News

Introducing the Filmmaker Fusion Challenge!

July 16, 2020 5 Comments Filmmaker Challenges, Filmmaker Fusion, News, Up Next by Aaron Kes

Attention screenwriters and actors! From our co-hosts of Filmmaker Fusion, we are happy to present a new challenge sure to spark your creativity in these socially distanced times! We are going virtual for this challenge, so there will be three online events including a kickoff panel with screenwriters, live actor auditions, and it will all culminate as a live table read on Zoom of the winning scripts. Registration for the screenwriting portion of the challenge is now open. Read on for specific details about each portion of the challenge.

Direct Chat with guests Amanda Melby and Bruce Dellis

May 5, 2020 0 Comments Direct Chat, News, Up Next by Aaron Kes

For our fourth episode of Direct Chat we interviewed the filmmakers behind Raising Buchanan. Amanda Melby (Producer/Actor) and Bruce Dellis (Writer/Director) have been longtime supporters of independent filmmaking in Arizona and it was a great conversation.

Direct Chat – Kieran Thompson

March 23, 2020 0 Comments Direct Chat, News, Up Next by Aaron Kes

While COVID-19 is currently keeping IFP Phoenix from having in person events, we did not want it to stop us from continuing to pursue our mission of helping to educate and connect local filmmakers. With that in mind, we are trying something new this week. We are going to virtually sit down with a filmmaker who has a short in the Phoenix Film Festival and we’re going to pick their brain.

Monthly IFP Phoenix Events Canceled Through April

March 18, 2020 0 Comments Filmmaker Fusion, Monthly Movie Meetings, News, Up Next by Aaron Kes

Due to the uncertainty surrounding the global COVID-19 virus, IFP Phoenix is canceling it’s in person events for March and April. As this progresses, we will reassess May events. Meanwhile, we are working on trying a couple of different things virtually so we can continue to offer some opportunities for connection within our local filmmaking opportunity. Stay safe and healthy, friends.

Welcome our new Filmmaker Fusion Hosts – Cassandra Nicholson and Melissa Farley

January 21, 2020 1 Comments Filmmaker Fusion, News by Aaron Kes

IFP Phoenix is elated to welcome two new co-hosts for Filmmaker Fusion who’ll be starting in February.

SOLD OUT Directing 201 Workshop with Nathan Blackwell at Arizona Studios

October 7, 2019 0 Comments News, Up Next by Aaron Kes

Saturday, November 16th from 10am to 4pm

Looking to up your directing game? IFP presents a directing workshop designed for filmmakers who have directing experience, but are looking to take their skills to the next level. Learn how to go beyond your first instincts, mine more more out of your material, and add new skills to your directors toolkit.

Filmmaker Fusion CANCELED Tonight

August 21, 2019 0 Comments Filmmaker Fusion, News, Up Next by Aaron Kes

**Due to some unexpected events, tonight’s Filmmaker Fusion event has been canceled. We are working on rescheduling it, and will be posting a new event as soon as we do. Our apologies for the late notice.**

2019 Break Out Film Challenge Kicks off August 29th!

July 15, 2019 0 Comments Challenges Current, Filmmaker Challenges, News, Up Next by David Miller

The 2019 Break Out Film Challenge is now open for registration!

What is it?

Our break out film challenge is designed to get our filmmakers out into the world! We give away over 20 free film festival submissions every year to the winners! Sign up now as we only have 20 slots for this challenge!

Member news from Gregory Leib – Dramatic Short “Day Crosser” to be filmed in Arizona dealing with the important and sensitive topics of migrants, militia and mercy.

May 23, 2019 1 Comments News by Aaron Kes

Day Crosser” will examine the different perspectives with a very real and humanistic approach…

Member News from Elmer J. Howard

May 15, 2019 0 Comments News by Aaron Kes

Some awesome news from one of our members! As a paid IFP Phoenix member, we’ll do blog posts updating the community on your big wins as well as needs you may currently have as a filmmaker. Read on for some great news for Elmer J. Howard!

Elmer J. Howard of Thrive Productions has won the prestigious Award of Recognition from The Best Shorts Film Competition. The award was given for Elmer’s based-on-real-events Gay short film “Loving Martin”. “Loving Martin” is a melancholic tale of love and loss. He also won the Award of Merit for Directing, Producing, and Production Design in the Southern Shorts Awards.

“’Loving Martin’ is a real-life film. It doesn’t steer away from the flaws of it’s characters and paints life for what it is sometimes. Messy. Hard, painful, and messy. With some excellent performances within it’s short length, this is a title I would recommend to a lot of my friends. A good well-rounded short film. No question about that.” ~ ReelRomp

The Best Shorts Competition recognizes film, television, videography, and new media professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout entertainment. Entries are judged by highly qualified professionals in the film and television industry. Information about Best Shorts and a list of recent winners can be found at www.BestShorts.net.

Rick Prickett, who chairs The Best Shorts Competition, had this to say about the latest winners, “Best Shorts is not an easy award to win. Entries are received from around the world from powerhouse companies to remarkable new talent. The Best Shorts Competition helps set the standard for craft and creativity. The judges were pleased with the exceptional high quality of entries. The goal of Best Shorts is to help winners achieve the recognition they deserve.”

In winning a Best Shorts Award, Elmer J. Howard joins the ranks of other high-profile winners of this internationally respected award including former Disney Imagineer Eric Robinson for “The Hollow Moon,” Keegan Connor Tracy for “The Girl/La Fille”, and Oscar-winning production “Mr. Hublot” by Laurent Witz.

The Southern Shorts Awards has been named Top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals by Film Freeway. “Loving Martin” won:

Award of Merit:
Directing – Elmer J. Howard
Acting – Allen Montes & Scott Olson
Editing – Miranda Calamity
Drama – Stan Atwood & Elmer J. Howard
Production Design – Elmer J. Howard
Screenwriting – David Vernon

Award of Excellence
Cinematography – Brett Bays
Music – Francis Snyder
Sound Design – Justin Moschcau

Watch the trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCqNWVmd1_Y

“Loving Martin” is still in the festival market so follow us on social media for the latest updates.

For more information, visit Thrive Production’s website at http://www.ThriveProductions.com and the “Loving Martin” website http://www.LovingMartin.com.

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