For Immediate Release
For more information, contact:
Jessica Novak
201-919-4070
jnovak@haydenfilmsintitute.org
The Haydenfilms Institute Announces $10,000 Screenwriting Competition
Breinigsville, Pennsylvania (December 16, 2019) – The Haydenfilms Institute is proud to announce the inaugural Haydenfilms 1.0 Screenwriting Competition. The competition will take place between December 16, 2019 and September 18, 2020 with an awards ceremony, including the $10,000 first prize, to be announced. The competition will be co-produced by Eric Vollweiler, producer of Independent Filmmaker Day during the Toronto International Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival.
The competition will mark Haydenfilms triumphant return to the innovative filmmaking and distribution arena since holding the last Haydenfilms Online Film Festival in 2009. The competition will offer prize money incentives as well as the chance to meet with Hollywood professionals. Screenwriters and filmmakers are invited to participate and sponsorships are available.
“We want the best aspiring and experienced screenwriters to have an opportunity to be showcased, recognized and maybe even win,” says Haydenfilms Founder and President Hayden Craddolph. “There are many film festivals and competitions out there, but not screenwriting. We wanted to fill that void and provide a new kind of opportunity.”
The competition will allow screenwriters the chance to adapt the book, The Theory of 5, written by Chris Saraceno. The book describes a core philosophy shared by successful individuals, one Saraceno believes will find new life through a variety of interpretations.
“Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are,” Saraceno says. “None of us live alone. We are a reflection of those around us. There is hidden potential from everyone’s interpretation of The Theory 5 for a screenplay adaptation.”
Entries must be inspired by the core philosophies of the book for the narrative of the story, but can be any genre. HFI is including an additional short film script competition open to all genres and subject matter which is NOT based on The Theory of 5, where the top four finalists will receive $1,000 each. Visit our website or our FilmFreeway portal here: https://filmfreeway.com/Haydenfilms for full submission details.
Established in 2010, the Haydenfilms Institute (HFI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to the advancement of independent filmmakers and screenwriters of all ages. Based in the Lehigh Valley, Pa., the institution provides educational opportunities that include labs, workshops, internships, networking events and global filmmaking competitions. Haydenfilms LLC, established in 2001, is an arm of the institute that allows filmmakers to showcase their work through its Online Film Festival. Both HFI and Haydenfilms were established by founder Hayden Craddolph, who envisioned a way for filmmakers and storytellers worldwide to connect. In 2004, Haydenfilms hosted one of the world’s first online film festivals, which awarded $10,000 annually. The success of the first festival solidified the reputation of Haydenfilms LLC as a viable network platform and premier online resource for independent filmmakers. In 2012, the Haydenfilms Agency emerged to drive brands forward in today’s digital age through compelling campaigns and connecting to the audience on a deeper level. In 2019, Haydenfilms explored even greater creative heights by launching its first-ever podcast, Haydenfilms Verge, to meet and discuss with top figures about entrepreneurship, entertainment, technology, filmmaking, and influencers.
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