reported by Becky D. Werner, CyberScreenwriter.com

PlanetOut Inc. is seeking entries for the 9th Annual PlanetOut Short Movie Awards (POSMA) 2008, sponsored by Scion in association with the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (MGLFF).

The PlanetOut Short Movie Awards, the largest online awards honoring film and video shorts by, about, and of interest to LGBT audiences, is an acclaimed international platform for top gay and lesbian filmmakers. Noted winners include Angela Robinson ("D.E.B.S.," "Herbie Fully Loaded," and "The L Word"); Jamie Babbitt ("But I'm a Cheerleader!," "Ugly Betty," "Alias," "Malcolm in the Middle," "Gilmore Girls," and "Nip/Tuck"); and Q. Allan Brocka ("Eating Out," "Boy Culture," and "Rick and Steve the Happiest Gay Couple in all the World").

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reported by Bernie Walker, CyberScreenwriter.com

The Weinstein Company has acquired U.S. rights to the thriller WALK ALL OVER ME from IndustryWorks Distribution. Directed by Robert Cuffley and co-starring Golden-Globe nominee Leelee Sobieski ("Joan of Arc," "Eyes Wide Shut") and Tricia Helfer ("Battlestar Galactica"), the film recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and received critical acclaim from viewers and film industry insiders alike. TWC will distribute WALK ALL OVER ME on DVD through Genius Products, their exclusive home video distributor.

reported by Brian Scott, CyberScreenwriter.com

The 4th Annual International Film Festival Summit (IFFS) will take place Dec. 2-4, 2007, in Las Vegas, at the Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort.

The IFFS is the only event in the world that brings together professionals and executives from the film festival and entertainment industry to converse and address the advancement of film festivals, and this year the IFFS will pay special tribute recognizing these individuals.

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by Gary Brunson, CyberScreenwriter.com

Ask any movie or TV buff what their favorite one-liner is and you're bound to hear such quips as "I coulda been a contender," "I'll be back" and "Is that your final answer." They're unforgettable lines that linger long after the show is over. But which are the most memorable? Boston's legendary Brigham's Ice Cream announced the results of its first survey to find the Top 10 List of Famous One-Liners of all time.

"Sometimes it takes only a word, or just a few, to become immortalized in film and television history," said Brigham's CEO Chuck Green. "In our first Top 10 List of Famous One-Liners survey, we asked Americans which catchphrases are remembered the most. We also wanted to give the public the opportunity to vote on the one-liner that should be hailed 'King of the World.'"

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reported by Emily H. Burke, CyberScreenwriter.com

The Indie Short Film Competition is the most innovative international short film and video competition for independent filmmakers worldwide. The competition aims to create opportunities for filmmakers by bringing support and recognition to creatively talented indie filmmakers from around the world. The competition is a great opportunity for filmmakers to advance their career, gain recognition and receive international exposure in the filmmaking industry.

Entrants stand a chance to win over $20,000 in cash and prizes. Short films and videos may be entered in 10 different categories (Comedy, Horror / Thriller, Documentary, Music Videos, etc.). Filmmakers may enter as many short films as they wish. Submissions accepted now through November 30, 2007.

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reported by Troy Williams, CyberScreenwriter.com

HBO has acquired Molotov's Dispatches in Search of the Creator: a Second Life Odyssey, the first documentary to be shot entirely in a virtual world. The animated documentary will premiere on the network in 2008.

Directed by Douglas Gayeton ("Johnny Mnemonic"), 'Molotov's Dispatches in Search of the Creator: a Second Life Odyssey' tells the story of Gayeton's avatar, Molotov Alva. Alva exists in Second Life, a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by a total of 9,188,392 residents from around the globe.

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reported by Jesse Desi, CyberScreenwriter.com

Going into 2007, Fitch Ratings expected U.S. Movie Exhibitors to benefit from a very promising film slate which has included a number of sequels to successful franchises. The absolute number of high performing releases has met Fitch's expectations with 19 films having already grossed more than $100 million compared to 19 in all of 2006. This summer has been particularly strong, up 10% and topping the $4 billion mark for the first time. Year to date, domestic box office receipts through August 26 show the high-to-mid-single digit growth (up 7.2% according to Media by Numbers) Fitch generally anticipated.

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Jehane Noujaim, award-winning documentary filmmaker of Control Room, with help of the prestigious TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) prize, is seeking filmmakers – professional or amateur – everywhere to produce films for Pangea Day, a landmark, one-day, global film event showcasing short films from around the world on May 10, 2008.

People are divided by borders, race, religion, and conflict, but most of all by misunderstanding and mistrust. Pangea Day plans to use the power of film to bring the world a little closer together. YouTube.com (http://www.youtube.com/) is supporting Pangea Day by hosting the trailer on its global homepage, as well as all nine of its international homepages, to encourage filmmakers to submit videos.

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reported by Jesse Desi, CyberScreenwriter.com

Lionsgate has acquired renowned independent production and distribution company Mandate Pictures, the two companies announced today. The acquisition returns entrepreneurial motion picture executive Joe Drake to the Lionsgate family as Co-Chief Operating Officer and President of Lionsgate's Motion Picture Group, with oversight of all areas of the Company's theatrical production, distribution, marketing, acquisition and international theatrical operations. Drake will continue as CEO of Mandate.

Mandate will continue to operate under its existing brand as an autonomous entity with newly-named president Kahane. It will maintain its business as usual distribution relationships with other major studios and will continue to operate from its current Beverly Hills, California offices with its creative team in place.

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reported by Brian Scott, CyberScreenwriter.com

Entertainment Publications, Inc. has launched its My 30 Seconds of Entertainment video contest. Eligible high school students participating in a fundraiser have a chance at winning their share of $18,000 in cash scholarships.

By partnering with four friends and creating their very own 30-second Entertainment® commercial, high school students participating in an Entertainment® book membership fundraiser are eligible to win one of the following:

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reported by Sandy Ulmer, CyberScreenwriter.com

MySpace will premiere quarterlife, the new online series from Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick, the creative team behind "My So-Called Life," "thirtysomething," "Legends of the Fall," and "Blood Diamond," on MySpaceTV on November 11, 2007 (http://www.myspacetv.com). The new "quarterlife" series marks the first time a network-quality series will be produced directly for the Internet and it's the first time an independent project of this distinction has been owned and controlled by its creators, Herskovitz and Zwick.

"This is the most exciting project I've worked on in a very long time, and part of that is the level of creative autonomy we can have on the Internet. For better or worse, 'quarterlife' is truly our own vision," said Marshall Herskovitz.

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reported by Brian Scott, CyberScreenwriter.com

Allstate Insurance Company, sponsor of the 11th Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) in Los Angeles, Oct. 25-29, has extended the submission deadline for its 2007 Be Reel Contest to Monday, Sept. 24. In an effort to extend support and broader exposure to the black film community, Allstate is providing a forum for gifted filmmakers to showcase their talents. Three Be Reel Contest finalists will be invited by Allstate to attend ABFF in LA, where the winner will receive an award and a $5,000 grand prize.

Participants are being asked to create community service based, 15- to 90-second video shorts. Themes include: "Why is it important to be involved in the African-American community year-round" and "What are you doing or would like to do to strengthen the growth and success of your community." All entries must be submitted on DVD and received by Sept. 24. For complete details on rules and requirements, please visit: www.ABFF.com.

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reported by Kevin Maloney, CyberScreenwriter.com

Scott Mactavish, a filmmaker, best-selling author and thirteen-year Hollywood veteran, is pleased to announce the launch of the Stomp Cancer fundraising campaign: http://www.stompcancer.org.

Mactavish is selling the DVD of his highly acclaimed film SUMMER RUNNING: The Race to Cure Breast Cancer exclusively at the Stomp Cancer website, with net proceeds going directly to cancer research.

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reported by Brandon Murphy, CyberScreenwriter.com

In recent years, the benefits of successful film investment have gone from cocktail party bragging rights to big-time financial returns that speak for themselves. With more and more high-net-worth individuals turning major profits on independent films like 2006's Little Miss Sunshine, investing in film has become yet another way for intelligent investors to diversify their portfolios - that is, if their films can somehow survive a lack of festival hype.

Traditionally, world-renowned film festivals have been responsible for some of the rare successes that make the potential investor salivate. Sundance, in particular, has produced some of the biggest indie hits; 1989's Sex, Lies and Videotape and 1994's Go Fish not only sparked fierce bidding wars, but they also became major box office hits.

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reported by Steven Parcell, CyberScreenwriter.com

Corey Feldman returns to familiar turf in the Warner Premiere event, Lost Boys 2: The Tribe, the direct-to-DVD sequel to the 1987 cult hit The Lost Boys that also features his fellow Frog Brother, Jamison Newlander, along with Tad Hilgenbrink, Autumn Reeser and Angus Sutherland. The announcement was made today by Diane Nelson, President, Warner Premiere.

Principal photography began in late August on location in Vancouver, under the direction of P.J. Pesce. This sequel takes us to the shady surf city of Luna Bay, California, where vampires quickly dispatch anyone who crosses their path. Into this dark world arrive Chris Emerson (Hilgenbrink) and his younger sister, Nicole (Reeser). Having just lost their parents in a car accident, the siblings move in with their eccentric Aunt Jillian and become new prey for the locals’ way of life. When Nicole unwittingly falls for a local vampire, Chris must locate and destroy the gang’s lifeline before his sister’s transformation is complete; to do this Chris finds himself relying on the expertise of none other than Edgar Frog (Feldman). Subtle references to characters from the original film, and cameos from returning actors offer homage to the Lost Boys legend and set a sinister tone of impending doom.

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reported by David Torrence, CyberScreenwriter.com

The 24-hour fast film competition known as The Shoot Out Boulder has announced a call for team entries. The Shoot Out Boulder, which takes place Oct. 12 to 13, is now in its fourth year. It is the first annual 24 hour competition of its kind in the United States, and was voted the Best Film Festival 2007 by Westword. The Shoot Out Boulder challenges filmmakers of all experience levels to trust their courage, imagination and determination to make a seven-minute-long film in just 24 hours.

Conti expects The Shoot Out Boulder once again draw more then 400 competitors. "Fast filmmaking is an entirely new category of filmmaking, and is not just limited to professionals, but open to everyone, from families to college students to middle schoolers," says Michael Conti, executive director of The Shoot Out Boulder. "It is an experience far beyond just watching a reality show like On the Lot (the new Fox reality filmmaking show, where filmmaker contestants produce short films to compete for a $1 Million development deal)," he says. "This event is the real thing, in your own backyard, you can actually participate yourself, and walk home with $1,000."

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reported by Troy Williams, CyberScreenwriter.com

You have said it a million times: "I can write a better film than this!" Now it's time to put your keyboard where your mouth is. Contestants have until September 15th, 2007 to submit a one-page proposal outlining their videogame-to film adaptation idea. Include as much information as possible like storyline, characters, locations, knock us dead!

All entries must be in submitted by Word or PDF email attachment to Gamerprime@generationgamerz.com for consideration by a distinguished panel which includes:

Uwe Boll, German filmmaker and director of videogame films Alone in the Dark, Bloodrayne, Postal and more.

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reported by Peter Crepsley, CyberScreenwriter.com

WPFG Studios and the Wolfpack Film Group are gearing up to shoot their first feature film only a year after the group's formation. Wolfpack founder and award-winning producer Robin Blesch is producing the film with fellow award-winning producer/director William Blesch. This husband and wife independent production team have teamed up with Director of Photography Michael Morlan, the owner of Austin Film Tools, and many other Wolfpack members to work with emerging writer/director H.R. McDonald as he also marks his feature film debut with "Anything for Now"(ATFN).

The Wolfpack Film Group is an Austin-based filmmaker collective that among other things recently collaborated on a series of 32 Match.com ads, which can be seen playing on Myspace.com and other popular websites worldwide. This rapidly developing group has worked independently and together on all types of projects over the last year including music videos, short films, concept trailers, corporate ad work, and other feature films. With all that under the team's belt, "Anything for Now" will be their first collaboratively created feature.

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