Seek beauty, truth, harmony…the promise of the future and the blessings of today. Live well, laugh often, love much, gain the respect & the love of children; fill your niche, accomplish your tasks; leave the world better than you found it. Appreciate Earth’s beauties & express it. Look for the best in others and give the best you have.

2018 CALL-FOR-ENTRIES!

FEATURE, SHORT, DOCUMENTARY, ANIMATION & DRONE FILMS, FEATURE & SHORT SCREENPLAYS, FILM SCORES & ORIGINAL MUSIC, SHORT STORIES, TV PILOTS, AND MORE!

WEBSITE: moondancefilmfestival.com

2018 ENTRY FORM

2018 FILMFREEWAY SUBMISSIONS

We look forward to previewing your submissions!

INSIDER INFO:

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TITLES & LOGLINES

by Elizabeth English

Have a fabulous, unique idea for a movie? That’s wonderful, but you need to know how to turn your great story into a great logline. There is and always has been only one real secret to success in the entertainment industry: Tell a great story. Period. And you need to figure out how to tell that fabulous story in only 25 words or less! You need to learn how to get your script idea enthusiastically read by an agent and then a producer, director and actors. Learn what they look for in a title and logline. Your first impression to these movers and shakers is all about the fine art of pitching your film or screenplay, your TV series concept, your film, or story idea, via your eye-catching and memorable title and logline.

“SELL THE SIZZLE; NOT JUST THE STEAK!”

 A great title for your film or screenplay is the first (and maybe only) introduction to an agent, a producer, director or studio. “You’ve got 3 minutes; pitch me what you’ve got,” is what you’ll hear from the entertainment industry movers & shakers who might buy your project. But you probably wouldn’t even get that meeting or a reply to your query letter, if you didn’t have an interesting title and logline that caught their eye. READ MORE HERE:

PLEASE WATCH ALL OUR 2017 WINNING FILMS HERE!

“90BPM” A surreal comedy

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

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

“Choose to live by choice, not by chance. Make changes, not excuses. Be motivated, not manipulated. Be useful, not used. Choose self-esteem and listen to your inner voice.”

IN MEMORIAM:

MARTY CUNY, MOONDANCER

MARTY CUNY was known for his stunt & crew work on the films Thunderheart (1992) and Crazy Horse (1996). Marty, an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe was born on the Pine Ridge Reservation where he was delivered by his grandmother. Among his many accomplishments, Marty excelled in screenwriting. Focusing on both fiction and non-fiction, his screenplays have been featured at the Moondance International Film Festival, Boulder, Colorado. Marty also attended the film festival annually and always gave a traditional Lakota Blessing Ceremony, and one year, as he was finishing the blessing, a double rainbow suddenly appeared overhead, to the amazement of the festival-goers gathered there.

For the past 45 years Marty Cuny has been making dolls and other traditional styled craftwork. With awards from the Red Cloud Indian Art Show and pieces in collections coast-to-coast – including the Smithsonian – Marty continued to use his art to tell the story that might otherwise be lost. He learned the craft from watching and learning the techniques of beading from his grandparents. They  taught him the basics of  how to use the leather, beads, feathers, rawhide and horsehair. His inspiration  in creating his work is drawn from dreams and a desire to incorporate what  had occurred in history, and  the knowledge that he could share with the people who have come to appreciate the culture  and  history of the Lakota people. Marty Cuny, National award-winning artist, writer and actor. made his journey to the Spirit World on March 24, 2017.

The Film Festival Without Borders!

“You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry. Don’t worry. And be sure to stop and smell the flowers along the way.” ~ Walter Hagen

2018 CALL-FOR-ENTRIES!

FEATURE, SHORT, DOCUMENTARY, ANIMATION & DRONE FILMS, FEATURE & SHORT SCREENPLAYS, STAGE PLAYS, FILM SCORES & ORIGINAL MUSIC, SHORT STORIES, TV PILOTS, AND MORE!

• WEBSITE: moondancefilmfestival.com
• 2018 MOONDANCE ENTRY FORM: https://moondancefilmfestival.com/moondance-2018-entry-form/

2018 FILMFREEWAY SUBMISSIONS: https://filmfreeway.com/MoondanceInternationalFilmFestival

We look forward to previewing your submissions!

A FEW THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

“When you reach for the stars, you may not quite get one, but you won’t come up with a handful of mud, ether.” ~ Leo Burnett

Vincent Van Gogh “Wheatfield With Crows”

“Creativity is allowing oneself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” ~ Scott Adams

Please be sure to check out our very popular Moondance magazine articles HERE!  Don’t miss reading all the great filmmaking & writing articles written by the pros exclusively for Moondance. Read about: how to win a screenplay competition; how to win a film festival competition; winning titles & loglines for films & scripts; screenplay submissions; movie script writing; writing character, dialog & action; composing winning film scores; how to get an agent; what Hollywood wants to see; directing indie films…and more!

PLEASE WATCH ALL OUR 2017 WINNING FILMS HERE!

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

~~~ The Film Festival Without Borders! ~~~

The early bird gets the worm!

2018 CALL-FOR-ENTRIES!

The early-bird discounted entry fee has been extended through April

MOONDANCE INFO

2018 MOONDANCE ENTRY FORM

2018 FILMFREEWAY ENTRY FORM

PLEASE WATCH ALL OUR 2017 WINNING FILMS HERE!

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

A FEW THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

“Freedom” by Zenos Frudakis

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

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” ~ Audrey Hepburn

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls, and looks like work.” ~ Thomas Edison

The Film Festival Without Borders!

C’mon in!

2018 CALL-FOR-ENTRIES!

Submit your work right now to take advantage of the $25 early-bird entry fee! And, due to popular request, we have extended the early-bird discounted entry fee through April 30!

• WEBSITE: www.moondancefilmfestival.com
• 2018 ENTRY FORM
• 2018 FILMFREEWAY SUBMISSIONS
• 2018 SUBMISSION CATEGORIES
• 2018 SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

The Moondance 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!

Please watch this inspiring Moondance winning music video directed by Moondance award-winner Lou Hamilton: flash mob in London’s Trafalgar Square to bring public awareness of child sex trafficking and exploitation.

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

MOONDANCERS WRITE US:

• “I am glad to know that MOONDANCE continues to be a bright star on the international film festival circuit.” ~ Chris Nebe, Moondance award-winning documentary filmmaker

• “You still have one of the most respected film and creative venues for aspiring whomever who actually do real work,  and the global response seems to know it.” ~ Gino Mateo, Canada, Moondance award-winning writer

PLEASE WATCH ALL OUR 2017 WINNING FILMS HERE!

Thank you for watching our winning films

& supporting the Moondance!

Our Moondance Mermaid has returned from her hiatus, and is ready to once again make a big splash with you at the 2018 film festival!

2018 CALL-FOR-ENTRIES!

• WEBSITE: moondancefilmfestival.com
• 2018 SUBMISSION CATEGORIES
• 2018 ENTRY FORM
• 2018 FILMFREEWAY SUBMISSIONS
• 2018 SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

PLEASE WATCH ALL OUR 2017 WINNING FILMS HERE!

E-mail from Vimeo on February 17^th about our online film program:

“In the past 24 hours, your videos received 108 plays!”

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

A FEW THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

“Sometimes, all you need is for somebody to believe in you, in order to be able to accomplish what you may never have thought you could do!” ~ Drew Brees

“Do not go only where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail for others to follow.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Wind from the Sea” Andrew Wyeth

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Buster Keaton

“It is not only for what we do that we are responsible, but for what we do not do.” Moliere

Have you watched any really good movies lately?

Now there’s no need to get dressed, drive to town, find parking, pay $12-15 for a movie ticket, buy expensive popcorn & a drink, sit in a theater to watch a movie, then drive home…maybe pay the babysitter…because at Moondance, you can enjoy watching all of our fabulous, award-winning indie films online, any time, anywhere, on any of your mobile devices, for only $1.99, and several of them are free! And these are the top indie films by super-talented filmmakers from around the world. You might never get to see these movies in a theatrical venue. Take a look at our 2017 film schedule HERE!

To quote the late film critic, Roger Ebert, “See you at the movies!”  

WATCH THIS WEEK’S FEATURED FILMS:

GAME: short film, director: Jeannie Donohoe (USA) 16 minutes. The director is also a former Moondance short film winner, for “Lambing Season”. She was selected from over 4,600 applicants to write and direct “Game” for Lexus Short Films. GAME is a story about going all the way, pursuing your dreams, and playing at the top of your game.  AJ doesn’t see herself as a girl basketball player. She sees herself as a basketball player. She asks the world to do the same. The relationship between Coach and AJ, over the course of this short film, speaks to the willingness to reward ambition, hard work, and equal talent with equal opportunities.

LEARNING TO DRIVE: short film, director: Roderick Stevens (USA) 19 minutes. Inspired by the true story of a feisty young man with Down syndrome, determined to become independent and to convince his scatterbrained brother to teach him how to drive.

KOSNIN: short film, director: Sara Seligman (USA) 12 minutes. 10-year old Héctor wants to ‘fly,’ like the voladores in his community. His single mother can’t afford the costs, but Héctor is determined to achieve his dream, and through hard work and a little help, sets out to do what others in his community have done for generations – FLY!

TOGETHER AS THE WIND BLOWS: music video, director: Jose Manalang (Japan) 6 minutes. This is a vibrant music video about the plight of talented Filipino workers searching for respect, equality and greener pastures abroad.

HANOOZ NA (NOT YET): short film, director: Arian Vazirdaftari (Iran) 15 minutes. It`s 21 year-old Hasti’s Birthday. She studies abroad and her parents in Iran want to congratulate her via Skype. But…well, you can imagine what happens, when the old world meets the new world.

2017 MOONDANCE AUDIENCE FAVORITE FILM ANNOUNCED:

 LE PASSÉ DEVANT NOUS (PAST IMPERFECT)

LE PASSÉ DEVANT NOUS (PAST IMPERFECT), feature film, director: Nathalie Teirlinck (Belgium) 110 minutes. When Alice’s ex-boyfriend dies in a car accident, she’s unexpectedly confronted with her six-year-old son, whom she had abandoned at birth. His presence not only threatens her routine existence as a high-priced escort but also exposes strongly suppressed emotions. Doubt strikes again. Will she be able to be a mother, this time?

A SPECIAL MOONDANCE SELECTION OF FILMS

ON MYSTERIOUS CHINA!

Directed & Produced by MONAREX HOLLYWOOD

Read more about these Mysterious China film selections HERE!

These unique, award-winning videos can be watched or purchased at http://www.monarex.com

Don’t miss these winning indie films from around the world, and more!

MOONDANCE 2017 WINNERS, FINALISTS & SEMI-FINALSTS:

• You can find downloadable Moondance 2017 laurels HERE to add, if eligible, to your website, social media, promotions, and media releases. 
• If you are a 2017 winner, finalist or semi-finalist, you are eligible to apply for an official Moondance certificate HERE:

 Missed entering your film, written work or music to the 2017 Moondance competition? 

Get ready to submit your work for the upcoming 2018 call-for-entries!

SEE ALL THE SUBMISSION CATEGORIES HERE!

WHY FILM FESTIVALS MATTER:

Excerpts from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)

Film festivals are a vital piece of the film ecosystem, and their impact is evident across our culture. Film festivals highlight the worldwide passion of cinema and showcase the value of film, both creatively and economically. More than anything, film festivals deliver a new, unique way to experience the movies, always driven by the power of a good story.

A platform for new talent:
 Each year, filmmakers submit their creations to a range of film festivals in the hopes of getting their work premiered. If a film attracts the attention of festival curators, an independent creator could have their work showcased in front of an influential audience. Film festivals have helped open doors for many of today’s iconic filmmakers including Quentin Tarantino, Morgan Spurlock and Darren Aronofsky.

Attracting new audiences:
 When a new or independent filmmaker brings a film to a festival, the viewers have the opportunity to connect with the story through experiencing the film firsthand. This process can give the filmmaker insights and even unlock new avenues for the film with producers, distributors, and others who can bring it to a wider audience. READ MORE HERE!

INSIDER TIPS FOR SCREENWRITERS:

Discover how to: enhance the narrative momentum in your screenplay, stylize your script in a way that keeps the narrative moving, open your story in a way that generates instant momentum and audience investment, create a sense of inevitability in your screenplay, utilize the importance of cause and effect and conflict in narrative, and the importance of tailoring specific characters & dialog to the story, as well as structuring each scene so as to build or maintain a vital sense of story progression, and to keeping your story perpetually engaging.

 READ MORE IN THESE E-ZINE ARTICLES HERE:

Screenwriting: Insider Info

Creating Character & Characterization

The Field of Dreams: Conflict as a Metaphor

Subtleties of Subtext

Writers: Write What You Know!

Things You Should Do to Get Your Screenplay Rejected

How To Get An Agent: What Agents Want, (and Don’t Want), to See

MOONDANCERS WRITE US:

• “Thank you so much for everything…and for your talk with the producers. We all really appreciate your support of the film (and my previous film) and all of the exposure it will receive through Moondance and the award!  It’s a great honor. Thank you!!” ~ Jeannie Donohoe, director: (“GAME” won the 2017 Moondance, and her “LAMBING SEASON” is another previous Moondance Winner)

• “I want you to know that I have huge respect for your film festival and I’m so grateful for the selection of my film. I’m so supportive of your mission as a festival and want to contribute, if possible, even if in some small way.” ~ Jenna Cavelle, director, “OPEN SEASON” a Moondance 2017 winning short narrative film.

“We are truly honored, especially given the reputation and prestige of the Moondance international film Festival and its wonderful mission of peaceful resolution and unity. Thank you again so much for your support and encouragement.” ~ Kemmy Moran, director, web series pilot 2017 winner, “Beverly Hills Ghost”

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead

” “A quiet and modest life brings more joy than a pursuit of success bound with constant unrest.” ~ Albert Einstein

WEBSITE: www.moondancefilmfestival.com

NEWS-BLOG: www.moondancefilmfestival.com/blog

EMAIL: [email protected]