Blog

205 Articles

* Moondance Film Festival 2017 Call for Early-Bird Entries!

MOONDANCE NEWS FOR 2017!

Moondance 2017 is very pleased to announce that the entire film festival this season will be online-only! All submissions to be entered online, and all winning & selected films will be screened online. Now your film will have the opportunity for an audience of many thousands of viewers to preview it, for a long time to come, instead of maybe an audience of 50-100 or so, screened only once at a local film festival’s theatrical venue.

This is truly today’s preferred, state-of-the-art & most important global networking, promotional & networking advantage!

Writing & music selected winners all submission in all categories will also have their winning work listed online. Winners will have their titles, loglines & links posted on the website.

All selected 2017 Moondance films will be available for viewing online at Vimeo, with a private, dedicated Moondance pass-code for people accessing the winning & selected festival films to view them, and will not be available to the general public. It’s not a form of distribution. No film will be available for viewing until September, when all selected films are posted.

MOONDANCE 2017 CALL-FOR-ENTRIES:

Accepting submissions

January 1 through June 30, 2017

Take advantage of our Early-Bird discounted entry fee: $25, through January!

PLEASE VISIT THESE PAGES ON THE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO:

LINK TO SUBMISSION CATEGORIES LIST

LINK TO AWARDS CATEGORIES LIST

LINK TO SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

LINK TO OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM

LINK TO AWARDS BENEFITS

LINK TO MOONDANCE SUCCESSES

LINK TO THE MOONDANCE MISSION STATEMENT

Moondance is also accepting submissions at:

No Moondance 2017 submissions at Withoutabox.com! 

WAB is not prepared for listing online film festival events.

MEET THE 2017 MOONDANCE TEAM!

HOW WE PREVIEW & SELECT FILMS FOR THE MOONDANCE:

We judge films by considering all of these elements: Story, first, then directing, production values evident, acting, editing, film score, framing, focus, lighting, sound, costuming, locations, dialog, ambience, relatability (to the story, dialog & characters), wide interest, uniqueness, audience appeal, and appropriate running time for telling the story on film. We look for a unique story, well-told, visually.

THE MOONDANCE MISSION & GOALS:

The Moondance International Film Festival’s mission and goals include the following ideals: All people, regardless of gender, gender identification, ethnicity, racial heritage, disability, religion, location, age, sexual orientation and/or socio-economic status shall be treated equally and equitably, with respect, dignity and justice for all. 

By bringing people together online to view winning & selected films from around the world, we strive to provide an outlet and support for those talented people to express themselves on film, in written works and with music. We advocate for women and defend marginalized members of our society, preserving and protecting our natural environment, and promoting peaceful, non-violent alternatives to conflict resolutions. We endeavor to serve as a proactive model of peaceful demonstration, via our films, written works and music. 

PLEASE SUPPORT THE MOONDANCE FILM FESTIVAL!

Good movies always make the most immediate and lasting impact on audiences; more so than books, lectures, conferences, sermons, seminars, or articles in newspapers and magazines, etc. Therefore, an investment in this important and meaningful film festival that has a mission and message will make more of a difference in the world, change ingrained perceptions, and encourage and inspire people to take action, more than any other media or efforts.

With this internationally well-respected film festival, we aim to provide multiple viewpoints, address complex social issues, provide a forum for deliberation, and strengthen ties between a wide variety of local, regional, national and international audiences. Our mission is to present vibrant and memorable, accessible, relatable stories on film, which is an ideal means for communication across perceived boundaries of race, culture, place, and situation or circumstance, as well as age and gender.

Invest in the Moondance International Film Festival, become a festival co-producer, and see your financial support make a lasting difference!

Please click this link for more info: 

https://moondancefilmfestival.com/sponsor-info/

MOONDANCE RECOMMENDS:

WAYSEER MANIFESTO

WATCH THIS JOYFUL & INSPIRING VIDEO!

http://wayseermanifesto.com

by Garret John

ATTENTION: All you rule-breakers, you misfits and troublemakers – all you free spirits and pioneers – all you visionaries and non-conformists… Everything that the establishment has told you is wrong with you – is actually what’s right with you.

You see things others don’t. You are hardwired to change the world. Unlike 9 out of 10 people – your mind is irrepressible – and this threatens authority. You were born to be a revolutionary. You can’t stand rules because in your heart you know there’s a better way. You have strengths dangerous to the establishment – and it wants them eliminated, So your whole life you’ve been told your strengths were weaknesses – Now I’m telling you otherwise. READ THE REST…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~ BUWUNDO ~~

BEADS & CRAFTS

BUWUNDO BEADS & CRAFTS are artisans from Buwundo Village, Uganda, who create necklaces, earrings, bracelets and purses from recycled magazine paper and local materials, in order to help women provide for the needs of their families, the education of their children, and Buwindo Village development. www.buwundo.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gloria Steinem shared these words about Hedgebrook:

“It has always been crucial that Hedgebrook  put women’s voices — marginalized for so long and at such cost to the truth — in the center of the human narrative, but in this dangerous time, I think it may be literally lifesaving. We’ve been sitting around campfires for millennia, telling stories, so our minds are organized by narrative, not facts or statistics. Only stories help us to break through old roles that normalize domination, and Hedgebrook is a global campfire.” HEDGEBROOK INFO

Hedgebrook is on Whidbey Island, about thirty-five miles northwest of Seattle. Situated on 48-acres of forest and meadow facing Puget Sound, with a view of Mount Rainier, the retreat hosts writers from all over the world for residencies of two to six weeks, at no cost to the writer.

Six writers are in residence at a time, each housed in a handcrafted cottage. They spend their days in solitude – writing, reading, taking walks in the woods on the property or on nearby Double Bluff beach. In the evenings, they gather in the farmhouse kitchen to share a home-cooked gourmet meal, their work, their process and their stories. The Writers in Residence Program is Hedgebrook’s core program, supporting the fully-funded residencies of approximately 40 writers at the retreat each year.

Hedgebrook also offers a variety of ways for women writers to create and connect: Writers in Residence, Master Class Retreats, Vortext Weekend Workshop, One-Day Writing Salons & more!

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“The first sep toward getting somewhere in life is to decide that you are absolutely not going to stay where you are.” ~ Source Obscure

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“It is better to fail with originality than to succeed by imitation.” ~ Herman Melville

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Amelia”, photo by SKV

“The bravest thing you can do, when you are not feeling brave, is to profess courage, and act accordingly.” ~ Cora Harris

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ernest Hemingway, writing in Cuba

“A computer lets you make more big mistakes faster than any other invention in human history…with the exception of handguns and alcoholic beverages.” ~ Mitch Ratcliffe

Please forward this news-blog to your creative artist colleagues!

  QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

[email protected]

WEBSITE: www.moondancefilmfestival.com

BLOG: www.moondancefilmfestival.com/blog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 views

Happy New Year & Moondance 2017 Call-for-Entries!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM MOONDANCE!

Out with the old, in with the new: may you be happy, the whole year through!

New beginnings, fresh starts, re-affirmations and promises for a brighter future all come to mind as we ring in the New Year around the world. A new year is like a blank book, and the pen is in your hands. This is your chance to write a beautiful new story for yourself. Right ahead, lies a new beginning. Make it a memorable experience. Let this New Year be the one when all your dreams come true. Wishing you a happy, peaceful, successful and prosperous New Year!

 

AND NOW, THE BIG NEWS FOR 2017!

Moondance 2017 is very pleased to announce that the entire film festival this season will be online-only! All submissions to be entered online, and all winning & selected films will be screened online. Now your winning film will have the opportunity for an audience of many thousands of viewers to preview it, for years to come, instead of maybe and audience of 50-100 or so, screened only once at a local film festival’s theatrical venue.

This is truly today’s preferred, state-of-the-art & most important global networking, promotional & networking advantage!

Writing & music selected winners all submission categories will also have their winning work listed online. Winners will have their titles, loglines & links posted on the website.

MOONDANCE 2017 CALL-FOR-ENTRIES:

Accepting submissions

January 1 through June 30, 2017

Take advantage of our Early-Bird discounted entry fee: only $25, through January!

PLEASE VISIT THESE PAGES ON THE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO:

LINK TO SUBMISSION CATEGORIES LIST

• Narrative feature, short, documentary, drone & animation films •  Feature & short screenplays  •Film scores • Short stories, stageplays & radio plays •TV pilots, episodics…and many more!

LINK TO AWARDS CATEGORIES LIST

LINK TO SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

LINK TO OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM

LINK TO AWARDS BENEFITS

LINK TO MOONDANCE SUCCESSES

LINK TO THE MOONDANCE MISSION STATEMENT

Moondance is also accepting submissions at:

Click on the FilmFreeway logo above to go to the Moondance submission form there

NO Moondance 2017 submissions at Withoutabox.com

(WAB is not prepared for listing online film festivals)

THE SECRET TO OUR INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS:

The secret to the Moondance brand’s international success and longevity can be directly attributed to upholding our founding principles, goals, integrity, values and mission. We continually strive to inspire talented filmmakers, writers, composers and audiences, locally and globally. Maintaining the Moondance reputation for top-quality indie films, writing & music is always the festival’s first priority. Our valued sponsors, donors, supporters, friends of the Moondance, as well as our competition entrants, are an integral element of our long-term success.

INSIDER TIPS FOR FILMMAKERS:

When judges preview films for film festival competitions, or when distributors look at films they may decide to screen in theaters, or during Academy Award nomination season, or when a talent agent may decide to take you on as a client, or when a production company or film studio is watching your demo reel or trailer, and considering you to direct a film, the actors’ performances are one of the most important elements they look for in the film. You may have a unique story, the best cinematographer, incredible editing, memorable film score, interesting locations, fabulous action scenes, great dialog, and impressive production values, but…if any of the actors, not just the lead actors, fluff a scene, or are wooden, over-act, are amateurish, or are simply unremarkable in their roles, you’ve just lost all credibility as a film director, and you may not ever get a second chance. READ MORE:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The power of music in film! Music is the non-verbal, unspoken dialog in a film. A feature film needs at least 30 to 40 minutes of music, which is one of the most important elements in a successful film. Take a look at: 1. A film score can be artfully used to…2. The major categories of a film score are…3. Along with a good screenplay, and great dialog, music is what makes a film memorable! All of these vital crafts and elements contribute to making the “Dream Factory” world of the film believable & memorable to movie audiences! READ MORE:

Don’t miss reading all the other great filmmaking & writing articles in the MOONDANCE E-ZINEwritten by entertainment industry pros, exclusively for Moondance!

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:

“In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle, and comes back to us.” ~ Flora Edwards

This news-blog is dedicated in memory of my mother, Leni, child star in silent film, artist, poet, journalist, archaeologist, and world traveler, who passed away in April, 2016, at the age of 101, after a long and productive life.

Please forward this news-blog to your creative artist colleagues!

 QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

[email protected]

WEBSITE: www.moondancefilmfestival.com

BLOG: www.moondancefilmfestival.com/blog

No trees or natural habitats were harmed in the creation of this news-blog!

 

7 views

Moondance Season’s Greetings & News-Blog!

To all the Moondancers who celebrate this holiday!

“Winter forms our character and brings out our best.” ~Tom Allen

MOONDANCE NEWS AND THE 2017 CALL-FOR-ENTRIES INFO WILL BE IN THE NEXT NEWS-BLOG! WAIT FOR IT…

Meanwhile, please visit the Moondance website to read about what’s happening right now, the 2016 film festival info, insider articles on filmmaking, screenwriting & film score composition, and much more! MOONDANCE WEBSITE

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

BY ROBERT FROST

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound’s the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

The Gun Industry’s Lucrative Relationship With Hollywood

By Gary Baum & Scott Johnson / The Hollywood Reporter

Clint Eastwood, “Unforgiven”, Warner Bros.

We’re talking about a lot of guns onscreen. Since 9/11, America’s obsession with everything spy, terrorism and war-related has grown — and the content the population consumes increasingly reflects that. A 2015 report published by The Economist concluded that gun violence in PG-13 movies had tripled since 1985.

And an analysis undertaken by The Hollywood Reporter found that the number of gun models pictured in big box-office movies between 2010 and 2015 was 51 percent higher than it had been a decade earlier, suggesting that the public’s appetite to see guns in entertainment is on the rise.

Simply put, two industries that position themselves as mortal enemies have a lucrative, symbiotic relationship. This is the story of how that relationship works. READ MORE

SOME MORE THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

Dominique Browning photo

“CARPE DIEM (Seize the Day): Regret for wasted time is just more wasted time.” ~Mason Cooley

Photo by Lady Aimee Valentine

“Make the most of yourself by fanning that inner spark of possibility into flames of achievement.” ~ Golda Meir

“Freedom” by Zenos Frudakis, Philadelphia, PA

“I am not what happened to me; I am what I choose to become.” ~ Carl Jung

MOONDANCE RECOMMENDS:

~ LYRIO CHILDREN’S VILLAGE ~

In 1962, a group of young women made headlines in Greece by running away to join a convent. Not wanting to be doing nothing but praying all day, they also started a safe shelter, providing a family home for abandoned and abused children. Half a century later, they are still running the Lyrio Children’s Village, changing the lives one infant, one child, at a time. This is their story…For more info, please visit: www.manathemovie.com

 QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

[email protected]

WEBSITE: www.moondancefilmfestival.com

10 views

Happy Holidays & Insider Tips for Screenwriters!

~ Wishing you a very happy holiday season! ~

ARE YOU PATIENTLY WAITING FOR THE

MOONDANCE 2017 CALL-FOR-ENTRIES?

Thanks! Please read & subscribe to the news-blog and check the website

for the up-coming news & announcement very soon!

MAKE A HOLIDAY DONATION TO THE MOONDANCE

& GET A FREE MOONDANCE LOGO TOTE-BAG!

~ All-natural, heavy-duty white canvas ~

Makes a great book bag,  for the beach, carrying groceries, a gift, & etc. 

https://moondancefilmfestival.com/donations-for-moondance/ 

We greatly appreciate your continued generous support. Thank you!

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY:

“Keep a green tree growing in your heart, and soon a singing bird will surely come.” ~ Ancient Chinese proverb

“Popcorn is the last area of the movie business where good taste is still a concern!” ~ Mike Barfield

SOMETHING ELSE TO THINK ABOUT:

“I Want to be a Giant”, Image credits: Csilla Zelko

“No society that feeds its children on tales of successful violence can expect them not to believe that violence, in the end, is rewarded.” ~Margaret Mead, anthropologist, 1901-1978

* Please check out these fabulous photos of children around the world playing!

http://www.boredpanda.com/happy-children-playing/

INSIDER TIPS:

~ SUCCESSFUL SCREENWRITING ~

By Elizabeth English

Write, prepare, edit, rewrite, and polish your screenplay so it’s absolutely perfect, before you send it out to directors, producers, agents, managers, distributors, actors, film festivals &/or writing competitions, and for potential funding, as well as for others who may have requested your screenplay. Write a unique story, well-told, and you’ll have a better chance to get your screenplay read, optioned, green-lighted & produced as a film!

SCREENWRITERS NEED TO ADDRESS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE 
FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:
 Action, Audience Appeal, Budget, Castibility, Characterizations, Concept, Conflict, Dialogue, Evaluation, Exposition, Flow, Formatting, Genre, Humor, Interest, Locations, Logline, Marketability, Pace, Plot-line, POV, Premise, Principal Characters, Production Values, Relatability, Relationships, Scenes, Story, Story-Arc, Subplots, Syntax, Theme, Title, Transitions, & Visualization.

Write, prepare, edit, rewrite, and polish your screenplay so it’s perfect, before you send it out to directors, producers, agents, managers, distributors, actors, film festivals &/or writing competitions, and for potential funding, as well as for others who may have requested your film or screenplay.

SCREENWRITERS NEED TO ADDRESS ALL OF THE 
FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:


[ezcol_1third]

  • Action
  • Audience Appeal
  • Budget
  • Castability
  • Characterizations
  • Concept
  • Conflict
  • Dialogue
  • Evaluation
  • Exposition
  • Flow
  • Formatting

[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third]

  • Genre
  • Humor
  • Interest
  • Logline
  • Marketability
  • Pace
  • Plot-line
  • POV
  • Premise
  • Principal Characters
  • Production

[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third_end]

  • Relatability
  • Relationships
  • Scenes
  • Story
  • Subplots
  • Subtext
  • Synopsis
  • Syntax
  • Theme
  • Title
  • Transitions
  • Visualization

[/ezcol_1third_end]

SUGGESTED ARTICLES ON SCREENWRITING AT: https://moondancefilmfestival.com/category/moondance-magazine/.

DON’T WALK! ACTION TIPS FOR SCREENWRITERS:

By Elizabeth English

Writers should always try to avoid using the simple verb, “walk”, whenever possible! Why have your character just walk into a room, or across the road? It tells the reader almost nothing about the character’s current mood, personality, intent, feelings, or how he or she presents him- or herself, or how anyone might perceive or react to seeing the character. Here’s a chance to show the reader & the ultimate film-viewer more about the character, and to set up a sense of who this person is, and what to expect!

A character opens the door and walks in a room. Boring! Common! What if that character crawled in the window, instead? Or boogied in, maybe even stark naked? Or slinked in dressed in a bad-clown costume? A person in cowboy boots walks differently from a person in ballet slippers, or spike heels, or flip-flops, or is barefoot. Children, teenagers, men & women and seniors all move differently, too! Use everything you’ve got to tell the whole story!

[Read More]

Then hurry, dash, run, sprint to the bank with your first screenplay sale money!

Please subscribe to the news-blog

& forward it to your creative artist colleagues!

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

[email protected]

Thank you for your interest in the Moondance International Film Festival!

 

1 view

Moondance mid-November 2016 newsletter!

BEACH FOOTSTEPS

MOONDANCE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

We are taking a much-needed break after the 2016 film festival in Boulder, but are always available for your comments & emails!

 Very exciting plans are underway for 2017, so please remember to keep in touch for updates, announcements, news, and…

stay-tuned

Photo by Atmo, www.wildquest.com

Dolphins in Bimini photo by Atmo, www.wildquest.com

STARFISH

MAKE A DONATION TO MOONDANCE

& GET A FREE MOONDANCE LOGO TOTE-BAG! *

miff-tote-bag

~ All-natural, organic heavy-duty white canvas ~

Makes a great book bag, for the beach, carrying groceries, a gift, & etc.

* While supplies last

DONATE TO SUPPORT THE MOONDANCE MISSION HERE!

 We truly appreciate your continued generous support. Thank you!

Read about the ongoing Moondance Mission HERE

STARFISH

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

HANDS:REFLECTION copy

If you can dream it, you can create it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2-penguins-on-ice-copy

“The best exercise for the heart is reaching down to lift someone up.” ~ Tim Russert

MoondanceBanner

100% NATURAL

Thank you for your interest in the Moondance International Film Festival!

wavesonly copy

 

 

 

1 view

Moondance November News & Some Things to Think About

hammock-2

We are taking a much-needed break after the 17th annual film festival in Boulder, but always available for your comments & emails! Very exciting plans are underway for 2017, so please remember to keep in touch for updates, announcements & news.

Website: www.moondancefilmfestival.com

STARFISH

MOONDANCE FILMFREEWAY REVIEW:

 Very professional group of people with a great vision for filmmakers.” ~ James Carroll

STARFISH

Take a look at the photo album for the 2016 Moondance HERE:

photo album

STARFISH

Info on Labyrinths & Mermaids!

img.other.labyrinth

STARFISH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WONDER WOMAN!

wonder-woman

Chosen by the United Nations to be their Honorary Ambassador

for the Empowerment of Girls & Women

She first appeared in 1941, with a golden lasso, her “weapon of truth”, her bullet-deflecting bracelets, and her invisible airplane. She is portrayed both as a crime fighter and as an instigator of social justice. A symbol of strong feminism and gender equality, she prefers peace and love to war and violence. Wonder Woman is a perfect example of an action character whose unique attributes were compelling back then, and are even more so now. Her biggest battle was with society’s unacceptable view of women. When the Moondance’s founder was a little girl, she determined to grow up to be like Wonder Woman, follow her non-violent goals, and make a difference in the world, while encouraging others to appreciate and respect the abilities of all women and girls. The Moondance mission statement

STARFISH

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

dove

“I object to violence because when it appears to do good; that good is only temporary, while the evil it does is permanent.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

jail-bars-v-sign

Photo by Nasrin Mohammadi

“Peace is more than just the absence of war. True peace is justice, true peace is freedom. And true peace dictates the recognition of human rights.” ~ Ronald Reagan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

picnic-basket

“A crust of bread eaten in peace is better than an entire banquet eaten in chaos, fear and anxiety.” ~ The Buddha

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

african-boy-with-camera

Photo by www.shadowandact.com

“Nothing is so contagious as an example. We rarely do great good without bringing about more of the same on the part of others.” ~ La Rochfoucauld

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Kindness and love is the language that the blind can see and the deaf can hear.” – Mark Twain

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

clock-antique-10-10

“Time is at once the most valuable and the most perishable of all your possessions.” ~ John Randolph

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

vinotoktippiepics

May your troubles be less

May your blessings be more

May nothing but happiness

come through your door !

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

STARFISH

MoondanceBanner

100% NATURAL

Please subscribe to the blog & forward it to your creative artist colleagues!

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

RED MAILBOX

[email protected]

Thank you for your interest in the Moondance International Film Festival!

wavesonly copy

2 views

Moondance 2016 Photo Album, News & Info!

elephant-in-old-car-large

“Start by doing what you are capable of; then do what is necessary; then do what is possible; and, suddenly, you are doing the impossible!” ~ Saint Francis of Assisi

2016 MOONDANCERS WRITE US:

• “Two Denver production companies, Main Man Films and SCY Pictures, have agreed to collaborate to produce LUDLOW and possibly create a “Band of Brothers” type of TV series based on the script and the Ludlow strike and massacre. By the way, the producers’ interest in the script can be traced directly to the Moondance Film Festival, for which I am very grateful. Thank you again for choosing LUDLOW, which shines a dramatic light on the 1914 coal miners’ strike in southern Colorado, as a 2016 script winner.” ~ Bruce Leaf

• “Music Between Us has been recently selected for the “Different Festival” at the Santa Fe Playhouse, and will receive 2 staged readings in October (I’ll travel to attend them). So once again – many thanks for selecting my play as the 2016 Moondance stageplay winner!” ~ Tal Rayman 

• “Thank you so much for your consideration of my full-length play, “Resurruption” (a 2016 Moondance finalist). I am looking forward to submitting more work next year.” ~ Dave Cintron 

• “Thanks for your good news about my film being an audience favorite film. It pleases me that the people in other parts of this earth have communicated and liked a subject from my home, Iran.” ~ Fazlollah Tari, director, short documentary film “Meeting With the Leaf “

STARFISH

Take a look at the cool photo album for the 2016 Moondance HERE

photo album-labyrinth

[table id=95 /]

moondanceawardceremony

ADRIAN, EE & ANNA AT AWARDS CEREMONY & RECEPTION

www.moondancefilmfestival.com

STARFISH

Congratulations! This note is to inform the winning 2016 writers listed below that your winning project has been selected for a free posting at InkTip.com. Contact me at [email protected] for your special code for this free posting. Please post only the project that won the 2016 Moondance for this free prize offer: 

  • BORN TO FLY   Joan Broadman
  • DELI TAKEOUT   Jim Norman
  • DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC?   Lisa Sniderman
  • FLY!   Dave Chan
  • JERUSALEM ROAD Simone Yehuda
  • LUDLOW   Bruce Leaf
  • MUSIC BETWEEN US   Tal Rayman
  • SMILE: A MUSICAL   Sarah Phillips
  • THE BULLYING SQUAD   Mike Murphy
  • THE SOCK OPERA   Janice Garden-Macdonald
  • UNIT NINE   Stephanie Frewen & Celine Gibson

ww.InkTip.com is the premiere website for talented writers to have their winning works seen by legitimate film directors, producers, literary agents & distributors, globally. Your contact at InkTip.com is Liz Rivera: [email protected] if you have any questions.

STARFISH

FOR INFO ON THE 2016 MOONDANCE, PLEASE GO TO THESE LINKS ON THE WEBSITE:

FILM PROGRAM FILM DESCRIPTIONS • FILMS SCREENED • KEYNOTE & MASTER CLASSWORKSHOPSWINNERS, FINALISTS & SEMI-FINALISTSNETWORKING EVENTS  •  AWARDS CEREMONY & RECEPTION 2016 BEST ACTOR AWARDS AUDIENCE FAVORITE FILMSMOONDANCE SUCCESSESMISSION STATEMENTLAURELS DOWNLOAD 

www.moondancefilmfestival.com

STARFISH

SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS!

Innocence is newness. Be free to respond as your heart would, if only you’d let go of control. That’s where life happens. Dolphins don’t care about your past, how spiritual you are, what job you have. They respond to innocence of the heart; they love connecting with those who share a childlike quality. Being to being. Dolphins love babies and kids and because they are new each moment. Simply responding to the here and now. Innocent. Free of the stories, emotions, filters and boundaries that we adults take to heart and filter themselves through.

Please watch this Dolphin Tales video, by WildQuest resident videoographer, Atmo, and with the delightful Bimini Beat music, to see why diving underwater and getting up close and personal with these beloved creatures is uniquely transformative.  

Bimini dolphins photo by Atmo, www.wildquest.com

~~~~~ Dolphin Tales Video ~~~~~

“The Beauty of Swimming with Wild Dolphins”

WildQuest, the Human-Dolphin Connection

STARFISH

 Heifer has worked in Haiti since 1999. They currently serve nearly 30,000 families in 36 communities throughout the island. Heifer Haiti staff provided support Tuesday to more than 1,500 people in one of the regions hardest hit by Hurricane Matthew, acknowledging the level of need is staggering. Most of Haiti is severely deforested. Heifer Haiti is working to get food kits to the southern areas of the country that were hardest hit by Hurricane Matthew. Haiti is facing not only flooding, and an economic and social disaster, but a severe environmental one as well. The hurricane caused a huge loss…millions of dollars of losses in terms of crops and animals.

haiti-hurricane-2016

Haiti during hurricane Matthew, October 2016

More than 6,500 Heifer project families were affected: More than 675 hectares of crops, 5,000 goats, 70 % of the poultry, and more than 15 % of their pigs were killed in the storm. Farmers in the area were planning on harvesting crops rice, corn, papayas, and beans , but 4,500 hectares with 1,300 metric tons of food have been lost. More than 6,500 Heifer project families were affected, and the effects are likely to extend far beyond the immediate emergency. The biggest concerns are the loss of crops, livestock and housing. People will not have food to eat, clean water to drink, a place to live, or the ability to create income as there are no longer any crops or farm animals to sell.

A donation to our Disaster Rehabilitation Fund will provide families with

basic necessities for survival.

HEIFER LOGO

Heifer International is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization working with communities to end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth.

STARFISH

SOME MORE THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

“Safety Last”, Harold Lloyd, 1930

“Safety Last”, Harold Lloyd, 1930

“Time is the only coin of your life. Only you can determine how it will be spent.” ~ Carl Sandburg

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China

Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must be first overcome. ~ Samuel Johnson

“Amelia”, photo by SK

“Amelia”, photo by SK

“Whatever you want to do, do it now. There are only so many tomorrows.” ~ Pope Paul VI

“American Gothic” by Grant Wood

“American Gothic” by Grant Wood

“You’ll never plow a field by just turning it over in your mind!” ~ Anonymous

STARFISH

MIFF WAVY BANNER LGE

100% NATURAL

Please subscribe to the blog & forward it to your creative artist colleagues!

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

RED MAILBOX

[email protected]

Thank you for your interest in the Moondance International Film Festival

wavesonly copy

3 views

A Moondance Hello & Some Reminders!

graphic artist unknown

“You have powers you never dreamed of. You can do things you never thought you could do. There are no limitations in what you can do, except for the limitations of your own mind.” ~ Darwin P. KingsleySTARFISH

Thanks a million to all the many talented filmmakers, writers, composers, audiences, event staff and volunteers who participated in the 2016 Moondance International Film Festival & made it another memorable season!

www.moondancefilmfestival.com

STARFISH

FOR INFO ON THE 2016 MOONDANCE,

PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINKS LOCATED ON THE WEBSITE:

FILM PROGRAM FILM DESCRIPTIONS •  FILMS SCREENED •  KEYNOTE & MASTER CLASSWORKSHOPSWINNERS, FINALISTS & SEMI-FINALISTSNETWORKING EVENTS  •  AWARDS CEREMONY & RECEPTION 2016 BEST ACTOR AWARDS • AUDIENCE FAVORITE FILMS • MOONDANCE SUCCESSESMISSION STATEMENT

The 2016 Moondance Photo Album is coming soon! 

anna-adrian

Winners Anna & Adrian

STARFISH

ATTENTION: 2016 WINNERS, FINALISTS & SEMI-FINALISTS:

You can download any laurels for which you are eligible HERE!

2016miffwinner

STARFISH

ATTENTION 2016 SELECTED FILMMAKERS & WINNERS!

The Moondance winners’ star award

CLICK ON THE STAR IMAGE, FOR INFO ON AWARD CATEGORIES!

If you would like to have us send you back your Blu-ray screener, or if you were not able to attend the awards ceremony, & want us to send you your winner’s award star & certificate, please click HERE for the form to request it & pay only the minimal postage & handling.

RED MAILBOX

The final deadline for ordering is October 15th!

STARFISH

HOLLYWOOD SIGN:BLUE SKY

“Movies are just another form of merchandising – we have our factory, which is called a stage; we make a product, we color it, we title it, and we ship it out in a can, and then try to convince people to buy it.” ~ Cary Grant

STARFISH

MoondanceBanner

100% NATURAL

ThankYouMIFFGreen

Please subscribe to the blog & forward it to your creative artist colleagues!

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

eyes-pointing-ani

[email protected]

wavesonly copy

1 view

Moondance 2016 Wrap-Up & Announcements!

*THANKS IN SAND

The 17th annual Moondance International Film Festival was a grand success for everyone who attended; audiences, indie film buffs, filmmakers, writers, composers, workshops & master class presenters, staff & volunteers, and a productive, good time was had by all! We thank you all for your valued participation, enthusiasm  & for every one of those great films!

www.moondancefilmfestival.com

STARFISH

THANKS A MILLION TO ALL OF OUR 2016

EXECUTIVE STAFF, VOLUNTEERS & BOARD OF ADVISORS!

VERY SPECIAL THANKS GO OUT TO:

RachelMainsRACHEL MAINS

Events Coordinator, Volunteers Coordinator & Ticket Sales Coordinator

CassiaHendricksonCASSIA HENDRICKSON

Film Screenings Coordinator & Moondance Website Developer

Vic Sarin - smallVIC SARIN

Film Director, Keynote Speaker & Master Class Presenter

  • Alan Rogers • Sponsorships Coordinator
  • Michael Wallace & Cos Lindstrom • Official Festival Photographers
  • Miguel Carson,  Sean Kearney, Zach Miller • Projectionists
  • Lynn Patrick • Awards Ceremony & Reception Musician
  • Jasmine Sahu • Written Works Feedback Coordinator
  • Chris Anastasiadis • Board Of Advisors
  • Vittoria Colonna • Board Of Advisors
  • Olga Rojer • Board Of Advisors

MEET THE 2016 MOONDANCE TEAM

STARFISH

FOR INFO ON THE 2016 MOONDANCE, PLEASE CLICK ON THESE LINKS:

FILM PROGRAM • FILM DESCRIPTIONS •  FILMS SCREENED  •  KEYNOTE & MASTER CLASS  •  WORKSHOPS •  WINNERS, FINALISTS & SEMI-FINALISTS   •  NETWORKING EVENTS   •  AWARDS CEREMONY & RECEPTION  • 2016 BEST ACTOR AWARDS • MOONDANCE SUCCESSES • MISSION STATEMENT

STARFISH

ATTENTION: 2016 WINNERS, FINALISTS & SEMI-FINALISTS:

You can download laurels for which you are eligible HERE!

2016-laurel-winner-image

STARFISH

ATTENTION 2016 SELECTED FILMMAKERS & WINNERS!

AWARD STAR

CLICK ON THE STAR FOR INFO ON AWARD CATEGORIES!

If you would like to have us send you back your Blu-ray screener, or if you were not able to attend the awards ceremony, & want us to send you your award star & certificate, please click HERE for the form to request it & pay only the minimal postage & handling.

STARFISH

2016 AUDIENCE FAVORITE FILMS ANNOUNCED!

• FEATURE FILMS:

A Shine of Rainbows Vic Sarin Canada

Mousse John Hellberg Sweden

The Dawns Here Are Quiet… Renat Davletyarov Russia

Tomorrow Ever After Ela Their USA

• FEATURE DOCUMENTARY FILMS:

Rivering            Bill Parks            New Zealand

The Boy From Geita            Vic Sarin            Canada

Unit 731            Chris Nebe            USA

• SHORT FILMS:

A Game of Chicken            Michael Hilf                        USA

A Wilderness Within            Vangelis Maderakis            Greece

Behind the Wall            Bat-Sheva Guez            USA

Omessa            Charlène Favier            France

Play Date            Paige Morrow Kimball            USA

Sandboy            Vittoria Colonna            USA

The Sky Over Berlin of My Childhood            Bakhtiyar Islamov            Kazakhstan

The Windfisherman            Anna McRoberts            USA

• SHORT DOCUMENTARY FILMS:

Displaced            Niamh Heery            Ireland

Meeting With the Leaf            Fazlollah Tari            Iran

The More Things Change                        Nathan Myers            USA

• MUSIC VIDEO:

Heaven’s Falling            Kimberley Williams            USA

• ANIMATION FILMS:

Ella            Juan Montes de Oca            Spain

The Diver            Damon Mohl            USA

• WORKS-IN-PROGRESS / SNEAK PREVIEW FILM:

Hey!            Alex Jovanoski            Germany

STARFISH

MOONDANCERS WRITE US!

dancing-animals animated

• “I’d like to thank you and your team for a wonderful weekend. Everyone at the Moondance festival worked so hard and maintained their smiles throughout. I truly appreciate all your help and the aid of the volunteers, in particular Rachel and Cassia for making this weekend memorable. Your enthusiasm is an inspiration!” ~ Lianne Collinson, personal assistant to Vic Sarin, director of Moondance winning films, A Shine of Rainbows & The Boy from Geita

• “Thank you for curating a festival with integrity. I loved the films I saw (which isn’t usually the case at festivals…) I love your taste in films and you clearly take the time to watch submissions.” ~ Ela Their, Winning Moondance 2016 feature film, Tomorrow Ever After

• “I just wanted to say thank you so much for selecting Displaced as winner of the Short Documentary Film category at Moondance this year. I just checked your website and I’m over the moon! (Pardon the pun!) A festival like yours is exactly why I make films, the fact that you guys focus on women, focus on social justice and global issues and work hard to promote it is very admirable and I’m thrilled to be a small part of it. As I’m thousands of miles away in Ireland and cannot get to the festival this year, I wish you the very best of luck with all the screenings and events, and thank you again for exhibiting Displaced.” ~ Niamh Heery

• “My friends and family came to my screening on Sunday and said that they had a wonderful time.  Congratulations on a successful event! ~ Bat-Sheva Guez, 2016 Moondance winner for Behind the Wall

• “Thanks again to you and your staff for making my wife (Gwen) and me feel so welcomed to your wonderful festival. Really enjoyed the time I got to spend with you, and our conversations. I hope our paths cross again.” ~ Jay Kettering, Moondance winning audio play, My Dad & Pre-Socratic Thought

• “Thank you for awarding LUDLOW a first place prize for feature screenwriting. I was pleased to no end to be honored and to receive the Seahorse Award. Barbara and I enjoyed watching A Shine of Rainbows and Rivering, entirely different movies, but both good stories filmed in beautiful locations. ~ Bruce Leaf, multi-award-winning screenwriter

“Fine festival for screenwriters. Good and timely communication make this a recommended festival for screenwriters, both new and experienced.” ~ Jim Norman, FilmFreeway 5 Star Review review

• “Just a note to thank you for having me in Boulder. You work hard and have your heart at the right places. I am happy to meet you and that I was able to spend a little time with you. Please also thank the volunteers whom I met, as they were all very kind and caring. I hope our paths cross again in the future.” ~ Vic Sarin, director, winning Moondance films, A Shine of Rainbows & The Boy from Geita, Sepia films

STARFISH

MOONDANCE IN THE NEWS:

IRAN BAGS 3 AWARDS AT MOONDANCE FILMFEST.

TEHRAN, Sep. 14 (MNA) – Three Iranian films, including ‘The Sea and the Flying Fish’, have been awarded prizes at the Moondance International Film Festival in the US. ‘The Sea and the Flying Fish’ directed by Mehrdad Ghafarzadeh won Best Feature Film award alongside titles from Canada, Germany, Russia and the US. The film is about a young innocent deaf and dumb inmate of a correctional camp who communicates through painting. ‘The Sea and the Flying Fish’ has previously won the Best Actor award at Spain’s film festival.

Atlan

‘Atlan’ directed by Moein Karimoddini won the Feature Documentary Film award at the festival. The film relates the story of a horse-trainer, Ali Golnejad and his beloved horse, Ilhan, which is supposed to bring much success and glory to the family. In the short film category, ‘The Salt Man’ directed by Sajad Mousavi won an award along with other titles from US, Ireland, France, and Kazakhstan.

Moondance International Film Festival, popularly known as the “American Cannes”, is one of the premier venues for the exhibition and promotion of feature and short films in the US, and one of the leading indie film festivals in the world. This 17th edition of the festival took place on September 4th and 5th, 2016.

STARFISH

SOME THINGS TO THNK ABOUT NOW:

CANDLE SCONCE BY MIRROR

“The world is a mirror; growl at it, and it growls in return. Smile, and the world smiles back at you.” ~ Herbert Samuel

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

”Sunrise” miriadna.com

”Sunrise” miriadna.com

“Cease to ask what the morrow will bring forth. Set down as a gain each day that fortune grants.” ~ Eudora Welty

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

‪Photo by misskarenmarquez.edublogs.org

Photo by misskarenmarquez.edublogs.org

“Life is the perpetual present moment one lives in, and a perception that time is nothing more than the current…an eternal flowing back to the sea.” ~William Least Heat-Moon, author, “River Horse”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BUDDHA + LOTUS

When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” ~ Zen Buddhist Proverb

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

water-drop-on-pond

“How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.” ~ Wayne W. Dyer

starfish chain

MoondanceBanner

100% NATURAL

ThankYouMIFFGreen

Please forward this news-blog to your creative artist colleagues!

 QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

CONTACT US TYPEWRITER copy

D-3 RECYCLE LOGO

Moondance has always been, and continues to be, a “Green” event!

No trees or natural habitats were harmed in the creation of this news-blog!

wavesonly copy

1 view

Your 2016 Moondance Film Festival Invitation!

3-african_dancers_logo-kid

A 2016 MOONDANCE FILM FESTIVAL INVITATION JUST FOR YOU:

Come Join the Moondance!

www.moondancefilmfestival.com

Come join us, in beautiful Boulder, Colorado for the 17th annual Moondance!

SUNDAY & MONDAY ~ SEPTEMBER 4th & 5th

>> GET YOUR ADVANCE FILM FESTIVAL TICKETS HERE!<<<

3 red tickets-small

Tickets for all events are available in the lobby of the St. Julien Hotel venue, on September 4th & 5th, starting at 10:AM each day.

DON’T MISS THESE UNIQUE EVENTS AT THE 2016 FILM FESTIVAL:

  • INDIE FILM SCREENINGS (documentaries, animation, music videos, foreign, feature & short films)
  • TITLES & LOGLINES WORKSHOP FOR FILMMAKERS, WRITERS & COMPOSERS
  • DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING IN CHINA WORKSHOP
  • PRODUCTIVE NETWORKING PARTIES & EVENTS DAILY
  • CELEBRITY APPEARANCE & PHOTO-OPS
  • CELEBRITY KEYNOTE SPEAKER/MASTER CLASS: VIC SARIN ON MAKING FILMS YOU BELIEVE IN!
  • PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS WITH THE PROS
  • Q&As WITH THE FILM DIRECTORS
  • AFTER-PARTIES EACH EVENING
  • LINKEDIN, STAGE 32 & FILMFREEWAY GET-TOGETHERS
  • GALA AWARDS CEREMONY & BANQUET RECEPTION!

CHECK OUT THESE LINKS FOR MORE INFO & DETAILS:

MIFF TEXT BANNER WIDE

The Moondance International Film Festival, now celebrating its 17th successful anniversary, and featuring its distinct cinematic visions and bold film selections, has distinguished itself around the world as much more than an annual film festival! The Moondance is a unique community, a supportive, productive, and creative year-round collaboration between independent filmmakers and movie audiences, between writers, music composers and the world of top-quality filmed entertainment.

We are very pleased to have secured the best venue for screening Moondance films in historic, beautiful downtown Boulder. The world-class St. Julien Hotel & Spa in downtown Boulder is one of the West’s most prestigious luxury hotels, and stands at the forefront of special event spaces in the Rocky Mountain region.

GET YOUR ADVANCE FILM FESTIVAL TICKETS HERE:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2016-moondance-international-film-festival-tickets-26988150284

starfish chain

FilmFestivalSurvivalGuide

Volunteer-Signup

 2016 MOONDANCE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES!

 Dear Friends, Moondancers, Supporters, Donors & Sponsors,

If you’d like to consider a unique sponsorship at Moondance, to further promote your company or product to our international audiences & event attendees, please take a look at our Sponsorship Categories, and contact our sponsorships coordinator, Alan Rogers, at: [email protected]

SPONSORSHIP CATEGORIES

SPONSORSHIP FAQ

BECOME A MOONDANCE PARTNER

FESTIVAL LOCAL ECONOMIC IMPACT

FILM FESTIVALS ARE GOOD BUSINESS!

Thanks a million for your interest in a mutually-beneficial working relationship with the 2016 Moondance International Film Festival!

starfish chain

A MOONDANCER WRITES US:

“I wanted to let you know that I was contacted by a sales company, Circus Road Films, and by a distribution company named Silverline Entertainment. Both found my film on the Moondance roster and requested a screener, which I sent them. One of the things I liked reading about Moondance is your investment not only in the festival itself, but in helping filmmakers get through industry doors – which has been tough, to say the least. Thanks for curating an important and much-needed festival. As a woman director, the added hurdles I face daily can feel insurmountable, and your work keeps women like me going.” ~ Ela Their, director, “Tomorrow Ever After”,  film screening at Moondance 2016

starfish chain

MIFF WAVY BANNER LGE

www.moondancefilmfestival.com

• MEET THE 2016 MOONDANCE TEAM!

100% NATURAL

Please forward this news-blog to your creative artist colleagues!

 QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

MAILBOX-RED

EMAIL: [email protected]

wavesonly

2 views