FINALISTS AND SEMI-FINALISTS CONGRATULATED FOR THE 2003 OHIO
INDEPENDENT SCREENPLAY AWARDS
Sponsored by Independent Pictures and www.InkTip.com

For Immediate Release: September 12, 2003

Contact: Annetta Marion or Bernadette Gillota, Co-Artistic Directors
of Independent Pictures, (216) 651-7315

The longest running screenplay competition in Ohio keeps growing with
every year. Our pool of submissions has been slowly whittled down to
14; finalists and semi-finalists. Over 70 readers across three
states took part in reading and judging the preliminary round of
entries for the 2003 Ohio Independent Screenplay Awards. All
entrants may receive feedback from reader evaluations as a way to
improve their work. The next step is screenplay scrutiny of the
finalists from our panel of industry professionals; film producers
Jane Alsobrook, TC Rice, and Dawn Wolfrom.

In addition to her producing work, Ms. Alsobrook has been a senior VP
at Columbia Pictures and the president of Australia's largest
independent film production and distribution company. Mr. Rice is VP
Distribution for Manhattan Pictures Intl., a distribution and
production company founded by Paul E. Cohen; he has also worked with
Stephen Baldwin's Next Millennium Entertainment and Stratosphere
Entertainment. In addition to her work producing films (recently
NEVER AGAIN released by USA Films July 2002), Ms. Wolfrom has also
moved into television, having sold shows to Paramount with Kelsey
Grammer's company Gramnet.

2003 marks the second year for the Best Voice of Color Award, which
highlights the writing achievements from a screenwriter whose voice,
story and characters speak to generally marginalized audiences.

BEST VOICE OF COLOR SCREENPLAY FINALISTS

"Pure Shooter" by Robert Ruggeri, Robert Noll, Greg
Jones-Cleveland, Ohio
"The Chalk Bettor" by Anna M. Cazares & Allen E. Cazares-San
Diego, California
"The Shangri-la Café" by Lily Mariye-Los Angeles, California

True to Independent Pictures' form as supporters of Ohio film and
video artists, there is also a category for best screenplay for a
story set mainly in the Northern Ohio region.

BEST NORTHCOAST SCREENPLAY FINALISTS

"The Boarder" by Jane E. Ryan-Lincoln, Nebraska
"The Colored Line" by Harry Noden & Tom Raber-Ravenna, Ohio
"Retribution" by Joseph Lewis-Lakewood, Ohio

The Best Screenplay Award goes to the most overall well-written and
crafted story.

BEST SCREENPLAY FINALISTS

"Three Mile Family" by Spiro Skentzos-N. Hollywood, California
"The Ghosts of Bull Run" by Steve Warren-Austin, Texas
"Dream Machines" by William Van Nostran-Akron, Ohio

Finally, the semi-finalists in all categories.

SEMI-FINALISTS

"Indelible" by Mikki del Monico
"Trespass" by Cathy Chapman
"Marcus" by Steve Warren
"Honor Among Thieves" by Bill Balas
"Forever Free" by Paula Butterfield

Independent Pictures is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established
in 1993. IP is the proud sponsor of the Ohio Independent Film
Festival, Ohio Independent Screenplay Awards, Film Production
Training Program, regional AIVF Salons, Fiscal Agent Sponsorship
Program, Speakers Bureau, annual Director of Photography Workshop,
and a variety of curatorial programs.

INDEPENDENT PICTURES' SPONSORS: The George Gund Foundation, The
Cleveland Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, Community Shares of Greater
Cleveland, Association of Independent Video & Filmmakers, Media
Design Imaging, Cleveland Public Theatre, Filmmaker Magazine,
www.InkTip.com

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