DANCES WITH FILMS “LOVES THE JOURNEY” OF THEIR 100+ INDEPENDENT FILMS AT 17TH ANNUAL FILM FESTIVAL; Festival Winners To Receive Theatrical Distribution Commitment and AMPAS Qualifying Run, Oscar Winning Producer Steve Tisch Joins Advisory Board

 

DANCES WITH FILMS (DWF), LA’s largest discovery film festival of emerging talent, announced its 2014 lineup today as the festival celebrates 100+ independent films over 11 days from May 29th – June 8th at Hollywood’s famed Chinese Theaters.  DWF is proud to announce sponsoring partnerships with long time indie film champion Laemmle Theaters and new indie exhibitor, Hollywood’s Arena Cinema.  With this year’s motto “Love Your Journey”, for the first time ever, DWF’s competition feature Audience Award winner will “love their journey” with the prize of a Los Angeles theatrical distribution commitment of one week at the Arena Cinema, as the Grand Jury Award winner will receive a VOD distribution deal with Gravitas Ventures;  and the short Grand Jury Award and Audience Award winners will both receive Academy® Qualifying theatrical runs from Laemmle Theaters.  

 

DWF is honored to have legendary producer Steve Tisch as the newest member of its esteemed Advisory Board.  A partner at Escape Artists Productions and the Chairman and Executive Vice President of the New York Giants, Steve is the only person with both an Academy Award and a Super Bowl ring.  Steve won a Best Picture Oscar as a producer of Forrest Gump in 1994, and has received two Super Bowl rings as Chairman of the Giants, who won Super Bowls XLII and XLVI.  One of the most successful producers in the motion picture industry, Steve has produced such films as Risky Business, The Pursuit of Happyness, The Weather Man, Seven Pounds, Knowing, The Taking of Pelham 123, The Back-Up Plan, and Hope Springs.   A pantheon of industry heavyweights, DWF’s Advisory Board also includes:  Cindy Cowan, Jonathan Dana, Steve Elzer, Kevin Kasha, Eriq La Salle, Michael Lehmann, Mike Macari, Valerie McCaffrey, Mark V. Olsen, Joel Ordesky, Mark Ordesky, Melissa Orlen, Will Scheffer, Hilton Smith, David Spiegelman and Steve Wegner.

Starting humbly in 1998, DWF was designed as a film festival dedicated to finding tomorrow’s talent today.  With mostly World and West Coast Premieres, DWF provides a coveted first stop on the festival circuit.  Choosing films based solely on merit and discoverability, DWF remains the most devoted champion of fresh and creative voices, mandating that all competitive films have no known actors, writers, directors or producers.   For the past 17 years, DWF has proudly provided access and opportunity to hundreds, if not thousands, of films and filmmakers – from Hoboken, NJ to Xiang, China – that fight year after year to see their dreams realized.  Co-Founder Leslee Scallon says, “Giving these warriors the exposure that their talent, drive, and sacrifice deserve is what DWF has always been about and our belief in our filmmakers is rewarded year after year.  Just last year, 8 features were picked up for distribution at the fest!”  Now, with over 12,000+ festival attendees plus 2.5 million impressions per month on www.danceswithfilms.com, DWF remains the indie heartbeat of Hollywood.

 

Amongst their newest prize awarding sponsors, DWF appreciates the loyalty for independent filmmakers from its sponsors Movietickets.com, Gravitas Ventures, Escape Artists, Ease Entertainment Services, CAA, The Lot, SagIndie, Final Draft, Movie Magic, VER, KPFK, OHM Night Club, Cabotella Beer, Demidoff Vodka, Lucky Strike, Southern Wine & Spirits, Audio Rents, as well as the Loews Hollywood Hotel.