April 15, 2014
Chicago's Pride Films Accepts Submissions for Women's Words Fest
Winnie McCroy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
As part of the exciting and varied programming of Pride Films and Plays, they are now accepting submissions of new works for the stage and screen for Women's Words Fest. Through May 1, PFP wants to see great plays, screenplays and films with LGBT themes by women, to expand and support their mission to develop themes by lesbians.
The Women's Words Fest is set for September 19 to 21 at Center on Halsted's Hoover-Leppen Theater. But PFP is in discussion with other performance arts organizations about joining up to create a multi-dimensional fest that might include movement and dance work, and staged readings of famed lesbian plays.
PFP is also expanding its screenings of short LGBT films with the Queer Bits Film Festival, with screenings both in June (on a date and at a location to be announced) and on November 15 at Center on Halsted during their Gay Film Weekend.
Pride Films and Plays fosters excellence in writing for the stage and screen by connecting their Writers Network with their Artistic Ensemble and accelerating the process of moving important scripts from development to full production. When ready, these excellent works are then offered to theaters across the country.
The season consists of three full productions -- a world premiere, a Chicago premiere, and a reinvigorated classic -- along with three weekend festivals of new "enhanced staged readings."
Writers are invited to join their Writers Network when they are named a finalist in the contests -- the Great Gay Play Contest, Women's Work (for plays and screenplays with lesbian characters or themes, written by women), and the Great Gay Screenplay Contest. The finalists earn cash prizes, and their plays performed as "enhanced staged readings" which include movement, blocking, and technical elements in the 150 Hoover-Leppen Theater in Center on Halsted.
Submit your play entries through May 1 at the contest page of www.pridefilmsandplays.com, and send screenplays to FilmFreeway.com.
PFP is looking for those interested in supporting this endeavor as well, and people can sign up on the volunteer page of www.pridefilmsandplays.com.
For complete info, visit http://pridefilmsandplays.com/
Winnie McCroy is the Women on the EDGE Editor, HIV/Health Editor, and Assistant Entertainment Editor for EDGE Media Network, handling all women's news, HIV health stories and theater reviews throughout the U.S. She has contributed to other publications, including The Village Voice, Gay City News, Chelsea Now and The Advocate, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.
