Listed among the top 100 most popular film festivals in the world, the 6th annual Great Lakes Independent Film Festival has officially opened its call for Entries and will accept submissions internationally of independently produced feature length and short length films and scripts in the genres of documentary, horror, experimental, Religious/Spiritual, animation, and all genre of music videos and Gay/Lesbian films for the 2007 festival, September 26th Thru September 30th, in Erie, Pennsylvania at the Roadhouse Theatre for Contemporary Art. We shall accept all ranges of music videos from pop, punk, rock, alt-country, country-western, folk, reggae, hip-hop to electronica, jazz, blues, Zydeco, gothic, karaoke, avant-garde, world music, and experimental. We shall accept entries of short and feature length screenplays, stage plays, and teleplays of all genres.

The 2007 Great Lakes Independent Film Festival will take place September 26th Thru September 30th 2007 at The Roadhouse Theatre for Contemporary Art. The fun filled event will include celebrities, parties, film screenings, award ceremonies, industry professionals, and much more.

One of the unique things about the Great Lakes Independent Film Festival is its home, Erie, Pennsylvania. Our forty-mile slice of Lake Erie waterfront bears no resemblance to the major urban centers of Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, being entirely low-rise and extremely leafy; indeed you hardly realize you are downtown until you find yourself in the shady park-like town square, on 6th Street between the main thoroughfares of Peach and State streets. There are several places of cultural interest in the city, all within walking distance of our festival, several museums devoted to history, art and science; among these, the Erie Maritime Museum has a fascinating display on the geological and ecological development of the Great Lakes and also focuses on warships of different periods; the elegant US Brig Niagara is usually moored outside and is part of the museum.

Undoubtedly, Erie's main attraction is the elongated comma-shaped peninsula of Presque Isle State Park, which bends east from its narrow neck three miles west of downtown until it almost touches the city's northernmost tip. The park is maintained as a nature preserve and has wide sandy beaches good for swimming, backed by thick woods offering a series of trails.
Erie is perfect for not only an enjoyable 5 day weekend to visit a film fest, but with all of it’s historic and picturesque locations, it is also ideal for filming, able to give the real look of any location around the world at a much lower budget cost for the struggling filmmaker.

Festivals are like a family. They allow those in the cinema world to meet in one place with the same experiences and similar goals, to mingle and interact with others, getting feedback on what they already accomplished and what is yet to come. Each year, filmmakers come together for five days, making friendships and bonds that will last a lifetime. We are here to help others achieve their goals and to go beyond where they thought was possible doing it all on their own.

-We’re just glad to be apart of it

The Great Lakes Independent Film Festival is the first film festival, world wide, to be on the cutting edge of film presentation, completely utilizing the DLP™ technology by Texas Instruments. Our festival believes that in the near future filmmakers and movie-goers alike will not only want such technology, but will demand the DLP™ technology, and that is why we are bringing it to the filmmakers and the public now.

Each year the Great Lakes Independent Film Festival takes place at the Roadhouse Theatre for Contemporary Art. Since 1988, The Roadhouse Theatre for Contemporary Art has produced professional-level theatre that challenges audiences, expands the intellect, and provokes the senses. Located in the heart of downtown Erie in a former church, the 245 seat venue boasts intriguing decor, fabulous art works by local artists and a spacious coffeehouse where local musicians, actors, magicians and other artists perform in a cabaret setting. The Roadhouse Theatre is also handicap accessible.

Awarding outstanding filmmakers and script writers for Best Script; Best of Genre; Best of the Fest; Best Cinematography; Best Director; Best Actor; Best Actress, and more, the Great Lakes Independent Film Festival is an excellent stop on the fest circuit for filmmakers interested in having their film presented to a very warm and welcoming audience, meeting celebrities, parties, and networking with phenomenal filmmakers from across the country and around the world to the award ceremonies, industry professionals, and much more.

For the filmmaker that is looking for a bit more, the Great Lakes Independent Film Festival is also a great place to get your film noticed. Our film festival has showcased over 330 films over the past 5 years including numerous films that have been aired on HBO, PBS, and the Sundance channel. In October of 2004 we were proud to present the North East United States Premiere of “SAW”, Lions Gate Films' gripping psychological thriller starring Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Monica Potter and Leigh Whannel, and with "The Collector of Bedford Street" having been nominated for an Academy Award after being screened at our 2002 fest, we certainly bring the best and the brightest to the shores of Erie Pa.

The association has also been host to such filmmakers and special guests as actor/director/producer Dirk Benedict(Battlestar Galactica and A-Team); writer Erick Rodgers (Writer of NYPD Blue); director/producer Harri James (script supervisor "Alias", Tremors II: Aftershocks, Tremors 4: The Legend Begins); producer Otto Felix ("B.J. and the Bear" & Up in Smoke); award winning, best selling mystery author Jamian Snow (Shrouded Insanity); actor/writer/producer Bill Hinzman (Flesheater & Night of the Living Dead); director Lloyd Kaufman (Toxic Avenger films, Pot Zombies, & President of Troma Films); actor Gunnar Hansen (Chainsaw Massacre); actor/ director Mark Borchardt (American Movie & Coven); director John Hancock ("Hill Street Blues", "The Twilight Zone", & California Dreaming); actress Debbie Rochon "Scream Queen" (Blood Relic, Vampyre Tales, & Lord of the Undead); producer/director Bobby Logan (Meatballs 4 & Repossessed); Joel Miller: WWE and ECW wrestling superstar The Blue Meanie, and in 2002 we had the unique opportunity to present Keith Carradine with a special award for artistic excellence, award winning director Joone, award winning actress Jesses Jane, and local actress Marie Madison.
The legendary Terry Moore who was our special guest of honor in 2006 was presented with a lifetime Achievement Award for her amazing accomplishments in film over the past 60 years.
The Great Lakes Independent Film Festival continues to seek out the best and brightest of independent film and filmmakers.

What People Say About the Great Lakes Film Fest

"This is a festival where people who are passionate about films get a chance to show their work before the public and get some feedback. And both sides can talk to each other about movies, the business, or whatever's on their mind."

Dave Richards - Erie Times News

The Great Lakes Film Fest gave me my start. In 2005 my screenplay Santa Claus Goes to Pirate Island was a runner-up. It went on to place at the Beverly Hills Film Fest, The Phoenix Film Fest, The Script Dig Film Fest, and was named one of the 20 Best Scripts of 2006 by Script P.I.M.P. Santa Claus is now in development with the producers of the soon to be released film Car Babes. If it weren't for the initial success at the GLIFF, it might still be sitting on my shelf! Erie is a fun place and I'm glad it all started there at the Roadhouse for me!

Pat Bates - Scriptwriter

From being picked up at the airport by a really cool local filmmaker, free beers, live music shows, great selection of films to watch, riding in a limo with Terry Moore, more free beers, great vibe and constantly being treated as a VIP I couldn't have had a better experience than the 2006 Great Lakes Scriptwriting competition and Film Festival. You guys rock,

Michael Engel - Scriptwriter

CONGRATS. SOUNDS LIKE YOU MADE THIS THING A REAL DEAL.
BESTS,

OTTO FELIX – Filmmaker/Producer

I was a script writing participant and one of the winners in the Great Lakes Film Fest. I went to Erie for the occasion and found it to be a delightful town with many wonderful sights and great dining places. The officials at the Festival were helpful and courteous at all levels and made my visit a pleasure. They had time for their guests even while conducting the major task of keeping things running smoothly. I take my hat off to Steve Opsanic, his hard working assistant, Kelly, and to all of the others at GLFA who helped make this event such a success.

Bill Wellborn - Scriptwriter

"A great festival in a great theater with great people. The Great
Lakes Film Festival was a whole lot of fun.”...

The Flying Canter Brothers - Filmmaker

The Great Lakes Film Festival was a great experience. I have been to several events of this nature and I have to say that I met such a wide diverse of talent and made film industry friends that I continue on staying in contact with. I watched some great film work that makes me proud to be in the Independent Film Industry.

Also, the festival staff is very accommodating and friendly and the theater acoustics are awesome.

Our film (The Derby Stallion) won Best Narrative Feature which was cool of course, but my opinion would be the same regardless. I highly recommend the Great Lakes Film Festival to anyone who has an interest in this direction.

Leisa Coffman
Tonja Walker Productions
Director of Marketing

The Great Lakes Film Festival rocked… Steve, Kelly, and Christian couldn’t have been cooler! Great people, damn good music at the bars, and a shit load of fun… I’ll be back Mr. Opsanic and yes that is a threat!

Joel Miller
Your favorite roadie/film maker

For more information please visit us at www.greatlakesfilmfest.com

Contact: festinfo@greatlakesfilmfest.com