Author: festreviews

Today’s Short Story Festival: DYSTOPIAN Short Story Contest

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Submit via the site: https://thrillersuspensefestival.com/dystopian-short-story-festival/

Dystopian stories are a type of speculative fiction that explore the darker aspects of human nature and the human mind. They often serve as a warning about what could happen to modern society if certain aspects grow out of control.

Accept only stories that fit into the DYSTOPIAN genre.

Submit your DYSTOPIAN 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 thriller/suspense genres.

Today’s Screenplay Festival Deadline: HORROR Screenplay Contest

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Submit via the Deadline: https://festivalforhorror.com/

Submit your HORROR films and screenplays today to the festival.

Our mission is to promote screenplays, films and videos that dissent radically in form, technique, or content, and challenge and transcend commercial and audience expectations using the audience FEEDBACK festival format that the flagship festivals uses.

Film festival occurs 6 times a year in Montreal and Los Angeles. Each accepted film received 2 festival screenings. Cinema screening where they will receive their audience feedback video. And the virtual screening (4-6 weeks after) that is an industry showcase of the best HORROR films from around the world today.

Screenplay Festivals occur once a month. We perform the winners in a studio using professional Canadian actors and post them online for the entire world to see.

NOTE: Accepted works also get the opportunity to do two interviews: A blog interview and an ITunes Film Festival podcast interview.

Feature Film Review: The Cupcake Chronicles Vol. 2: The Cupcake Shop Ghost

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Is the cupcake shop haunted? Or are those strange noises coming from the stomachs of hungry customers? Either way, everyone ends up satisfied.

Review by Andie Kay:

Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters!


This over the top comedy was a slow burn parody of the ghost hunting shows but it takes place in a quaint cupcake shop. A place you’d never expect to be haunted, which happens to be a cool twist to the story. A story that was written quite well and had a lot of heart.

The cinematography in this was absolutely stunning. The lighting and coloring of this nine act short film was a feast for your eyes. Plus you had some creative camera angles that when you are shooting in one location are a must to keep the audience engaged. All of the sound was incredibly well done too. I was a bit disappointed that no one on the crew was mentioned, not even the director or writer. Maybe it was a ghost writer? I’m honestly trying to stop myself from making a joke about a “skeleton crew”. Oops, I guess I just did.

In all seriousness, I would have loved to compliment the Director of Photography, Camera Operator, Writer, etc but all I have is FDGT Productions. So…big props to the crew of FDGT.

I also have to mention Corbyn Sprayberry, she absolutely nailed this role and her performance was wonderful as the angel. She was funny but still organic and relatable. The musical additions from Cody Martin, Lost Ghosts, Solitude Smiling and Amanda Welch were perfect and really added to the film.

Short Film Review: DAFFODILS. Dance film directed by Sophie Barbarics

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No way out. These strings we have, both the visible and invisible.
Tie us to places, people and faith.
Hold us so tight even when we are literally running away.’

Project Links

Review by Julie C. Sheppard:

An apt title, the dance short – – Daffodils – – unfolds as a flower does. We gradually see the three dancers unfurl themselves from various forms of visual traps. The dance choreography is brilliant – – bodies are either enmeshed in cords, hampered by shards of the written word, or twisted up in contorted knots. The dancers are compelled to find escape from these prisons. 

Exceptional talent and flexibility allow the dancers to relate with one another and eventually free themselves. It is the rhythmic synth soundtrack that helps to build the action, and the bleakness of the original locations breaks through to gorgeous sunshine, open water, and fresh mountain ranges. In turn, freeing group choreography moves to match this liberation. 

The use of light white linen wardrobe for the dancers gives their presence an ethereal quality which is in line with their eventual freedom of expression. The audience is left with their positive autonomy, as a flower in full bloom.

LGBTQ+ Festival BEST Scene Script: ANYBODY SEEN MY BABY, by Gerald Robinson

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A happily married father of four sons confronts his attraction to another man and must navigate between his devotion to family and his recognition that his life imitates art.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Julie Sheppard
Michelangelo: Sean Ballantyne
Homer: Shawn Devlin
Lu-Lu: Hannah Ehman

Submit via FilmFreeway:

A very insightful experience! The Feedback video was a gift and the entire team was extremely professional and helpful throughout the process.
– Kate M.

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.

Today’s Podcast: EP. 1612: Filmmaker James Rigby (VERSIPELLIS)

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Versipellis, 26min., UK
Directed by James Rigby
In this spine-chilling horror film, a young girl, Sophia, faces the dilemma of choosing whom to trust when an imposter infiltrates her home.

https://www.instagram.com/versipellis_film

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?

I wanted to challenge myself by making my first horror film. I was curious about how to approach the story, its themes, and the craft of building fear in an audience. I researched the genre, studied other films, and asked myself: what do I personally find scary, and why do I react that way? That exploration shaped the direction of the film.

From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

The script was originally written and pitched during my time at Arts University Bournemouth. After taking a short break from it, I came back with fresh eyes, refined the concept, and pushed it forward. With the support of people around the world, we successfully crowdfunded £1,500, which allowed us to bring the project to life.

Subscribe to the podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod

https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

NATURE Poetry Contest (Get poem made into a movie. Every submission gets a poetry video reading.)

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Submit via the site: https://festivalforpoetry.com/nature-poetry-contest/

 Accepting any poetry in any genre or length that’s about NATURE in any way.

All poems will be posted on this network. Over 95,000 unique visitors a day. The winning poem will have their poetry made into a movie.

The RULES are simple:

1. Write a POEM that’s about NATURE. Send it to this contest for $15 and it will be POSTED on this site, guaranteed for 100,000s to see. (you own all rights to this poem)

2. SUBMIT as many poems as you like.

3. The poem can be anything about NATURE. An event/situation that occurred about NATURE in general.

Watch the WILDsound RELATIONSHIPS Festival (in case you missed it)

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Watch the festival 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/videos/relationship-shorts-festival

Revival, 33min., USA
Directed by Wendy Fleetwood
“REVIVAL” follows the story of Emma, a young woman living in a historic condo in New Orleans. When her roommate, Lauren, abruptly moves out due to eerie occurrences, Emma finds herself in need of a new roommate to share the rent. As Emma navigates through a series of bizarre roommate interviews, she encounters Nick, a charming and enigmatic freelance writer.

https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-revival

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.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-dividing-line



THIRTY SEVEN DOLLARS, 10min,. Singapore
Directed by Ashish Sharma
“Thirty Seven Dollars” is a powerful 10-minute thriller that explores the devastating cycle of urban violence through an unlikely conversation between predator and prey. When Jessica, a dignified woman, encounters Donnie, a volatile street criminal, their exchange becomes a haunting meditation on choice, consequence, and the true cost of violence. Set in the gritty underbelly of an unnamed city, this film delivers a shocking twist that reframes everything we thought we knew about victim and perpetrator.

https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-thirty-seven-dollars

November 2025 Toronto/LA DOCUMENTARY Film Festival Testimonials (64 FIVE Star Reviews)

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Thanks for the award from the Toronto reviewers, I really enjoyed their verbal feedback which really helps see how other peers view your work. Well done. Karl Fallon.

DEADLINE TODAY: Submit to the Festival via FilmFreeway:

We love the format of this festival. The video interviews of the festival audience is tremendous fun. And most importantly the festival and the audience totally get it!! Gratitude

_________!

This festival experience has been fantastic. The feedback videos were outstanding, and the podcast interview was delightful. The communication was excellent, and the value provided was exceptional. Thank you for celebrating Tararau S-K 😊

What an unusual and helpful festival! We make these films obviously to share with an audience, and to ideally hear how it resonates with them— so it was very special to be able to receive several people’s articulate responses to our film! And thanks so much for the good communication and the honor of Best Human Interest Film!

One of the most incredible festival experiences. Thank you Toronto Documentary Feature and Short Film Festival for such a positive experience. Your out of the box four tier screening & promotion option for filmmakers is truly unique and sets you apart as a festival. Heartfelt gratitude to the festival team members, audience and reviewers for awarding my short film MITTI (discovering Ikigai) as the best environmental film at the festival.

Even though we never attended the event we were kept in the loop and was awesome to be a part of it! 5 stars for sure!!