Press
'Whiskers' in pre-production
11 January 2024
Marion McDowell's animated short film script 'Whiskers' has gone into pre-production with film-maker Madeline Graham.
In 'Whiskers', a cat wants nothing more than to be with his family, but death gets in the way. The script has no dialogue and tackles the difficult subject of losing a pet.
'Losing a pet is a deeply painful form of grief, and yet we don't make space for it as a society,' said McDowell. When you lose a pet, you've lost someone who's been a key part of your family for 10-15 years, and yet we don't have the same rituals to remember them, celebrate their lives, or recognise the time and process needed to grieve them. Writing 'Whiskers' was my way to get through the painful experience of losing Roccoli in 2018, and my hope is that the story will help others going through this pain, as well as those supporting them through the process.'
No release dates have yet been set.
ARFF nomination for 'The Wild Side'
22 December 2023
Austin Revolution Film Festival has announced its award nominees for the 12th annual festival, to be held in Austin Texas 14-17 February 2024, and has included 'The Wild Side', a TV pilot script written by Marion McDowell, as a finalist in the TV scripts category.
Originally created to foster networking opportunities for indie filmmakers, ARFF is consistently rated as one of the top film festivals globally by FilmFreeway and is known for its unique trophies for category winners that highlight the festival's Texan heritage: rodeo-style belt buckles.
In 'The Wild Side,' a field biologist returns to Ireland to take a job with Borderlands Wilderness Trust, monitoring wildlife, rescuing hikers and stopping cross-border fly-tippers. But it’s not only the UK-Irish border she has to worry about; there’s also that pesky supernatural border with the fae.
This year's festival is at Austin's Southpark Hotel where the awards ceremony will take place on 17th February at 7:30pm.
Austin Short Film Festival laurels for McDowell
24 November 2023
Austin Short Film Festival, part of the 'Film Festival Circuit' group of festivals, has selected two of screenwriter Marion McDowell's short film scripts for laurels. 'The Cheek' is an Official Selection, and 'Shiny Things' has been selected as a Finalist for the awards to be announced on 22nd February 2024.
The festival takes place at Southwest Theatres in Austin, Texas. Awards will be announced during the pitching competition at 5:45pm, followed by selected screenings running from 6:30pm-10:30pm.
'Shiny Things' deals with the difficult themes of suicide and forbidden love against the controversial backdrop of Northern Ireland, but uniquely told from the perspective of a common magpie.
Film Devour selects 'The Summoning'
14 July 2023
After a long absence, Film Devour #33 is back with a record-breaking number of submissions to the popular Belfast-based grass roots film festival. Official selections include 'The Summoning', directed by Mark Kullas and written and produced by Marion McDowell.
In 'The Summoning', a Dungeons & Dragons group has a go at summoning a real demon, and gets both more and less than they bargained for.
The screening will be held at the Black Box in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter at 7:30pm on 8th August 2023. Tickets are available via the link below.
John Hewitt Summer School showcases FFA talent
15 June 2023
Flash Fiction Armagh will be part of the John Hewitt International Summer School in Armagh this summer. The festival runs from Monday 24th July 2023 to Saturday 29th July 2023 and the Flash Fiction Armagh event takes place on Friday 28th July at 7 pm in the Marketplace Theatre, Armagh.
This is a showcase event with readers chosen from those who have already read over the last four years. This summer's lineup includes Marion McDowell and her alternative POV fairy tale 'Take That, Come Free'. Further information about the showcased writers can be found here.
Tickets are £8 and can be purchased at the Marketplace Theatre box office, or by following the link below.
Flash Fiction at the AE Russell Festival
5 April 2023
The AE Russell festival in Armagh kicked off the weekend festivities with a Saturday night lineup including the highly acclaimed Armagh Rhymers and 11 flash fiction storytellers reading evocative, often unsettling works on the theme of 'Lost Childhood'. Stories included Marion McDowell's 'Take That, Come Free' alongside C. Mc Clean's 'Little Secrets Everywhere' and fan favourite Cathy Carson's 'Copper Pennies' amongst many other thought-provoking tales.
The festival continues through the 10th of April.
Click 'More' to see videos of each reading.
Flash Fiction Armagh line-up announced
11 March 2023
After evaluating a record number of submissions, the Flash Fiction Armagh team has announced the final line-up for the AE Festival on 1st April 2023. Authors were asked to produce work on the theme of 'Lost Childhood'. Marion McDowell will join 11 other writers to perform her short story 'Take That, Come Free'.
Flash Fiction Armagh was shortlisted as Best Spoken Word Night in the Saboteur Awards 2019 and seeks to provide a platform for writers to experience immediate audience reaction to their work. Flash Fiction refers to very short stories of no more than a few hundred words.
The event takes place at Aonach Mhacha, the Irish Cultural Centre in Armagh. Tickets are available for £7.00 via Eventbrite. Click 'More' to see the full lineup.
Final showing for 'The Summoning' in Bradford
23 November 2022
Marion McDowell's 'The Summoning' will end its festival run at Drunken Film Fest Bradford, the in-person UK premiere for the film on Sunday 4th December 2022 at the Boar & Fable pub on North Parade.
In 'The Summoning', directed by Mark Kullas, a Dungeons & Dragons group has a go at summoning a real demon, and gets both more and less than they bargained for.
Click 'More' to see screening times on the festival website. Tickets are free based on space available. The film will be available online shortly after the screening.
Drunken Film Festival selects 'The Summoning'
05 September 2022
Drunken Film Festival in Bradford, West Yorkshire has included Marion McDowell's 'The Summoning' as an Official Selection for 2022. This marks the in-person UK premiere for the film.
In 'The Summoning', directed by Mark Kullas, a Dungeons & Dragons group has a go at summoning a real demon, and gets both more and less than they bargained for.
'My goal in founding Drunken Film Fest,' says Jax Griffin, festival founder and director, 'was to provide comfortable, unique, and most importantly FREE spaces to show our films. That led me to the amazing local pub scene of Bradford - hence 'Drunken' Film Fest. It's not about getting drunk on booze; it's about getting drunk on film, having great conversations, and exploring the amazing venues this city has to offer.'
Selected films will be shown throughout November in a range of venues across Bradford. Check the festival's official website for more information about screening times and where to get tickets.
Irish premiere for 'The Summoning' at Cork's Spook Screen
09 August 2022
'The Summoning', directed by Mark Kullas and written and produced by Marion McDowell, has been included as an Official Selection in Spook Screen, a 'fearsome festival of fiendishly spooky celluloid' based in Cork, Ireland.
In 'The Summoning', after a successful tabletop campaign, a Dungeons & Dragons group has a go at summoning a real demon, and gets both more and less than they bargained for.
The film is showing on Sunday 11th September at 13:30 at the Rochestown Hotel in Cork city centre, and will screen alongside other Irish shorts including 'Bainne,' directed by Jack Reynor and 'Shadow Players,' directed by Mel Piper. This will be the Irish premiere for 'The Summoning', and tickets are available via eventbrite at the link below.
Lit Laughs Semi-Final for 'The Summoning'
08 July 2022
Lit Laughs International Comedy Film Festival has included Marion McDowell's 'The Summoning' in its list of semi-finalists for 2022.
In 'The Summoning', after a successful tabletop campaign, a Dungeons & Dragons group has a go at summoning a real demon, and gets both more and less than they bargained for. The film is directed by Mark Kullas.
Lit Laughs, based in Harrogate, Yorkshire in England, was formed early 2018 by a group of talented comedians, and aims to promote and celebrate the world of comedy by rewarding talented and funny work regardless of budget and location. Final award winners will be announced live at the event in mid August.
McDowell nets Best Short Story at Waterways Festival
30 June 2022
Marion McDowell was awarded first prize in the over 18s Short Story category at Waterways Storymaking Festival's awards ceremony, held at the MAC Theatre today.
Her story, 'The Burn Dennet' is based on her own experiences living through a series of river floods that destroyed her home in Burndennet village in County Tyrone.
All shortlisted entries were performed by Antrim-based singer and storyteller, Colin Urwin. Click 'More' below to see his performance.
Waterways Storymaking shortlist for 'The Burn Dennet'
25 May 2022
'The Burn Dennet' by Marion McDowell has been shortlisted for the short story category in this year's Waterways Storymaking Festival.
The story is based on her own experiences living through a series of river floods that destroyed her home in Burndennet village in County Tyrone.
All shortlisted entries were performed by Antrim-based singer and storyteller, Colin Urwin. Winners will be announed at the awards ceremony to be held at the MAC Theatre on 30th June.
'The Summoning' named APEX Official Selection
31 March 2022
Brighton-based Apex Film Awards has awarded an Official Selection to 'The Summoning', directed by Mark Kullas and written & produced by Marion McDowell.
In 'The Summoning', after a successful tabletop campaign, a Dungeons & Dragons group has a go at summoning a real demon, and gets both more and less than they bargained for.
The APEX Film Awards is a quarterly short film award showcase for independent filmmakers.
Best Comedy nomination for 'The Summoning' at AltFF
23 March 2022
Alternative Film Festival, located in Toronto, Ontario, has nominated 'The Summoning' for Best Comedy Short.
In 'The Summoning', after a successful tabletop campaign, a Dungeons & Dragons group has a go at summoning a real demon, and gets both more and less than they bargained for.
The Alternative Film Festival is a quarterly IMDb-eligible festival committed to bringing filmmakers of all levels - even beginners - a chance at taking home a festival award.
'The Summoning' wins comedy gold at Cotswold
28 February 2022
Cotswold International Film Festival has awarded Best Comedy Short to 'The Summoning'.
In 'The Summoning', after a successful tabletop campaign, a Dungeons & Dragons group has a go at summoning a real demon, and gets both more and less than they bargained for.
The film, directed by Mark Kullas and written and produced by Marion McDowell has its UK online premiere at the festival.
Macoproject Honorable Mention for 'The Cheek'
10 July 2021
The Macoproject film festival, located in New York City, New York, has awarded an Honorable Mention to 'The Cheek' by Marion McDowell.
In 'The Cheek', a personal trainer’s dream of running his own business is thwarted when he loses the premises to a refugee group, so when a family of refugees move into the neighbourhood, they’re the ideal scapegoats for his campaign of petty vengeance. But in a crisis moment when he’s at his most vulnerable, his neighbour shows him that there are different paths.
Crowned 'Best Innovative Film Festival' by Film Daily, The Macoproject is included in FilmFreeway's "Top 100 Festivals".
The event takes place on 24th July. The script is currently available to be optioned.
McDowell longlisted for All-Ireland Screenwriting Prize
19 February 2021
Marion McDowell's TV crime drama project 'Sailortown' is one of 8 longlisted selections for the All-Ireland Screenwriting Prize announced by Sony Pictures Television and Stellify Media in partnership with Northern Ireland Screen.
The brief is for high-concept, contemporary, returnable crime drama that can be filmed on the island of Ireland. Winning submissions will receive funded development to bring their project to pitching stage. The competition underscores Stellify's recently announced scripted division, and is tailored to co-managing directors Matthew Worthy and Kieran Doherty’s target of producing long-running, low-cost, high-volume series, specifically close-ended, ‘story of the week’ crime dramas.
Three finalists will be shortlisted in late March.
'The Summoning' named a FilmQuest Finalist
26 October 2020
FilmQuest film festival, located in Provo, Utah, has named 'The Summoning' by Marion McDowell as one of the screenplay competition's Finalists. Short script Finalists are amongst the top 25 scripts submitted to the competition.
McDowell took third place in the short script category in 2019 with her project, 'Boos Up'.
FilmQuest is one of the fastest growing genre film festivals globally, one of MovieMaker Magazine‘s “World’s 50 Best Genre Festivals” and was recently included in Dread Central's 2021 list of "Best Horror Festivals in the World".
The 2020 competition has now been postponed into 2021 due to complications surrounding the global coronavirus outbreak. Keep an eye on the FilmQuest website for further details.
FilmQuest selects 'The Summoning'
29 July 2020
FilmQuest film festival, located in Provo, Utah, has included 'The Summoning' by Marion McDowell in the Official Selections for the short script category in its annual screenplay competition.
McDowell took third place in the short script category in 2019 with her project, 'Boos Up'.
FilmQuest is one of the fastest growing genre film festivals globally, one of MovieMaker Magazine‘s “World’s 50 Best Genre Festivals” and “30 Bloody Best Genre Fests in the World,” and “Top 50 Film Festival Worth the Entry Fee,” amongst other accolades. Centered in the heart of Utah and its emerging film industry, FilmQuest is one of the must-stop destinations for the best of independent genre cinema, showcasing the hottest up-and-coming talent and projects that demands your attention.
The 2020 competition has now been postponed due to complications surrounding the global coronavirus outbreak. The festival is being re-structured for virtual participation and will announce plans later this year.
Three in a Row at ARFF
19 July 2020
Austin Revolution Film Festival (ARFF), located in Austin, Texas, has included Marion McDowell's latest short, 'The Cheek' in its Official Selections for the 9th Annual Screenplay Competition.
McDowell was also a Finalist in the 2019 competition, and one of the ARFF Pitch Competition winners that year with her project, 'Boos Up', as well as taking a Finalist spot in the 2018 competition with 'Costume Drama'.
The 2020 competition has now been postponed due to complications surrounding the global coronavirus outbreak. Finalists and winners will be announced in March 2021.
Cheeky Runner-Up
1 June 2020
Sunday Shorts Film Festival in London has awarded 'The Cheek' second place out of 40 scripts submitted to this season's competition, citing its strong characterisation, natural dialogue and relevant and important subject matter dealt with in a dramatic and realistic way.
In 'The Cheek', a personal trainer’s dream of running his own business is thwarted when he loses the premises to a refugee group, so when a family of refugees move into the neighbourhood, they’re the ideal scapegoats for his campaign of petty vengeance. But in a crisis moment when he’s at his most vulnerable, his neighbour shows him that there are different paths.
The script is currently available to be optioned.
MedFF selects 'The Cheek'
31 May 2020
Mediterranean Film Festival (MedFF), based in Syracuse, Sicily, has awarded an official selection to Marion McDowell's latest screenplay, 'The Cheek'.
In 'The Cheek', a personal trainer’s dream of running his own business is thwarted when he loses the premises to a refugee group, so when a family of refugees move into the neighbourhood, they’re the ideal scapegoats for his campaign of petty vengeance. But in a crisis moment when he’s at his most vulnerable, his neighbour shows him that there are different paths.
MedFF is an IMDb Listing Qualifier and has been in operation for 4 years.
Lockdown-inspired microshort released
3 April 2020
Filmmakers all over the world have been finding new ways to exercise their creativity while in lockdown.
Writer/Director Marion McDowell's latest offering is a travelogue-style visit to her home, starring her wheelie bin, her hoover and her Siamese cat, Remi.
You probably shouldn't watch it.
Mushrooms released on RTÉ Player
27 November 2019
Screenwriter Marion McDowell's debut drama, 'Mushrooms', is now available to watch on RTÉ Player.
'Mushrooms' is part of the 2019 RTÉ Storyland series on the theme of revenge. Under the Storyland banner, RTÉ and Northern Ireland Screen give emerging Irish creative talent an opportunity to make original Irish dramas available to a national and global audience on RTÉ Player.
The film stars Maggie Cronin, known for 2012 Oscar-winning short film 'The Shore'.
In 'Mushrooms', when walking on eggshells is no longer enough, a desperate woman takes drastic action to free herself from her controlling husband. The story seeks to highlight the realities and dangers of emotional abuse and coercive control.
Belfast singer/songwriter lands role in 'The Summoning'
6 October 2019
Belfast electropop singer and songwriter, Nadia Milliken, has been signed to play the role of 'Raven' in Marion McDowell's upcoming Northern Ireland Screen-funded dark comedy short, 'The Summoning'.
Nadia, who performs under the stage name 'NAD' has released such tracks as 'What I Need' out in April, and her latest offering, 'Remedy'.
In 'The Summoning', after a successful tabletop campaign, a Dungeons & Dragons group has a go at summoning a real demon, and gets both more and less than they bargained for.
Movie Bark podcast celebrates film festival success
19 September 2019
James Christopher, Director of Austin Revolution Film Festival, interviewed several of the winning filmmakers featured at this year's festival, including screenwriter Marion McDowell, pitch competition winner and screenplay finalist.
Austin Revolution Film Festival, now in its eighth year, celebrates independent film making, and is the top reviewed festival on FilmFreeway. Based in Austin, Texas, this year's festival selected 169 films out of more than 1500 entries to screen over the 5 day event between 3-7 September.
FilmQuest winners announced
14 September 2019
Winners of the coveted FilmQuest Cthulhu Trophy were announced at the Closing Night Awards Ceremony September 14th, 2019 at Velour Live Music Gallery in Provo, Utah. Award nominees were chosen from 1120 submissions to this year's festival.
In the short script category, 15 finalists were shortlisted by a group of third party professional judges. The winners were as follows:
1st Place – The Squirrels in the Attic by Rachel Thomas-Medwid
2nd Place – Plaything by Samantha Kolesnik & Jason Tostevin
3rd Place – Boos Up by Marion McDowell
'Boos Up' is available to be optioned.
ARFF Pitching Competition Win
13 September 2019
Austin Revolution Film Festival has announced the winners of its 2019 Pitching Competition.
Screenwriter Marion McDowell will receive the coveted Austin Revolution Belt Buckle to commemorate her win, alongside four other pitching winners.
Contestants had 5 minutes to deliver a pitch for an unproduced project. McDowell's winning pitch reimagines 'Boos Up', her ARFF Finalist short script, as a 6 episode series exploring the theme that everyone - living or dead - wants to feel like they matter.
See the 'Winning Pitch' link below for the full 5 minute video.
Mushrooms Wraps
19 August 2019
Production wrapped yesterday on 'Mushrooms', part of the 2019 RTÉ Storyland series on the theme of revenge.
The film stars Maggie Cronin, known for 2012 Oscar-winning short film 'The Shore' and Ian Beattie, who played Ser Meryn Trant in Game of Thrones. Other cast members include Julie Alderdice, Andrea O'Neill, Matt Faris and Michelle De Silva. Screenwriter Marion McDowell also has a cameo in the film.
In 'Mushrooms', when walking on eggshells is no longer enough, a desperate woman takes drastic action to free herself from her controlling husband. The story seeks to highlight the realities and dangers of emotional abuse and coercive control.
Mushrooms was filmed on location in Maghera, Northern Ireland and features a score by well-known BBC composer, Andrew Simon McAllister.
Filming starts for RTE Storyland 'Mushrooms'
11 August 2019
Filming starts today in Northern Ireland for 'Mushrooms', written by Marion McDowell, directed by Meghan Mc Ardle and produced by Janine Cobain and Andy McCormick of Richter Media.
'Mushrooms' is part of the 2019 RTÉ Storyland series on the theme of revenge. Under the Storyland banner, RTÉ and Northern Ireland Screen give emerging Irish creative talent an opportunity to make original Irish dramas available to a national and global audience on RTÉ Player.
The film stars Maggie Cronin, known for 2012 Oscar-winning short film 'The Shore'.
In 'Mushrooms', when walking on eggshells is no longer enough, a desperate woman takes drastic action to free herself from her controlling husband. The story seeks to highlight the realities and dangers of emotional abuse and coercive control.
Costume Drama in Scriptapalooza Quarterfinals
1 August 2019
Founded in 1998, the Scriptapalooza Screenwriting Competition is focused on nurturing talent and creating real career opportunities for screenwriters. The judging panel is made up of producers, managers and agents, and is designed to get scripts into the hands of people who can take action to get them made.
Out of 3157 entries, 422 scripts were selected to move forward in the Quarterfinals.
In 'Costume Drama', after crossing the wrong person in the pub on Halloween night, three friends experience 24 hours of instant karma when their costume choices are turned against them. The script has also won or placed in 12 other screenwriting competitions, including Silly Shorts Film Festival in England, Austin Revolution in Texas, USA, and Changing Face International Film Festival in Sydney, Australia.
The script is currently available to be optioned.
The Summoning nominated for 'Golden Blasters'
28 July 2019
The National Irish Science Fiction Film Awards announced today that 'The Summoning' by screenwriter Marion McDowell has been nominated for the Golden Blasters Script Award.
Now in their tenth year, the Blasters are dedicated specifically to the art of the short film and screenplay in the genres of science fiction, horror and fantasy. This year's event will take place as part of WorldCon, held in Dublin, Ireland 15-19 August 2019. The award ceremony will take place at 14:30 on Sunday 18th August at Point Square: Odeon 1. Golden Blasters will be awarded to Best Film and Best Screenplay, and a Silver Blaster will be given to the film that wins the Audience Choice award.
In 'The Summoning', after a successful tabletop campaign, a Dungeons & Dragons group has a go at summoning a real demon, and gets both more and less than they bargained for.
After a recent funding award from NI Screen, 'The Summoning' is currently in pre-production and is due for release in November 2019.
Boos Up selected as FilmQuest top 20 short script finalist
18 July 2019
FilmQuest celebrates genre filmmaking in the realms of fantasy, horror, sci-fi, and the beyond, awarding filmmakers with over $20,000 in awards and prizes, including the coveted Cthulhu Trophy. This year the festival was named one of MovieMaker Magazine's "30 Bloody Best Genre Fests in the World".
The 2019 FilmQuest saw over 1,120 films and screenplays submitted for consideration. From these submissions, the selection team have made 192 Official Selections in films across several categories from around the world to play and compete at the 2019 FilmQuest Festival. Screenplay finalists were chosen by a group of professional third party judges, of which there were 55 Official Selection finalists: 35 features and 20 short scripts.
'Boos Up', now enjoying its 5th Finalist ranking, begins as a story about two rival ghosts haunting a struggling bar. When the bartender's half-baked attempts to reclaim his pub end up adding to his spiritual crisis, he has to make a difficult bargain to get rid of his unwanted guests.
The 6th annual FilmQuest will take place September 6th – 14th in Provo, Utah.
Two in a row: Comedy Finalist with Austin Revolution
17 July 2019
After awarding a 2018 Finalist spot for Best Comedy Short Script with 'Costume Drama', Austin Revolution Film Festival has announced 'Boos Up' as a Finalist in the same category for 2019, making it two in a row for screenwriter Marion McDowell.
'Boos Up' begins as a story about two rival ghosts haunting a struggling bar. When the bartender's half-baked attempts to reclaim his pub end up adding to his spiritual crisis, he has to make a difficult bargain to get rid of his unwanted guests.
The Austin Revolution Film Festival, now in its 8th year, is one of FilmFreeway's 'Top 100 Festivals', and seeks to champion the indie filmmaker as the star, creating opportunities for press, networking and collaboration. Awards are given in dozens of categories across several genres, including a screen writing competition for features and shorts. The festival also prides itself on its unique trophy for winners: a rodeo style belt buckle.
Green light for Mushrooms, Mc Ardle attached to direct
16 July 2019
Marion McDowell's Storylands project, 'Mushrooms' has been green lit by RTE, and now enters pre-production with filming scheduled for mid-August. Richter Media is to produce.
Meghan Mc Ardle, fresh from directing shorts for BBC's 'Two Minute Masterpiece' and 'True North Shorts' as well as a Northern Ireland Screen-funded independent short, 'Money Doesn't Grow On Trees', has been attached to direct the project.
In 'Mushrooms', when walking on eggshells is no longer enough, a desperate woman takes drastic action to free herself from her controlling husband. The story seeks to highlight the realities and dangers of emotional abuse and coercive control.
A casting call is in progress - click the link below for details on how to submit.
'Boos Up' in Screenplay Finals for Wexford Film Festival
8 July 2019
'Boos Up' has been named to the list of screenplay finalists for Wexford Film Festival in Wexford, Ireland.
'Boos Up' begins as a story about two rival ghosts haunting a struggling bar. When the bartender's half-baked attempts to reclaim his pub end up adding to his spiritual crisis, he has to make a difficult bargain to get rid of his unwanted guests.
The fourth annual Wexford Film Festival will take place over 3-4 August 2019.
'Boos Up' named as Script Summit finalist for Best Plot
8 July 2019
Script Summit screenplay competition, run by the team behind WeFixYourScript.com, is part of the two-week-long Action On Film MEGAFest that takes place in Las Vegas during late July / early August 2019 and spans 11 different film festivals. Script Summit is also a qualifying competition for Coverfly's Red List.
Finalists who attend the event in Las Vegas are eligible for free entry into seminars, pitch sessions, award shows, table reads, premiere screenings of over 100 films, and various other networking events over the two week period.
Script Summit has also partnered with Krista Keller Talent Management who has committed to represent one of the 2019 winners. Other prizes include $1000 cash, WriterDuet screenwriting software, InkTip Script listings and a featured logline in InkTip magazine.
Northern Ireland Screen award for 'The Summoning'
2 July 2019
In conjunction with the British Film Institute and the National Lottery Fund, Northern Ireland Screen has awarded a funding grant to support production of 'The Summoning'.
In 'The Summoning', after a successful tabletop campaign, a Dungeons & Dragons group has a go at summoning a real demon, and gets both more and less than they bargained for.
Casting and pre-production is due to start shortly, with the project to be completed during 2019. Mark Kullas is attached to direct, with Ryan Coney as Director of Photography.
'Mushrooms' selected for RTÉ Storyland
25 April 2019
The final six projects selected by RTÉ for the upcoming series of Storyland have been announced. Among these is 'Mushrooms' by Marion McDowell, which will be produced by WritePath NI in conjunction with Richter Media.
David Crean, Executive Producer for RTÉ Television said ‘The new series of Storyland will explore dramas focused around a theme of ‘revenge’. One of the key reasons for Storyland is to broaden the reach of who gets to write drama, helping new writers and producers to develop. This year we are looking for original voices with something to say about contemporary Ireland’.
'Mushrooms' tells the story of a desperate housewife who takes drastic measures to solve her problem. It’s only then that she discovers that she, herself, may be the problem that someone else has decided to solve.
'Mushrooms' shortlisted for RTÉ Storyland
10 April 2019
'Mushrooms', written by Marion McDowell, is one of 12 projects that have been shortlisted by RTÉ for the upcoming series of Storyland.
Under the Storyland banner, RTÉ and Northern Ireland Screen give emerging Irish creative talent an opportunity to make original Irish dramas available to a national and global audience on RTÉ Player. The 12 shortlisted projects are split between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Interviews will take place later this month to determine the final 6 projects that will go forward for development.
A Bird's-Eye View Of Suicide 'Shiny Things' Wins Script Competition - Q&A with Marion McDowell
02 April 2019
Marion McDowell's latest short script, 'Shiny Things', deals with the difficult themes of suicide and forbidden love against the controversial backdrop of Northern Ireland, but uniquely told from the perspective of a common magpie.
Marion said she wrote the poem that her script is based on in response to the suicide of someone important to her, in frustration that people never see just how much value they hold.
The log-line reads:
A magpie encounters a man at the end of his tether. She offers a different perspective when she comments on how many things she sees in him that would be worth stealing.
'Boos Up' nominated for Sacremento screenwriting award
02 April 2019
Known for Academy Award winning films like Slumdog Millionaire and exciting programs like 48 Hours Sacramento and Digital Odyssey Conference,The Sacramento Film Festival will host a cinema art celebration on April 27-May 5th 2019.
All scripts selected by the American Screenwriting Conference are in competition for major awards to be unveiled on May 5th 2019, at the Sacramento Film Festival awards ceremony, to be held on board the Delta King, a genuine 1860s riverboat and floating hotel located in historic Old Sacremento.
Tickets available via Brown Paper Tickets.
'Shiny Things' wins script competition at Sunday Shorts film festival
01 April 2019
Sunday Shorts is an international monthly short film festival and script competition with awards and screenings in London and Lisbon, Portugal, with plans to also operate in Berlin.
Known for its friendly and thoughtful approach, Sunday Shorts is run by passionate writers and filmmakers offering a modest submission fee in exchange for professional reader notes on every script. Prices start at $10 / $5 for students. Full written analysis can also be provided.
Sunday Shorts hosts a free invite-only film awards and networking event in London each year to honour the best of the year's film submissions across 14 categories including Best Director, Best Actor and Best Screenplay.
Arizona loves kittens! 'The Summoning' shortlisted in two film festivals
15 March 2019
Phoenix Film Festival, located in Phoenix, Arizona, and Arizona Short Film Festival, based in Tempe, have both named Marion McDowell's 'The Summoning' as a short screenplay finalist in their respective festivals.
In 'The Summoning', after a successful tabletop campaign, a Dungeons & Dragons group has a go at summoning a real demon, and gets both more and less than they bargained for.
Arizona Short Film Festival is run in association with Close:Up, a collection of international film festivals supporting indie filmmaking, including festivals in Reykjavik, Copenhagen, Edinburgh and Rome.
Now in its 19th year, the Phoenix Film Festival annually holds 300 screenings and provides filmmaking seminars to capacity audiences of over 28,000. It has been named one of The 25 Coolest Film Festivals and a Top 50 Worth the Entry Fee by MovieMaker Magazine.
Script Summit Screenplay Competition announces Official Selections
06 March 2019
The first round Official Selections for the 2019 Script Summit Screenplay Competition have been announced, which includes 'Boos Up', a short comedy farce by Marion McDowell, about ghosts in a pub. Two more rounds of official selections will be announced before finalists are chosen in July.
Script Summit is a festival dedicated to supporting screenwriters, offering opportunities to connect with directors, producers, and other writers, as well as hosting Q&A panels, seminars, table reads of selected scripts, an awards dinner, and cash prizes. In addition, Script Summit has partnered with the famous Action on Film MEGAfest, which provides all writers with officially selected scripts an all-access pass to official Action on Film seminars and film screenings, worth over $800.
These events are are held side by side at the Brenden Theaters in the Palms Hotel in the beautiful Palms Casino/Hotel/Resort in downtown Las Vegas July 30-August 1 2019.
Twister Alley Screenplay Contest names 'Boos Up' among finalists
05 March 2019
Twister Alley Film Festival, located in Woodward, Oklahoma, has announced its screenplay contest finalists. 29 feature screenplays, 13 short screenplays, and 8 TV pilot screenplays have been included in the list. Winners for each category will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on 4th May 2019.
'Boos Up' begins as a story about two rival ghosts haunting a struggling bar. When the bartender's half-baked attempts to reclaim his pub end up adding to his spiritual crisis, he has to make a difficult bargain to get rid of his unwanted guests.
A table read featuring local actors has been scheduled for the afternoon of 3rd May. Finalist writers attending the event are invited to select one scene from their screenplay to be read live in front of an audience of festival-goers.
Twister Alley is ranked on FilmFreeway's Top 100 Best Reviewed list and was named to MovieMaker Magazine's 2017 Top 50 Film Festivals Worth The Entry Fee.
MiSciFi selection for 'Boos Up'
22 February 2019
The Miami International Science Fiction Film Festival is one of the premier SciFi Film Festivals in the US. Now in their sixth year, the festival runs from Thursday, March 21st to Sunday, March 24th.
'Boos Up' begins as a story about two rival ghosts haunting a struggling bar. When the bartender's half-baked attempts to reclaim his pub end up adding to his spiritual crisis, he has to make a difficult bargain to get rid of his unwanted guests.
Screenplays that make it through to the next round will have one page selected by the author performed during the MiSciFi Awards Ceremony in a live stage performance. The top three winning scripts will also be awarded free software licenses for 'Final Draft', and a further, costumed, live read.
Rome Independent Prisma Awards selects 'Boos Up'
5 February 2019
The Rome Independent Prisma Awards has awarded Marion McDowell's 'Boos Up' an official selection in the February 2019 awards. Rome Prisma is the #1 most reviewed film festival in Europe among the nearly three thousand currently running on FilmFreeway.
'Boos Up' begins as a story about two rival ghosts haunting a struggling bar. When the bartender's half-baked attempts to reclaim his pub end up adding to his spiritual crisis, he has to make a difficult bargain to get rid of his unwanted guests.
The script is currently available to be optioned.
'The Summoning' selected at Oregon Short Film Festival
17 January 2019
Oregon Short Film Festival has awarded Marion McDowell's 'The Summoning' an official selection. One of FilmFreeway's Top 100 rated film festivals, the Oregon Short Film Festival is in its fourth running and will screen 22-24 February in downtown Portland.
In 'The Summoning', after a successful tabletop campaign, a Dungeons & Dragons group has a go at summoning a real demon, and gets both more and less than they bargained for.
SIFF semi-finalist award for 'Costume Drama'
12 December 2018
The Switzerland International Film Festival, based in Aubonne, Switzerland, has selected Marion McDowell's 'Costume Drama' as a semi-finalist. SIFF is one of FilmFreeway's Top 100 reviewed festivals.
In 'Costume Drama', after crossing the wrong person in the pub on Halloween night, three friends experience 24 hours of instant karma when their costume choices are turned against them. The script has also won or placed in several other screenwriting competitions, including Silly Shorts Film Festival in England, Austin Revolution in Texas, USA, and Changing Face International Film Festival in Sydney, Australia.
The script is currently available to be optioned.
'Costume Drama' win at CFIFF
5 November 2018
Changing Face International Film Festival based in Sydney, Australia, has selected Marion McDowell's 'Costume Drama' as best short screenplay for June 2018, and a nominee for best screenplay of the year.
In 'Costume Drama', after crossing the wrong person in the pub on Halloween night, three friends experience 24 hours of instant karma when their costume choices are turned against them.
The script is currently available to be optioned.
'Boos Up' Runner Up at Portland Comedy Fest
12 September 2018
Portland Comedy Film Festival has awarded Marion McDowell's 'Boos Up' runner up for Best Comedy Short Script. Portland Comedy FF is a theatrical screening event on the Film Festival Circuit for international independent comedy films that also recognizes funniest comedy screenplays.
'Boos Up' begins as a story about two rival ghosts haunting a struggling bar. When the bartender's half-baked attempts to reclaim his pub end up adding to his spiritual crisis, he has to make a difficult bargain to get rid of his unwanted guests.
The script is currently available to be optioned.
'Costume Drama' Places at Alaska International Film Awards
15 July 2018
The Alaska International Film Awards has awarded Marion McDowell's 'Costume Drama' third place in its screenplay competition. The Alaska International Film Awards recognizes filmmakers who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity and is responsible for honoring and celebrating new and undiscovered talent worldwide.
In 'Costume Drama', after crossing the wrong person in the pub on Halloween night, three friends experience 24 hours of instant karma when their costume choices are turned against them.
The script is currently available to be optioned.
'Costume Drama' Finalist for Best Short Comedy Screenplay at ARFF
29 June 2018
Austin Revolution Film Festival has selected Marion McDowell's 'Costume Drama' as a Finalist for Best Short Comedy Screenplay. Austin Revolution has been named in MovieMaker Magazine's 2018 list of Top Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee, and is consistently at the top of the best reviewed festivals on FilmFreeway.
In 'Costume Drama', after crossing the wrong person in the pub on Halloween night, three friends experience 24 hours of instant karma when their costume choices are turned against them.
The script is currently available to be optioned.
Austin Micro Short FF honours 'Costume Drama' and 'The Last Ride'
11 June 2018
Austin Micro Short Film Festival, part of the Film Festival Circuit group of US-based film festivals, has selected Marion McDowell's 'Costume Drama' as a Finalist for Best Screenplay, as well as recognising her screenplay 'The Last Ride' as an Official Selection.
In 'Costume Drama', after crossing the wrong person in the pub on Halloween night, three friends experience 24 hours of instant karma when their costume choices are turned against them.
In 'The Last Ride', the aging guardian of a creature who will live many times his lifespan tries to come to terms with his replacement, and his own mortality.
Both scripts are currently available to be optioned.
'Costume Drama' and 'Converts' selected for 'Drunken' Film Fest
30 April 2018
Drunken Film Fest Bradford has selected Marion McDowell's 'Costume Drama' as a Finalist for Best Screenplay, as well as recognising her screenplay 'Converts' as an Official Selection. Drunken Film Fest offers the opportunity for festival-goers to get 'drunk' on film, as well as staging pop-up screenings and discussion panels in pubs and other unconventional venues across the city. A sister festival of the same name in Oakland, California was created in 2016 to offer the same experience of high quality programming without crazy ticket prices.
In 'Costume Drama', after crossing the wrong person in the pub on Halloween night, three friends experience 24 hours of instant karma when their costume choices are turned against them.
In 'Converts', when a church brochure reaches Viking Bjorn, he's touched that after decades of pillaging anyone would invite him anywhere. But after a Sunday of sermons, singing and sandwiches, the question is whether Bjorn's desire for polite society will outweigh his warrior's training - and who, in the end, will end up converting who?
Table reads of all script finalists were recorded as part of the festival. The table read of 'Costume Drama' can be viewed here.
Both scripts are currently available to be optioned.
'Dark and Stormy' Wins Hollywood Hills Screenplay Competition
15 December 2017
Marion McDowell's 'Dark and Stormy' has won Best Horror Comedy Screenplay in the Hollywood Hills Screenplay Competition, based in Hollywood, California. The competition aims to discover and reward screenwriters who excel in the art of storytelling, with cash prizes and promotion within the industry for six top winners.
In 'Dark and Stormy', the powerful narrator of a schlock horror film struggles with a young woman who refuses to play the victim. Literally.
The script is currently in pre-production.
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Silly Shorts Win for 'Costume Drama'
2 December 2017
Marion McDowell's 'Costume Drama' has won Best Comedy Screenplay at Silly Shorts Film Festival, run by LivelyWood Pictures, an award-winning production company based in Berkshire, England.
In 'Costume Drama', after crossing the wrong person in the pub on Halloween night, three friends experience 24 hours of instant karma when their costume choices are turned against them.
The script is currently available to be optioned.