Year: 2025

Watch Today’s FREE Festival: Best of FEMALE Shorts Festival

festreviews Uncategorized

Watch the festival at 8PM EST FOR FREE by signing up for the FREE 3-DAY trial using the link, or go to http://www.wildsound.ca

Watch today’s Festival: https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

LUCKY ALIEN, 15min., USA
Directed by Jasmin Please Haugstuen
“Lucky Alien” is a gripping short film that explores one woman’s fight for love and dignity against the merciless bureaucracy of immigration, shedding light on the dark corners of a broken system. This social drama with a sprinkle of dark humor will evoke feelings and moments of intense suspense, witnessing uncomfortable but real situations that happen everyday on these country borders. With it’s fast-paced dialogue and seemingly endless levels of hell, the cast of characters in this world of limbo will make you laugh and cry, and hopefully inspire conversation and actions for change. – BASED ON A TRUE STORY

https://www.instagram.com/luckyalienfilm/

https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-lucky-alien

Love & War, 15min., USA
Directed by Amy Johnston
Kalie and Connor, two lonely assassins, form an unlikely bond when they meet on an online dating app and find themselves on the run from the hitmen and women hired to kill them both.

https://www.instagram.com/amyejohnston/

https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-love-and-war

BODIES OF WORK, 25min., USA
Directed by Rabia Khan
“Bodies of Work: The Stories That Live in Jen Hyde.” In this evocative documentary, journey through the emotional landscape of Emmy-award-winning documentary producer Jen Hyde. Known for her courageous and compassionate storytelling at NBC and CNN, Jen has consistently illuminated humanity’s hidden pains and resilience.

https://www.instagram.com/rok_on_rk

https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-bodies-of-work

Dividing Line, 28min., Georgia
Directed by Mevlud Sabashvili
A woman finds the strength to leave an abusive relationship. A woman does not find the strength to leave an abusive relationship.

https://www.facebook.com/mevludi.sabashvili

https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-dividing-line

Deadline Today: ACTION/ADVENTURE Screenplay Festival

festreviews feature screenplays, screenplay festival

Submit via the site: https://actionadventurefestival.ca/deadlines/

ACTION/ADVENTURE Screenplay Festival (Feature, Short, TV Pilot)

Get your screenplay performed by professional actors at the Action/Adventure Festival.

The Fastest Growing ACTION/ADVENTURE Festival and Contest in the World today!

– 0ffers screenwriters at all levels the fantastic opportunity to hear their stories read aloud using TOP PROFESSIONAL ACTORS (see below for recent performance readings).

– No matter what happens, you will receive full feedback on your work by our established committee. No other place in the world will you get coverage for the price you pay.

– Even if you’re just looking for feedback of your work, this is the festival for you.

– It’s there for all to see. The proof is in the viewership. These videos garner 1000s of views online. Some of the screenplay readings are more popular than actual studio films made!

– We specialize in showcasing Action/Adventure stories and making sure that when the work is ready, the writer will benefit by at least obtaining a solid agent.

Deadline Today: Deadline October 21st – YOUNG ADULT Short Story Contest (everyone wins)

festreviews Short Story Festival, writing and film festival, writing festival

Submit via the site: https://festivalforfamily.com/young-adult-short-story-contest/

Submit your YOUNG ADULT Short Story to the Festival here and we will automatically have it performed by a professional actor and turned into a promotional video for yourself.

Accept only stories that fit into the YOUNG ADULT genres.

See example of recent reading completed:

Deadline Today: TRAVEL Novel Festival (3 options to submit)

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Submit via the site; https://documentaryshortfilmfestival.com/travel-novel-festival/

Submit your TRAVEL Book by the deadline.

A travel story is a piece of writing that describes a location, its people, culture, and customs. It can also be a narrative of a journey that provides information about the physical, biogeographic, and ethnographic characteristics of an area.

Watch Novel Performance Readings:

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.

Deadline Today: WESTERN STAGE PLAY Writing Contest (get play performed by professional actors)

festreviews stage play

Submit via Submittable: https://wildsoundwritingfestival.submittable.com/submit/331402/western-stage-play-writing-contest-get-play-performed-by-professional-actors

Festival contest brough to you by the  Story Pitches festival: http://www.storypitches.org

I have to really thank the actors for my reading, nothing short of terrific as they were, nothing short of incredibly smart, attractive, and perceptive as they were. They brought the script to life.  – F. Maffai

FULL FEEDBACK on your stage play from our committee of Professional Playwriters, Production Heads and Story Consultants. Get a best scene of your stage play performed at the writing festival and made into a video for the winner.

Submit your 10 Page Play, 1 Act Play, or Full Stage Play to the Festival.

SUBMIT your STAGE PLAY Today  You will receive feedback on your play in 3-5 weeks

Today’s FilmFreeway Deadline: LGBTQ+ Toronto & Los Angeles Film Festival (81 FIVE Star Reviews)

festreviews Uncategorized

Submit to the Festival via FilmFreeway:

An in-person & hybrid festival. Multiple screenings are presented, plus interviews with filmmakers, screenwriters, and their team.

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.

Short Film Review: Pie In the Sky. Directed by Susan May Lee Lim

festreviews Movie Review, Short Film Movie Review

Pie in the Sky” is an enchanting music video that marries playful animation with the raw power of original recordings at Abbey Road Studio One, and a resplendent orchestral performance at the Barbican Concert Hall, London. The video opens with world-acclaimed pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet leading the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Robert Ziegler, in a captivating orchestral performance, his artistry setting the stage. From this vibrant live spectacle, we’re ushered into a whimsical animated adventure that playfully asks: “What is the ‘pie in the sky’?”

Project Links

Review by Andie Kay:

This behind the scenes look at recording the music for an animated short had a twist. There was a surprise engagement proposal from the composer, Ron J. Danziger to the Lyricist and creator, Christina Teenz Tan. Don’t worry, she said yes.


Filmed and recorded at the iconic Abbey Road Studios and the Barbican Concert Hall In London, the cinematography was stunning. Musically, the score for the film being played by a full orchestra was just spellbinding. The transition into the animated film was a bit jarring even though the art and animation by Samudiza Kajal Saikia was beautiful.


The actors and narrator of the animated portion did a really nice job although I would have preferred to see a gradual overlay of individual orchestral musicians than the windowed inserts. We go from a cinematic orchestra to a very pop-rock song that had a slightly different vibe. The vocal harmonies were gorgeous and the hook was catchy but it felt more like an end credits song rather than where it appeared in the animated
segment.


This has a lot of different elements that were put together and I really wanted a voice over or on camera host to act as a guide but the performances were absolutely amazing.

Short Film Review: TV MAN. Directed by Leonardo Valenti

festreviews Movie Review, Short Film Movie Review

While getting ready for a date with the girl of his dreams, Marco is visited by a man in the TV who starts talking to him. And he has a request to make… Hallucination or reality? That’s what Marco will have to figure out in this absurd and slapstick comedy.

Project Links

Review by Julie C. Sheppard:

The short TV Man is an entertaining romp. The satirical plotline has elements of farce, sci-fi and even social commentary. The lead actor has mastered broad comedy with hilarious facial expressions, showing a wide range of high intensity emotions, such as giddiness, infatuation and extreme surprise. His goofiness is infectious and endearing. He is a strong foil to the work of the actor playing the TV Man, who does a stellar job depicting a scheming con man. The screenplay that allows for elements of science fiction, is also quite amusing with its rapid-fire banter.

Cinematography in this short is thematically layered in that the footage of the TV screen switches from actual programming to the in-screen prison. The camera also makes use of extreme close ups and glitchy frames to advance the tale. 

Plucky orchestral refrains serve to enhance the funny moments, as ominous vocals underscore the darker, more sinister idea of TV imprisonment – – despite this edge of gloom and the social comments on the dangers of screen obsessions and betrayal, TV Man is more of a droll adventure.

Short Film Review: COSMIC HANDSHAKE. Directed by Steven Wright Clarkson

festreviews Movie Review, Short Film Movie Review

This video is about unity. As a christian, I know I can learn something from just about everyone. Opening your heart to other countries and their people and customs undoubtedly bridges the barriers that this world needs so very much. No matter what religion, color, creed, race, sexual orientation, etc., we are all children of God. He loves each and every one of us immensely. He wants to form a strong relationship with every creation including us. Peace and Christ’s love to each of you,

Review by Julie C. Sheppard:

Cosmic Handshake is a visually electrifying video. From the outset, the artistry takes the viewer along a rapid path of dynamic imagery. It is not just a striking twist of movement – – it is also an exploration of multi-faith symbolism. Familiar religious icons are displayed in vitally brilliant shimmers. A shiny peace sign and uniting handshakes are also central to this display. Human and alien hands reach out, we see acts of kindness and bonding, in addition to live action footage of a diverse group of children joyfully linked together.

The vibrant colours are rich, and the textures are sumptuous, a tapestry of outer space vistas and surreal nature scenes. The other striking element of this video is the use of gorgeous fractal-like kaleidoscope displays.

All this beauty is entwined with a cacophony of sounds – – piercing guitar, low bass notes and hearty percussion. The combination of meaningful icons, breathtaking palettes and soulful musical composition all make Cosmic Handshake an unforgettable immersive experience about love and acceptance.