Get FULL FEEDBACK on either the 1st chapter or entire novel book from our committee of Professional Writers, and Writing Consultants. Get your novel performed by a professional actor at the festival.
NEW OPTION: Or, just submit for an actor performance reading transcript of your novel (any 5 pages of your book). Great way to promote the sales of your book if you’re already published. (see examples on the video playlist below)
SUBMIT your novel now (both your 1st chapter or full novel accepted) To be eligible for our Writing Festival Events. Submissions take 3-5 weeks for evaluation,
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Submit a novel book and get it seen by the world.
A great way to get your words out there, obtain the Agent you’re looking for or just get your story seen by more people. If you win, your story will be seen by 100,000s of people when it’s read online using a top professional actor. It’s a rush you’ll never experience in your life seeing it come to life that way.
ALL SUBMITTED STORIES GET FULL FEEDBACK – The goal of the Novel Writing Festival is to help everyone involved grow as an artist, so we will offer some kind of constructive criticism whether or not we accept your entry for the formal festival.
The name of this film is Wild Grass, just like the fate of Chinese Americans.In 2004, the Philadelphia government promulgated the curfew law, mainly restricting the restaurants opened in residential areas to stop operating before 11 pm. In the following 14 years, 96% of the tickets issued by the police station were given to Chinese restaurants. This racially discriminatory law enforcement case was sued by the Chinese restaurant owner against the city government of Philadelphia in 2017. In 2018, the Federal Supreme Court announced that the Chinese restaurant won the case. Thus ending the 15-year discriminatory bill.
There is a side of the United States that many people don’t like to dwell on, but after watching the film THE WEEDS, the shocking reality sets in to what the media and government are doing to Chinese Americans. In a story of mass discrimination for a marginalized community, the documentary captures and retains the attention of the viewer from beginning to end in a way that opens the eyes to those who don’t live in big cities such as Philadelphia.
The director Gaofeng Tian tells a story that tugs at the heartstrings while opening the mind to a community that all decent people should stand behind against the discrimination of Chinese American businesses. The gripping opening begins with Chinese restaurant owners in Philadelphia stating what led to a discriminatory law and ends with them uniting to overturn the law after years of suffering.
The themes depicted in THE WEEDS are ones everyone could relate to in this contentious time of a distrust of the media and government. Tian proves this claim through the use of news clips and a curfew law that blamed Chinese businesses for getting robbed. The accusation that the Philadelphia government created hatred, which led to violence is spot on as the film delves into how government propaganda can hurt innocent citizens under the guise of safety. It took people calling for unity within the Chinese American community and reaching out to other minority groups to get the unconstitutional Curfew Law overturned through protests and lawsuits. This shows the side of the United States that still brings hope, that through unity the people are still in charge and can remove corrupt pieces of legislation.
This film can also be used as a promotional film to elect David Oh as Philadelphia Mayor in 2024 as he shows how much he cares for his community. Oh served as the film expert on not only the law, but the way Chinese businesses operate to show that he cares for his community.
THE WEEDS is multifaceted and is a film everyone should see as it evokes powerful emotions in an eye-opening manner. The documentary short brings shock, tears and triumphant as the story goes through every moment that the Chinese restaurant owners in Philadelphia endured for over a decade before ending in hope with a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace playing in the background as victory is won.
On September 13th, 2024, in the heart of Washington, DC—Pershing Square—a colossal tribute in classic sculpture will be revealed. The National World War I Memorial honors the courageous souls who sacrificed their lives in the name of the United States during the Great War. Master Sculptor Sabin Howard is creating a breathtaking tableau entitled “A Soldier’s Journey”” which features 38 larger-than-life figures and brings to life the essence of the war. The sculptural relief measures 58 feet long and 10 feet high.
Review by Andie Karvelis:
This documentary not only takes you behind the scenes of making a historic sculpture but an inside look into the world of being married to an artist. Yet, as I sit pondering over that description, I realize it doesn’t quite describe the impact of this film and all it entails.
Within the first few moments we meet Sabin Howard, an incredibly talented artist and Traci L. Slatton, a bestselling author and also Sabin’s wife. Immediately you’re drawn to their infectious humor and genuine personalities. You can’t help but feel like you’ve known them for years.
This was filmed over time and it kept this lovely intimate feel, like you were a fly on the wall watching this family support and sacrifice for an incredible piece of art. When I say an incredible piece of art, I’m talking about a 10 foot high and 58 foot long memorial to WWI called “A Soldier’s Journey”. It’s massive!
Watching everything that went into creating this sculpture was almost surreal. The endless hours of work that Sabin and his team put into this was incredible, especially during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic. The composition of the piece is visually striking and very emotional. It won’t be installed until 2024, but when it is unveiled to the public it will definitely be breathtaking.
I have to take a moment here to commend Traci, who I kind of want to dub “Wonder Woman”. Not only was she the project manager for Sabin’s “A Soldier’s Journey” she is an accomplished novelist, a Mom, the director of this film and she edited it as well. If you have ever edited anything, you know just how hard that is.
This is a beautiful film that takes you behind the scenes in making “A Soldier’s Journey” and gives you an insider’s look into how two very successful artists support each other’s dreams.
When Flo turns up at his farm, Jesse believes he’s the one in charge. As they walk through the countryside Jesse tries to impress Flo with stories of UFOs and disappearing cows. A brush with death at an abandoned house reveals that Flo has a hidden strength. Despite his bravado, Jesse is not ready to make the leap into adult love but Flo has the courage to face the pain and struggle of life. She leads him towards a moment or illumination but the consequences are terrifying, traumatic and possibly tragic.
Review by Andie Karvelis
When Jessie meets Florence and tries to impress her with creepy UFO stories he gets a lot more than he bargained for.
Andrew Sully and Jo Tabit have created a suspenseful, supernatural thriller that leaves you picking your jaw up off the floor. Set in rural New South Wales, Australia, the Director of Photography, Rob Hill, does an amazing job enchanting you with the beauty of the landscape.
You are immediately thrust into a deceptively sweet meeting between Jessie, portrayed by Jeremy Blewitt and Florence, portrayed by Martha Morgan. The instant chemistry between them is undeniable and it’s a joy to watch them banter back and forth. These two actors did such a sensational job, very personable and believable in their roles. Andrew Sully did a great job in directing because you get so caught up in them you don’t realize there is something seriously wrong until about half way through.
There were very little special effects in this which was great because the ones they did have, packed a punch! I don’t know if it was makeup artist Jasmine Hayward who was responsible for them but the realism was uncanny. ( I don’t want to spoil anything for you )
When you reach the twist within this film, I for one, definitely did not see it coming. I find myself left with burning questions and a secret hope there will be a “The Dam – Part 2” that answers them.
Inspired by Herman Melville’s epic tale, “Moby-Dick or The Whale”, a late-blooming singer/songwriter and former toy designer, Jen Long, acts on a startling vision and commissions the design and build of a remarkable custom electric guitar.
REVIEW by Victoria Angelique
A story that combines a love for literature and an advocacy for climate change in the most creative of ways is the perfect way to sum up the film THE WHALE GUITAR: INSTRUMENT OF CHANGE. Jennifer Long is a passionate woman, a fact that is obvious in the gentle way she speaks about her purpose on this Earth. The fact that she was able to combine her three loves into one object, a guitar in the shape of a whale, is awe-inspiring.
The documentary by directors Shawn Tetrault and Jen Long is told in very simple shots. First by examining the exquisite guitar and then interviewing Jennifer sitting on the steps of the Providence, Rhode Island public library. It aided the film with the historic architecture to really capture the beauty of the guitar and a love for classic literature as the story of MOBY DICK is what inspired Jennifer to create such a magnificent instrument.
Jennifer is enthusiastic as she describes how the guitar was created with her background story as she points out what each part of the whale guitar symbolizes. She shows her deep love for advocacy within the guitar in a way that is gentle rather than hostile. Allowing others to play this unique musical instrument is a peaceful, artistic way to bring discussion for climate change rather than contention as it sparks curiosity instead of resentment. Long very clearly loves literature, the climate and the desire to dream without giving up.
The creation of the Whale Guitar Project is a way to show others how to bring change into the world while continuing to learn themselves. A montage of different musicians playing the guitar is depicted in a way to show the unifying purpose that one instrument can have in order to bring about change. It’s clear that THE WHALE GUITAR is a message that should bring about a love for classic literature, following dreams and most importantly, trying to find a solution to climate change through art.
A very insightful experience! The Feedback video was a gift and the entire team was extremely professional and helpful throughout the process.
This festival is designed to showcase the best of LGBTQ+ stories from around the world today! We accept screenplays (short, TV Pilot, feature) and short & feature films.
Film Festivals:
Festivals occur every single month. We accept an assortment of shorts & feature films from around the world today monthly. We are proud to announce that we will be using the audience feedback format where all accepted films receive a video of people talking about their film at the festival. Excellent video to use for promotional purposes too.
Screenplay Festivals:
We are proud to showcase 2-5 winning LGBTQ+ screenplays at our festival every single month!! Go to the site and watch the winning readings each month.
All entries receive full feedback from the industry. Accepted screenplays get their screenplays performed by professional actors.
One of North America’s leading gay destinations, Toronto has been holding Pride observances since the ’70s. The Pride parade draws more than 1.2 million spectators and participants annually, making it one of the top such draws in the world. The cinema is located in the Church & Wellesley area, where all of the Pride Events take place.
LGBTQ+ festivals occur 12 times a year. Go to the website for information on the next events.
All submissions receive feedback on their film no matter what.
And the Community Will Rise embodies the significant role that residents and advocates for public housing play in ensuring the social, political, and cultural integrity of San Francisco in the face of the current housing crisis, gentrification and displacement threatening the city. Chinatown’s Ping Yuen buildings were the first high-rise public housing in the U.S. built in 1952, and provide crucial affordable housing for the community.
A collection of stories within a public housing structure called Ping Yuen comprises the film AND THE COMMUNITY WILL RISE in a unique way to depict what the true United States looks like beyond what the news media depicts. Told in voice over format, with a combination of dance and music, the history of a community within Chinatown and the residents of the Ping Yuen in San Francisco are unveiled in this documentary.
This is far from a typical documentary film as there are no talking heads, but historical pictures and dance reenactments to tell the story as residents, both old and new, speak of their personal experiences within the close-knit Ping Yuen community. The film begins with the historical background that led to forming the public housing establishment for Chinese immigrants to the diverse complex it is today. It’s a story of racial inequality, discrimination and history that is rarely told as the film delves into real memories that depicts both the fight and the good times to first get and then maintain the Ping Yuen.
Lenora Lee Dance approach to making a historical film was quite different from most documentaries involving minority communities. Rather than have historians tell the story, Dance chose to find the residents who have lived the history and those who currently live in the community, making it clear that preserving individual cultures while befriending newcomers is what makes the Ping Yuen different from other public housing structures. The film consists of dance, music and cultural reenactments to tell the entire history of the community.
Lenora Lee Dance shows several rare moments rarely seen in the divisive narratives spread across various media formats. The film displays what the United States truly is, a diverse population where the majority of people are able to put differences aside and become a single community such as within the Ping Yuen. The community lives true to the title of the film, AND THE COMMUNITY WILL RISE.
A fading movie star, fresh from a rejection for a starring role, is drugged and photographed by her devious and self-serving girlfriend, an aspiring photographer she nurtured. The images, displayed at a high-profile London galley, shatter the actors’ dignity. She digs deep to turn the tables.
Directed by Gary Grant
Written by Priya Giga
Written Review by Andie Karvelis
Everyone can relate to that crushing blow of betrayal, especially when it comes from someone you’ve fallen in love with. We’ve all sat there concocting wonderfully heinous forms of revenge that leave our betrayers sobbing and begging forgiveness…or perhaps that’s just me.
Priya Giga has expertly crafted a story of such devious betrayal and a delicious revenge that is not only fitting, but eloquently done. Even the film’s title leaves you thinking “Aw, what a lovely name” until you realize a Lily of the Valley flower is quite poisonous.
The film’s stars Fernanda Lippi and Laura Glaser did an amazing job with their characters. The multi-layered performances were believable and organic. You embarked on a journey with them, finding yourself at the edge of your seat to see what was going to happen next. The director, Gary Grant, really understood how to bring out the nuances in Fernanda and Laura’s performances and keep the audience in suspense.
Some incredible cinematography by Bruce Melhuish rounds out his very clever film. Creatively finding ways to do a gallery showing without putting large framed photographs on the walls but using flashes of the still photos instead. Ingenious!
I don’t want to give too much away but the payoff at the end left me wanting to give Fernanda a standing ovation. Sensational film all around and the music was perfectly chosen.
A lonely robot is left behind in a closed, deserted church. She longs to leave and explore the world outside, but her abilities are limited due to her immaturity, narrow field of vision, and difficulty in moving her body.
Directed by Takayuki Yoshikawa
Written review by Parker Jesse Chase
“Departure” is a captivating short film that delves into the transformative power of music and its profound influence on our daily lives. Music is personified as a character itself within this piece. Through a mesmerizing blend of animation and storytelling, the film takes us on a journey alongside a woman as she prepares for the day ahead.
One of the first things that strikes viewers is the exceptional animation quality. The attention to detail is remarkable, particularly in the depiction of fabric movement and sci-fi elements. The animation team has managed to breathe life into the surroundings, creating a tangible sense of realism, especially as the sun rises and the mirror falls. It is through this meticulous attention to detail we are drawn into the protagonist’s experience and become invested in her story.
The film cleverly utilizes the contrast between black and white and vibrant colors to convey the protagonist’s emotional transformation. Initially, we find ourselves in a monochromatic world, symbolizing the mundane routine of everyday life. However, as the woman immerses herself in the power of music, the world gradually bursts into a kaleidoscope of hues. The transition from black and white to a vivid watercolor palette is visually stunning and leaves a lasting impression.
As the film progresses, we witness the woman’s journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Music serves as her companion, and in a literal sense no less, providing a soundtrack to her preparations and infusing her with a newfound confidence. The carefully selected tunes in the background effectively mirror her emotional state, allowing viewers to connect with her on a deeper level. The film reminds us of the profound impact music can have on our mood, serving as a powerful form of expression and inspiration.
The narrative beautifully captures the universal experience of finding one’s bearings before embarking on a new day. Through the protagonist’s actions and emotions, we witness the duality of vulnerability and strength that exists within all of us. Her struggles and triumphs become relatable, and we find ourselves reflecting on our own relationship with music and how it influences our daily lives.
“Departure” is a delightful exploration of the connection between music, self-expression, and personal growth. The animation and storytelling techniques are masterfully executed, creating an immersive experience for the audience. As we witness the protagonist’s transition from black and white to a vivid world of color, we are reminded of the transformative power of music and its ability to set the tone for the day ahead. This short film serves as a testament to the profound relationship we have with music and its potential to inspire and uplift us in our everyday lives. Bringing confidence through its melodic embrace.
This 30-minute documentary follows 14 men and mountaineer Kevin DeVries on a trek to EVEREST BASE CAMP as he prepares to climb in the region after a cardiac arrest. More than a hike in the Himalayas, THE TRUE SUMMIT calls men to the inward journey and the inescapable reality that the change we seek can only be found in a Christ-centered community.
Directed by Corban Robbe
Written review by Parker Jesse Chase
“The True Summit,” a compelling documentary by Corban Robbe, takes viewers on a captivating journey of resilience, self-discovery, and the power of human connection. Inspired by John Muir’s profound words, “You are not in the mountains, the mountains are in you,” the film follows a group of fourteen men as they embark on a challenging expedition to climb Mount Everest.
The documentary delves into the physical and emotional challenges faced by the climbers, revealing that conquering the external mountain is only a fraction of the battle. The climbers quickly realize the real mountain lies within themselves—a daunting and formidable obstacle they had not fully prepared for. As the narrative unfolds, we witness their struggles, physically, mentally and spiritually, as they confront their inner demons and grapple with their limitations.
One of the film’s most striking themes is the power of unity and the transformative effects of shared experiences. As the climbers navigate the treacherous terrain together, they forge a deep bond, sharing stories, supporting one another, and finding solace in their collective journey. Through their interconnectedness, they develop a profound sense of resilience, drawing strength from each other to overcome the hurdles of which lay before them.
Robbe skillfully captures the climbers’ spiritual awakening amidst the harsh conditions of the mountain. As time passes, their experiences in this majestic setting transcend the physical realm, delving into a more profound and introspective space. The film highlights the transformative nature of the journey, where the climbers explore their inner selves, contemplate their purpose, and gain a renewed perspective on life.
The documentary emphasizes the significance of human connection and the need for community in navigating life’s challenges. The climbers realize the arduous task of scaling Mount Everest is made more manageable when they have a support system by their side. The film underscores the importance of having people who genuinely care about one another, providing an extra set of eyes and ensuring each other’s safety. It beautifully showcases the inherent strength found in collective efforts that emerges when individuals come together.
Corban Robbe’s direction and storytelling technique offer a captivating and immersive experience. The breathtaking cinematography transports viewers to the awe-inspiring landscapes of Mount Everest, capturing both the beauty and the treacherous nature of the mountain. The film seamlessly weaves together personal narratives, stunning visuals, and a thoughtful musical score, evoking a range of emotions and leaving a lasting impact on the audience.
“The True Summit” serves as a powerful reminder of the significance of our connections with others, the transformative potential of shared experiences, and the strength that lies within each individual. Through the lens of this remarkable documentary, viewers are reminded that when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, the journey becomes more bearable and fulfilling when one has a community to lean on.
Festival Reviews 