
2021
3rd Annual MIND Film Festival
nov 13-14
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The 3rd Annual MULTI-FACETED INSPIRATIONAL NATIONAL DISCOVERY FILM FESTIVAL was founded to recognize multifaceted and multicultural categories and to inspire creatives nationally and for the opportunity for them to make discoveries and be discovered as a result of the festival.
Introducing the 2020 Festival Winners!
Due to the Pandemic the Festival will Be Virtual This Year
Join us on Zoom & Facebook Live




Awards & Prizes
The Festival has 20 competitive categories with prizes. Actors who win the Actor’s competition will have a chance to meet with a Talent Agent or Manager for representation. Content Creators who win the Pitch competition will have a chance to meet with a Major Production Company and/or TV Network/Studio.
AWARD CATEGORIES:
OFFICIAL SELECTION
SEMI FINALIST
BEST LEAD ACTOR
BEST LEAD ACTRESS
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
BEST DIRECTOR
BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC
BEST EDITOR
BEST SOUND
BEST DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
BEST SET DESIGN
BEST COMEDY
BEST DRAMA
BEST FOREIGN
WINNERS- 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place
PITCH WINNER
ACTOR WINNER
JUDGING CRITERIA
PRODUCTION
ORIGINALITY
STORY
ACTING
CREATIVITY
MARKETABILITY
SOUND
MIND FESTIVAL 2019
Rules & Guidelines
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Films must have been completed by Spring of 2018 - 2021.
SHORT Films must be no more than 40 minutes in length, credits included.
Films available publicly online are eligible to submit
If selected, films must be available for projection in DCP
All non-English-language films must have English subtitles.
Submissions must be uploaded and submitted no later than the deadline (before midnight) date to qualify for the respective entry fees.
If sending a check, check must be in U.S. dollars drawn on a United States bank. ONLY-U.S. CHECKS ACCEPTED. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Completed entry Digital screener OR MAIL A DVD SCREENER BY DEADLINE W/Entry fee
IF SELECTED: WE WILL Require A POSTER, CAST & CREW BIOS, EPK, & GUEST LIST & SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES. WE WILL ALSO REQUIRE THE FILMMAKER OR A REP FROM CAST/CREW TO BE PRESENT AT FESTIVAL.
MIND Film FESTIVAL 2021
MIND Film FESTIVAL 2021
Rules & Guidelines
MIND reserves the right in its sole discretion to reject or disqualify any ineligible entries, without a refund.
Films that are selected to screen at the Festival may not necessarily be selected to be “in competition” for awards purposes. Notifications regarding potential selection for competition status possibly may occur subsequent to notifications of acceptance for exhibition.
Originality and Permissions; INDEMNITY
1. Films must be the original work of the applicants. If a film is based upon another person’s life or upon a book or other underlying work, applicant(s) must secure any necessary rights to make such adaptations. However, it is not necessary to submit the adaptation rights agreements to the Festival. Neither the Festival nor its jurists investigates or attests to the authenticity of an applicant’s statement of authorship or rights secured. By entering the competition, you represent that you have secured all necessary rights.
2. Applicants are solely responsible for obtaining all necessary rights and permissions for third-party materials included in their films, including but not limited to music, trademarks, logos, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights. MIND expressly disclaims all liability or responsibility for any violations of the foregoing.
Additional Information
1. We strongly encourage filmmakers to submit their film only after it is fully finished and will judge each submission as a completed work, whether it is or not. Once a film is entered, we will not update the submission with a more recent cut. That said, because MIND’s focus is on story, minor technical changes will not affect the final decision of any film. Should the film be accepted to play during the Festival, the filmmaker will have the opportunity to supply the Festival with their most recent version.
2019 Participants
2019 Panel Speakers
2019 Acting Showcase Winners
2019 Filmmakers/Winners

Joseph Channell
BEST SHORT FILM
My Inspired World
Joseph Channell
BEST DIRECTOR
Joseph Channell
My Inspired World
BEST DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
My Inspired World
BEST LEAD ACTOR
My Inspired World

Best Supporting Actor
Jason Kurth
Recreational
Best Comedy
Recreational

Best Editor
Noha
Mac Ali
Best Drama
44 Days
Lemo Coney
Best Set Design
44 Days
Lemo Coney
Best Lead Actress
44 Days
Zee Cruise
Best Songwriting
Avicii Heaven Music Video
Levan Tsikurishvili
Best Original Music
Latteship
Hsing-Fang-Tsai
Best Sound
Secret Space
Dir. Cameron Mitchell Elmore
Best Supporting Actress
Secret Space
Timeline & Fees
OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS: January 1, 2021
opening date: Jan 1, 2021
EARLY DISCOUNT DEADLINE : FEB 5, 2021
EARLY BIRD DEADLINE: MARCH 5, 2021
EARLY REGULAR DEADLINE: APRIL 2, 2021
REGULAR DEADLINE: MAY 1, 2021
LATE DEADLINE: JUN 4, 2021
LATE LATE DEADLINE: JULY 2, 2021
EXTENDED DEADLINE: AUG 6, 2021
LATE EXTENDED DEADLINE: SEP 3, 2021
NOTIFICATION DATE: OCT 8, 2021
EVENT DATE: NOV 13-14, 2021
Event Date nov 13-14, 2021
OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS: JANUARY 1, 2021
CATEGORIES (Check FilmFreeway for updated 2021 Entry Fees:
ALL DOMESTIC SUBMISSIONS $75
(ALL SUBMISSIONS 20 MINUTES OR LESS $40)
ANIMATION $75
THEATRE $75
MUSIC VIDEO $75
DOCUMENTARY $75
SHORTS $75
COMEDY & DRAMA $75
FEATURES $100
TRAILERS & 5 MIN PRESENTATIONS/REELS $25
SCREENPLAYS $100
TV SCRIPTS $75
ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMMING $75
WEB/NEW MEDIA $75
CHILDREN FILMS
(Children Films- 12 & Under) $25
STUDENT FILMS $25
(Student Films- Must Submit w/Current Student ID)
Fees TO ATTEND 2021 VIRTUAL FESTIVAL:
attend acting showcase - $10
to perform in acting showcase - $10
industry panels - $10
attend pitching session - $10
to participate in pitch session - $15
screening of films (5 min) or less - $5
screening of films (over 5 min) - $10
awards & entertainment networking mixer - $10
all access pass to festival - $50
general admission per time slot - $10
click here for the event schedule
November 13-14, 2021-Event Schedule Coming Soon!
Event Schedule
2020 Mind Film Festival
December 20, 2020
Film Festival from 4pm-7pm - PST
Q&A and Announcements & Networking from 7pm-8pm - PST
Tentative Festival Outline & Itinerary
(Due to the Fact that this is a Virtual Experience…some of the scheduling may change but festival outline is the same.)
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Participants can arrive & (get checked in w/ their sign in access) - 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM - PST
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Festival Introduction - 3:50 PM - PST
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Introduction of Industry Panelists - 4:00 PM - PST - (Casting, Producer, Talent Rep)
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Pitch Session - 4:15 PM - 4:45 PM - PST
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Acting Showcase - 4:50 PM - 5:30 PM - PST
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Panel Discussion - 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM - PST
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Film Screenings - 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM - PST
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Q&A w/Industry Panelists, Filmmakers, Virtual Audience, Winners Announced, Networking & Closing - 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM - PST
Films Screening
Under 5 Min & Trailers:

Brunch Before Baptism - by David Luck - 1:05 Min
Comedy about a toxic family situation with a splash of Holy water and a twist of lime.

The Wayes - by Sherell Brown - 1:24 Min
Kenneth Wayez retired Hitman now owner of Wayez corporation sends out a hit on his daughter husband but things don't go as planned.

Caged - by Edward King - 1:01 Min
Karrisa Kline (Karimah Westbrook)and Chris Kline (Trey McCurley) have been happily married for 6 six years. At least that is what Karrisa thought. During a dinner party to celebrate her husbands new promotion, Karrisa’s life begins to fall apart when a secret starts to circulate among the party guests. Karrisa’s best friend Karen Stevens (Karen Malina White) vows to keep the secret from Karrisa until the end of the night at the behest of her husband Tim Stevens (Timothy D. Harris). But some secrets are just to hard to keep secret. And before the night is through, Karen spills the beans and Karrisa is left with a truth she never thought would have been her life.
Under 20 Min Shorts:

Seeing Purple - by Alex Lycette - 5:59 Min
Captures the journey of a racist, young man as he discovers beauty within differences. After an existential realization, the character learns to see the beauty within these differences, finding the unique "purple flower" in those he once hated. The film was created to speak against a series of racially-violent events in the Lehigh Valley community.

Starfish - by Alicia Buckner - 18:42 Min
A story about a human trafficking survivor's journey freedom.
20 Min or Longer Shorts:

Moon in the Daytime - by Kalon Atkins - 22:42 Min
A young man deals with making a life changing decision.

15 Minutes of Fame - by Mercedes Steele - 23:40 Min
15 Minutes is based on a true story about a tough New York woman who became ill after serving as a State Trooper at and around Ground Zero during 9/11. She is now at a time in her life where she must decide which is more important; getting more than her 15 Minutes of fame, or another 15 Minutes, period.
Confirmed Industry Panelist Speakers
Natasha Ward
Producer & VP of Casting
& Talent Relations for UrbanFlix TV
Credits Include:
Casting: “Fat Albert," "Brotherly Love", "Obsessed", "The Perfect Match", "Kicks", "This Christmas", "East of La Brea", "Jumping The Broom", and "Tyler Perry's Good Deeds" Producer: 9 Rides", Directed by Academy Award Winner Matthew Cherry. The feature film was the first to be shot fully on an iPhone 6s. "9 Rides" premiered at the SXSW film festival to rave reviews. Director: Horror short film "MINE" starring Torrei Hart and Thomas Q. Jones
Yolanda T. Ross
Actress & Writer
Credits Include:
Award winning-multihyphenate - Actress/Writer/Producer/Filmmaker with an MFA in Creative Writing- Full Sail University. Her shorts have won several awards “THE LAST DAY” and “VICTUS.” Yolanda’s short, “DROWNING,” recently placed in the top 10 of the Pan African Film Festival's John Singleton Short Screenplay Contest. In addition, her feature screenplay, “HER FAVORITE COLOR,” placed in the top 25 for the Ermantourage Industry Next II Diversity Competition and was a quarter finalist for the 1st Annual Stage 32 Drama Screenplay contest and a semi-finalist for the Filmmatics Drama Screenplay contest. She recently won a pitch competition that put her on the Development slate w/ ISA. She is currently developing a TV pilot titled, “WE ARE HERE,” that focuses on the subject of Human Trafficking from Slavery through today. She is also known for her recurring role on the hit CW TV Show, “Black Lightning,” where she plays the mother of Khalil Payne (a.k.a. Painkiller).
Samuel Warren Jr.
CSA
Credits Include:
Return of the Killer Tomatoes (George Clooney), Like Father Like Son-TriStar Pictures & Imagine Film Produced by David Valdez & Brian Grazer, AMEN (Pilot Show) Carson Productions Inc.- Creator/Producer: Ed Weinberger, ABC Network’s Promos for “The 90th Oscars/Academy Awards” (with Host; Jimmy Kimmel) - Directed by Paul Feig - -ABC’s Network Series “Speechless” A Series Starring Mimi Driver -Ellimidate Reality Series, Commercials, Voice-Overs, Print & Other Media.
At Samuel Warren & Associates International Casting Services, we offer our clients over 30 years of casting experience. Television, film, and theater projects around the world rely on us to provide the very best talent. We also offer casting for a variety of other venues, including music videos and corporate presentations. Based out of San Diego and Los Angeles, and with casting facilities throughout the globe, we're the casting experts that you need to make your project shine. He has casting experience with some of America's most recognized brands, including Six Flags, Sea World, Microsoft, Nature Made, and Chevy. His casting clients also include directors such as Sam Rami of the Spider-Man 1-3 movies, Spike Lee, and John De Bello. Samuel Warren also offers Acting Classes & On Camera Workshops

Represents: Actors, Screenwriters, Directors, Voiceover, Comedians, Models, Singers, Musicians, Dancers, Influencers, Youtubers, Specialty Acts
Lynda Arnold
Literary Executive- Kreativ Artists Entertainment LLC.
Credits Include:
Former President & CEO of Seven Stars Talent Agency, Youth Theatrical Agent (ATB Talent Agency), Former Partner & Talent Manager Brilliant Talent Manager
Lynda Arnold is known as a “True Warrior.” She has a two decade career in talent representation behind the scenes work in film production and assistance in child performer advocacy and young performer education.
Lynda has owned both a Talent Agency and Talent Management company and has worked as a Bi-Coastal Talent Rep in New York and Los Angeles launching the careers of Broadway/Theatre stars and Series Regulars in TV and Film & Literary clients and she currently manages select Talent and Literary clients. She requests logline submissions in all genres when submitting literary materials, and if interested she will follow up with you. She enjoys script reading, but she does not read unsolicited material.
Lynda currently serves as Literary Executive at Kreativ Artists LLC. a management/production company with agency partnerships with Wilhelmina, Innovative Artists, Aqua Talent, Sovereign, Media Artists Group, Pantheon, A3 Artists Agency & Kazarian/Measures/Ruskin Talent Agency.

Edward King III
Producer & Director
Credits Include:
4 International Short Films -30 Days to Say Goodbye (Eric Roberts), Caged (Rick Ravanello, Karimah Westbrook, Karen Malina White), Riddle Me This (Don Harvey), and The Watchers under his production company, Silver
Shadow Pictures (SSP). CAGED is on RevryTV. The Watchers is on AmazonPrime.
Currently considering dark comedy or suspense thrillers. The script must be registered with the WGA and/or the US Copyright Office and conform to industry standards to be considered. Please submit only a synopsis for the piece. Allow 10 days for an e-mail reply. If the synopsis is recommended, we will contact you for a copy of the full script for consideration. Allow 30 days for a reply. If the script is recommended, we will contact you about optioning your script under standard option guidelines and rules.
Please mail or e-mail synopsis and your contact information to: SilverShadow Pictures ATTN: DEVELOPMENT P.O. Box 50033 Studio City, CA 91614
D'Angela Proctor
CEO Wayfarer Entertainment
Credits Include:
D’Angela Proctor is a rare senior level executive that can easily transition between both the creative and business sides of media and both the scripted and unscripted sides of television content creation. Her career spans from being an attorney, entrepreneur, showrunner and Executive Producer to a network and studio executive. Proctor consulted for Ava DuVernay’s Forward Movement to service the production company's exclusive television pact with Warner Brothers Television. Prior to her current consulting role, Proctor served as the Head of Production & Business Development of Codeblack Films, a Lionsgate Company. In her job capacity, Proctor was charged with growing the company in the areas of global feature film, scripted television, unscripted television and digital content production. She streamlined Codeblack’s development slate and spearheaded and negotiated a multi-picture deal with a major cable network for several of the company’s legacy projects. In the reality space, she co-created Small Claims Court in partnership with Lionsgate’s Alternative Programming Department and Black-ish’s Marsai Martin, the nation’s youngest Executive Producer. Proctor will serve as an Executive Producer on the project. Prior to joining Codeblack, Proctor served as the Head of Original Programming at TV One for 5 years. During that time, Proctor maintained the creative and business affairs oversight of 44 original movies, 50 episodes of scripted comedies, 1000 + hours of news and public affairs programming, 240 hours of true crime & justice programming, 120 hours of reality programming, 5 NAACP Image Awards and a host of other specials and programming initiatives. During her tenure, TV One programming earned seven NAACP Image Awards, a GLAAD Award, NAMIC Vision Awards, among others. Proctor overhauled the programming strategy that led to a 47% gain in network revenue over three years and improved the network’s ratings performance by 36% in 2015, positioning it as a Top Cable Growth Network among competitors.
Before transitioning to a network executive, Proctor was a veteran of music, film and television production, having co-owned and operated Strange Fruit Media for over 15 years. There, she developed, created and/or produced music videos, live music and comedy recordings, documentaries, feature films and television series. In the film arena, she raised millions of dollars for independent film productions that included Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs (sold to BET and Universal); Ride or Die (sold to Screen Gems); Hustle and Heat (sold to Lionsgate); and The Seat Filler (sold to Magnolia Pictures). In the television arena, Proctor served as an executive producer and creative consultant to Black Entertainment Television from 2008 to 2010. During that time, she developed and/or executive produced multiple film and television projects, including Sunday Best, which earned the 43rd Annual NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Reality Series in 2011. She later created OWN’s first female-centric docu-reality series, Love in the City. Before entering the media business, Proctor practiced labor and employment defense law at Reed, Smith, Shaw & McClay in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she litigated cases for clients in the banking, public utilities and corporate sectors. Proctor earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Spelman College and a Juris Doctorate and Master of Science degree in Leadership from Duquesne University.
Panel Moderated by Virtual Event Producer & Co-Founder Mind Film Festival
Tymeka Coney
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