News

Exclusive: Stage 32 is launching a Global Screenwriting Contest Hub, bringing together dozens of writing competitions from around the world into one place including Oscar and BAFTA-qualifying contests.

The move comes with screenwriting website Coverfly set to shut down in a few weeks’ time, and Stage 32 has hired a trio of former Coverfly employees to oversee the new hub.

The Global Screenwriting Contest Hub will pool together on Stage 32 the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival Screenplay Contest, BAFTA-qualifying Manchester Film Festival Screenplay Contest, Page International Screenwriting Awards, Palm Springs Diversity Screenplay Contest and dozens others, according to Stage 32, which said the hub “provides screenwriters with a seamless, centralized platform to discover and submit to the world’s most respected competitions with access and discoverability the overall goal.”

Overseeing the platform are ex-Coverfly employees Geoffroy Faugérolas, who most recently served as Senior Manager of Development at Coverfly, Mitch Lusas as Chief Technology Officer,...

Exclusive: A scammer has been reported to both the FBI and UK cybercrime agency after posing as well-known TV executives and asking writers to send them up to £2,500 to help get their scripts developed.

Deadline has seen evidence of at least half a dozen British writers who have been contacted by a person pretending to be UK producer Charlotte Walls on the Stage 32 networking platform, asking them to submit ideas, sign an NDA and then pay a “refundable facilitation fee” of between £2,000 and £2,500.

The scammer also posed as another high-profile UK producer, who wished to remain nameless, and approached writers asking for money. In all, we are told by Stage 32 that around 100 messages were sent to UK creatives on the platform and about 25 people responded.

Working with one writer, Anette Martinsen, we have tracked down what we believe to be the scammer’s name, bank details and bank address.

Stage 32, the online platform for film, TV and digital content creation education, and Women in Film and Television International (Wifti) have unveiled what they called “a transformative partnership” that makes Stage 32 the official education provider for all 57 Women in Film chapters and affiliates worldwide.

The partnership was unveiled during the Cannes Film Festival and celebrated with an exclusive black-tie villa event.

“As filmmaking expands globally, driven by untapped talent and a surge in tax incentives, this partnership addresses vital skill gaps for women in film chapters and affiliates worldwide,” the partners said. “Stage 32’s extensive online library, offering over 3,000 hours of webinars, classes and labs, will provide training in above-the-line and below-the-line skills. Courses are led by industry luminaries, including Oscar, Emmy and BAFTA winners such as Meg LeFauve (Inside Out 1 & 2), Nick Vallelonga (Green Book), David Seidler (The King’s Speech), Alec Sokolow (Toy Story) and Christopher Anthony (The Jungle...

Stage 32, the entertainment industry social network and educational platform, and Catalyst Studios, a U.S. production company supporting female-fronted projects, are partnering to launch a screenwriting contest for feature films with a focus on social impact, the companies announced Friday at the Venice Film Festival.

Hosted on the Stage 32 platform, the contest is open to feature film scripts of any genre by women and non-binary filmmakers that “bring awareness to a current issue or progress society forward with innovative thinking that doesn’t fall into typical patriarchal views and conditioning,” according to a statement.

The winning writer will receive a guaranteed $5,000 option for their script and is eligible for up to $3 million in financing from Catalyst to be produced. Additionally, the Catalyst team will work with the writer on development, Stage 32 will support the script development through education, and Berlinale managing director Mariette Rissenbeek has signed on to mentor the winner.

Michel Merkt, the Monaco-based producer and consultant who’s played a key behind-the-scene role in bolstering Cannes’s profile post-pandemic, has been named honorary citizen of the city of Cannes

Merkt, an AMPAS voter who has produced over 50 films, was awarded the diploma prize by Cannes Mayor David Lisnard during an intimate ceremony on May 23. Lisnard paid tribute to the Swiss-born consultant and benefactor’s crucial backing for the city’s cultural and social initiatives.

In the last few years, Merkt has helped reinvigorate Critics Week, the Cannes Film Festival’s sidebar dedicated to first and second films, by financing the renovation of its venue, the Miramar theater. He also lent a precious financing hand to the Cannes Film Festival, Directors Fortnight, as well as Canneseries and helped enlist top-level executives for its industry program, on top of being involved in the city’s plans to build a college campus.

Mike Gauyo and co-showrunner of Allblk network series Send Help, with industry training platform Stage 32 open submissions for the third year of the Black Boy Writes & Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative under the Black Boy Writes Media banner.

The initiative, which launched at the start of 2021, focuses on supplying industry access and resources to preWGA Black screenwriters. In partnership with Stage 32, admissions for the 2023 class will open November 18 2022 and close December 18 2022.

The first round of the application will require a bio, 1-hour or half-hour original script (of any genre), and a short essay. Those chosen to move to the third round will interview with Mike and the initiatives Chief of Programming, Ashley Aronson, before 10 to 12 participants are selected. Links to submit applications are http://www.blackboywrites.com or http://www.stage32.com.

Past participants of the program include 2021 alum Joshua L. Myers, who received representation with Culture Creative,...

The Independent Film & Television Alliance today unveiled new details, as to the programming and speakers to be featured at this year’s American Film Market.

The AFM Sessions put on at the Loews Beach Hotel in Santa Monica as part of the 43rd edition of the industry’s only independently produced sales market will consist of 30+ panels bringing together over 100 speakers from November 2-5, including film industry thought leaders Howard Cohen (Roadside Attractions), Ashley Stern (Picture Perfect Federation), Martin Moszkowicz (Constantin Film), Jeff Annison (Legion M), Jeffrey Greenstein (Millennium Media) and George Hamilton (Protagonist Pictures). Programming highlights include:

Finance: Strategies for Today’s VOD Dominated World

Maxime Cottray, XYZ Films, Peter Graham, 120 dB Films (Principal), Deirdre Owens, Cast & Crew and Jeremy Kay, Screen International (Americas Editor).

Forecasting the Future for Independent Film

David Fannon, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment / Screen Media Ventures, Martin Moszkowicz, Constantin Film (President and Chairman), Ashley Stern, Picture Perfect Federation / Federation Entertainment of America (President) and Patrick Frater, Variety (Asia Editor).

Theatrical Marketplace Recovery for Independent Films

Howard Cohen, Roadside Attractions (Co-President & Co-Founder), Jeffrey Greenstein, Millennium Media (President), Scott Shooman, IFC Entertainment and Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, (International Features Editor).

Demystifying the Global VOD Landscape

Nick Isaak, Gravitas Ventures (VP of Sales), Peter Jarowey, Vertical Entertainment (Partner / CEO), Jason Pfardrescher, Well Go USA (EVP Digital Distribution), Kent Sanderson, Bleecker Street/ Decal and Stephanie Prange, Media Play News (Editor in Chief).

Inspiration is Everywhere: Accessing & Adapting Existing IP for the Screen

Margaret Boykin, Ubisoft Film & Television, Charles Hopkins, Concord Originals (Director of Development & Production) and James Vanderbilt, Project X Entertainment (Cco).

Independent Features with Big Profit Potential

Miranda Bailey, Cold Iron Pictures (CEO), Brian Beckmann, Arclight Films (CFO), George Hamilton, Protagonist Pictures (Cco), and Pip Ngo, XYZ Films (SVP of Sales & Acquisitions).

The Producer / Sales Agent Dynamic

Clay Epstein, Film Mode Entertainment (President), Delphine Perrier, Highland Film Group (COO), Mary Jane Skalski, Echo Lake Entertainment (President of Production / Producer), and Mimi Steinbaur, Radiant Films International (President & CEO).

The Innovators

Jeff Annison, Legion M (Co-Founder & President), Lindsey Ramey, Wattpad Webtoon Studios (Head of Global Film), Richard Botto, Stage 32 (Founder) and Alex Ferrari, Indie Film Hustle (Founder).

AFM’s programming will kick off the morning of November 2nd with the Finance Conference “The Risk Takers”, featuring Jason Cloth (Creative Wealth Media/Bron), Basil Iwanyk (Thunder Road Pictures), Laura Lewis (Rebelle Media), Milan Popelka (FilmNation), and Erich Schartzel (The Wall Street Journal), as previously announced.

Attendees will also be able to connect with Film Commissions, Government Agencies and Production Service Companies from more than 30 countries, who collectively are offering millions of dollars in production incentives, via AFM’s LocationEXPO. Exhibitors and LocationEXPO partners putting on presentations for participants include The Italian Trade Agency, The Polish Film Institute, The North Finland Film Commission and the Louisiana Office of Entertainment Industry Development.

This year’s installment of AFM will take place at the Loews Hotel and theatres throughout the city from November 1-6. More information on AFM’s current schedule and speakers, as well as its exhibitor list, can be found here and here, respectively. Check out the official poster for AFM 2022 above.

Finance Conference runs November 2-5; AFM runs November 1-6.

Top executives from Constantin Film, Thunder Road, FilmNation, Millennium Media, and Protagonist Pictures will take part in 2022 AFM’s sessions, market heads said on Friday (October 14) as they also highlighted LocationEXPO.

The in-person 43rd edition of AFM in Santa Monica will host more than 30 sessions featuring more than 100 speakers from November 2-5 at the Loews Hotel. Market heads have brought the Finance Conference sessions back to the AFM hub after staging them at Fairmont Miramar for some years prior to the pandemic.

As previously announced, AFM programming will kick off with...

A panel of industry experts will present workshops at the Creating Content for the Global Marketplace program from Netflix and Stage 32.

Designed as a series of educational virtual workshops, the program is aimed at emerging talent from around the world who will learn how to turn their ideas into compelling structured series.

The presenting experts include Vijal Patel, an Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award winning writer and producer who has worked on shows such as “Black-ish” and “The Middle”; Mickey Fisher, a showrunner, writer and producer for Tom Clancy’s “Jack Ryan,” “The Strain,” and “Extant”; Anna M. Henry, a development executive and producer whose body of work can be seen on Netflix, HBO, Starz and CBS; “Stuber” writer Tripper Clancy; and “13” producer Jeanette B. Milio.

Over the course of the five-part series, participants will learn how to format a television pilot and create a series budget, in addition to sessions...

Writer Mike Gauyo and training platform Stage 32 are set to open submissions to the Black Boy Writes & Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative, under the Black Boy Writes Media banner. The initiative, which launched at the beginning of 2021, focuses on supplying industry access and resources to pre-wga Black screenwriters.

In partnership with Stage 32, admissions for the 2022 class will open November 15, and close December 15. The first round of the application will require a bio, a one-hour or half-hour original script (of any genre) and a short essay. Those chosen to move to the second round will interview with Gauyo and the initiative’s chief of programming Ashley Aronson before 10 to 12 participants are selected.

Features of the mentorship initiative include monthly writer roundtables with established writers/industry leaders; past participants include Amy Aniobi (Insecure) Kay Oyegun (This Is Us), Kemp Powers, and The Black List founder Franklin Leonard.

After a year and a half of Covid-19, those in the Hollywood content business seem to have adopted a new set of requirements to work in today’s entertainment industry: Test negative, but think positive. “Are you ready to hear the latest mandates from studios, streamers, and financiers? They are all looking for ‘blue sky,’ ‘aspirational,’ ‘uplifting,’ and ‘wholesome entertainment,’ ” read a promotional email earlier this month from Stage 32, a global community of entertainment content creators and content buyers that offers seminars, workshops and one-on-one advice for those looking to sell their first big idea to Hollywood. Stage 32 CEO Richard Botto said he’s heard it so many times it’s become a running joke: “I hear from a lot of executives, and every single person says they want the next ‘Ted Lasso,'” Botto told TheWrap. “Ted Laso” (Apple TV+) At the same time as the pandemic streaming...

The American Film Market has unveiled its initial speakers, topics and programming calendar for AFM 2020 Online with sessions on Nov. 9-13 alongside the AFM’s marketplace and screenings.

The AFM’s opening conference — The Future of Film — will launch with Mark Gill, president and CEO of Solstice Studios, discussing how independent film, the marketplace and audience consumption will change in the near future. Elissa Federoff, president of distribution for Neon, will then discuss the future of feature film distribution and exhibition.

Gill had the first new film in theaters since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown with “Unhinged,” and Federoff made history for her company with four Academy Awards for “Parasite,” which became the third highest-grossing foreign language film ever released in the U.S.

This year’s lineup will take place wholly online and will bring 200 speakers to two stages for conferences, panels, conversations, workshops, podcasts and presentations. John Cena, SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris,...

Online platform Stage 32 is rolling out a screening series starting Tuesday to highlight filmmakers and films impacted by cancellations or postponement of festivals to a network of industry executives and professionals.

More from DeadlineSXSW Debut Nixed, Rod Lurie-Directed Afghan War Thriller 'The Outpost' Lands Screen Media DealSundance Pic 'Miss Juneteenth' To Hit Screens In June With Vertical Entertainment DealSXSW 2020 Pilot Showcase Makes Its Way To Vimeo

The 70-plus films include Best Summer Ever with Maggie Gyllenhall and documentary Echoes of the Invisible, respectively the Final Draft Screenwriting and Zeiss Cinematography Award-winners from SXSW.

Stage 32 said it’s invited thousands of sales agents, distributors, financiers, managers, agents and development executives who have worked with the company over the last nine years onto the new platform. Filmmakers can choose whether to screen publicly to Stage 32’s global community of over 600,000 members worldwide or just to the professionals...

Online film networking and education platform Stage 32 has partnered with Trick Candle Productions and Glass House Distribution to launch a Microbudget Horror Script Competition for 2020. The winning script will receive a $5,000 option and be entered into a mentorship program with the film’s producers, and be eligible for a production greenlit for up to $100,000 by Trick Candle and Glass House.

Recent projects to come out of Stage 32 include the upcoming Chick Fight starring Malin Ackerman, Alec Baldwin and Bella Thorne and 10-31, a horror film which will be produced by renowned director Eli Roth, Roger Birnbaum and Orion Pictures.

Founded in 2005 by actor, writer and producer Tom Malloy, Trick Candle Productions is known for films Love N’ Dancing, starring Amy Smart and Betty White, and The Alphabet Killer, starring Eliza Dusku, Cary Elwes, Tim Hutton, and Melissa Leo.

Glass House Distribution is an international distribution company specializing in feature films and television.

In today’s film news roundup, Jeff Bridges is honored by cinematographers, the “Arctic” filmmakers get a first-look deal and releases are set for “Vault,” the Seth Rogen-Charlize Theron comedy and “What Lies Ahead.”

Bridges Honored

The American Society of Cinematographers has selected Jeff Bridges as the recipient of the organizations’ 2019 Board of Governors Award.

Bridges will accept the award at the 33rd Annual Asc Awards for Outstanding Achievement on Feb. 9 at Hollywood & Highland’s Ray Dolby Ballroom.

“Jeff Bridges is an extraordinary talent on the screen, and also a remarkable person off screen,” said Asc President Kees van Oostrum. “He is beloved by many for his achievements as an outstanding Oscar-winning actor. We at the Asc feel like Jeff is one of us, because he shares our passion for creating artful imagery through his still photography. We are incredibly honored to present him with our Board of Governors Award.