The Dallas Film Society, Studio Movie Grill, and Ubiquimedia hosted a reception at The Highland Dallas on Monday, August 3 where they announced that screenwriters Chad Berry and David Langlinais have won THE SIONNA PROJECT screenwriter competition with their screenplay THREE DAYS IN AUGUST. Berry and Langlinais received a $10,000 cash prize, a world premiere at the 10th annual Dallas International Film Festival in 2016 and a guaranteed limited national theatrical release from Studio Movie Grill. The winning screenwriters will have their film produced in Dallas, TX by Johnathan Brownlee.
Chad Berry hails from Denver, CO and is an award-winning advertising writer and creative director, husband, father, and avid book collector currently stationed in Dallas, TX. Berry is a journalism graduate of the University of Nebraska. This is his first screenplay.
David Langlinais was born in Abbeville, LA. He graduated with a BA in journalism from Louisiana State University. His short story collection DUCK THIEF AND OTHER STORIES (UL-Lafayette Press) is due out this fall. Langlinais lives in Dallas with his wife and daughter.
“We received many well-crafted screenplays from around the world,” said Johnathan Brownlee of Ubiquimedia. “We are excited to take THREE DAYS IN AUGUST from page to screen here in Dallas with our partners, the Dallas Film Society and Studio Movie Grill.”
THE SIONNA PROJECT is based on the true Texas story of a young woman given away at birth, her search for her parents and her identity, and what happens once she finds them. Shannon Kincaid, Allen Stringer, David Kiger & Johnathan Brownlee, will Executive Produce the project. Johnathan Brownlee will produce the film.
“While this story is based on my life experience, I believe it’s one of universal appeal because, at one point or another, everyone asks the question, ‘Who am I?’” said Executive Producer Shannon Kincaid. “The constant struggle to answer this question is all the more complicated and poignant for those of us who have been given away for adoption.”
THE SIONNA PROJECT competition is a truly unique screenwriting competition that started in April during the 2015 Dallas International Film Festival. The competition was open to anyone who wished to enter. Writers were invited to submit a treatment based on all of THE SIONNA PROJECT’s story elements. The top 25 writers wrote a more detailed 10-page treatment. The top 5 finalists completed a first draft consisting of 90 pages. Over 200 submissions were received for consideration.
For more information on when and where the film will be shown, visit www.DallasFilm.org or www.studiomoviegrill.com.
