Welcome to The Lonely Seal International Film, Screenplay & Music Festival, a prestigious platform for stories yearning to be shared. We are a nonprofit organization in both California and Massachusetts.
Discover the unparalleled blend of tradition and innovation at The Lonely Seal International Film, Screenplay & Music Festival. Our event occurs at the Regent Theatre, a 108-year-old Vaudevillian cinema gem in Arlington, Massachusetts (Boston), renowned for its culturally diverse content. But that's not all. We also offer the convenience of online screenings through Lonely Seal Streaming. If you have a compelling story to share, we're all ears. We're a multiple-time 'Top 100 Festival' on FilmFreeway, and our five-star reviews place us in the top 1% worldwide. Sponsored by Coverfly, Final Draft, and The Lonely Seal Company Group, we're here to help you thrive, but we can only do that once you submit your work!
At The Lonely Seal International Film, Screenplay & Music Festival, we're more than just an event. We're a supportive community that stands by you, championing your creative journey year-round. We wholeheartedly invite filmmakers, writers, and musicians to connect with us beyond our festival dates. We're here to nurture your growth and success, not just for a moment but for a lifetime.
As part of the Lonely Seal Company Group, we offer more than just a festival. We provide a gateway to your career growth. Our parent company offers a range of services meticulously designed to support your professional development. From distribution through Lonely Seal Releasing and Lonely Seal Streaming to career-advancing webinars, online classes, and accelerator courses, we're here to help catapult your career to the next level, inspiring hope and optimism.
Our festival winners are not just celebrated; they are catapulted onto the global stage. They are showcased to cinema buyers at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival/Cannes Film Market and other vital sales markets our company attends worldwide, offering unparalleled exposure to your work.
Thus, now is a great time to apply! Your excellent creative work may be showcased globally. Apply today and use code FILMSEAL50 to get 50% off your submissions. Our extended deadline is May 28.
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!