been added and feature-length films will accent the Festival's customary short film fare. Featured filmmakers receive two full-access passes to all screenings, panels, and social functions, as well as the joy of watching their work on a giant outdoor screen under the stars alongside other carefully selected titles, to the delight of an enthusiastic audience. In the words of TFF filmmaker Nunzio Fazio, "Screening at the Topanga Film Festival under three shooting stars is a night I never will forget!"
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