Screenwriting Blog
Posted on by Alli Unger

Sponsoring The 2018 San Luis Obispo International Film Festival

San Luis Obispo International Film Festival website

With over 1,000 submissions and 139 selected films screened over 6 days in 5 different theaters, the 2018 San Luis Obispo Film Festival was one to remember! It was our great pleasure to sponsor the annual festival (which turned 24 this year!) for the THIRD year in a row. 

"SLO Film Fest is simply a class act from start to finish. From its stunning location in Central Coast wine country, to its beautiful historic theatre venue, it has been an honor to be involved."

Along with the Central Coast Writers Conference, the SLO International Film Festival holds a special place in our SoCreate heart. As sponsors, we are given the opportunity to support both our local community and the hundreds of international writers, producers, cinematographers, and directors involved in the festival. 

As part of our sponsorship, we received a set of all-access passes for the festival which allowed our team to experience all of the film screenings, behind-the-scenes panels, and evening Red Carpet events that this year's festival had to offer. 

A few of the main events for the 2018 festival included:  

Opening Night: San Luis Obispo Meets Bollywood

The SLO Film Festival started things off strong on Tuesday evening (March 13) with a Bollywood-themed opening night. Before the screening of the opening night film, "Hotel Salvation," Red Carpet guests could visit the Festival VIP Tent to enjoy party favors, henna tattoos, Central Coast beer and wine, and a mixture of savory Indian and American foods. 

Surf Night

One of the biggest nights of the festival--Friday, March 16! Surf Night. This year's Surf Night highlighted Australian cinematographer, Tim Bonython, and his documentary, "The Big Wave Project." Five years in the making, "The Big Wave Project" follows some of the world's most courageous surfers as they travel the globe hunting for the biggest waves. This event had something to offer for everyone--the filmmaker and surf fanatic alike--as Bonython dazzled the crowd with his amazing cinematography.

New This Year! Screenwriter's Panel: "It all Starts With a Good Story"

We were excited to hear about this addition to the SLO Film Festival's 2018 schedule. This panel, moderated by Teri Bayus, included well-known screenwriters Tony Peckham (Invictus, Sherlock Holmes), Robin Swicord (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Memoirs of a Geisha), and Nicholas Kazan (Fallen, Bicentennial Man). During the discussion, which lasted just over an hour, these seasoned Hollywood pros discussed tricks of the trade and the current state of the industry. 

Closing Night: King Vidor and Independent Film Awards

The last Red Carpet event of the festival, the King Vidor and Independent Film Awards Ceremony, took place on Saturday, March 17. At this closing night event, the SLO Film Festival honored the winning films and this year’s King Vidor Award recipient, actress Pam Grier (Jackie Brown). For a full list of festival winners, check out the SLO Film Festival website here!

We are so proud to be a part of this fantastic event! Festival director, Wendy Eidson, and her team have done another fabulous job with this year’s event, and we cannot wait to see what the future holds for the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival.

Want to learn more about the SLO Film Festival?

Visit their website HERE!
Find the full event program guide HERE!

Cheers to filmmaking! 

You may also be interested in...

Sponsoring the 2017 fall Writers Assistants Mixer event group bar

Sponsoring The 2017 Fall Writers Assistants Mixer

Last week, our SoCreate team had the opportunity to sponsor the 2017 Fall Writers Assistants Mixer on Wednesday, November 1. This Fall's event marks the 5th mixer that we have had the pleasure of putting on with screenwriter, Brandon Tanori, and the Writers Assistants Network (WAN). If this is your first time hearing about Brandon or the Writers Assistants Network, be sure to check out our last two blog posts for more info! As the event sponsor, we cover the cost of the venue and provide complimentary drinks for attending writers that sign up for our Private Beta. A true win-win! We are able to grow...
SoCreate proudly sponsors Central Coast Writers Conference 2017 entryway banner

SoCreate Proudly Sponsors The 2017 Central Coast Writers Conference

And that's a wrap on another informative and inspiring Central Coast Writers Conference! This past weekend, SoCreate had the opportunity to sponsor the Central Coast Writers Conference for the 3rd year in a row! The Central Coast Writers Conference, which celebrated its 33rd anniversary this year, is cited as one of the best writers conferences in the United States. Located at the Cuesta College campus in beautiful San Luis Obispo, the conference offers 2 full days of workshops for writers of all genres and experience levels taught by remarkable guest faculty--ranging from Academy Award...

It's All About Who You Know: The Writer's Assistant Network

In Hollywood, it is REALLY all about who you know! Screenwriter, Brandon Tanori, has made it his mission to help other up-and-coming writers grow their careers through the Writers Assistants Network. In our last blog post, we highlighted screenwriter and founder of the Writers Assistants Network, Brandon Tanori. If you haven't had a chance to read about Brandon and his journey to Hollywood, check it out here! But today, we will focus on the amazing networking group that Brandon and his team have built over the last four years - The Writers Assistants Network. The Writers Assistants...