Welcome to The Lonely Seal International Film, Screenplay & Music Festival, your home of "stories aching to be told." Sponsored by Coverfly, Final Draft, and Hourglass24, our winners get showcased for cinema buyers at the Cannes Film Festival/Cannes Film Market.

Our festival is at the historic Regent Theatre in Arlington, MA (Boston). We will also be streaming our festival at LonelySealStreaming.com. Thus, if you've got a great story to tell, we want to experience it. We are a multiple-time "Top 100 Festival" here on FilmFreeway, and our five-star reviews put us in the top 1% worldwide.

Everyone at Lonely Seal aims to help you blossom and thrive in your career beyond our festival dates!

Prizes & Key Dates

We look forward to experiencing your awesomeness!

GRAND PRIZE AWARD

Grand Prize – A showcase for cinema buyers at Cannes, one year of development advice, and one year of strategic financing and distribution advice. The Grand Prize includes a prominent placement on Hourglass24, our new crowdfunding platform.

* Our Grand Prize may be awarded to ANY FILMED PROJECT in our festival. 

FILM & DOCUMENTARY AWARDS:

Best Feature - Showcase for cinema buyers at Cannes, strategic advice, and prominent placement for one project on Hourglass24.

Best Comedy Feature Film - Showcase for cinema buyers at Cannes, strategic advice, and prominent placement for one project on Hourglass24.

Best Documentary (feature or short) - Showcase for cinema buyers at Cannes, strategic advice, and prominent placement for one project on Hourglass24.

Best LBGTQIA Film (Feature or Short ) - Showcase for cinema buyers at Cannes, strategic advice, and prominent placement for one project on Hourglass24.

Best Indigenous Film (Feature or Short) - Showcase for cinema buyers at Cannes, strategic advice, and prominent placement for one project on Hourglass24.

Best Film Accessible Film (Feature or Short) - Showcase for cinema buyers at Cannes, strategic advice, and prominent placement for one project on Hourglass24.

Best International Film (Feature or Short) - Showcase for cinema buyers at Cannes, strategic advice, and prominent placement for one project on Hourglass24.

Best Comedy Short Film - Showcase for cinema buyers at Cannes, strategic advice, and prominent placement for one project on Hourglass24.

Best Short Film - Showcase for cinema buyers at Cannes, strategic advice, and prominent placement for one project on Hourglass24.

SCREENPLAY AWARDS - SPONSORED BY COVERFLY & FINAL DRAFT

Grand Prize Feature Film Screenplay - One Final Draft license, a showcase for cinema buyers at Cannes, one year of development advice, and one year of strategic financing and distribution advice. Prominent placement for one project on Hourglass24.

Best Teleplay - Showcase for cinema buyers at Cannes, strategic advice, and prominent placement for one project on Hourglass24.

Best Poem - Strategic advice and prominent placement for one project on Hourglass24.

Best Short Screenplay - Strategic advice and prominent placement for one project on Hourglass24.

MUSIC AWARDS

Best Music Video - Showcase for cinema buyers at Cannes, strategic advice, and prominent placement for one project on Hourglass24.

Best Song -  Showcase for cinema buyers at Cannes, strategic advice, and prominent placement for one project on Hourglass24.

Best Composition - Showcase for cinema buyers at Cannes, strategic advice, and prominent placement for one project on Hourglass24.

KEY DATES

Submissions open on July 28, 2023.
The early bird submission deadline is October 31, 2023.
The regular submission deadline is January 31, 2024.
The late submission deadline is March 31, 2024.
The extended deadline is April 21, 2024.

All selections for our Arlington, MA (Boston) festival will be notified by June 1, 2024.

Our festival is from August 20-25, 2024, at the Regent Theatre in Arlington, MA, and our festival dates for New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Paris will be posted here soon.

Winners will be announced on Sunday, August 25, 2024, at our awards ceremony.

Good Luck!

FILM FESTIVAL RULES & REGULATIONS

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

-- Entries must not have been publicly shown before 2023. 

- Preference is given to Massachusetts and Boston Premieres.

-- 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.

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 due to normal wear and tear or equipment failure. Additionally, Lonely Seal International Film and Screenplay Festival is held harmless from any claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses that may be incurred because of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, or film screening.

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 the 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 script must be submitted separately and accompanied by its completed submission form.

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

By submitting the material, the applicant at this moment 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 contact in addition to that.

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

I/We agree to hold the Lonely Seal International Film, Music, and Screenplay Festival harmless 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 claims of third parties, whether or not groundless, based on any music video, advertisement, film or media submitted to the Festival.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • I couldn't feel more fortunate to have gotten the chance to be a part of the Lonely Seal International Film, Screenplay and Music Festival. Hammad is in a league of his own and a true expert in his field. It was a dream come true to be a part of such a thoughtfully curated festival. The festival brought such fascinating filmmakers to Massachusetts and it wouldn't have happened without the brilliance of Lonely Seal. On behalf of of our documentary Dad Rock, a million thanks and hope to see the Lonely Seal brigade extremely soon. Do yourself and your film a favor and join the Lonely Seal Community.

    January 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Eshani

    Thank you for the kind words. We loved showing your film, and we can’t wait to see what you do next!

  • Wonderful festival! Wish I could have attended in person but our producer was there and had wonderful things to say about his experience. Hammad and the staff were easy to communicate with via email and we felt welcome with open arms. Thank you, Lonely Seal!

    October 2023
  • Pat Cavanaugh

    The personal approach and friendly communication from Hammad was extremely appreciated. Although I sadly wasn't able to make it out to Boston due to logistical issues, I felt like Hammad had my short's best interests at heart, and I am honored the festival chose to screen it. I can't wait to submit my next project and, should I be so lucky as to be selected again, make it out to Boston to enjoy the festival with everyone.

    October 2023
  • As a finalist for Best Music, I feel a bit shortchanged. I think the organization should reward the people who made it to the finals instead of just the winners. Furthermore, it is a good festival.

    October 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for your comments. I am sorry you feel that way. However, in many of the correspondences we’ve sent out, we made it clear that we are always in your corner. You can always reach out to us and we’re here to help you with anything you may need. I’m not sure if there any festivals that list every single project that got into the Festival outside of their schedule. We list our winners and honorable mentions in our Winners List, but as you know, you are also cited as a “finalist.” We are always in your corner. Should you ever need any help of any kind, please reach out to us so we can set up a zoom call or phone call discuss how we be able to help you.

  • Sara Dinga

    Lonely Seal International Film, Screenplay and Music Festival has been wonderful! The staff are fantastic and their communication is great. Winning best Play/Musical is an honor, and I'm thankful for the recognition of my work. Thank you Lonely Seal!

    October 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Sara - thank you for the kind words! Let’s catch up
    Sometime and discuss how we may be able to help you!