GMC TV Seeks Screenwriters for the Third Annual GMC Faith and Family Screenplay Competition at the American Black Film Festival

THREE FINALISTS WILL BE CHOSEN TO COMPETE FOR $5,000 GRAND PRIZE

ATLANTA, March 25, 2013 – GMC TV, America’s favorite channel for uplifting family entertainment, announced today that it is partnering with the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) on the third annual GMC Faith and Family Screenplay Competition. The competition, promoting the development of faith-friendly, family entertainment screenplays, with a focus on the American Black cultural experience, is a component of GMC’s “Official Sponsorship” of Film Life’s 17th annual ABFF event, which is the pre-eminent festival promoting cultural diversity within the film and television industry. The 2013 ABFF will be held June 19-23 in Miami.

Submissions for the GMC Faith and Family Screenplay Competition are being solicited now through April 11 by the ABFF through the organization’s web site (https://www.abff.com/miami/festival/) and newsletter. All eligible screenplays received will be sent to GMC for review by a select panel, which will choose three finalists. The three finalists will have portions of their screenplay performed by actors in attendance at the festival and in front of a live audience of festival attendees and industry tastemakers. One Grand Prize winner will receive $5,000.

“We are once again thrilled to renew our partnership with ABFF to present the GMC Faith and Family Screenplay Competition for a third year,” said Wendy McCoy, senior vice president of marketing at GMC TV. “Each year, the response to the competition grows and draws a wide range of talent submitting work across various genres such as family, adventure, romantic comedy and drama. We look forward to premiering last year’s winner In the Meantime on GMC TV this year and to finding additional exciting projects in this year’s competition.”

Brad Siegel, vice-chairman of GMC TV, added, “We take pride in the fact that GMC’s Faith and Family Screenplay Competition is a natural extension of our network’s commitment to showcase inspiring multicultural themed faith friendly family stories. As we conclude production on last year’s winning screenplay, In the Meantime, it reaffirms that our partnership with ABFF and this competition is a valuable proving ground to bring these stories to life and new exciting talented storytellers to the forefront.”

Entries for GMC’s Faith and Family Screenplay Competition should: be formatted for a two-hour television movie, or approximately 88 minutes of content excluding commercials; center around faith-friendly, family-friendly topics with a focus on the American Black cultural experience with a wide audience appeal, and; focus on genres/formats that tell these inspiring stories like romantic comedies, comedies, dramas and family adventures. All submissions should be a non-period piece, and; submitted in a printed form only. Electronic entries will not be accepted. Submissions should be mailed to: GMC Faith and Family Screenplay Competition 2013, c/o Film Life, Inc., 116 West 23rd Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY. All submission materials must be received no later than 5 p.m., Thursday, April 11.

Production recently wrapped in Atlanta on last year’s GMC’s Faith and Family Screenplay Competition winner In the Meantime written by Nzinga Kadalie Kemp. The GMC original World Premiere feature film stars Kali Hawk (Bridesmaids, Couples Retreat), Darrin Dewitt Henson (The Express, “Soul Food”), Terri J. Vaughn (Friday, Daddy’s Little Girls, “Sugar Mommas”), Thomas Mikal Ford (“Martin”), Rodney Perry (Madea’s Big Happy Family), David Mann (Madea’s Big Happy Family, “Meet the Browns”), Tamela Mann (Sparkle, Madea’s Big Happy Family, “Meet the Browns”) and Grammy© -nominated artist Musiq Soulchild in his film debut. In The Meantime is directed and produced by former Tyler Perry Studios executive Roger M. Bobb (Raising Izzie, For Colored Girls, “The Rickey Smiley Show”) and will make its world television premiere on GMC TV in July 2013.

In the inaugural GMC Faith and Family Screenplay Competition, the Grand Prize was presented to writer David Martyn Conley for his original screenplay Raising Izzie, a story of two young orphaned sisters and the caring teacher who changed their lives. Raising Izzie, produced and directed by former ABFF award winner Roger M. Bobb (For Colored Girls, “House of Payne”), was nominated for two NAACP Image Awards and was one of GMC TV’s highest rated originals. Additionally, Raising Izzie child star Kyla Kennedy won a 2012 Gracie Award for her performance in the film. Raising Izzie held its World Premiere at the ABFF Festival in July 2012 and premiered on GMC that same month. Bobb is the only two-time winner of the Best Film Award at the ABFF.

2011’s runner-up winner, Somebody’s Child, an original screenplay written by Siddeeqah Powell, premiered on GMC in August 2012.

ABOUT ABFF
Established in 1997, the core mission of the ABFF is to promote cultural diversity within the motion picture industry. Through its film showcases and special contests, it annually introduces the top echelon of emerging artists to the film and television industry. The ABFF is a property of Film Life, Inc., a New York-based event marketing, and production and film distribution company founded in 2000 by Jeff Friday (CEO). Visit www.abff.com for more details.

About GMC TV
GMC TV, (www.watchGMCtv.com) based in Atlanta, is America’s favorite network for uplifting music and family entertainment. The network presents original and acquired movies, series, stage plays and music specials along with gMovies, the first faith-friendly streaming movie service. The GMC TV brand is reflected in “Uplift Someone,” the network’s successful pro-social initiative. GMC TV can be seen in more than 61 million homes on various cable systems around the country, as well as DIRECTV on channel 338, DISH Network on channel 188, and Verizon FiOS on channel 224. Follow GMC TV on Facebook and Twitter at http://facebook.com/gmctv and http://twitter.com/gmctv.

Contacts:
Chelsye J. Burrows
770.692.4559
[email protected]

Jackie Bazan-Ross
212-643-4664 X704
[email protected]

Evelyn Santana
212-643-4664 X702
[email protected]