RIIFF ANNOUNCES 2016 SCREENPLAY COMPETITION WINNERS
.... 447 submissions received from throughout the United States and across the globe
• Download the 2016 News Release
Photos by Mike Braca
Tannaz Hazemi from Brooklyn, NY is the Best Screenplay Grand Prize Winner for this year's Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) Screenplay Competition. Tannaz’s winning screenplay is entitled “Dean the Drummer.” George T. Marshall, RIIFF Executive Director/CEO, made the announcement of the 2016 awards.
The storyline for “Dean the Drummer”: Raised an orphan after her Mother died during childbirth, teenager Mia is now pregnant herself and struggles to make enough money for a respectable delivery. Despite her boyfriend's disapproving Mother, her abusive Uncle, and having to work illegally underaged.
"Hazemi’s script tackles the real life economic struggles that many young parents face on a daily basis. It’s a defining example of contemporary American Realism, a story of perseverance that speaks to the greater social consciousness of today,” said Shawn Quirk, RIIFF Program Director.
“What an amazing year for storytelling and our screenplay competition. This year’s entries were compelling and engaging, and were scored on criteria that included character, dialogue, setting, plot and technique,” added Quirk. “We reviewed the largest entry base in competition’s history – 447 submissions -- making for difficult decision-making on the part of our international group of judges.”
"After extensive and careful deliberation, prize winners were chosen in six distinct categories: Best Screenplay, Best International, Vortex Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror, Best LGBTQ, Spotlight on New England and Best Short Screenplay," Quirk noted.
"Our sincere congratulations to this year's winners," stated George T. Marshall. "This competition has introduced us to some of the world's brightest and most talented writers in the craft."
2016 FINALISTS
BEST SCREENPLAY
GRAND PRIZE:
Dean The Drummer | Tannaz Hazemi, Author, Brooklyn, NY
FIRST PLACE:
Jimmy | Kent Moran, Author, Los Angeles, CA
INTERNATIONAL SCREENPLAY
GRAND PRIZE:
Where Emperors Go To Die | Evan Kimball, Author, Beijing, China
FIRST PRIZE:
The Lady of Sing Sing | Candida Brady, Author, Waltington Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
VORTEX HORROR/SCI-FI SCREENPLAY
GRAND PRIZE:
Monsterland | Michael Phillip Cash, Author, Bethpage, NY
FIRST PRIZE:
Miss Diagnosis | Derek Dubois, Author, Woonsocket, RI
BARREN BRANCHES LGBTQ SCREENPLAY
GRAND PRIZE:
Sideways Down the Sky | Barry Brennessel, Author, Silver Springs, MD
FIRST PRIZE:
Venice Is For Lovers | Storm Garner, Author, New York, NY
SPOTLIGHT ON NEW ENGLAND
GRAND PRIZE:
The Extraordinary World of Cecily Blinkstop | Jennifer Potts, Author, Fitchburg, MA
FIRST PRIZE:
Return to Me | Walter Quinn, Author, Hartford, CT
BEST TELEVISION PILOT SCRIPT
GRAND PRIZE :
Swagger | Kendra Cunningham, Author, New York, NY
FIRST PRIZE:
The Mother Ducks | Mike Carrier, Author, Los Angeles, CA
BEST SHORT SCRIPT
GRAND PRIZE:
Zenith | Ellie Foumbi, Author, New York, NY
FIRST PRIZE:
Matt and the Epic Microwave Odyssey | Michelle Sarkany, Author, Fresh Meadows, NY
Prizes awarded to the winners of the screenplay competition (which vary with the specific screenplay category) include: a free year of screenplay promotion services to the winners, through ScreenwriterShowcase.com; 1 Script Listing and 1 Magazine Listing from InkTip; a 1-year Writers Database membership from Script Pipeline; Final Draft software featuring Final Draft Screenwriting Suites; and Passes to the 2017 Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival and the ScriptBiz™ Screenwriter's Workshop.
The Best Screenplay Grand Prize winner will be brought to Providence to attend the 2017 ScriptBiz program, where their screenplay will be a central focus of the program, plus receive a private script consultation and an official award on RIIFF's Opening Night Celebration. Lodging will also be provided.
The 2016 Semi-Finalists:
Anomie | Robert Burdsall, Author, Thousand Oaks CA
Arverni | Mitchell Shinderman, Author, Sherman Oaks, CA
Assassin (Pilot) | Gabriel Veiga, Author, Toronto, ON, Canada
Beard | Jeffrey McElmurray, Author, Atlanta, GA
Becoming Terpsichore | Susan Polk, Author, Belleville, New Jersey
The Cellar | Kimberly Cooper, Author, Los Angeles, CA
Dealing | Sean Campbell, Author, New Jersey
Dean The Drummer | Tannaz Hazemi, Author, Brooklyn, NY
Derailed | Ariella Papa, Author, Brooklyn, NY
The Extraordinary World of Cecily Blinkstop | Jennifer Potts, Author, Fitchburg, MA
Food and Spirits | Michael Jernegan, Author, Seattle, WA
Gray Skies | Deanna Markoff, Author, Hempstead, NY
Green Flash | Eric Granger, Author, Lake Placid, NY
Hunter’s Pointe | Scott Liapis, Author, San Francisco, CA
Jack and the Box Store | Heidi FitzGerald, Author, Plymouth, Minnesota
Jimmy | Kent Moran, Author, Hollywood, CT
Killer | Casimir Nozkowski, Author, Brooklyn, NY
King of Bandits | Chase Kroll, Author, Los Angeles , CA
The Lady of Sing Sing | Candida Brady, Author, Waltington Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Mary In the Gray | Cesare Joly, Author, Italy
Masks On | Keren Hantman, Author, Los Angeles, CA
Matt and the Epic Microwave Odyssey | Michelle Sarkany, Author, Fresh Meadows, NY
Miss Diagnosis | Derek Dubois, Author, Woonsocket, RI
Monsterland | Michael Phillip Cash, Author, Bethpage, NY
The Mother Ducks | Mike Carrier, Author, Los Angeles, CA
Peculiar Taste | Philip Sedgwick, Author, Tucson, AZ
Pitigliano | Jason Kessler, Author, Brooklyn, NY
Return to Me | Walter Quinn, Author, Hartford, CT
Rosalie | Adam Whitaker, Author, Clever, MO
Seeing Maya | Joe Bardin, Author, Scottsdale, AZ
Sideways Down the Sky | Barry Brennessel, Author, Silver Springs, MD
Spark | Lisa Davies, Author, Greenbelt, MD
Swagger | Kendra Cunningham, Author, New York
Venice is for Lovers | Storm Garner, Author, New York, NY
Wall Streak | Gregg Greenberg, Author, New York, NY
Where Emperors Go to Die | Evan Kimball, Author, Beijing, China
Will Be Done | Christine Perkins, Author, Little Compton, RI
Witches Protection Program | Michael Phillip Cash, Author, Bethpage, NY
Zenith | Ellie Foumbi, Author, New York, NY
ABOUT THE FLICKERS: RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF), has secured its place in the global community as the portal for the best in international independent cinema, earning the respect of domestic and foreign filmmakers, filmgoers and trend watchers. This confluence of art and commerce brought together world-class celebrities, award-winning filmmakers, new talent and audience members in record numbers last year. Ranked as one of the top 10 Festivals in the United States, RIIFF is also a qualifying festival for the Short Film Academy Award in the live action, animation and documentary divisithrough its affiliation with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. There are 6 film festivals worldwide which share this distinction and RIIFF is the only festival in New England. The Festival takes place every August.
The next Festival will take place August 8-13, 2017.
2016 Sponsors:
 
 • InkTip Script Listing: A listing of your script on InkTip so thatproducers and reps can find you.
• InkTip Magazine: Publication of your logline in InkTip's magazine sent to nearly 15000 producers and reps.
• InkTip helps writers sell their scripts and get representation. Producers have made more than 200 films from scripts and writers they found through InkTip.
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