Beaufort, SC Film Festival Snubs Indie Filmmakers/Screenwriters, Renegs On Screenplay Awards

March 11, 2008 - PRLog -- The announcements for the Beaufort film festival's screenplay competition touted a 1st Place award, The Ribaut: A custom crafted crystal art piece.

The festival had numerous entrants in this competition, according to the chairman, and out of all those competing for a 1st Place award and other recognition, and three finalists selected and announced by the judges, the festival failed to make any awards.

How is it that among all screenplay entrants, "one" could not be selected as 1st Place, and that no award of any sort would be given?

Complaints in regard to the film festival's decisions not to make an award of any sort in its screenwriting competition are supported by writers, independent filmmakers and others, including Withoutabox, which was utilized to recruit film festival submissions, and whose representatives recommended the festival reinstate the screenwriting awards.

Despite the fact that the festival originally offered an award of this sort, most writers care more about receiving respect and recognition for their work. The screenplays of the finalists have won awards in many far more established and prestigious contests, and all of them were well qualified here.

The decision not to make the advertised 1st Place award to any entrant in this competition represents a de facto cancellation of the competition, and resembles a bait-and-switch scenario... where you identify an award category -- collect money and entries -- nominate finalists -- pull the rug out from under them -- congratulate them and send them home empty handed. With NO awards of any sort given.

This festival misrepresented itself to the screenwriters who entered the competition, and the independent film community, by not giving a promised award to someone. They failed to make an announced award. They failed to provide a disclaimer regarding withholding awards. They failed to tell those who entered that they were not giving an award, until just days before the festival.

Even more disappointing is the fact that this festival is sponsored, in part, by a chamber of commerce and a regional film commission seeking to use independent filmmakers to further validate the area's bona fides as a film-friendly location -- while at the same time disregarding and dismissing the very participants in the festival.

Filmmakers who might have had an interest in working here or in participating in this festival, or with Beaufort in the future, should know who they are dealing with -- especially those people who do not honor their promises.

Add to this the frequent delays in screening times, power outages and a general lack of preparedness, and you can scratch this festival off your list.