2018 Screenplay Semi-Finalists
Congratulations to the semi-finalists for the 2018 Omaha Film Festival!
Finalists will be announced in early February.
Feature Length Scripts:
4th Of July by Erin Cardiff
Alice in War by Steven Bogart
American Mule by Ian James Ortiz
Connect by John Pisano-Thomsen
Growing Paranoia by Ryan M. Andrews
Honey Boy by Otis Lort & Shia Labeouf
Infamy by Samuel Laskey
The Kingdom’s Spell by Ben Adams
The Road to Matanzas by Christopher Helton
Sam’s War by Stephen C. Settle
Secrets by Lori Kay Allred
The Witness by Nic Lewis
Short Scripts (under 30 pages):
A War on Terror by Peter Haig
Baby in the Basement by David-Matthew Barnes
Boring People Die Alone by Darcy Lueking
Dirty Winds by Andrew Huggins
Empathic by John Burdeaux
Fortytwo B by Paraskevas (Paris) Grigorakis
Honor by Ed Vela
June Block Hero by Seth Kozak
Mad Rush by Christine Burright
Memories for Sale by Doug Sasse
Monkeys by Matthew Strasburger
Saline County, Illinois by Jeffrey Howe
Stasis by Alex Giannoulis
Stutter Buddy by Jeff Hoferer
Sweet Sixteen by Joyce Sherrí
Teleplays:
Aftermath by Rebecca Heim
Buffalo Nation by Alexander Major
Éire’s Song by Kristen Nedopak
End of Life by Sean Collins-Smith
Hell Hound – “The Legend of Robert Johnson” by Giancarlo Fusi
The Red Dogs by Mark Sims
Stranger Things: f7/f2 by Ana Ziegler Loes
Supergirl: Eclipsed by Yanjuan Song
2017 48hr Film Challenge
28 teams turned in their 48hr Film Challenge Films!
Genres: Drama, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Crime
Line of Dialog: “it’s never been more clear”
Prop: Calculator
Facebook page – Facebook Event Page
Film screening information and winners list is here
2017 Audio Workshop
Audio workshop – Facebook Event Page
As a part of our continuing educational outreach for the OFF Academy we are offering an audio workshop. Taught by audio professional Kevin Keplar, we will give you a good understanding of the best ways to get great sound when making films. Sound is 50% of a film and how you capture it and what you do with it when it’s captured can make or break your film so you won’t want to miss this amazing opportunity to learn from someone who’s been capturing and processing live sound professionally his whole career
When:
Sunday, September 10 from 10:00am – noon (check-in at 9:30am)
Where:
Metropolitan Community College
Do Space
7205 Dodge St
Omaha NE 68114
How Much:
High School student pre-registration is $10 per student
(student ID required at check-in).
Registration the day of the session is $15.
Non-students welcome for $15. Please pre-register if you can!
If you would like to attend but can’t afford the entry fee, send us a message and we will work with some of our sponsors that have previously provided OFF Academy scholarships to see what is available.
Pre-register online to secure your spot.
Fees accepted at check-in on the day of the workshop.
Checks can be made out to “Omaha Film Festival.”
Cash or Credit Card are also accepted.
Please submit your completed form by September 9, 2017
Register:
http://forms.omahafilmfestival.org/form-2907436/2017-Audio-Workshop-Registration-Form
2017 Screenwriting Workshop
Screenwriting Workshop – Facebook Event Page
As a part of our continuing educational outreach for the OFF Academy we are offering a beginners screenwriting workshop. Taught by Omaha Film Festival directors Jason Levering and Marc Longbrake, we will introduce you to the basics of screenwriting including proper formatting, basic storytelling, and character development.
The workshop will be geared toward High School students but anyone with an interest in the screenwriting process is welcome to attend.
When:
Sunday, September 10 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm (check-in at 12:30)
Where:
Metropolitan Community College
Do Space
7205 Dodge St
Omaha NE 68114
How Much:
High School student pre-registration is $15 per student
(student ID required at check-in).
Registration the day of the session is $20.
Non-students welcome for $20. Please pre-register if you can!
If you would like to attend but can’t afford the entry fee, send us a message and we will work with some of our sponsors that have previously provided OFF Academy scholarships to see what is available.
Pre-register online to secure your spot.
Fees accepted at check-in on the day of the workshop.
Checks can be made out to “Omaha Film Festival.”
Cash or Credit Card are also accepted.
Please submit your completed form by September 9, 2017
Register:
http://forms.omahafilmfestival.org/form-2907295/2017-Screenwriter-Workshop-Registration-Form
2017 Cinematography Workshop
Cinematography Workshop – Facebook Event Page
As a part of our continuing educational outreach for the OFF Academy we are offering a beginners cinematography workshop. Taught by Ben Drickey, owner of Torchwerks Studio. We will introduce you to the basics of cinematography and film lighting.
The workshop will be geared toward High School students but anyone with an interest in the filmmaking process is welcome to attend and will gain a wealth of valuable information.
When:
Sunday, August 27 from 1:00pm – 5:00pm (check-in at 12:30pm)
Where:
Mastercraft Building
1111 North 13th Street
Omaha NE 68102
Drive on the east side of the building to Dock #12
How Much:
High School student pre-registration is $20 per student
(student ID required at check-in)
Registration the day of the session is $25
Non-students welcome for $25
Pre-registration not required but appreciated!
If you would like to attend but can’t afford the entry fee, send us a message and we will work with some of our sponsors that have previously provided OFF Academy scholarships to see what is available.
Pre-register online to secure your spot.
Fees accepted at check-in on the day of the workshop.
Checks can be made out to “Omaha Film Festival.”
Cash or Credit Card are also accepted.
Please submit your completed form by August 26, 2017
Register:
http://forms.omahafilmfestival.org/form-2910592/2017-Cinematography-Workshop-Registration-Form
O Comic Con pop-up theatre
Come check out a ton of Animated and Comedy shorts from past Omaha Film Festivals at our Pop-Up Theatre at the Third Annual O Comic Con!
Go to the O Comic Con Facebook page for more info on their amazing event
https://www.facebook.com/omahacomiccon/
From Friday, July 7th, through Sunday, July 9th, the Mid-America Center will once again transform into a comics and pop culture expo space as O Comic Con hosts guests from the entertainment world amid 25,000 square feet of vendors, artists, and exhibitors.
And once you’re in, look for the OFF Theatre and hang out with us free of charge! We’ll be doing drawings for cool OFF swag and passes for future OFF events all weekend!
Free parking
Kids 12 and under admitted free with adult ticket holder
Event hours:
Friday 12 PM – 8 PM
Saturday 9 AM – 8 PM
Sunday 9 AM – 5 PM
Looking forward to seeing you there!
07.07-09.17 OFF Pop-Up Theatre at O Comic Con – Facebook Event Page
Omaha Gives! #waitingforwarren film
10 Directors
10 Hours
1 Minute of finished film each
To make a 10 minute short film
Live!
#waitingforwarren
Join us on Wednesday, May 24 for a unique behind-the-scenes look at a short film being created by 10 different directors throughout the day. Each director is responsible to create one minute of finished film within their one-hour time slot. Look in on Facebook throughout the day as we stream the filmmaking process and interviews with the filmmakers and actors or come down to Wilson & Washburn and see it live! We’ll be looking for extras all day and we hope that YOU will share our event and help us build some excitement as we participate in this year’s Omaha Gives! day of giving!
We’re thrilled to announce our ten guest directors:
Ben Drickey – owner of Torchwerks and OFF sponsor
David Weiss – owner of DMWeiss Productions and OFF sponsor
Mike Comstock – winner of the OFF’17 NE Screenwriting competition
Tim Guthrie – winner of the OFF’17 NE Short Doc competition and overall Audience Choice Short
Tony Bonacci – winner of the OFF 2016 48hr Film Challenge
Mike Machian – local filmmaker having multiple films screened at OFF
Magie McCombs – local filmmaker having multiple films screened at OFF
Empty Space Films – Sam, Seth & Phillip – local filmmakers and OFF’17 video crew
Marc Longbrake – OFF Program Director
Jason Levering – OFF Executive Director
“Like”
Follow Along
Share
Contribute
And help us solve the mystery as we’re all #waitingforwarren
Click here to donate:
https://www.omahagives.org/omahafilmfestival/overview
The Omaha Film Festival is proud to be participating in Omaha Gives!, a 24-hour charitable challenge organized by the Omaha Community Foundation. The online giving holiday will take place May 24 from midnight to midnight. Mark your calendars because we will need your help! We will be joining more than 800 local nonprofits to raise money together and compete for prize money—the more donors we get to give to us, the more likely we are to win prizes.
05.24.17 Omaha Gives! – Facebook Event Page
2017 7-7-7 and 4-4-4 Challenge screenings
From 5:30 – 6:30 – film screening, Q&A, and Awards for
4-4-4 Omaha Metro Middle School Film Showcase
From 6:30 – 9:00 – film screening, Q&A, and Awards for
7-7-7 Omaha Metro High School Film Showcase
Free!
Over the last week two dozen middle school and high school teams have been working hard on completing their 4 minute and 7 minute films. Come out to the showcase and see which films will be screened and which films will win in the following categories:
1. Incorporate Color Theme in a Scene (Variable Drawing) – White/Yellow/Red/Green/Blue/Black
2. Prop – a Pez dispenser
3. Line of Dialog – “Wow! I didn’t see that coming.”
4. Genre (Variable Drawing) – Thriller/Romance/Comedy/Drama/Action
5. Must have Conflict (Same for All)
6. Must have Minimum 3 Scene Changes (Same for All)
7. Incorporate the #7 Somehow in a Scene (Same for All)
Awards will be given to
Best Film
2nd – 7th place films
Best Cinematography
Most Creative Use of Required Prop
Most Creative Use of Required Line of Dialog
Most Creative Use of Incorporating the #7
Films will screen in random order and only the films that will win one of the awards above will screen!
Screenings will be in the Durham Theatre so park on the lower level and use the entrance on the east end of the building. The main entrance will be closed.
04.21.17 7-7-7 Launch – Facebook Event Page
04.28.17 7-7-7 End
05.02.17 7-7-7 Screening at Durham – Facebook Event Page
7-7-7 and 4-4-4 Challenges!
The Omaha Film Festival is partnering with the Omaha Public School Career Center for this awesome filmmaking challenge designed specifically for area high school students!
The 7-7-7 Challenge gives high school teams an opportunity to create a seven minute film in seven days that meets seven established challenges.
Starting on April 21st between 6:30pm and 8:00pm in the TAC Boardroom at the Career Center on 3215 Cuming Street, you’ll be given your challenges, then you’ll have seven days to complete your film!
Challenges include:
1. Incorporate Color Theme in a Scene (Variable Drawing) – White/Yellow/Red/Green/Blue/Black
2. Prop (Same for All)
3. Line of Dialog (Same for All)
4. Genre (Variable Drawing) – Thriller/Romance/Comedy/Drama/Action
5. Must have Conflict (Same for All)
6. Must have Minimum 3 Scene Changes (Same for All)
7. Incorporate the #7 Somehow in a Scene (Same for All)
Registration will be $15 per team if registered by 4/14 or $20 per team when you pick up your packet on the 21st.
All qualifying finished films will screen at the Durham Museum Theatre on Tuesday, May 2nd from 6:30pm – 9:00pm and will feature a Q&A with all of the filmmakers!
Prizes will be given to
Best Film
1st Runner Up
2nd Runner Up
Best Cinematography
Most Creative Use of Required Prop
Most Creative Use of Required Line of Dialog
Most Creative Use of Incorporating the #7
04.21.17 7-7-7 Launch – Facebook Event Page
04.28.17 7-7-7 End
05.02.17 7-7-7 Screening at Durham – Facebook Event Page
OFF’17 Conference Schedule
All Conference Sessions will be at the Village Pointe Theatre
304 North 174th Street
All sessions will be in Theatre #10
All Conference Panelists are “scheduled to appear”
Saturday, March 11, 2017
9:30am – 10:30am – Filmmaker Panel
Attending (non-Nebraska) filmmaker’s Q&A panel
10:45am – 11:30am – Documentary Panel
A conversation with visiting documentary filmmakers about their process
11:45am – 12:45pm – Writing for the Big and Small Screen
Panel discussion with Maria Maggenti and Jennifer Levin moderated by Joel Stevens
1:00pm – 2:00pm – Acting on the Big and Small Screen
A discussion with Yolonda Ross about acting in a popular TV series moderated by Scott Kurz
2:30pm – 4:00pm – A Brief History of Filmmaking in Nebraska
A presentation with Nebraska Film Commissioner Laurie Richards
Sunday, March 12, 2017
12:00pm – 2:00pm – Writer’s Theatre
A live reading of selections from this year’s OFF screenplay finalists
2:15pm – 3:15pm – Writing the Great American Screenplay
A conversation about screenwriting with Lew Hunter
Panelists:
Maria Maggenti – writer/director/producer – wrote and directed Sundance films “The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love” and “Puccini for Beginners,” and writer of the 2011 Black List screenplay “Before I Fall” which is currently in theatres.
Jennifer Levin – writer/producer – Showrunner for CW’s “Felicity” and “Beauty and the Beast,” writer on ABC’s “Brothers and Sisters” and CBS’s “Without a Trace”
Yolonda Ross – writer/director/actress – Two-time Film Independent Spirit Award nominee and Gotham Winner for HBO’s “Stranger Inside” and John Sayle’s “Go For Sisters.” Also in “Treme,” “The Get Down,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” and the upcoming Showtime series “The Chi.”
Lew Hunter – writer – Screenwriting 434, chairman Emeritus and Professor of Screenwriting at the UCLA Department of Film and Television.
