HBO Films to Sponsor Writers Lab at 10th Annual Film Life and HBO American Black Film Festival in July

HBO Films to Sponsor Writers Lab at 10th Annual Film Life and HBO American Black Film Festival in July

- Applications for HBO Writers Lab now being accepted, limited seating available -

NEW YORK, March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- HBO Films announced today that it will sponsor a new Writers Lab, to be hosted by the Film Life and HBO American Black Festival (ABFF), during its 10th anniversary celebration in South Beach, July 19-23. The HBO Writers Lab is a mentoring program designed to provide career guidance for emerging screenwriters by offering practical insights into what to expect from script writing as a profession.

Applications are now being accepted for the program, and the workshop is limited to six (6) qualifying writers in order to create a more intimate environment where participants and industry professionals can openly discuss story, the creative and "notes" process, and the challenges of writing under the guidance of others.

The HBO Writers Lab will be led by Sam Martin, vice president, HBO Films, who oversees the development and production of feature-length projects for HBO Films. Among her most recent projects are the Emmy(R) and Golden Globe-winning "Lackawanna Blues" and "Empire Falls" as well as "Sometimes in April."

"Understanding the collaborative process of giving and taking notes is an invaluable skill for any screenwriter interested in working the studio system and beyond, "said Martin. "HBO's commitment to nurturing new talent led us to create this unique workshop, which we hope will become an ongoing feature at the ABFF."

Eligibility requirements:
* Screenplays must have been written by a person of African descent and
must have been written by only one (1) writer
* Applicant must be 18 years of age or older
* Applicant must be a registered ABFF attendee and independently travel to
the ABFF
* Competition is open to U.S. and international entries
* Screenplays must be in the English language
* Screenplays must be original with Applicant, Applicant must own all
rights to the Screenplay, and the Screenplay may not be based upon any
other work unless all rights in such work are owned by Applicant
* In addition to the above, Screenplay must not have won award(s) in any
competition under its current or any former title. Employees of Home
Box Office, Inc. (HBO) and any other Time Warner entity (whether or not
permanent or temporary employees) and their immediate family members
and/or those living in the same household are not eligible to
participate in the HBO Writers' Lab
* Each entry must arrive at the ABFF offices postmarked by the April 30,
2006 deadline
* For applications, please visit to www.abff.com

Submission materials (each entry must be submitted and received as follows):

* Three (3) completed submission forms
* $50 submission fee to be paid by check/money order only for each
submission, payable to FILM LIFE, INC./ABFF
* Two (2) copies of the Screenplay (Note: Screenplays will not be
returned)
* Two (2) copies of Applicant bio and photo
* Three (3) copies of Screenplay synopsis (max. 2 pages)
* Three (3) executed Writers' Lab releases
* Entry title and name of entrant must be on all materials and containers
* There is not a limit to the number of entries: separate form required
for each
* Mail entry to: ABFF, c/o FILM LIFE, HBO Writers' Lab, P.O. Box 688, New
York, NY 10012
* Applicants will be notified of the ABFF's decision by May 31, 2006.

Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television-programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., providing two 24-hour premium television services, HBO and Cinemax. Together, both networks reach approximately 39 million subscribers in the United States via cable and satellite delivery. Home Box Office's international joint ventures bring HBO branded services to more than 50 countries around the globe.

The ABFF is a property of Film Life, Inc., a New York-based film marketing and distribution company. Its mission is to spearhead the global distribution of quality Black films and be the leading American brand producing Black movies and related entertainment content.

Source: HBO

CONTACT: Jodie Hauptmann, +1-212-512-5431, for HBO

Web site: http://www.hbo.com/
http://www.abff.com/

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