Registration Opens September 1 for 4th Annual Renton FilmFrenzy, a 50-Hour Filmmaking Competition with $1,700 in Cash Prizes; Filmmakers will Take Over Renton from Oct. 7-9

    RENTON, WA, September 01, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- It will be "lights, camera, action" in Renton from October 7-9, when aspiring, ahead of the curve filmmakers take over the city for the fourth annual Renton FilmFrenzy, a 50-hour filmmaking competition. Last year, 25 filmmaking teams competed for $1,700 in cash prizes and the coveted Curvee Awards.

"Thanks to our partnerships with SIFF, Reel Grrls, theFilmSchool, area filmmaking programs, and the Renton Arts Commission, the Renton FilmFrenzy continues to expand and has become an integral part of the growing and strong Renton arts community," said Renton Mayor Denis Law.

For the first time, all submitted films will be shown during the Renton FilmFrenzy Screening, which will be held on at 7 p.m. on Monday, October 24, at the Renton Civic Theatre.

The following evening, the fourth annual Curvee Awards Gala will be presented at the Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center. In addition to presenting the cash prizes and Curvee Awards at the Gala, the Frenzy Screenwriting Award will be awarded by theFilmSchool, a Seattle-based program which "elevates the art of cinematic storytelling through intensive training in screenwriting and directing." In addition, the Woman Filmmaker Award will be presented by Reel Grrls, which "empowers young women from diverse communities to realize their power, talent, and influence through media production."

FilmFrenzy activities will wrap-up with an opportunity to meet with the filmmakers during the Downtown Renton FilmTalk on Wednesday, October 26.

The Renton FilmFrenzy, October 7-9
Competing filmmakers will have from 5 p.m. on Friday, October 7, through 7 p.m. on Sunday, October 9, to write, shoot, edit and submit a short film. At the beginning of the competition, participating filmmakers will be provided with "CurveBall" Challenges, which could include incorporating a line of dialogue, a task and/or filming at a specific location in Renton.

Films can be up to four minutes in length and must be shot completely in Renton. All genres of film are welcome, although films must be appropriate for all audiences.

Renton FilmFrenzy filmmakers may enter their films in one of two divisions: Student Division (high school and below) and Open Division. There is a $50 entry fee for the Open Division and a $25 entry fee for student competitors. There is no limit to the number of films that may be entered.

This year's judges include Dustin Kaspar, Seattle International Film Festival; Dan Molvar, MagicHour Films; Jim Dever, KING TV; Sarah Eldridge, Renton Municipal Arts Commission; and representatives from theFilmSchool and Reel Grrls.

The deadline to apply to participate for the Renton FilmFrenzy is 5 p.m., Saturday, October 1.

Visit www.RentonFilmFrenzy.com for application forms, rules and other information.

Renton FilmFrenzy Screening, October 24
"We heard from participants last year that they wanted to have an opportunity to view all of the submitted films in one place, so we created the FilmFrenzy Screening," commented Suzanne Dale Estey, Economic Development Director, City of Renton.

The FilmFrenzy Screening will take place at 7:00 p.m., Monday, October 24, at the Renton Civic Theatre, 507 South Third Street, in Downtown Renton.

Curvee Awards Gala, October 25
The top films produced during the competition will be screened in front of a live audience during the fourth annual Curvee Awards Gala at the Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, October 25.

Celebrating the slogan "Renton, Ahead of the Curve," special "Curvee" awards will be crafted by local artisans and students for presentation to the award-winning filmmakers. In addition, the following cash prizes will be awarded during the Curvee Awards Gala:

Best Picture: $500

Open Division
First Prize: $250
Second Prize: $200
Third Prize: $150

Student Division
First Prize: $250
Second Prize: $200
Third Prize: $150

Other Curvees will be presented for:
the FilmSchool Screenwriter's Award
Reel Grrls Woman Filmmaker
Best Actor
Best Use of Renton
Special Judges Award

"In the past, the Open Division winner has always won the Best Picture award," Dale Estey said. "For 2011, we've changed our awards so the Best Picture award winner will not receive an Open or Student Division cash prize. This allows us to recognize an additional filmmaking team."

Dale Estey also said that the FilmFrenzy would submit its top award winning shorts to other area film festivals as an additional prize. "This gives our participating filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their films at other festivals, without having to pay for the entry fees, and gives us the opportunity to continue to market and grow the Renton FilmFrenzy," Dale Estey explained.

Renton Downtown FilmTalk, October 26
The Downtown Renton FilmTalk will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26, and various venues in Downtown Renton. During the FilmTalk, Frenzy filmmakers will be on hand to discuss their work and their filmmaking process. A raffle with a number of prizes will be held at each venue.

People's Choice Award
Thanks to the Renton Reporter, members of the public will have the chance to vote on their favorite Renton FilmFrenzy films. All films entered will be posted on the Renton Reporter website for viewing and voting after the Curvee Awards Gala. The winning film will receive a special "People's Choice" Curvee award at a November Renton City Council meeting.

Sponsors
The Renton FilmFrenzy is sponsored by the Renton Community Marketing Campaign, which includes the Renton Chamber of Commerce, Renton School District, Valley Medical Center, Renton Technical College, Renton Visitors Connection and the City of Renton. The Renton Community Marketing Campaign was pleased to host the Seattle International Film Festival in 2011 as Renton continues to grow its thriving arts and culture, and film scene.

The Renton Community Marketing Campaign also sponsors the SIFF's FutureWave program, which offers the region's youth a direct link to SIFF Cinema, the Seattle International Film Festival, and the diverse local filmmaking community.

For details, visit www.RentonFilmFrenzy.com.

For further information contact:
Suzanne Dale Estey
City of Renton
[email protected]
phone: 425/430-6591

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