The 5th annual Great Lakes Independent Film Festival has officially opened its Call for Entries, accepting submissions internationally of independently produced feature length and short length films, documentary, experimental, Religious/Spiritual, animation, comedy and all genre of music videos, adult and Gay/Lesbian films for the 2006 festival, September 20-24, in Erie, Pennsylvania at the Roadhouse Theatre. We shall accept all ranges of music videos from pop, punk, rock, alt-country, country-western, folk, reggae, hip-hop to electronica, jazz, blues, Zydeco, gothic, karaoke, avant-garde, world music, and experimental. Centrally located, Erie is only a short drive from the cities of Cleveland, OH; Buffalo, NY; and Pittsburgh, PA.
The early submission deadline is January 2, 2006 and the final deadline is July 1, 2006. The Great Lakes Independent Film Festival is designed to showcase the creations of independent filmmakers and to enhance the culture and prosperity of the Great Lakes Region. The fun filled five-day event will include celebrities, parties, film screenings, award ceremonies, industry professionals, and much more.
We accomplish our mission by showcasing new independent films and by awarding outstanding filmmakers. Our film festival has showcased over 250 films over the past 4 years including numerous films that have been aired on HBO, PBS, and the Sundance channel, and with "The Collector of Bedford Street" nominated for an Academy Award. In October of 2004 we were proud to present the North East United States Premiere of ?SAW? Lions Gate Films' gripping psychological thriller starring Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Monica Potter and Leigh Whannel.
We have also been host to such special guests as actor/director/producer Dirk Benedict; writer Erick Rodgers; director/producer Harri James; producer Otto Felix; award winning, best selling mystery author Jamian Snow; actor/writer/producer Bill Hinzman; director Lloyd Kaufman; actor Gunnar Hansen; actor/ director Mark Borchardt; director John Hancock; actress Debbie Rochon; producer/director Bobby Logan and having presented Keith Carradine with a special award for artistic excellence, the Great Lakes Independent Film Festival continues to seek out the best and brightest of independent film and film makers.
The Great Lakes Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing the independent films in the digital medium to present the best of the Great Lakes to the peoples of the region and beyond, and to bring a world of stories to its shores.
The early submission deadline is January 2, 2006. For more information please visit us at www.greatlakesfilmfest.com


2006 Great Lakes Film Festival Scriptwriting Competition Call For Entries
The 5th annual Great Lakes Scriptwriting Competition is now accepting entries of short and feature length screenplays, stage plays, and teleplays. The annual scriptwriting competition is a way for new and veteran scriptwriters to possibly get the break they need. Each year numerous agencies contact us about our winning scripts.
Prizes for the winning script will include cash award of $500.00, 2 complete passes for the 2006 Great Lakes Film Festival, 2 nights accommodations for the grand prizewinner and a guest at the 2006 Great Lakes Film Festival where you will be honored on awards nights. The winning script will be forwarded to agents and industry professionals for consideration.

The early submission deadline is January 2, 2006. For more information please visit us at www.greatlakesfilmfest.com