Welcome to the home of stories aching to be told. Our official selections are screened at the Regent Theatre, a 103-year-old Vaudville gem in Arlington, MA (Boston), and our winners get showcased to international cinema buyers at the Cannes Film Festival.

With 36 five-star reviews in our first year, we launched deep into FilmFreeway’s “Top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals" within our first six days of eligibility. Our second festival, which runs this October 11-13, welcomes 65 films/docs/shorts/music videos, 77 screenplays and four songs. We’re also expanding to four-days in 2020; October 8-11, 2020.

We're on a mission to create an enriching, fun and inspiring environment for our filmmakers, writers, musicans and festival attendees, so jump on in and apply today! Should you like to see how well we showcase our selected artists, check out www.LonelySealFestival.com, which gets well over 300,000 hits per month.

We are deeply committed to your success far beyond our festival dates, meaning as long as you keep in touch, we will always support your career rise.

We know there are thousands of festivals out there; many of which we love attending, but there is only one Lonely Seal. Our mission is to make the world a better place through the films, screenplays, and music we program, and we can't achieve that if you don't share your work with us, so please submit today!

The Lonely Seal International Film, Screenplay, and Music Festival is sponsored by 5A Studios, Final Draft, The Regent Theatre, Lonely Seal Rweleasing, Page Craft, Hourglass24 and Nadeau Media.

Awards & Prizes

Our prizes total $400,000 + of in-kind services.

Film Prizes
Grand Prize – $100,000 (in-kind) One-year of international film distribution from Lonely Seal Releasing, with waived admin fees ($60,000), and marketing fees ($25,000) a sales percentage discounted to 15%, ($15,000), showcase and targeted marketing to worldwide cinema buyers at Cannes in May 2020.

Best Script Accessible Feature Film $20,000 (in-kind) - A showcase and targeted marketing to worldwide cinema buyers at the Lonely Seal Releasing booth at Cannes in May 2020.

Best Script Accessible Short Film $20,000 (in-kind) A showcase and targeted marketing to worldwide cinema buyers at the Lonely Seal Releasing booth at Cannes in May 2020.

Best Female Filmmaker $20,000 (in-kind) A showcase and targeted marketing to worldwide cinema buyers at the Lonely Seal Releasing booth at Cannes in May 2020.

Best Documentary $20,000 (in-kind) A showcase and targeted marketing to worldwide cinema buyers at the Lonely Seal Releasing booth at Cannes in May 2020.

Best International Film $20,000 (in-kind) A showcase and targeted marketing to worldwide cinema buyers at the Lonely Seal Releasing booth at Cannes in May 2020.

Best Short Film $20,000 (in-kind) A showcase and targeted marketing to worldwide cinema buyers at the Lonely Seal Releasing booth at Cannes in May 2020.

"An Incomplete Truth" $20,000 (in-kind) Post Production Credit Award, sponsored by 5A Studios in London. Thw winner of this award will be given a $20,000 post-production credit to use on their current film or a future production.

Screenplay Writing Contest Awards
Best Screenplay $20,000 (in-kind) A showcase and targeted marketing to worldwide cinema buyers at the Lonely Seal Releasing booth at Cannes in May 2020.

Script Accessible Best Screenplay $20,000 (in-kind) A showcase and targeted marketing to worldwide cinema buyers at the Lonely Seal Releasing booth at Cannes in May 2020.

Music Awards
Best Music Video $20,000  (in-kind) Four months of heavy SEO @$5,000 per month.

Audience Award Prizes
Narrative Audience Award $20,000 (in-kind) A showcase and targeted marketing to worldwide cinema buyers at the Lonely Seal Releasing booth at Cannes in May 2020.

Documentary Audience Award $20,000 (in-kind) A showcase and targeted marketing to worldwide cinema buyers at the Lonely Seal Releasing booth at Cannes in May 2020.

Short Film Audience Award $20,000 (in-kind) A showcase and targeted marketing to worldwide cinema buyers at the Lonely Seal Releasing booth at Cannes in May 2020.

International Prizes
Best International Film $20,000 (in-kind) A showcase and targeted marketing to worldwide cinema buyers at the Lonely Seal Releasing booth at Cannes in May 2020.

Best International Short Film $20,000 (in-kind) A showcase and targeted marketing to worldwide cinema buyers at the Lonely Seal Releasing booth at Cannes in May 2020.

Key Dates
Submissions open on August 20, 2019
The early bird submission deadline is October 31, 2019.
The regular submission deadline is February 28, 2020.
The late submission deadline is April 30, 2020.
The extended deadline is May 31, 2020.

Selected films and Screenplays will be notified by July 8, 2020.

All winners will be announced on Sunday, October 11, 2020, at our awards ceremony.

Good Luck!

Rules & Terms

FILM FESTIVAL RULES & REGULATIONS

-- Competition is open to U.S. and International entries.

-- Entries must not have been publicly shown before 2018. 

-- Entries must be submitted online through FilmFreeway.

-- You may submit multiple entries but must fill out a separate entry form and pay an entry fee for each.

-- Grand Prize Winner has the option to decline the international film distribution portion of the award. In such an event, all other portions of the Grand Prize will remain valid.

LIABILITY
Every possible care will be taken with entries while in our possession, however, we cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or additional charges incurred en route, or due to normal wear and tear, or due to equipment failure. Additionally, Lonely Seal International Film and Screenplay Festival is held harmless from any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity or screening of any film.

THE FOLLOWING MUST ACCOMPANY YOUR ENTRY

-- Entry fee (must be paid online).

--3-Line Synopsis. 

--Feature Films: Please include no more than a 250-word synopsis (may be used for Festival Program and website).

--Accepted entries must submit at least one web-ready still at 72dpi and 560x315 pixels.

SCREENWRITING CONTEST RULES & REGULATIONS

All entries are eligible to win the top prizes.

Employees (and their immediate families) of The Lonely Seal International Film and Screenplay Festival and any of their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, and advertising and promotion agencies or festival sponsors, are not eligible to win.

There is no limit on the number of screenplays you can submit; however, each screenplay must be submitted separately and accompanied by its own completed submission form.

Feature Film Screenplays must be between 70-120 pages, must be in English and must be submitted in proper script format.

By submitting the material, the applicant hereby agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the festival & its employees from any liability, claims, and damages in connection with the submission and from any fees and expenses, including but not limited to reasonable attorneys' fees, that any of them may incur in connection therewith.

I/We understand that failure to adhere to the competition rules and regulations will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee.

I/We agree to hold the Lonely Seal International Film, Music and Screenplay Festival harmless from and defend them against all claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses (including attorney’s fees) arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, whether or not groundless, based on any music video, advertisement, film or media submitted to the Festival.

 
36 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Anderson Clark

    Hammad and his colleagues are very supportive of filmmakers. I saw some great films at this fest, networked with interesting people and had an interesting Q&A after my film screened. I have a feeling that this new festival is going to grow in size and importance. Had a great experience.

    December 2018
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    Response from festival:

    Dear Anderson,

    Thank you so much for your kind words. We absolutely loved your film, and we can’t wait to see what you do next! Should you need any help with your current from moving forward, please reach out to us and let us know.

    Happy Holidays and thank you again!

  • Jacob Padilla

    The best part about this fest is the connections you make, especially with Hammad, the festival director. Hammad is a very wise filmmaker himself, with many years of experience; and plenty of advice to give. He was so kind in sharing his wisdom throughout the fest. He and the rest of the festival team are all so nice and very easy to communicate with. I had a blast at this little fest, and I am very excited to see how it grows in the future.

    October 2018
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    Response from festival:

    Jacob!

    Thank you for the kind words! It was wonderful meeting you! Based on your film, "The Being Who Fell From the Stars," it's obvious that you're overflowing with talent. We will always be here as a resource for you and all of our filmmakers, and I personally can't wait to see the feature script you pitched me to get made. Please keep in touch, and thank you again!

  • Lorette Bayle

    Producer, Hammad Zaidi and his team know the film industry first hand and have organized an amazing film festival with quality screening facilities, top notch panels and discussions and fun receptions/parties. I highly recommend this festival!

    October 2018
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    Response from festival:

    Lorette,

    Thank you for the kind words. We really appreciate them. We would also like to congratulate you for having two projects in our inaugural festiva thank you for the kind words. We really appreciate them. We would also like to congratulate you for having two projects in our inaugural festival. Thank you for your incredible creativity and we can’t wait to see what you do next.

  • Hamze Zarei


    Dear Lonely Seal Film Festival
    Thank you for helping young filmmakers to succeed and see their work.
    I am very happy to have played my film and share it, at this great festival.
    Be part of your amazing festival is honor to me.

    October 2018
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    Response from festival:

    Hamze,

    Thank you for your kind words. We greatly appreciate it. We were quite honored to play your film, and we are excited to see what you make next!

  • Ernie Charles

    Awesome feedback and inspiration. Great communication and encouragement for writers and filmmakers.

    October 2018
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    Response from festival:

    Earnie! Thank you so very much for your kind words. We LOVED your film, "I Think I Need a Drink." In fact, I think I've watched it about a dozen times. Please keep in touch with us, because we can't wait to see what you create next!