2014 introduces the new Award at CFIFF for 'Best Produced Independent Feature Screenplay', aka... "THE DON" AWARD
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
The 14th Annual Cape Fear Independent Film Festival takes place May 1st through 4th, 2-14
in Downtown Wilmington with venues including historic Thalian Hall and the Browncoat
Theater. For more information or submission details, please go to cfifn.org.
The Cape Fear Independent Film Festival is Wilmington?s only competitive film festival
awarding cash and prizes in a number of categories including BEST FEATURE and BEST
LOCAL FILM. This year, a new category has been added to honor Wilmington native DonPayne.
Wilmington, NC native Don Payne (May 5, 1964 ? March 26, 2013) was an American writer
and producer. Payne began writing for television on the sitcom Hope and Gloria before
becoming a writer on The Simpsons and would eventually go on to help produce. Payne later
moved into writing feature films, including My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006), and co-wrote
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), Thor (2011) and its sequel Thor: The Dark
World. Payne died from bone cancer in March 2013.
The Cape Fear Independent Film Network wanted to honor the creative spirit of Don Payne
by naming their annual screenwriting award ?The Don.? Each year, ?The Don? award will be
presented to the ?best produced independent feature screenplay? (think the Oscar for best
screenplay, but more fun and less politics), honoring a unique voice in screenwriting.
This year?s judging panel will consist of five decision makers; Wilmington Screenwriters and
Script Analysts, Langley McArol (Founder & Chair), Terry Linehan, and Tammy Arnold.
Joining the panel will be two of Don Payne?s friends, Joel H. Cohen, former Saturday Night
Live writer and Writer/Producer of The Simpsons (2001-2013) and The Simpsons Movie
(2007), and Carolyn Omine. former Full House writer and Writer/Producer of The Simpsons
(2000-2013). Joel H. Cohen and Carolyn Omine have been awarded by their peers with both
Emmy and Writers Guild Awards. For this year?s festival, they will serve as ?special guest
judges? in the best produced independent feature screenplay category.
Feature Film submission details can be found at the festival?s website: http://cfifn.org
Submission information on ?The Don? Award can be found at: ?url?http:/donaward.wordpress.com?/url?
Langley McArol
