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Welcome to the 2021 Moondance!

MIFF 2021 HALYNA HUTCHINS TRIBUTE ANNOUNCEMENT

HALYNA HUTCHINS 2021

The 2021 Moondance International Film Festival is honored to dedicate this year’s film festival to honor the life, the talent and the loving memory of Halyna Hutchins, Director of Photography, a well-regarded Ukrainian cinematographer who is credited with work on more than 30 projects, feature films, short films and TV miniseries, including the films Archenemy, Darlin’, and Blindfire.

Dedicating the 2021 Moondance to Director of Photography Halyna Hutchins is highly appropriate, since Moondance was originally founded in 1999 on the concept of  honoring all the talented women writers, directors, cinematographers, editors, composers, producers, and all the other talented women  behind the cameras in the international film and entertainment industry.

Halyna grew up on a Soviet military base within the Arctic Circle, “surrounded by reindeer”, as she noted on her Instagram page, and where she happily identified herself as a “restless dreamer”. She subsequently worked on documentary films in Eastern Europe, and received a graduate degree in international journalism from Kyiv National University in Ukraine,. She also worked on British documentary productions in Eastern Europe before studying film at American Film Institute Conservatory (AFI) in 2015 in Los Angeles, and embarking on a very promising filmmaking career. 

American Cinematographer magazine named her one of the year’s rising stars. Stephen Pizzello, editor-in-chief, publisher and a close friend of Hutchins’, said she had not only a joyful spirit, but that everybody really liked her. “Darlin’” director, Pollyanna McIntosh, said that Halyna Hutchins was “the most talented, committed, and wonderful artist and teammate” she’d ever worked with. Director Adam Egypt Mortimer, who worked with Halyna on the 2020 thriller “Archenemy,” said she had a powerful sense of artistic confidence and an inspiring openness to any and all challenges. Cinematographer Andriy Semenyuk, a fellow Ukrainian, called her a mentor with a magnetizing personality who stood out for her heartfelt generosity and ready willingness to help others.

Ms. Hutchins was tragically killed while working as Director of Photography on a film location in New Mexico.


>> For Moondance 2022, and beyond, a very special honor, the Halyna Hutchins Moondance Award, will be offered to a winning woman cinematographer, who has submitted her film to the Moondance competition.

Moondance Star Award

SPECIAL 2022 ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Moondance 2022 is dedicated to the memory of cinematographer, HALYNA HUTCHINS. The winner of the Halyna Hutchins Cinematography Award goes to Emo Weemhof, for his work on the winning feature narrative film, QUICKSAND, directed by Margot Schaap, of the Netherlands.

• The winner of the 2022 Halyna Hutchins Director’s Award goes to Margo Schaap, of the Netherlands, for her feature film, QUICKSAND.

• The winner of the 2022 Halyna Hutchins Director’s Music Video Award goes to Christine E. Whitten, of the USA, for her winning music video, UKRAINE, UKRAINE.

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Reviews and comments

• A well-established festival with a passionate director, Ms. English is a dedicated person who runs a fair and time-proven safe haven for your work to be considered. Best regards to her and her entire staff! ~ Giovanni Sanseviero

• Thank you for putting together such a worthwhile film festival, and running it beyond and above the professional level that I have experienced in other festivals. Sincerely ~ Georgette Alfred

• I’m thrilled my narrative feature “Prince Harming” was selected as semi-finalist by this wonderful festival. When I had questions, Elizabeth English got back to me right away and was very helpful.. As a result of being chosen, I’ve gotten some great industry connections already, and can’t wait to see what’s next! ~ Marianne Hettinger

• Moondance International Film Festival was very helpful and, professional, and gave me great insight and direction on my screenplay. ~ Paul Piccirillo

• I love this fest. This is the second time we’ve been selected and won. They are so warm and hospitable and definitely have a wonderful purpose. I highly recommend. ~ D. L. Gardner

• Great experience with some wonderful people. First class experience. Thank you!! ~ Donald Miller

• Thank you for giving the award towards my film The Winter. It is a great honour to be included in Moondance International Film Festival . Thank you for the wonderful experience. ~ Xin Li

• I wanted to thank Elizabeth English who runs this festival. She took the time to speak with me about my work and provided valuable feedback for improvements. That’s very rare to get a one on one. ~ Jennifer Phillips

• Moondance was amazing, thank you for all your help. ~ David Wurawa

• Truly amazing festival for independent film makers ~ AAFilmmakers UK

• My deepest heartfelt thank you to the Moondance Team. I am honored to be included in this great festival celebrating such stunning abilities in the art of expression. ~ Renee Rubio

• This is a wonderful festival & I was proud to be part of it. Many thanks for everything! ~ Michael Madden

• Communication was personal and extremely useful. All in all, I’m glad that I could participate in this special festival. ~ Julia Deak

• Thank you to the Moondance Festival for providing opportunities for women writers and filmmakers. ~ Stevie Jackson

• Founder/Director Elizabeth English is passionate, tireless and a great communicator! ~ Jan Stanton

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

• Fine festival for screenwriters. Good and timely communication make this a recommended festival for screenwriters, both new and experienced. ~ Jim Norman

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Last Chance for Moondance 2020!!

The Film Festival Without Borders!

 WEBSITE: www.moondancefilmfestival.com

Due to popular request, the entry period is extended,

and submissions now accepted through August 15th, 2020!

But don’t wait until the last minute

for your chance to win the Moondance!

2020 CALL-FOR-ENTRIES!

Submit your best work right now:

2020 SUBMISSION CATEGORIES

INDIE FILMS      WRITTEN WORKS     ORIGINAL MUSIC

* TO ALL INDIE FILM BUFFS, FILMMAKERS, WRITERS AND COMPOSERS: Looking for something memorable, inspirational and entertaining to do while quarantined at home, waiting it out? Here’s our winning filmed  entertainment, and it’s free, too!

WATCH ALL OF OUR 2016, 2017, 2018, & 2019

WINNING & SELECTED FILMS  HERE!

Thank you for watching our winning films & supporting the Moondance!

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Moondance Wishes You a Very Productive Summer!

The Film Festival Without Borders!

WEBSITE: www.moondancefilmfestival.com

New Yorker magazine cartoon, by Isaac Littlejohn Eddy

Be well and stay safe, today & every day!!

2020 CALL-FOR-ENTRIES!

Submit your best work now:

2020 SUBMISSION CATEGORIES

FILMS!    WRITTEN WORKS!   ORIGINAL MUSIC!

NOTE TO ALL INDIE FILM BUFFS, FILMMAKERS, WRITERS AND COMPOSERS: Looking for something memorable, inspirational and entertaining to do while quarantined at home, waiting it out? Here’s some great entertainment, and it’s free, too!

WATCH OUR 2017, 2018, & 2019 WINNING & SELECTED FILMS  HERE!

Thank you for watching our winning films

& supporting the Moondance!

*NOTE: not all of the films listed above are currently available for viewing, but most are!

The Moondance winning and selected film screenings are online-only!All winning & selected films will screen on our own Vimeo Pro site. Now our best films will have the opportunity for not only a one-time local theater screening but also an international audience of many thousands of viewers, on a computer or any mobile device, 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!

 

“Mer-folk” Sculpture by Charlotte Zink, of www.zinkmetalart.com

Yes, you can do it!

SEE THE MOONDANCE MISSION STATEMENT

 

 

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Moondance Wishes You a Happy Earth Day!

The Film Festival Without Borders!

WEBSITE: www.moondancefilmfestival.com

Earth Day today & every day!!

2020 CALL-FOR-ENTRIES!

Submit your work now:

2020 SUBMISSION CATEGORIES

NOTE TO ALL INDIE FILM BUFFS, WRITERS AND COMPOSERS: Looking for something memorable, inspirational and entertaining to do while quarantined or just at home, waiting it out? Here’s a great idea & it’s free, too!

WATCH ALL OF OUR 2016, 2017, 2018, & 2019 WINNING & SELECTED FILMS FOR FREE HERE!

Thank you for watching our winning films & supporting the Moondance!

The Moondance winning and selected film screenings are online-only! All winning & selected films will screen on our own Vimeo Pro site. Now our best films will have the opportunity for not only a one-time local theater screening but also an international audience of many thousands of viewers, on a computer or any mobile device, 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!

Subscribe now to the popular Moondance news-blog for the latest announcements, news, updates, info, insider tips & inspiration, and more!

You can do it!!

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Moondance Celebrates All Our Talented Moondancers!

The Film Festival Without Borders!

“C’mon in!”

2020 CALL-FOR-ENTRIES!

Submit your work now:

2020 SUBMISSION CATEGORIES

FILMS     WRITTEN WORKS       MUSIC

*If you’ve already submitted your project to the 2020 Moondance, Thanks a million! 

NOTE TO ALL INDIE FILM BUFFS, FILMMAKERS, WRITERS AND COMPOSERS: Looking for something memorable, inspirational and entertaining to do while quarantined or just staying at home, waiting it out? Here’s a great idea & it’s free, too:

PLEASE WATCH ALL OUR 2016, 2017, 2018, & 2019 WINNING & SELECTED FILMS HERE!

Thank you for watching our winning films & supporting the Moondance!

The Moondance winning and selected film screenings are online-only! All winning & selected films will screen on our own Vimeo Pro site. Now our best films will have the opportunity for not only a one-time local theater screening but also an international audience of many thousands of viewers, on a computer or any mobile device, 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!

 

If of thy worldly goods thou art bereft

And from thy slender store

Two loaves alone to thee are left,

Sell one, and with the dole,

Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.

~ Saadi (1184-?1283), Persian poet

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MOONDANCE 2020 COMPETITION CALL-FOR-ENTRIES!

THE FILM FESTIVAL WITHOUT BORDERS!

                       “Mer-folk” Sculpture by Charlotte Zink, of www.zinkmetalart.com

Moondance International Film Festival is celebrating its 21st world-class season!

Check us out: www.moondancefilmfestival.com

2 EASY WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY:

Click either the Official Moondance entry form, or the Film Freeway entry form below to submit your best project:

CHECK OUT THE SUBMISSION CATEGORIES HERE!

            FILMS        WRITTEN WORKS         ORIGINAL MUSIC

We very cordially invite local, national and international screenwriters and filmmakers, playwrights, short story writers, TV writers, radio play writers & producers, librettists, music composers, children’s filmmakers & writers, and young people, students, seniors, music video filmmakers, and multi-media filmmakers to participate in this truly international film festival.

The long-term vision of the Moondance International Film Festival is to preserve and revitalize our intangible heritage, cultivate creative diversity, develop an intercultural dialogue, promote non-violent conflict resolution, to raise awareness of the invaluable contributions of women to the entertainment community, and to encourage environmental conservation & protection.

We wish to actively participate in creating a bridge of understanding to another person’s or culture’s experience, and to stimulate this creative resource in writing, film and music. Our mission is to present an inspiring, vibrant and growing collection of films, music, and writings, which are an ideal means for communication across perceived boundaries of race, culture, age and gender.

We believe that the world’s most powerful narrative and educational medium – movies and television, as well as scripts and music can contribute to a healthier society and that these works should encourage the active involvement of audiences to connect and act collectively to address social challenges. Winning and finalist films, scripts and music are innovative, distinctive, compelling and engaging, relevant to varied audiences and encourage participation.

We are eager to continue to be one of the most important film festivals in the world by being innovative, risk-taking, truly independent, and open to new thinking, new concepts, new talent, and new ways of telling stories.

LET’S MAKE A SPLASH IN 2020!

Elizabeth English

Founder & Executive Director

Artistic Director

In our continuing success of promoting top-quality original indie filmmaking, writing and music composition by talented artists from around the world, the Moondance International Film Festival is very proud to announce that our annual festival competitions have brought in great submissions, in all genres and categories, from Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Marshall Island, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia/Montenegro, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tasmania, Turkey, the UK, the US, Venezuela, Wales, and many others!

SEND IN YOUR SUBMISSION NOW,

TO REPRESENT YOUR COUNTRY!

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” W. Clement Stone

 

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” ~ Albert Einstein

SEND IN YOUR SUBMISSION NOW;

DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE!

Thanks for your interest in winning the 2020 Moondance! We look forward to previewing your submission!

Check us out: www.moondancefilmfestival.com

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~ HAPPY HOLIDAY WISHES FROM MOONDANCE!

THE GREEN FILM FESTIVAL WITHOUT BORDERS!

Moondance International Film Festival, is celebrating its 21st world-class season, & has opened its 2020 call-for-entries!

Check us out: www.moondancefilmfestival.com

Come join us in celebrating the 21st season of the Moondance International Film Festival!

Get ready with your best films, written works and music for submitting to the 2020 competition!

CHECK OUT THE SUBMISSION CATEGORIES HERE!

FILMS  •  WRITTEN WORKS   •  MUSIC

DON’T MISS OUR EARLY-BIRD ENTRY FEE:

$25.00

DECEMBER 1st, 2019 – January 31st, 2020

Click either the Official Moondance entry form, or the Film Freeway entry form below to submit your best project:

Thanks for your interest in winning the 2020 Moondance!

We look forward to previewing your submission!

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MOONDANCE: Get Ready For Our 21st Festival Season!

~ THE FILM FESTIVAL WITHOUT BORDERS! ~

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”

~ Albert Einstein

Come join us in celebrating the 21st season of the Moondance International Film Festival!

Get ready with your best films, written works and music for submitting to the 2020 competition, opening December 1st.

CHECK OUT THE SUBMISSION CATEGORIES HERE!

FILMS  •  WRITTEN WORKS   •  MUSIC

EARLY-BIRD ENTRY FEE:

$25.00

DECEMBER 1st, 2019 – January 31st, 2020

SEE ALL OF THE CELEBRITIES WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THE FILM FESTIVAL’S GOALS HERE:

https://moondancefilmfestival.com/moondance-successes/

MOONDANCERS COME FROM AROUND THE WORLD!

Moondancers are part of an amazing worldwide community; a unique collaboration of multi-talented writers, film score composers and filmmakers. The Moondance mission is to entertain, inform, inspire, encourage and educate. We honor those artists who, through their creative work, actively increase awareness, provide multiple viewpoints, address complex social issues, and strengthen ties within the international community. At Moondance, artists can come together with other writers, composers, film directors and producers to create new opportunities, develop tools for success and forge new alliances within the international film and entertainment industry.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”  ~ Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Please visit the MOONDANCE WEBSITE to watch the winning & selected 2019, 2018 & 2017 indie films from around the world, for free.

WATCH WINNING FILMS HERE

 

 

 

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~ A Big Moondance Howdy from the Rocky Mountains!

Moondance is on a well-earned break during November, but just wanted to say “Howdy”! Lots of snow here, but also plenty of brilliant blue skies and sunshine. Colorado usually has 360 days a year of sunny, blue-sky days!

The Moondance 2020 CALL-FOR-ENTRIES will open for submissions on December 1st, 2019, so get your best work ready to send in to us. And, from December 1st through the 31st, the Early-Bird entry fee is only $25! Such a deal!

MOONDANCE 2020 SUBMISSION CATEGORIES

Meanwhile, pop up a big bowl of popcorn and click this link to relax and watch all the 2017, 1018 & 2019 winning & selected films at home, for free!

The order form for the .pdf 2019 Award Certificates of Competition Status (Winner, Finalist or Semi-finalist), suitable for printing & framing, is available until November 15th:

WINNER, FINALIST & SEMI-FINALIST CERTIFICATE ORDER FORM

LAURELS: Congratulations to all the 2019 Moondance winners, finalists & semi-finalists! You can find laurels to download for your status in the 2019 contest by clicking the laurel image above.

MOONDANCE 2019 WINNERS, FINALISTS & SEMI-FINALISTS LISTING

SOME RECENT MOONDANCE MEDIA RECOGNITION:

‘Rising Silence’ wins prestigious awards at Moondance and Asian Media Awards

Leesa Gazi’s documentary film, Rising Silence, recently won two prestigious accolades, Best Feature Documentary at the Moondance International Film Festival and Best Investigation 2019 at the Asian Media Awards. 

“I have tried to show the unique life experiences and the real surroundings of Birangona women in Rising Silence,” explains Leesa. “Despite their sufferings and plight, these women are brave, resilient and loving. The film explores where their strength and fighting spirit to rise above the sufferings come from.”

The Moondance International Film Festival is one of the most important platforms in the world for promoting, encouraging, educating and rewarding non-violent conflict resolution in the arts. 

The Daily Star, Bangladesh, November 3, 2019

If you missed the 2019 submission deadline, the 2020 competition call-for-entries will open in December 2019. Subscribe now to the popular MOONDANCE NEWS-BLOG for the latest announcements, updates, info, insider tips & inspiration.

www.moondancefilmfestival.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

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