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CineStory Announces Winners

CHICAGO, JUNE 28, 1999 ­ CineStory, a national non-profit screenwriters’ organization based here, recently announced the winners of its 1999 screenwriting awards competition. The 1999 CSA winners are Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby for their suspense thriller FIRST SNOW; Bill Robinson for his thriller FIRST SAFETY; and Devin Wallace for the historical drama BITTER LAKE.

The results of the third annual CineStory Screenwriters’ Awards (CSA) were revealed in conjunction with the organization’s annual Script Sessions conference, held this year in San Francisco. Keynote speaker Richard Price, novelist and screenwriter of COLOR OF MONEY, SEA OF LOVE, RANSOM and CLOCKERS) presided over a Master Class for all attending CSA winners and finalists.

At the same event, representatives of Eastman Kodak announced their new sponsorship of the CSAs and have signed on to anchor CineStory’s newly formed Year 2000 Production Incubator Program for aspiring screenwriters. "With Kodak’s generous support, CineStory is able to further promote the screenwriter as central to the creation and production of film," said Pamela Pierce, executive director of CineStory. "We are appreciative that a company with such a rich history in motion pictures recognizes and supports the screenwriting talent of the future."

CineStory will accept entries beginning July 15 for the next competition, CineStory Screenwriting Awards 2000, and deadlines will now be September 15 for early submissions, and November 1 for final submissions. Refer to CineStory’s web site, www.cinestory.com, for immediate registration application, guidelines and a specially designated CSA mailing address. Submission brochures will be mailed to all those on the CineStory mailing list during the month of July.

The 1999 CSA contest winners were selected from over 1,300 entrants, according to Pierce. Prizes include $2,000 each and a one-year mentoring package with industry sponsor/producers designed to help each individual writer bring his or her body of work to the next level. The mentoring program comprises script notes, one-on-one meetings designed to bring the writer closer to the development process, contacts with agents and production companies when appropriate, and professional guidance.

"CineStory is proud to advance the careers of these capable writers," said Pierce. "We hope that this year’s winners will enjoy the same success as past winners who went on to option their winning screenplays and garner agents and mentors to help them professionally," she continued. "Last year’s winners are a great example of this progress to professionalism." Twenty-one-year-old Steve Bagatourian, whose script WEASEL was optioned by John Cusack’s New Crime Productions, has signed with Alan Gasmer, of the William Morris Agency. The San Francisco writing team of Kim Roberts and Eli Despres signed an option with DeeGee Entertainment and International Arts for their independent comedy HOW TO BE GINA (aka WISHFUL THINKING), and New Yorker Bill Shebar was honored in his home town with a reading at the famed Fifth Night at the Nuyorican Cafe for his dark comedy, 50 WAYS TO A BETTER MEMORY.

Judges for the 1999 CSA contest included executives from such leading independent producers and production companies as Miramax, The Shooting Gallery, Redeemable Features, Marc Platt Productions, Michael Douglas’ Furthur Films, Ken Lipper Productions, and LEAVING LAS VEGAS producer Paige Simpson.

With a focus on recognizing emerging talent, the CSAs are an integral part of CineStory’s mission—working intensively with emerging screenwriters to hone their craft and find alternative access points to the screen.

CineStory, a nonprofit corporation founded in 1995 and headquartered in Chicago, capitalizes on its partnerships with local and national film, television, and arts-supporting entities to create and present programs for both screenwriters and producers. For more information, call CineStory at 800/6STORY6, or visit the group’s web site. Email address is cinestory @ aol.com.

Updated: 06/30/1999

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