In furtherance of our mission to educate, energize, and empower churches to incorporate filmmaking into their ministries, the 2016 Churches Making Movies Film Festival will include a stage play screening/competition. Because church film ministries often evolve from stage play ministries, we will screen and recognize stage plays that are consistent with the festival's values. Additionally, we will incorporate a new seminar – How to Move Your Work from the Stage to the Big Screen -- offering technical guidance and resources for playwrights/directors/producers who desire to make such a transition.
Our addition of the stage-play component has a two-fold purpose: 1) To screen and award the best Christian stage plays that are consistent with our core values; and 2) To increase the number of Christian stage plays that evolve into movies.
Process
Based on review by the submissions committee, up to five submitted stage plays will be entered into competition for the “Best Christian Stage Play” award. During the festival these entries will be screened by festival attendees and rated by a panel of judges to determine the winner. Judging criteria include:
Gospel message clearly communicated
Competent directing
Competent acting performance
Audience response at screening
Segments from the winning entry will be studied in the “stage-to-screen” seminar to provide specific, constructive feedback on how to transform the stage play into a movie.
Rules & Terms
One submission per applicant
Applicant must have appropriate standing (Writer, producer or director) to submit material.
Submission must be a video recording (DVD format) of an original, full-length stage production (60-120 minutes).
No submission may be withdrawn from the program after its selection.
Submissions received by May 31, 2016 are eligible for inclusion in the festival promo trailer.
Submission Dates & Fees
March 15 – April 15, 2016: Early-bird Submission Fee -- $30 USD
April 16- May 31, 2016: Standard Submission Fee -- $40 USD
June 1 – July 1, 2016: Late Submission Fee -- $50 USD
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